Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.
Note: Another chapter! Certainly has a lot of fun writing this one; I think flooding the Arena in this timeline to make the once familiar forest a truly different, haunting place was a solid move. Keeps it all fresh, haha. Not really much to say other than how I feel content over this one... except one thing; as an open question to all who read this story, if you were a tribute what do you think your tribute score would be? Thinking back to myself when I was 18 and thus reaping age, I'd say I'd score a 4. Anyway, enjoy!
It's been another wet morning, the downpour having returned with a vengeance. I am starting tu suspect that the Games have been put on a sort of time limit; kill the rest and be the last one standing, or have the entire Arena swallowed by water and pray that you swim the best or evade the crocodiles the longest.
Due to how high some of the more distant parts of the Arena are I take some comfort that this won't be a likely scenario and that maybe, just maybe, I won't see a crocodile again. Of course, if the Gamemakers wanted to flood the place in five minutes then they very easily could. Maybe I should be grateful it's not worse than it is.
Right now I'm walking with Urchin and Gadget through the forest, all of us with our hoods up and weapons in our hands, besides Gadget. She's carrying a cardboard box of some sort, one sponsored by Finnick a while ago. How lucky for Urchin he has such a popular Victor as his Mentor. No, his Uncle in fact! Kind of balances out how he was unlucky enough to be reaped wit his name in just once.
Anyway, I'm leading the pair in the direction where I am sure the Careers' campsite is located. Not exactly nearby at this point after all the running I did away from it, but not impossible to get back to it. Besides, if we're moving it lowers the chance of a Mutt attack. But with Gadget's landmines is that really such a big deal anymore?
One thought of the Mud Mutt I saw the other day has me realise that, yes, it is.
Everything is so wet, the trees soaked to the bark and the forest ground squishy beneath our boots. More than once we've had to stop because Urchin has had trouble making progress due to his shorter legs getting stuck or due to Gadget tripping over something. It seems being short is as much a disadvantage as being tall. I know this is true for myself as well after I spent five minutes trying to climb the same mud hill.
As we reach the high ground of the grove we've been moving our way through, Gadget sneezes. She shivers from the cold, looking fairly upset. If she's catching a cold, this could be dangerous both for her and us. It starts as a cold, but often-times in the Arena this will end up turning into pneumonia or something else nobody wants.
"How bad is it?" I ask her.
"Sucky," she says, quietly as always. "It's cold. I'm used to the cold, but not constant downpours like this."
She glances at Urchin, the only one among us who doesn't seem upset by the cold rain. After a moment he notices we're looking at him.
"What?" he asks.
"How can you be fine with the downpour?" Gadget asks him, shivering.
"Well, I'm from Four. It's, uh, by the sea," he explains. "I've been on boats out in the fishing waters during storms. This isn't really much when compared to that. At least here we're not fully submerged by the sea."
I guess, being from the District of Fishing, Urchin would do fine in wet weather. His older, stronger and dead-er District Partner would have likely done fine as well, had she lived past the first day. Sick to say it, but that girl would've been serious competition in a place like this... a demonic part of me feels relieved somebody did the dirty work for me and I don't have to worry over her killing me, or simply outlasting me.
Not to say my allies will be easy to outlive either. With Urchin being fine in this weather and Gadget having bombs it's gonna be tough. Not just physically, but emotionally. Can I... really kill two youths like them to go home?
Perhaps I won't have to. Somebody else may do it instead. Until then, I'll do my best to look out for them and hope they do the same for me.
"Sea or not, it's freezing," Gadget shudders, huddling herself. "I can't wait until we find shelter tonight and sit by the fire... if we live that long."
I'm about to tell her it is likely that we will, not wanting to outright promise anything, but Urchin beats me to it.
"We'll be fine," he tells her. "Three of us, and we have bombs. We also have a boat in that box... yeah, I think our odds are really good."
"You really mean it?" Gadget asks.
"...I do," he says, nodding. "You know, uh... if you're really cold t-t-then we could, um, huddle if you need to, later?"
Urchin's voice cracks badly as he speaks but Gadget doesn't seem to mind. She gives a small, timid smile and looks quite grateful.
"Would you? That's nice..." she whispers, nodding.
As we walk onwards together, carefully going down the slope to where a large expanse of water looms for what may be miles, two things are apparent. Two things besides the weather being ever so horrendous, that is.
Firstly, we have a boat in that box. How did I not realise this? Sure, it's unmarked and Urchin didn't let us see the note Finnick wrote, but with the size of it and all the water... anyway, this is most excellent news. Even if it's just an inflatable boat it'll still be a great way to cross the flooded marshes. I'd hope, though, it'd be reinforced in some way. Crocodiles are still a very real danger, even if we'd be safer on the water than anybody else.
Secondly, it would appear that Urchin has a bit of a crush on Gadget. Honestly, thinking about it, this is... adorable! Oh, I am ever so much a sucker for romance no matter what it is. Just think what may happen if Gadget likes him back. Why, their first date would be... oh... right...
It's a doomed romance, one way or the other. Even if anything happens, the claws of death will snatch it all away. Why must romance stories often end in tragedy? It just seems to be the trend of things. Alas, I can't help but like the idea of young love all the same.
I try my hardest to not think of my own lover many miles away. The heartache is too much.
Coming to a stop together by the water we stare out into the marshes. The water is so dirty it's impossible to see more than an inch within it. Drinking it would be suicide, a quick way to lose the Hunger Games. I'd not dare to swim in it either. Full of danger, and germs. Ick!
"This is as far as we can go," I state the obvious, glancing around. "So, boat time I would think."
"I agree," Urchin says, gently taking the box from Gadget and opening it up. He visible smiles when he sees the inflatable raft. "Nice, we have these in Four you know. They use these when a ship goes down and a quick escape needs to be made. The material is really tough."
"Could a crocodile bite through it?" I ask, unsure. I mean, if it's not metal then who is to say a crocodiles jaws will not destroy it?
"Sharks can't, so a crocodile probably can't. Uh, I think?" he says, now looking nervous.
"Not like we have any other plans..." Gadget says, glancing at the clouds.
Indeed not. Urchin quickly works on inflating the raft with the pump that came with it. I consider offering to do it for him, but Urchin appears to know what he is doing. It's strange that a boy so small and scrawny is able to work the pump so fast, but it's not as if I have any right to judge when I'm hardly what one could call strong. So long as he gets it done, that's what matters.
That's exactly what he does. The raft is quickly inflated and gently set onto the water. We all climb into it with all our supplies, and Urchin gives us a push off from the shore. With that, we're off on our way through the marshes. Urchin takes out a foldable oar from the boat box, keeping us moving along and steering us away from any floating debris.
I waft my hand in front of my face to try and disperse the smell, but it's a futile endeavourer. Hopefully I'll get used to it soon enough, like how the scent of the forest back home is just second nature for me to smell day to day.
"Can't we go any faster?" I ask.
"We'd need a boat engine or another oar," Urchin says, shaking his head. "This is the best we can do right now."
I nod, accepting the reasoning. At least out here on the open marsh we're theoretically safe from the Careers and other tributes. Glimmer's bow is now mine, and Marvel can only throw spears so far, so all they could really do is shout at us. I smile, relaxing for a moment.
"Nettle..." Gadget whimpers suddenly.
She points ahead. Shit... a crocodile. It's passive right now, not doing a thing except floating in place. As if it were merely relaxing in the rain. Thankfully it's the only one in sight, but it's certain to become a problem if we get closer to it.
"Landmine?" I suggest.
"I can't throw them that far," Gadget says, shivering. "If we get close t-t-then it'll eat us..."
"Oh, Nettle, you can shoot it with an arrow right?" Urchin says. He, too, looks nervous. "Shame we don't have a harpoon."
"I'm not really trained with a bow and arrow," I tell him awkwardly. "I mainly grabbed it so nobody else could use it. Uh... can't Finnick sponsor a harpoon?"
Urchin shakes his head, frowning. He sighs, as if resigned.
"Finnick's great, really cool... people love him. But, it doesn't matter who he is and how I'm related. I'm still twelve; most people don't sponsor twelve year olds," he explains, frowning. "That's why I made the run to the Cornucopia, I needed supplies."
"Same," Gadget mumbles. "Thirteen year olds get overlooked too and I'm the statistic weakest of us all. I was tempted to just run for my life at the start, but if I had run away... maybe I'd just be starving in addition to freezing. I don't know..."
I frown, unable to keep a pang out of my chest. It's a sad reality that younger tributes just tend to get ignored and lack much in the way of sponsors because of how they're simply the statistic weakest and also the least able to 'put on a show'. It's rare that they last longer than the first few days and, as their age bracket has never won, it creates a stigma that effects them all.
While most do not remember it... having read some of the quite old books in the manor's library, I'm aware that there actually was a twelve year old who placed third. The District Eleven male from the first Games.
He killed himself.
Nobody of such a young age has ever made it that far ever since, and with the existence of Careers... will it ever happen? I'm not sure.
Looking at my allies, I try to push such thoughts out of my mind. I'd rather not see them laying sprawled out, nothing but corpses. It would be... most uncharming.
"I'll see what I can do about the crocodile," I say, readying myself to notch an arrow. "Nobody move, I need the boat stable for this."
Urchin ceases the oar movements, making us come to a gentle stop. Slowly, I sit up, kneeling as I notch an arrow into the bow and aim out at the crocodile.
I can see it just fine, lazily floating a distance away. It's blocking the most direct route to the Careers' camp, but I suspect if we tried to go around it then the Gamemakers would just send it after us anyway. No, the only thing to do is kill it.
I just pray that I shall not miss.
My breath is slow, a contrast to my quickly beating heart. I've pulled back the string, aiming carefully. Please, let my aim be true. I'm not a professional, but it's not as though the crocodile is a small target.
I let the arrow fly.
The beast lets out a guttural roar, the arrow sticking out from the area that I would call it's neck. Do crocodiles have necks, per-say? Whether they do or don't, the shot has the beast leaking a lot of blood. It starts to swim away, but before long it sinks. A few moments later it flows again, this time lifelessly.
Urchin starts rowing the oar again, the danger now passed.
"That was a good shot," he says. "You should have scored higher than a six."
"Well actually, I..." I pause for a moment. It may have been luck, but thy do not need to know that. "I guess you're right. Maybe I should have scored a seven, to match my District."
We're silent as we continue to row along through the swamp. Nothing to really say, I guess. As we move along I can't help but reach back and trace my hand along the quiver. Just five arrows left. The bow probably won't be a weapon to rely on, not for very long. Wood has arrows, but he won't share them, not now.
If we can grab some good supplies before we blow them up, though, perhaps it won't matter. I'd love to get my backpack and all the stuff inside it back, at the very least.
"Gadget, Nettle, over there," Urchin whispers. "She's watching us..."
Gadget shudders fearfully as we turn in usion to look towards the shore. I'd half-expected to see Glimmer, the female tribute who I think - of those still alive - poses the greatest threat to me. However, it's not her.
It's Cinder. She stands by the bank of the marsh, tired, watching us as we go by. We meet each other's gaze for a moment. Now, I know Cinder to a small degree; she was a reliable ally in the hours we worked together. But do Urchin and Gadget know her? Based on Urchin's unease and Gadget's fear I would assume not.
Like they said, people did not talk particularly much in the training centre. If I recall it right Cinder only spoke a lot to one person, besides her District Partner. The boy from Nine, wasn't it? That sure didn't pan out in the end. Maybe, though, the four of us could be something...
What harm is there in offering it to her? Worst she can do is say no. Especially as I see no ranged weaponry on her.
"Guys," I whisper to my allies. "That's Cinder, from District Five. I worked with her to overcome rough terrain a few days ago... how about we see if we can get another ally on our side? We'd only benefit."
"Or get shanked," Gadget moans.
"Maybe," Urchin gulps. "But... well, Gadget, we took a chance with Nettle and it's worked out well. Maybe at least offering would be safe enough?"
Gadget just nods, not putting up any fight at all. I wonder, is her passiveness just out of fear that a disagreement could result in violence or is she really that lacking in confidence? I can't say I'm sure either way, but neither option is good for her mental state. I don't want either of these two, or myself for that matter, going crazy and doing what is known as 'pulling a Titus'.
"Cinder!" I call out to her. "Fancy hitching a ride on our boat? We have plenty of room for one more, especially one who isn't particularly heavy."
"Uh, I think I'm alright," she says, quickly. "I'm not in any pressing need to get a move on anywhere."
"I saw Rammy was after you last night," I tell her. "Nice work fighting him off, of course, but he'll be lurking. Really, it might help all of us if you hop on board. Four is stronger than three... and certainly stronger than one."
Cinder frowns, thinking quickly to herself. I signal to Urchin to move us in closer, just in case she changes her mind.
"Alright then," she says, nodding. "But, I'm not exactly saying I'll stay with you guys for days. I work better with temporary agreements and then flying solo. Just who I am."
"Glad to have you aboard," I say, helping Cinder into the raft. Thankfully, she's not particularly big so we remain floating and balanced just fine. "Alright Urchin, off we go."
"Alright, let's set sail!" he announces, starting to row again. Hm, seems like boat rowing has raised his mood. I guess it must be the sense of familiarity.
"All aboard the S.S Dead Kids Walking..." Gadget mumbles, staring out into space.
We're all silent as we once again continue to float along through the marshes. Not just from that depressing, and very much real, remark but also just how eerie it is. The rain, the distant crickets, the grime, everything really... it's a ghastly voyage that we're on.
Cinder sits beside me, silent. She looks at Urchin and then Gadget. Lastly, she looks at me for the briefest of moments.
"It's nice that you're not dead yet," she says. "...I appreciate the help you gave me on the second day. Thanks again for finding my token for me."
"You're welcome. It's part of you, and part of Five's very culture," I say to her. "I'd not want my token getting lost."
I rummage into my pocket and show the token to her. She admires the tiki, her foxy eyes widening with intrigue. Muttering to herself about 'supreme craftsmanship' she nods in approval.
"Very nice," she says. "Makes my own token feel almost cheap in comparison."
"It's yours, that makes it special," I say to her. I mean, firstly it's true and secondly the happier she is with me the lower risk of a backstab... yes, I am paranoid. What of it, exactly?
Urchin slows his rowing for a moment, glancing back at us.
"We talking about tokens?" he asks, sounding interested. He rummages in his jacket's pocket. "Here's mine. Cool, huh?"
Cool is one word for it, though personally I'd call the ancient, dried starfish 'fascinating'. I wonder how old that thing must be.
"It's from before the Dark Days, I think," he says, as if sensing my question.
"Is it edible?" Cinder asks. "I've heard some starfish are."
"I've never tried," Urchin says. "But, it's dried out so it'd probably taste gross. Hey Gadget, what's your token?"
Gadget glances up at us, looking unsure. Slowly, she takes a microchip from her pocket.
"Something from mommy..." she says, offering no further explanation.
"It looks nice," I say. "I mean, I'm no expert, but among microchips I'm sure it's probably really neat. You guys have some really intriguing tokens. Everybody does."
"You've seen others?" Cinder asks me, curious. "Who else showed you?"
"Uh, technically nobody... in a manner of speaking," I say. I rummage in my pockets and hold out the tokens of the dead which I've collected so far. Weld's family photo, Lacey's sock and Clove's hairclip. "If I get out of here, I'll return them to the families on the Victory Tour."
"What if you, uh, lose?" Urchin asks, steering us past a large floating log.
"I guess they'd go to the Tribute Museum," I say. The thought of such a place feels... wrong. I'm sure in terms of the economy it serves a function, but only for the Capitol. Seven has never seen any of the money we're surely owed, be it royalties or from basic decency. If I was president... "Creepy isn't it, people looking at some of the tokens, like Weld's family photo."
"It's a certain type of sentimental," Cinder says. "A spooky type."
"I'm just amazed a starfish would have such appeal," Urchin adds. "Wait, no, if it did then I'd be dead. Wouldn't want that..."
Gadget mumbles something, a bit too quiet for me to hear.
"Say again?" I ask her.
"Weldar. His name was Weldar, not Weld," she tells me.
I'm silent as Urchin rows us along through the vile marshlands. That's another person whose name I've gotten wrong. First I said Ramsay instead of Rammy and now it's Weldar instead of Weld.
For that matter, is Lace really called Lace or is that, too, me remembering it wrong? It's certainly possible at this point. I just sit quietly, keeping an eye out for trouble and hoping the stench of the swamp might drown out the embarrassment.
"So, where are we going?" Cinder asks. "Just crossing the marshlands and avoiding the rising water?"
"That's a beneficial side effect," I tell her. "We're gonna blow up the Careers' supplies with landmines. Let them feel the hunger that is the name of these games just like we have to."
"Sounds risky," she says, frowning in unease.
"Perhaps, but the rewards are great," I state, peering ahead in case of any trouble. None there, thankfully "Weakened Careers."
Cinder nods slowly, conceding to the point. It's a fact' none of us could take on those three, even if it were us four together against them... maybe with the landmines... it's a big maybe though and could go wrong. Gradually weakening them through hunger works better long-term. That's part of politics, so says my father. Planning for the long term.
Politics are familiar. They're workable. They make sense. Making the Hunger Games play out under them in some ways, it just makes me feel better. More confident.
"Um..." Gadget tries to say something but trails off.
I glance where she was looking and quell my groan. Another person is nearby, walking along the banks of the marshes, a good distance from us. Even from here, there is really no mistaking the black jacket. It's Katniss.
Seems she's having a fairly bad day, though. By the looks of it she's soaked and, just from a glance at how she stomps along, ever so pissed off. Part of me worries that she might see us and call us over for a transport across the marshes. Having half the remaining tributes in one tiny place... no, I think not. Too cramped, too risky and I think it'd be practically asking for a trap to separate us.
Adding to that, I just don't trust Katniss. Not to say I dislike her, but I just feel like I'd have a very hard time putting my life in her hands. Maybe as she seems so tough and nails and an overall loner. Or, perhaps, I'm just judgemental. It's possible.
"Look, it's Katniss," Urchin says, pointing her out. Nuts. "Perhaps we could pick her up too? More company, another ally..."
Absolutely not! That girl scored an eleven and could easily kill us all if she so chose. She's a survivor and if ever there was a girl from Twelve to be a Victor and show up everybody else, it's her. Can we trust her, even? I don't! Our odds all get better if she's left in the rain, cruel as it may sound.
That is what I would like to say.
"I don't think we should," I say instead. "We don't know her and we're six days in. It'd be hard to form an alliance by now, and she didn't seem very trusting in training."
Urchin accepts the reasoning with a quick nod, continuing to row us along. We pass by Katniss distantly. I keep watching her though, just in case she does anything that I may benefit from having witnessed.
A crocodile lunges out of the water at her.
She stabs the beast in the eye with her knife, purely by reflex. The mutt dies swiftly and once again she's back to grumpily marching her way along.
"Send me a shoe making kit! I'll make boots out of it!" she announces, sarcastically.
A few moments pass before a parachute is sent down towards her. Her relief becomes anger with much haste.
"I was being sarcastic!" she yells. "Urrggh... thanks anyway?"
It would be a bad idea to respond with anger to a Sponsor gift. Sometimes Mentor's select what to do with funding, but other times a rich sponsor demands an exact item to be sent into the Arena. Believe me, it's never a good idea to insult sponsors. It means less money, less gifts... more chance of a trap being sprung, often with mutts.
As we sail further down the expansive marshes I cannot help but wonder, though... what use is a shoe making kit in this forest? I can only ponder hopelessly as to why it was ever put on the list of available sponsor gifts.
The Capitol is ever so strange.
(Later...)
It's been a bit of a strange sort of journey we've been on. The four of us continue our way down the marsh, Urchin steering us past any debris and safely along the 'path' for lack of a better term. River just doesn't feel applicable here. Anyway, we're silent in the boat upon the disgusting swamp but that's not really the strange part. As I stated, it's a ghastly voyage.
No, it's just that we've not really lost track of Katniss for the past hour. She continues to walk along the riverbank, slaughtering a crocodile mutt every now and then when one tries to attack her. Even when the water takes a detour from her we're soon enough back nearby and seeing her again. I really wish we could just go another way and leave her behind, but it seems the water has different plans. There's just nowhere else to go but the way we're going. After the wide open area we were at before, we're now in a very linear section with the next open area likely a distance ahead of us.
At least she's not seen us nor asked for a ride. That would be awkward, let me tell you. Mainly as I'd have to give her a very firm no. Feels every so slightly wrong, given how she found me passed out in a bush the other day. Really, nothing was stopping her from killing me if she wanted to... she just chose not to.
"Guys," Cinder says, suddenly. "I'd like to part ways here, if that's ok? This as far as I feel like tagging along. I can make it on my own from here."
"Are you sure?" I ask her. "The marshes are dangerous to go through alone. I know Rammy's also alone, but he's a lot stronger physically. Same for Wood, and Katniss."
"I'll manage," she says, nodding. "Thanks for the ride. I owe you one."
Urchin carefully steers us to the shore - the opposite side to Katniss, thankfully - and Cinder climbs out, carefully setting her feet onto solid ground. Well, perhaps not solid due to the vile mud but close enough, I would think. Once she has her bearings, she gives us a respectful nod.
"Be seeing you," she says as she starts to head off towards a thick patch of trees nearby. The perfect cover right now. "Good luck with blowing up the Careers' stuff. You may need it."
With that, she scampers off towards the trees and is soon out of sight. A shame really; I trust her more than Katniss and I think she'd offer a lot to our group. But, she's made her choice and already we're off again. Urchin seems fairly neutral as he rows us along but I do not miss Gadget's relief.
"Didn't you trust her?" I ask, quietly.
"I don't trust people easily most of the time," she says, looking away.
"You trust me, right?" Urchin asks, timidly.
"Yeah... I do," Gadget says.
I briefly smile at the blush on Urchin's face and how Gadget looks very awkward for a moment or two. But, I'm soon back to business. Just three of us now, all the more reason to be careful. A few more miles and we'll be there... just, please, let things continue to work as they are for a while longer.
Just as Urchin rows us under a large overgrowth - a leafy, mossy plant that hides us from view - I hear a yell.
There's nobody else nearby, or so I thought, so I turn towards where Katniss lurks on the distant riverbank and brace myself for the worst.
I'd expected it to be a crocodile attack, but that's not the case here. Honestly, I dare say it's quickly progressed to something a lot worse than that. Katniss is cornered at the water's edge - no crocodiles in sight, but that might not be the case for long - and while she has a sharp knife in hand, I doubt it will make much of a distance.
Not when Marvel and Cato have tracked her down at last and block off any chance of escape. If she runs left then Marvel will spear her. If she runs right then Cato's sword will make short work of her. Running between them just means both of the previous things, and even if she were to manage to stab one of them it might not be lethal. If it were, then the other boy kills her anyway and probably in a more brutal sort of fashion.
"Cover your eyes," I whisper to Urchin and Gadget. "Ears too. Don't look."
Gadget obeys right away, shuddering. She's well aware of what's about to happen to the Girl on Fire. Urchin, however, doesn't listen.
"We should help her," he says, urgently. "Come on, we can do it."
"How?" I ask him. It's a miracle I did not reflexively ask him 'why'.
Then again, I think that would lead to a conversation much like the talk I had with Wood before we parted ways. I feel like a hypocrite, with how I'd rather not help Katniss when she's the top scorer here and theoretically able to kill us with ease. But honestly, even if I was dedicated to saving her, what could we do? Exposing ourselves would lead to nothing but trouble.
"Um..." he seems to strain, thinking of an idea. Any idea. "Shoot them with the bow and arrows? Or, throw a landmine at them?"
"The landmine would kill Katniss too," Gadget mumbles, still covering her ears and closing her eyes.
Two Careers gone, and Katniss gone quick and painlessly. Now that she mentions it... no, no. I shan't think like that any further. That's sadism, right there.
Where does one draw the line between being pragmatic and a sadist, honestly?
"Well, the bow will still work!" he whispers, urgent. "Nettle, can't you shoot them? I mean, maybe not kill them but just so that Katniss could run away? Maybe in their legs."
"I don't think I'm a good enough shot," I say to him, this part being the truth. "Exposing ourselves might land us in plenty of hot water of our own. Our lives are at stake just as much as hers."
Any further discussion of ours is stopped when a different talk begins on the river bank. As though it were an unspoken order Urchin and I cease our own words and strain to listen. Gadget, meanwhile, remains silent and hunched over.
"Well, well, welly well," Marvel says, amused. "Took longer than we wanted, but it looks like we've finally found you."
"Whoa, you must have trained for years to be able to point out the obvious like that," Katniss says, defiant to the end. "I had no idea you found me until you outright said it."
"Well, there's no need to be rude," Marvel says, putting on a hurt tone. "You wound me, Girl on Fire."
"Want me to wound you for real?" she asks, her knife almost glinting under the rain for a moment.
"Hmmm, sorry but I'd rather you didn't," he says, idly.
A silence ensues. I can almost hear my own heartbeats.
"We're wasting time," Cato says, scoffing. "Let's kill her. I don't exactly trust Glimmer as a guard, least of all when everywhere is flooded. Sooner we kill this girl, sooner we get back."
"Here I was thinking you wanted to draw it out a bit for Sponsors," Marvel replies, sounding curious.
"Eh, we have a hoard of stuff and most of the other guys cannot swim. The water will take care of them as it raises and if not they'd just be flushed out to the high ground eventually. The only one I am sure can swim is the twelve year old and he's gonna be so pathetic it's not even funny," Cato explains, pacing as he talks. He twirls his sword as he speaks, as if bored.
Beside me, Urchin shivers fearfully.
"But if we find that Nettle then all bets are off. I am tearing her arms right off," Cato continues, snarling. Nuts... "Glimmer says she was the one to kill Nettle... and you know what, I believe her. Either way Nettle has to die, so we may as well make it count."
"I'm sure the fans back home will love you for it," Marvel adds chuckling. "Gee, putting it this way makes you seem almost irrelevant Katniss."
"I'm so sad about that," she says, flatly. I can see her glance beside her for a moment. "So... we gonna do this?"
"Gladly," Cato says. I cannot quite see his expression from here, but just based on how eager he is to start killing... I'm thankful that I cannot.
In one motion Katniss throws her knife right at Cato. He yells, startled and while I see no blood spill, the alarm sent him falling right down onto his back. Marvel is quickly on the attack just as I assumed, seeming ever so pleased he's the one who will be able to do the deed, but Katniss doesn't even try to fight him.
She instead takes the ultimate gamble and leaps into the water, starting to swim her way towards the other side of the marsh. Cato rises up and curses. His sword won't help him here.
"Come on, let's get in after her!" he barks at Marvel. "She's getting away!"
"Why would we go into the dirty water?" Marvel asks, flatly. "I'm all for flashiness, but what's just dumb."
"Letting her escape is dumb!" Cato roars.
Sure enough Katniss is starting to make her way cross the wide expanse of water. We remain hidden, the three out there oblivious to our presence, waiting to see what might happen next. Katniss might escape without any sort of aid needed, and the girl on fire shall burn on.
"No, it's dumb to run into the water when I can just do this," Marvel says, shaking his head.
With that that Marvel takes aim with his spear. He only has to focus for the briefest of moments before he throws it with great force.
It skewers right into Katniss' back.
I have to grab Urchin and hold his face to my shoulder to stop him from screaming and giving our position away. Beside us Gadget sits, rocking back and forth, mumbling in a depressed sort of terror. She squeaks and mumbles, shivering. But I wonder, would the Career boys even hear us when Katniss' scream is the loudest thing heard for miles?
She screams horrifically for a few moments before going silent, just floating where she is. Her blood starts to turn the brown water a deep red.
"No cannon," Marvel notes. "Shall we finish it?"
"Seems like a waste. We'd get soaked for no reason," Cato says, shaking his head. "C'mon, there might be more tributes this way. Not checked that way yet."
"Works for me," Marvel says. "Hope I get another spear sponsored soon."
"Should've bought more than one," Cato says, shrugging.
"I guess," Marvel says as they begin to move out of hearing range. "Anyway, that tracker-jacker nest we passed? I have a marvellous plan for it if the sponsors were to send some safety gear. We'd take the nest and then we'd use it as-."
They become too distant for me to hear any longer. Well, besides the sound of cheers and a high-five. Other than that, nothing else. They're gone, thankfully.
It seems Katniss is nearly gone as well. I yelp in sudden alarm as Urchin throws me off. Thankfully I just land on the bottom of the boat, not in the marshes. I sit up, ready to ask what he thinks he's doing, but what's when I see that he's rowing us towards Katniss as fast as he can make us go. I had no idea a scrawny twelve year old could be ever so fast with rowing, but here we are.
"We're coming!" he says. "Hold on!"
It's hopeless, surely he knows that, right? But he's got his mind set on this, and seeing Katniss like this... I want to help too. At least make her final moments have more dignity than being skewered and drowning in filthy water. Urchin rows and I lean out as far as I dare, ready to grab her hand.
I manage to take hold of her hand. Grasping it tightly I give Urchin a nod, and he starts to row us towards the shore. Katniss doesn't respond, practically a world away by this point.
The cannon booms loudly as can be before we reach the water's edge. Nonetheless, Urchin keeps rowing until we get there, his expression forlorn. He gives me a sad look, glancing at Katniss. I nod in return. I think I know what he wants... I think.
I take the spear out from her in one clean motion, and we work together to lay her down on the muddy bank. Her eyes stare blankly, death having claimed her sight and everything else she once had. I hear Gadget sobbing behind me, but Urchin keeps his own tears back, if only just.
"...Safe voyage," he whispers to Katniss, shaking.
He never knew this girl, as far as I know, but yet he shows her respect in death and wanted to help her. I get the sense Urchin is too nice for the Hunger Games; both to deserve them and to win them. I'll keep such thoughts private.
He asks the sky for a flower. It's not long before a small parachute delivers a rose, which he lays down upon Katniss. He makes a sort of sailor salute, I think, and I emulate it. It would be respectful to the citizens of Twelve, the poor people having lost for the twenty fourth year in a row.
"Did you know her?" I ask Urchin. "At all?"
"Not really," he says, shaking his head. "I just know she volunteered for her sister, one young as me, and spared her from all this. That's something to respect."
Urchin climbs back into the boat, ready to go. I take a moment to quickly check Katniss belongings - nothing particularly special on her. Seems she was running very low on supplies of all kinds. - and soon I join Urchin back in the boat.
Only now, Katniss' Mockingjay pin has been added to my growing collection of tokens. One way or the other, her family is getting it back. I didn't help their daughter - not sure if I could have, but maybe that's just me making excuses for being pragmatic - but I won't let the token be forever lost. I'm sure it's got some sentimental value.
Like before, we're silent as we continue going to our destination. But, having just witnessed a death, we're somehow quieter than silence. It feels that way, at least. It's a sight that chills you right down to the bone.
The only comfort is that we now know Marvel and Cato are not at the Careers' campsite. With luck, they will not be back there for a while. We'll just have Glimmer to contend with, and with how she's taken an arm injury from my hatchet - and also the fact we have landmines to throw - I like our odds.
I gulp fretfully, though, over how Cato is now aware I was the one who killed Clove. I shan't let him do to me what he did to Peeta! Never!
(Time goes by...)
Sadly, we had to leave the boat behind - both due to space an the fact three crocodiles were closing in on us. It was a worthy sacrifice. - but it served its purpose just fine in the end. We got across the worst of the marshlands, and now we've reached the higher ground. Of course, I'm not entirely certain that it will remain high for long, but it's all the more reason to keep on moving.
Indeed, moving has been the only course of action that we have undertaken in the past hour or so. The terrain was certainly grotesque beneath our feet, the squelching ever so grossly macabre, but despite all of that and the lingering chills of seeing a murder happen right before our eyes we have made it.
Right now, we're ducking down behind thick bushes and some tall trees to hide our presence. Subtlety is of the utmost importance as we look out at the Careers' campsite.
There it is, the bounty of supplies. The spoils of child killing war that could keep even the lowest scoring of tributes alive for the long haul. Even after six days into the Games there are still plenty of items left in the massive pile; just from a glance I can see blankets, packs of food and water, sharp weapons and and no doubt more things besides those concealed in the unopened container and crates.
Credit where it is due, it's impressive the Careers were able to get all of this stuff this far from the Cornucopia in only a few days.
"That sure is a lot of stuff," Urchin says, quietly. "I sure want some of it. But... well..."
"Yeah," I mutter. "She's there."
It's just as Cato said, Glimmer has been left here as the guard of the Cornucopia's supplies. She patrols in a constant circle around it, a scimitar in hand, her stance rigid as she goes. Every now and then she puts her hand on the part of her right arm I struck with my axe yesterday. I have little doubt she's probably had some medical supplies given to her by now, but it would seem the pain is still there.
Speaking of which... goodness gracious, my axe wound is still throbbing. I'm able to ignore it, for the most part, but my flesh beneath the bandages feels horrible. A light touch has me having to bite my sleeve to not cry out and risk alerting Glimmer. Ok... fine... I can cope with that. Just need to get more medical supplies from over there before we blow them up and maybe I'll feel better.
But before all that, Glimmer remains a serious issue. I shan't underestimate her, she's still a powerful tribute even with a wounded arm. I mean, goodness gracious, she pin-cushioned Lace effortlessly and fired the arrows at such a speed as well. She may not have a bow now, but does that matter? I saw her training, you know, and her skills with bladed weapons are certainly better than mine. Easily better than Gadget's skills and even if Urchin could fight her equally with them she still has a size advantage over him.
Something must be done, and all I can do now is ponder what it might be. I mean, besides killing her. I'd already done it once, would it be so much worse to do it again now that the line is crossed? I'm not sure sure, nor do I wish I know; having killed somebody and felt the sickening emotions that follow I much prefer not to feel that way again henceforth. Thing is, I'll surely have to kill again come the 'finale' of the Games. It's unlikely these days that the final battle doesn't end up happening due to a tribute dying to a trap or something.
I'm hardly lady like to think of murder, but it might be the only way to keep my own life going in the long-term. I'd not willing to die for Glimmer's sake, not even slightly. I shot the crocodile with the arrow, so maybe I can shoot her with one as well.
"I could kill her," I whisper. "Or, just make her run off. An arrow in her body, she'd not stick around to see what happens next."
"Do you want to put yourself through that, though?" Urchin asks me, looking anxious.
"No, I don't," I say. "But it's that, or the Careers will keep their supplies and eventually they'd kill us all. It's doesn't... matter if we want to or not. It's just what makes the most sense."
"Violence just feels senseless," he replies, shuddering. "I remember, on day one... while I was hiding in the Cornucopia I saw all the bloodshed going right in front of me. It was..."
He gags, paling. It must have been a horrible sight to witness, for anybody. I can only theorise how anybody may find it fun to watch. Alas, while I would consider myself educated I do not understand the minds of those who are mad.
"Think you can shoot her?" he asks after a while.
"I'm not certain," I admit. "Maybe throwing the landmines would be easier?"
"Can we throw them that far?" Urchin asks, looking doubtful.
"I can't," Gadget mumbles, from her spot shivering behind a tree. "If we do, then we'd just destroy the supplies too early. We'd not get anything..."
"I'll try my best to... shoot her, then," I say, starting to notch an arrow.
"Or..." Urchin rises up. "Or, I could get her attention and lead her away. I'm fast and she's kinda battered. I could keep her on the run and give you guys time. I'll come back once I hear the explosions."
"Urchin, that's dangerous," Gadget whispers. "She'll kill you."
"As a fallen tribute said, they cannot kill me if they cannot catch me," Urchin replies. "Do you think you two can gather supplies and blow up the rest quickly?"
"I am positive of it," I assure him. "Are you quite certain you are willing to take this risk?"
"No," he admits. "But if you miss with the arrow then she could get into a better position or... or call for help, and... honestly, I don't want to see another person die right in front of me."
I don't get to say anything else, be it calling him foolhardy or ever so brave, before he moves out from the cover. He yelps, acting as though he only just saw Glimmer. The Career girl quickly turns to him, smirking.
"Why hello there, little boy. Did you get lost?" she asks, teasingly. She swishes her scimitar a bit, making Urchin shiver. "Seems we both scored an eight, but I'd say it's time to show I am stronger than you. Come on!"
"I'm outta here!" Urchin yells, turning tale and sprinting off as fats as he can go... whoa, that's pretty fast. Much more than I had expected.
Then again, he did reach the Cornucopia quick enough to hide in it before anybody noticed. It should be no surprise that he's speedy, I suppose.
Glimmer chases after him, laughing and calling for him to give up. I don't dare breath until she's gone, leaving the supplies exposed.
"So, what's the plan?" Gadget asks me.
"...You know, this tree is pretty bumpy and full of branches. I could climb it and cover you?" I suggest. "You have the landmines and bags, so you could run in and grab stuff, set them down and then blow them up. I have the bow and arrow in case anything happens."
"You sure about this?" she asks me, uncertain. "You didn't want to do it to Glimmer."
"It'll only take a minute or two," I assure her. "And, honestly, I think I might do a better job with the bow and arrow if I was not as easy for a target to see or reach. With Glimmer, she was able to fight us and it feels almost unsporting to snipe her off-guard when she's just pacing. But if she was trying to harm my ally... it gets easier to justify to myself. Time's passing, we should get started."
"Ok," Gadget mumbles. I'm not sure if she even thinks my explanation makes any sense - does it? I'm so stressed and on edge that it's hard to be sure myself - but it seems she's resigned to just agree. It's concerning."
I climb my way up the tree with a surprising lack of difficulty. As I said though, it's got a lot of branches so it's no hard for me to get high up in, even with my short height and lack of athleticism. Seated on a high branch, I notch an arrow in the bow.
"Wait, stop!" I hiss below to Gadget.
Gadget freezes, having been a second from running out to the piles of supplies. A good thing too, because Rammy carefully walks out from the opposite edge of the clearing. He looks around, his large axe gripped ever so tightly in his palms, before deeming the area safe and quickly running to the supplies.
"Perfect," I hear him say. I guess with nobody around he feels no need to be quiet. "Ok, quickly now. No time to waste."
Snipe him, I hear a voice in my head say. I'll dub this my pragmatic side; the devil on my shoulder, if you will.
Let him live. He's just as scared and hurt as you if not moreso, says a different voice. I guess thus one is my humane side, the angel on my other shoulder.
Amazing how my thoughts contradict teach other so very much, but it's not like I can do much here. Rammy stand sat the other side of the supply pile where I cannot see him. He works fast though, that much I can here. He grabs a bunch of stuff over the course of half a minute and then he sprints back off into the forest. I can see that he's grabbed a second, rather bulky, backpack now. No doubt it's filled with all kinds of pilfered loot.
Both the rope he is already fashioning into a noose and the blowtorch he's stuffed into his pocket are going to be big problems if he has them on hand next time he sees me. Assuming we live long enough to meet again, that is.
Nonetheless, Rammy is swiftly gone and out of both sight and hearing range. It's just Gadget and I left in the clearing. She looks up at me, and I look down at her.
I give her a nod, and she's off.
Ok Nettle, focus. I breath deeply in and out, notching the arrow, ready to the fire at the moment I see any sighs of trouble. I just hope five arrows will be enough. It's hardly anything, really. All the same, it's what I have so I'll just have to make it work.
Gadget quickly makes it to the supplies and starts to grab various items, stuffing them into her backpack. She works fast, driven by fear. It's not long before she's loaded up the backpack and runs back placing it down amongst the overgrowth, before returning to fill up a second one that she grabs from the base of the supply pile.
I freeze, hearing a horrible caw type of sound. Gadget does the same, frantically looking around. She looks up and screams, and I look up to see what the issue is.
It's a mutt, and certainly one of the nastier ones I've seen in the past few years. A grisly vulture, starting to descend towards Gadget. It's slow, mocking her almost, as it extends its razor sharp talons.
I let the arrow fly, skewering the beastly bird. It was slow moving, so it wasn't much of a threat. Gadget cowers, not moving as she trembles and sobs, even as the bird falls dead on the ground.
"Gadget! Come on!" I yell. "Time's running out!"
Despite her clear terror Gadget manages to rise to her feet; grabbing more supplies. Dumping down another backpack full of them - mine! - she runs back to the supply pile to grab a few more and, most importantly, set down the land mines. Of course, two caws that sound out break her focus and leave her cowering once again.
I aim up at the vultures that descend ever so menacingly, firing off an arrow. One of them is skewered, falling down lifelessly, but the other quickly speeds up and swoops down. I scream out just as Gadget screams, the beast raking its claws onto her back. I fire off an arrow, the shot going wide and pinning into a distant tree. Gadget screams louder, trying to smack the vulture away with the backpack, but it doesn't hold it off for long.
I quickly notch an arrow and fire, hoping it hits the mark.
It's not a killer shit, but the arrow pierces the mutt's wing and send sit sprawling to the ground in a panic. Now in a panic herself and with some bloodstains on the back of her jacket, she stomps on it's head with a shriek, silencing the vulture swiftly.
It's a struggle to hold back my vomit at the sight of blood, both human and mutt. The very thought makes me go pale, and seeing it before me is so much worse. Gadget is hurt, but despite her sobs she gets up and sets down the landmines as carefully as she can, using what looks like a jar of tree sap to stick them into place.
She doesn't get more than a few steps away from the pale before every so suddenly shouts and footsteps get near. Urchin runs into the clearing, wheezing and gasping. He looks rather beaten, though amazingly he doesn't look bloodied. Glimmer is close behind him, similarly tired out and sporting some bruises, though not as many as Urchin.
"Get back here!" she chokes out, before she spots Gadget. "Two for one? Why, how generous of you both to give your lives to me!"
"Gadget, run!" Urchin wheezes.
It's not to be, as Glimmer easily sweep kicks both the young tributes to the ground. She looms over them, her scimitar sharp and ready for killing. I fumble with the bow, trying to ire off a shot quickly, all reservations about murder suddenly distant.
I drop the bow.
Nuts!
"Any last words," Glimmer asks, leering at the trapped youths. "Come on, say anything! Cry for mommy and daddy!"
Gadget looks like she's going to be sick, while Urchin is silently shivering. Both are in panic, out of options and out of time to live.
"I have some," Gadget says, her voice cracking in fear. "I have a gift for you."
"What?" Glimmer says, confused.
That moment was all it took. Gadget smacks two objects onto Glimmer and kicks her in the knee. Glimmer falls down into the mud and Gadget staggers up and pulls Urchin up to his feet.
"Run, she's gonna explode!" she screams, pale faced.
Gadget and Urchin dash to the bushes below me as Glimmer gets up. Only now do I see what Gadget just did. My eyes widen in realisation just as Glimmer's own eyes widen in pure terror.
Gadget stuck two of the landmines to her with the tree sap. They're beeping, and the beeping is starting to rapidly speed up.
Glimmer screams, absolutely terrified beyond any rational thought. She writhes and wails, trying to yank the landmines off. As she screams and sobs, she stumbles over and onto the pile of supplies. She missed the landmines set there, but I'd bet it's only granted her a few extra second of life.
"No, no!" she shrieks. "Get them off, no! Shimmer, don't look! Somebody help me, somebody h-."
Her words are cut off by an explosion that claims both her life and all of the supplies that were piled up. The wreckage of the supplies is blasted around, flaming debris clattering all over the place. Glimmer's splattered, blood remains coat the ground and the trees of the clearing, nothing left intact of what used to be the prettiest girl of the Games, so said the sponsors I presume.
This time it's too much for me and I puke hard. The blood, the gore, those final terrified screams... I'm never going to forget that. As I descend the tree I shake and moan, horrified into a near silence from her nasty death.
The boom of the cannon feels like an afterthought compared to that travesty that just happened.
As I touch the ground, I see that I'm hardly the only one effected. Urchin is breathing deeply, shaking from the death of his would-be killer. Meanwhile Gadget is whimpering, softly sobbing. She mumbles rapid, inaudible words. I don't make any of it out, but it's obvious she's horrified over the fact she just killed somebody, even if it could be argued as self-defence for both herself and Urchin.
I don't say anything, not even a simple acknowledgement that we have accomplished the mission we set out to do. There's really nothing to say right now.
Urchin rises, shakily moving his way to the wreckage to see if there is anything left that we might be able to salvage, or at least keep away from the Careers when they come back. Such thought feel irrelevant though, having just witnessed that.
Gadget cries, sobbing like a child as she knees on the ground before me. This time, I do make out one little thing she says.
She calls herself a monster.
I sink to my knees beside her, trying to comfort her. A hug, whispered and gentle assurances, a slow rub to her back... the kind of stuff Ranger would do for me if I was upset. I'm not sure if this helping at all, but if I had to fathom a guess then I'd say that it isn't at all. There's nothing to be done, both Gadget's trauma and Glimmer being blown to bits.
Nothing but try to hold together in one piece and find some way to keep on going.
"It was her or you," I tell her after some time passes. "You saved yourself, and Urchin. You... didn't do the 'right' thing, but it was the smartest choice you had available to you."
"It hurts to think about... I killed her!" she wails, sobbing louder.
I frown, thinking fast. I really don't know how to comfort somebody during a meltdown, least of all somebody young and showing signs of an abused life in her District. I really do not think there is any right answer here nor any phrasing that may calm her down, even slightly.
Resigning myself to the fact Gadget needs time to cry this one out, I settle and gently hold her towards me. I don't judge, as I too know the terrible feeling that comes with killing somebody. I'm not over what I did to Clove, and it must be worse for Gadget; I didn't have to hear Clove screaming with full knowledge she was about to die and scream for who I presume to be a family member to not look.
It's rough. That's all I can say.
Urchin comes back soon, empty handed.
"Nothing left," he says quietly, gesturing to the rubble. "Just burnt ashes and stuff. We should get out of here before the other two Careers come back."
I nod, helping Gadget up to her feet. With nothing left for us in this burnt, gory clearing we're quick to turn and make our leave.
"Anything I can do, Gadget?" Urchin asks, walking beside her.
"I don't know..." she whispers, lost.
"Well, if you do think of something, let me know," he says, clearly concerned. "You saved us... I owe you."
Gadget mumbles something, again inaudible, as we leave the broken Career campsite. I cannot help but wonder just how furious the Careers are going to be and how many miles their furious screams are going to be able to be heard for. I guess I'll find out soon enough, as they most likely heard the explosion. If not, then surely the cannon. They'll probably want to make sure their companion is ok... obvious, this is not the case.
I can only flinch, starting to feel sick over the thought of how Marvel might react to his ex being blown to pieces.
I stop wondering when an enraged roar fills my ears, making my head feel like it's rattling. Ack! Owww! That's one nasty, anguished roar.
Looking back, I wish I hadn't. That is certainly one most terrifying gaze I shan't be getting out of my head for years to come, assuming I win.
Marvel looks at me, rage in his eyes. Gone is the cocky, if dangerous, fool who has been a thorn in my side ever since the training centre. No trace of his usual mischief or juvenile smugness remains in those eyes. Nothing but cold contempt and fiery fury. A little ways behind him Cato is looking just as angry, if not moreso. He's pulling at his hair and pounding the ground as his face turns so red that you'd think he had a truly terrible sunburn.
"You fucking bastards! Our supplies! Grrraargghhh!" Cato screams, practically steaming. Quite like a ham, in fact. I never knew a steamed ham could be so terrifying... "ARRRGGGGGHHH!"
Everything thereafter is unintelligible, but for once it's not Cato who holds my complete attention. It's Marvel. Not only is he angry as described, but he's clearly had some sponsors watching over him today. He's wearing some form of a thick body armour; a sort of safety gear, even. He lacks a helmet or face-guard, instead having a strange kind of hood pulled up with a thin mesh built in to cover his face.
I pale, my heart bumping erratically fast as my blood truly runs cold.
He's holding a buzzing, angry nest of tracker-jackers in his arms. Cato's a safe enough distance behind to avoid their wrath, but the way he surveys the clearing, the splattered remains of Glimmer and then us... it's so clear what he intends to do.
Nuts!
"Run! Run for your lives!" I scream, turning and running away instantly, grabbing up a backpack of supplies as I do.
I sprint one way, and I see that Urchin and Gadget have begun to dash off in a different direction. I can only hope they will be spared the pain, as will I, and that we can regroup as soon as possible.
"You tree bitch!" Marvel roars. "First our starting gear, then Clove, causing a fight at our camp, all the supplies had left, Glimmer... ok, that's it, the limit has officially been reached! Get a cannon ready Gamemakers; here comes my most marvellous of attacks!"
I push myself to run as fast as I can, working my small legs to the limit. I hear the sound of something sailing through the air and a nasty crunching sound as it hits the ground. The buzzing sounds formidable.
Nuts...
I shake my head, narrowing my eyes. This is the worst time to panic; I need to keep my mind calm and my pace brisk as can be. Only this will keep me from being tracked, jacked and stung to death.
I cannot hear any screaming, so I can only assume that Urchin and Gadget are avoiding the swarm for now. I keep myself going, jumping over logs and ducking under branches. When I come to a muddy slope I jump forth and dick in my heels with my arms extended either side of me. I slide speedily down and keep on going. I can only pray that the increased speed from the slide has put me safely ahead of the horrible wasps.
If only I had the blowtorch I once had on me before I lost my supplies; perhaps fire could defeat them. It's too dangerous to stop and check if I have one now, though. I just can't risk my life in the hope Gadget grabbed one and stuffed it into the backpack I claimed.
The swarm sounds less aggressive now, perhaps not in the mood to pursue me. The rain may be the one thing keeping me alive right; it's a known fact bugs don't often fly when it's raining and certainly this must apply to tracker jackers as well. Glancing back I grimly smile, seeing that only a few stragglers are chasing me and even then some of them are now leaving the area to find shelter.
I race forwards, feeling hope rising in me. I'm doing it, I'm evading the horrid monsters! Ha, so much for Marvel's plan! Sure, he might have wanted me killed and, yes, perhaps he is the first tribute to weaponise a tracker jacker hive in this kind of way and thus is surely a sponsor favourite now, but he's gonna have to keep waiting if he wants me dead.
I have a will to survive that he cannot break. Perhaps I am small, but even the tiniest among us can often-AAARRRGGGHHHH!
I can't hold back the scream as pain erupts on the back of my neck. One of the tracker jackers stung me... nuts, nuts, nuts! One sting can be fatal... and yet, I am still running, if perhaps a bit haphazardly.
I grit my teeth, forcing myself to keep on going. It's not over yet. It's not. I can still... keep on... running. I have to... evade Marvel and-AAAAARRRRGGGHHH!
A second sting, one to my cheek, has me shriek loud enough for birds to scatter from the trees. The stings inflame my body, the agony the only feeling I have left. Aaaahhhh... aahhhh... ARRRRGGGHH!
As if that were not bad enough, my shoulder feels painful once more. It's so sore and... and...
Everything's getting strange...
As I stumble my way along, everything is echoing. The rain seems like it's slowing down around me and the colours begin to invert. The trees start melting away into mud and I think for a moment I can hear laughter. I don't know who is laughing, but they laugh loud.
On and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.
I feel like I'm drunk, swaying around as I try to keep moving. But as I tumble around a steep slope is getting near. Not just that, but... uhhhhh... whoa, that's a lot of tigers running past, or are they not there?
Everything begins to look purple and the rain starts falling in reverse towards the sky. The laughter is getting louder.
I feel so dizzy, waving away the tap dancing bear that offers me a drink. I start to slowly spin on the spot, backing up step by step. I see President Snow standing nearby, standing calm and dignified.
He smirks, and his face erupts into a screaming shadow that explodes into a shower of cockroaches.
"Bugs!" I scream, though I think it comes out as a blur.
Before I can try to fumble and grab whatever is pierced into my neck and cheek - stingers, or just some of the sausages raining from the sky now? - I slip on the mud and everything starts to echo as a bell clangs distantly. It continues to ring slow and haunted as I crash to the base of the slope, finally come to a stop in a thick bush.
I lay crumbled and dazed. As I say here on my side I feel everything going dark.
Looking up I can see Fiona and Lawrence looking down at me with big grins, but I can't say a word before it all goes dark...
END OF DAY 6...
REMAINING TRIBUTES
Marvel (District 1 Male)
Cato (District 2 Male)
Gadget (District 3 Female)
Urchin (District 4 Male)
Cinder (District 5 Female)
Wood (District 7 Male)
Nettle (District 7 Female)
Rammy (District 10 Male)
THE FALLEN
9th- Glimmer (District 1 Female) - Blown up by landmines, by Gadget.
10th- Katniss (District 12 Female) - Skewered with a spear through the back, by Marvel.
11th- Lacey (District 8 Female) - Shot repeatedly with arrows, by Glimmer.
12th- Peeta (District 12 Male) - Beaten relentlessly, by Cato.
13th- Rue (District 11 Female) – Spear thrown into chest, by Wood.
14th- Clove (District 2 Female) - Drowned, by Nettle.
15th- Weldar (District 3 Female) - Asphyxiated with a rope, by Rammy.
16th- Jason (District 6 Male) – Slashed several times in the stomach with a scythe, by Cato.
17th- Sparky (District 5 Male) – Speared in the gut with a spear and then stabbed in the chest with a knife, by Wood.
18th- Sickle (District 9 Female) – Stabbed in the chest with a knife, by Glimmer.
19th- Thresh (District 11 Male) – Disembowelled with a machete, by Cato.
20th- Marina (District 4 Female) - Struck in the neck with an axe by Weldar.
21st- Miller (District 9 Female) – Knife thrown into back, by Clove.
22nd- Tamora (District 6 Female) – Stabbed repeatedly in the gut, by Glimmer.
23rd- Sable (District 10 Female) – Stuck in the skull with an axe, by Cato.
24th- Callico (District 8 Male) – Stabbed with a kukri, by Marvel.
TRIBUTE NOTES
Katniss: I find it really ironic, honestly, that in these stories Katniss never seems to do much. I mean, she is only the canonical main protagonist and all. Perhaps in some ways it could be called fitting that in a series dedicated to the minor tributes who never got names that Katniss takes a step away from the main stage? Well, regardless, this is where Katniss has left us for another timeline. I found it enjoyable to write for her properly again; after all, she never really had a role in Wounded Warsong and Howling Hate... well, yeah. It's been ages since her last role where we saw her more protective and caring side. Here, though, she had nobody to protect and had her view on Peeta unintentionally corrupted by Nettle, leading to her being much more of a frosty loner with attitude. Due to never getting the bow this time and also the increasingly flooded, hazardous terrain this was a timeline where the odds were against her a lot. But, being Katniss, she fought until the end. It was fun to show off a new - well, new in my fics anyway - side to her, but as I said this is where she leaves us once again.
Glimmer: Per the norm, she's a character I enjoy writing for. I feel like of the Careers she just has a lot of untapped potential in her; hard to explain, but reading the book and watching the movie she was one of those characters who just jumped out at me. I guess it feels redundant to say it when the point here is to expand on the minor characters, lmao, but the point is how she's a character I enjoy using whenever I can. I feel like she served a good role as a secondary antagonist in this tale, posing a key threat when she showed up and with plenty of decent lines, such as her talk with Clove and the stand-off with her and the Sevens. But, as has been the case three times now in what is becoming a morbid and unintended trend, she has died at the Careers' campsite in fairly horrible fashion. I feel the impending knowledge that she is doomed and about to blow up added a lot of emotion here, maybe making her somebody deserving of sympathy? Up to you guys I guess, but certainly some nasty final moments. I think her calling out to her younger sister - Shimmer - to look away added to the grim moment. In any case, here she dies... and now, just eight remain.
A final note, tracker jacker hallucinations are both terrifying to think about and yet also great fun to write!