Ch. 14- First Deaths

Hi! Some clarification about the last A/N, I was so hyper focused on the story, 'cause I've had this in my head for a while, that some part of my brain has started responding to things I think about/see the way the characters would, because I picture the story in my mind. I'm not crazy. Oh, and it's not going to get super exciting for a bit. Sorry!

Merida POV

Things have fallen into a sort of routine for me, Hiccup, and Rapunzel. Rapunzel has been cooking the Fins (my name for the fish), I've been hunting, and Hic's been working on decoding some weird symbols that he's found on the walls of the cabin. I'm not sure what language it is, only that the Capitol isn't smart enough to make up their own language.

It's been hard, only eating fish and saving the rations I found for later, but at least it's a brain food.

What puzzles me is that we haven't seen any other tributes, not even the Careers. Huh. Actually, it puzzles Hiccup, and he told me and Punzie, but that doesn't matter.

I watch a little hummingbird flit around the clearing. Those little bird are everywhere.

Lately I've been scouting out a better place, and I think I've found one. A GIANT castle, and from what Mum and Da have shown me and told me about, it's Scottish design. It'll make me feel like a princess. Hmph. A sporty one that hates dresses and rules of all kinds. And who never follows them.

My prince would be like me, wants to have fun, rule breaker, sporty, but with brown hair and warm brown eyes-

Bad Merida.

Wow, these games must really be boring. Im thinking about being a princess. Maybe I'll go out and hunt some tributes. Yeah, that sounds fun!

"I GOT IT!" Whoa, I've never heard Hiccup be so loud!

I stalk inside just as Rapunzel eagerly asks, "What does it say?" Oh. The runes.

He straightens, then says, "After many hard days of working-"

"Just get on with it, Haddock…" I sigh loudly.

He glares at me, and huffs. "Fine. I've decoded it. It says, 'Under the top of blue glass, the secret is kept.' Exactly that. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to decode other phrases more easily now, though I'm not sure what language it is."

Rapunzel beams at him. "Good job!.

He smiles at her as I say, "Good. 'Cause we're movin' location."

They both stare at me in shock, and I just stare back. "We leave tomorrow."

Hiccup is the first to recover. "Why? Why haven't you told us before now, where are we going-" he stops as I punch him in the arm.

"Because if we stay here to long, other tributes will find us, I only found the location this morning, and we're going to a big Scottish castle. And," I cut him off as his mouth opens, "Yes, I checked it out and there are no other tributes there."

He lets out a big breath. "Okay. Sorry."

Rapunzel looks around anxiously, "I'll start packing! We need our stuff… right?"

Hiccup smiles at her. "Right. Now, I'll right down my key for the symbols and the message in this journal I found in the backpack. Mer, can you start doing some hunting?" I nod curtly and head outside.

Jack POV

It's almost sunset, and then I have my turn at watch, finally.

My plan will, at last, be put into action.

I'm surveying the pile in preparation when I hear screams.

Snotlout and Ruffnut come charging in, dragging a tribute each. I recognize them as Reven King and Cottawilda Buttermilk from District 7. Snotlout grunts out, "Found these two, and a third we couldn't nab in a cove over in the east." He nods in the direction of the west. Stupid.

Jason smiles. "Well, lets take them out, huh?" Most of the Careers cheer, except me and Percy. There's some halfhearted clapping from the rest of district 4. Jason turns to me. "Why don't you do it, Jack? Kill them!"

I feel sick. But these people would need to die anyway, for… them… to win. God, it hurts to even think about them. But, I need to kill them.

I go and try to select a weapon, but none seem right. So, I decide to use my hands. I form fists, then release. I breath in and out deeply… they're looking at me. I can't procrastinate any more. Damn.

I take one more big, deep breath… and bring the side of my hand down on Reven's neck. A loud snap fills the air, and his neck is broken. I feel sickened. This kid was Emma's age.

Well, it's time for Cottawilda, who looks about 20. Her neck will be harder to snap, so I take it in both hands and twist. Another crack, louder than last, echo through the forest. I heard two bangs from the canon.

I just killed two more people.

Everybody is whispering and looking at my hands now, except Percy. He just gives me a sympathetic look and moves to my side.

As Snotlout drags the bodies away, Percy climbes the silver weeping willow while I leap, using branches and the trunk as a springboard. When we get to the top, Percy puffs, "How do you do that? That leaping thing?"

I smirk. "I don't know, only that it took a lot of practice, and it included me getting yelled at by others in the Seam for bouncing off the walls. Literally."

We both chuckle, and then Percy asks, "Do you know how weeping willows were created?"

"No, how?"

"One day, the sun god Helios was riding his sun chariot across the sky."

"Wait, I thought you said Apollo was the sun god!"

"In some legends. Well, after his day's work, Helios visited his son, and his son asked him to grant him one wish. He pestered Helios until he swore on the River Styx. And the son wished to drive the sun chariot across the sky for one day.

"Helios tried to talk him out of it, for only Helios could control the horses that were reined to the chariot, but the son refused to change his wish. So Helios gave him the sun chariot.

"The next day, the son was driving the sun chariot. He brought it up so far from the earth that it froze over, then down so far it was scorched. The horses, sensing an inexperienced driver, ran away.

"Helios's son fell to earth and landed in the river, drowning. Helios mourned, and his daughters, the Nymphs of the Sun, cried by the river he died in for so long they turned into weeping willow trees."

I'm silent for a moment, then I say, "That's a sad myth."

Percy nodded. "Yeah."

We're quiet as the sun goes down, and then Jason calls out, "Time to sleep! Jack, it's your turn to guard!"

I'm down first, and when Percy gets down, Jason pulls him over. Then Percy strides toward me. "Jason, after seeing your strength in killing, doesn't trust you. So he wants me to watch you."

I nod. When all the other Careers are asleep, I whisper, "You won't give me away?"

He shakes his head. "Nope."

We share a smile, then I collect some supplies.

(The next morning)

Merida POV

I'm awake early, and collecting our meager bunch of supplies when I hear Hiccup talk.

"Guess it's time to go, huh? Aw well. I've kind of gotten attached to this place."

"Yep." I sling the red backpack over my shoulder as Rapunzel yawns.

"So, Sleeping Beauty is finally awake." Hiccup teases. She blushes, then nudges him playfully.

"Let's go, hup hup!" I shout, and I open the door, and stop.

Punzie peeks over my shoulder. "What is- oh my gosh!"

Hiccup just throws startled blinks at the pile of supplies on the doorstep.

Rapunzel pushes through the blockade that is me. "Let's see… apples, beef jerky, iodine, some fresh Fin in a bag, ooh, a frying pan! Those are good weapons, and good for cooking, too… oh, hey… Merida? Didn't you say you were pretty good with a bow?"

"Yeah, why… DON'T TELL ME ONE'S IN THE PILE."

"One's in the pile."

I have to look for myself. Sure enough, there's one right in front of me, with a quiver filled with twice as many arrows as there is supposed to be.

I just stare. Hiccup words what we are all thinking: "Who gave this to us?"

Rapunzel speaks hesitantly. "Do you think it's-"

"No! It's not him! He betrayed us! He wouldn't do this!" I half whisper, half shout.

"But-" she starts again.

"NO! I'm not listening, Lalalalala…"

They drop the subject. But as we trudge toward the castle, I wonder…

Did he do it?

Aaaand, that's it. Haha, hope you liked this chapter! Not particularly exciting, just a small riddle and some self-conflict with Jack. *smirks* Anyway, shoutouts!

Galatea R.S- I'm sorry if this isn't particularly interesting, seeing as it's a filler… and, um, what did the first part mean?

Guest- hahah! I'm glad chapter 12 had the desired effect! And, I'm sorry to say, (MINOR SPOILER TO ANYONE READING!) that Jack won't tell them until he gets caught by the Careers, he gets caught by them, or the Careers find them, though he's going to do his best to lead them away from them. Them meaning the other District 12 tributes.

Okay. Those were the only two reviewers, and reviews make my day! So, I'm very grateful to Galatea R.S for reviewing almost every chapter, and all of the guests who reviewed, or if you're the same person. If you are different people, please give yourself a guest name that you go by for me!

And, on a different note, I'd like you guys to know that I'm seeing my mom for the first time in a while, so I most likely won't be updating for a WHOLE WEEK. T_T oh, and if you like ROTG only fics too, I'd recommend Project: GUARDIAN- The Rise and Fall by Her Head in The Clouds. It's about spies, and it's awesome. It's an AU. I'll probably post the link to the first chapter in chapter 15. I'll have to do it before G'syr gets back, he doesn't approve of that kind of thing. Okay, buh-bye!