Ch. 19- Bloodbath

And, the next chap. As close to a double update as I'm going to get right now. I uploaded this for Galatea R.S, it's her birthday today!

Merida POV

I woke to see Jack sprawled on the ground, staring up at the 'clouds'. Hiccup and Punzie are snuggled up with each other. Wasn't Hic on watch?

As soon as I lean up, Jack looks at me. "Mornin, sleepyhead."

I half-smile. "Good mornin'. Wasn't Hic on watch?"

"Yeah, but I woke up in the middle of the night, and he was exhausted. Compared to how he's been acting towards me, he practically jumped at my offer." He chuckles. Despite myself, it makes me smile too.

You know that feeling that it's going to be a great day? Blue skies, crisp air, sunny, overall good feeling? I am feeling that.

I throw my arm around the surprised boy's shoulders. "C'mon, Overland! Lets go fish fer breakfast!"

A real smile, not a smirk, finds its way on Jack's face. "Sure! Let's go! To the big lake!"

About an hour later, we have scored 5 trout and 2 fin. And some berries for Pascal. Rapunzel has been getting on me about not thinking about Pascal.

A fist-bomb (something that Jack made up with his sister, something about a pre-war thing?), and we head back to campsite with a few buckets to splash on the laggers.

As soon as the threat is out of our mouths, everyone is up. Instead, we drink the water. Less fun, but more helpful. Too bad. I'd almost forgot we were in the arena when I was fishing with Jack.

"So, now that we're done with breakfast, how about we get going on that boat?" Percy is suggesting.

Hiccup nods. "Good idea. Let's go!"

Jack looks… strange. "Do you think that, maybe, I can stay here?"

Hiccup throws him a suspicious look. "No. I'd like to keep you in my sight."

Jack's eyes widen as the other tribute grabs him by the arm and drags him onto to the boat, all the while blubbering. "No no no no please no!"

His face is so pale and eyes so big it's almost comical. Okay, it's hilarious. I'm cracking up. He throws me a betrayed look. He's grabbed the sides of the boat, cat-style, refusing to go in. But when the boat starts tilting, he quickly lets go.

As soon as everyone's on, Percy starts rowing. Jack's knuckles are white, gripping the sides.

I'm finally fed up. "Wha' is it with ya an' boats?"

He glances at me, then refocuses his energy in his hands. "I'm… afraid of drowning. So, I try to avoid going in deep water."

"But you're in a boat."

"It could capsize."

I can't help but snicker at his paranoia. He mock-glares at me. "Hey, it could!" Then he looks up, and frowns. "Was is about to storm when we left?"

He's right. As I look up and see the black clouds, it starts to drizzle. "Hey, guys, ah think we should head back. We got ourselves a pretty big storm."

Percy looks up and curses. "Yeah, this one's gonna have lightning." We turn around to head back. We're about halfway to shore when, in the direction only me and Jack are facing, lightning strikes the water, temporarily creating a path.

Jack sucks in a breath. There was a giant bronze-looking… talon.

Leo nodds when I tell him what we saw. "I honestly have no idea what it is, but we know for sure that something's in the lake now. I'll think about what it might be-"

He was cut off by the Capitol Anthem. What? It's too early for dead tributes to be shown. Unless…

Gobber appears on the screen. "Tributes! I know it's a bit early, but we are having a feast! There will be a pack with an item that could help you. It starts at dusk! I recommend you be there, otherwise you'll be at an extreme disadvantage. So, good luck, and may the odds be every in your favor!" And the screen shut off.

I glance at our rickety boat.

"Everybody! We have a decision to make!" I hear Hiccup call out.

Within minutes, the entire team is gathered in the temple center. "So, guys, we all heard about the feast." All nods. "So, should we go or not? Opinions."

Percy:" Who knows? We all know its a trap. But if we work together, we might get it.

Frank: "It's a bad idea. No."

Leo: "We should go! As far as we know, we're the only ones who know about the 'help' in the lake, it might have some clues!"

Bianca: "Nico, my little brother, would want me to go but be careful. I'm going whether you want me to or not."

Punzie: "My frying pan's ready, let's go!"

Jack: "I'll go. I hope the District 12 one has life-savers."

Me: "Bring. It. On."

Hiccup: "Alright, it seems we are going! Get prepared! Any other things anybody wants to share?" I raise my hand. "Yes, Merida?"

"Me and Jack saw something in the lake this morning. When the lightning split the lake, we saw a giant bronze talon."

Hiccup nods. He doesn't seem as excited as I thought he would be. "That's interesting. I'll think about it."

It's a little disappointing when he dismisses is without saying anything further about the talon.

It's time to go. The feast is at the cornucopia, (as usual) and we're poised to attack. Hiccup thought it would be a good opportunity to take out some competition. Unfortunately, others have definitely thought of that too.

I have all my arrows and my bow ready. Jack refuses to use anything but that stick. All the others have their respective weapons.

I can see the packs on the table. 5…4…3…2…1… BZZ! We burst out of the undergrowth. I hone in on the District 12 one. I scoop it up and put it in my fanny pack. That was easy. Leo gets the District 3 and Percy grabs District 4. And then… the enemy.

Jason and Piper lead Astrid and Fishlegs in a charge.

Jason locates Jack and dives after him. Soon they're engaged on a battle, stick vs. sword. Astrid goes in for Hiccup, and Fishlegs goes for Rapunzel. Piper goes after me, but stops short when I shoot her in the dagger arm. Heh.

She switches hands and goes after a different target: a black-haired girl. Seraphina.

Seraphina snatches up her pack and digs something out of it. A gleam in the dark; a silver Capitol hunting knife.

The two girls take swipe after swipe. I target some others: Rainbow Campus from District

6 and Sophie Dvarkin from district 9. I kill both.

Jason calls a retreat, and the Careers leave, Fishlegs sporting a huge gash on the leg and Astrid with some cuts on her face. Her axe didn't do much damage to Hic, lucky tribute.

Finally, we're back at the temple. Capitol Anthem: the dead are

District 3: Bianca DiAngelo. Everyone gasps. How did we not notice she needed help? But she's gone now…

District 6: Rainbow Campus.

District 8: Albus Dumbledore

District 9: Sophie Dvarkin and Tam Farrell

District 10: Arcticos Fox

District 11: Elfwyn Veritas

Capitol Anthem. Seven deaths.

What was in the packs:

3: a close-up shot of where to insert a sword, and a schematic of a saddle.

4: a whole bunch of leather and a fold up boat? How is that possible?

And ours: a life-saver, some poison that I guessed was for my arrows, a book on something called 'chameleons' with a picture of something that looks like Pascal on it,and a small pamphlet on how to properly speak, read, and write fluently in a language the Capitol calls 'Dragonese'.

Everyone seems happy with what they got except Hiccup. He huffs. "It's their idea of a joke. Thanks, Dad, for advertising the Viking heritage."

"What's a joke?" Jack asks.

"In the Viking culture, apparently they used to slay dragons. I was named after a chief's son legendary for being small and being able to talk with dragons. The language was called 'Dragonese'. Humph." But all the same, he's burying his nose in it.

I look outside. Leo and the District 4s are working together to make the saddle in the schematic. Rapunzel and Hiccup are both reading. Where's Jack?

"Hey, Mer? Can you swim?" Right on cue, Overland.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Can you be nearby when I try out the life-saver?"

I snort. "Fine."

He smiles with childish delight. "Yes! Thanks, Mer!"

And he edges quickly towards the water, floatie around his waist.

I smile. He always makes me forget I'm in the arena.

It's my turn to watch, but Leo is volunteering. He doesn't look too good. But he's looking at me, "Please."

Then I see it. He needs time to mourn for his teammates.

I settle down, and I fall asleep.

Jason POV

At least all of us survived. If Astrid had died, though, I'd have killed Fishlegs. His pack has healing materials.

I look inside me and Piper's.

A small silver shotgun, with pellet-like bullet refills.

I smile. Time for some revenge.

Dun dun dun! A small silver gun… does that sound familiar, or is it just me…? Heheheh… this story is almost done! This was kind of a filler, and it focused on Jack and Merida's relationship. Jack provided some comic relief. I hope you like It! And please, try to guess what the underwater thing!

Shoutouts:

Galatea R.S- the riddle… ah, it's actually not that riddle-y. Eheheh… yeah… also, happy birthday!

RotBTDfan1937: I'm sorry. I'm not changing where anyone lives. And Nico will be in the story eventually. In the sequel. SO NICO WILL BE IN. YOU CAN STOP ASKING FOR NICO NOW. I have only mentioned Nico a couple times because I'm not sure how to make him exactly yet. (I write this whole thing without editing besides spelling errors. n_n) I'm sorry I didn't reply before, they didn't show up in my email.

Bye!