CHAPTER 3

I'm still in the tree. The careers left some time ago, and the sun has set over the trees in the distance. I'm still reluctant to get down. Whilst the boy from one may not be a threat, the girl from four, Aquette, is a problem. She's clearly the leader, and probably the fastest. I'm going to have trouble getting away. But if I stay here, the Gamemakers will grow bored and simply flush me out with something more deadly that the careers.

So, reluctantly, I undo the rope from around my waist, and slide down the trunk, falling on my back when I hit the ground. I'm momentarily winded, but I'm ok. It's starting to get cold. The sun provided the only warmth in the arena, and now that it has set, it must be somewhere near freezing. I dig around in my backpack, find the night glasses, and pull on my second jacket. And, for extra safety, I pull out the axe. I had ample time earlier in which to sharpen it, and now the blade almost glints in the faint moonlight.

Not for the first time, I wonder if I'll be able to use it. Of course I could in self-defence. I'm not stupid. I know when it's necessary. But in cold blood? I'm not a hunter. The most I can catch is a rabbit, and even then, only with snares. Although… District 7 is dangerous. It's so huge and the forests are so dense, bears are common. We hunt them in packs. I say we… I generally just stick around at the rear, and watch the group's backs.

I separate the long willowy vines and peek out. It's safe. That, or someone is very well concealed. I can see everything in these glasses.

Creeping out, I take in my surroundings. The forest is extremely dense. This is a good thing. I'm used to this kind of terrain. Whereas the careers and those who live in the industrialised districts (like 3 and 5) will have no clue. I bet the boy from eleven is having a great time. They climb. This is his territory too. He's yet another threat to add to my ever growing list.

There's a sharp sound of a twig snapping off to my right and I spin, axe at the ready. It's a fox. Just a fox.

I breathe a sigh of relief and relax a little, although my heart is still pumping fast. It gives an almost strangled barking sound and then darts off into the foliage. I'm slightly surprised at myself. It couldn't have taken me more than two seconds to turn on that fox. The first thing I did was pull out my axe. What does that say about me? If that had been a tribute, would I have struck?

I have to be more alert. I didn't see that fox coming until it was almost right next to me. If it had been a career, I'd be dead. I slowly move onwards through the forest. From what I can remember of the arena I could see at the cornucopia, it was just forest. Only forest, with a clearing in the middle to make space for the cornucopia. Although who knows? Maybe there are lakes or valleys here too. I really do need to stop and sleep at some point. It will be my best chance. The audience in the Capitol are usually content with letting us survivors all sleep on the first night, because of the bloodshed earlier on. So eventually, after I've been walking for what feels like hours, I climb another tree and belt myself in. I hear something howl in the distance.
It's going to be a long night.

Some while later, I slide down the tree trunk, and start walking in the opposite direction from where I heard the howl. It's nearly ten o'clock and I'm starting to feel the effects of hunger. There are no animals here, just trees blowing their leaves over my path. I sit on the ground and look at the sky: maybe, even if I won, I wouldn't feel free. But If I can fight, I will. I survived past the Cornucopia, and I can survive until the end.

I shake myself and stand up. I have to be alert; this is the Hunger Games, and action is mandatory.

Today's the first day, and people do not like me as much as they love the Careers, at the very least, they do not like me enough to let my mentor send me something. At the interview the Capitol knew me as a tall quiet girl with a simple green dress who was probably not going to last for very long. I wonder if they felt surprised about my escape from the Cornucopia. Nevertheless, I thought as I reached the conclusion: I am not going to receive food from my mentor today. The cornucopia… Oh god.

The Cornucopia.

Where most of the tributes die… and where the Careers are right now. I don't imagine they've started combing their way through the woods just yet. I need to continue walking to make it as far away from there as I possibly can.

As I move onward, with every step I take, there's a sweet, cloying fragrance that seems to invade my senses. The trees are getting bigger, and every time more colourful. They're full of beautiful flowers, and as I move onwards I see the grand view of the lake.

It's relatively small, the water a deep, crystalline blue. Around the outside of the lake there are flowers of all colours and sizes. Has anybody else found this place, or is it only me? I walk forwards, looking briefly behind me. It's still dark, but the moon is bright and I can see quite well, especially with my night glasses. The water is close and I'm stood at the lakes edge, peering down.

In the surface I can see my reflection. My fishtail plait is still miraculously intact but I've got small cuts and scrapes all over my body and face.

It's as I'm trying to scrape some of the dried blood off my face that a silver fish darts across my reflection, causing it to ripple and become disproportioned. I stand up, grinning. There's fish. And I know exactly how to get at them.

I use a method that my brother taught me, that consists in tying many flowers in a rope, which will attract the fish. By ten minutes, I've got one. I wonder if my brother is watching… Would he be proud of me?

As I eat I realise the fish's flesh tastes familiar... I know I've tried this before. Oh, yes! How could I not recognize it? It's a bloffinch! Bloffinches are these real big fishes that feel attracted by the colourful flowers and sweet scents. They're easy pickings and taste pretty good, so they're common food back in 7. At this very moment, I feel like I belong to district 4.

BOOM! A cannon tears me away from my thoughts. I really have to admit I get easily distracted.
District 8 tribute girl was out of the Games. How did she die? I don't know. I remember her, I have good memory: a short beautiful girl with curly brown hair, maybe the same age as me (15), and at the interview she wore a big shinny magenta dress. Shimmer (district 1 tribute girl) and Squirrel were jealous of her. Maybe they were the ones who killed her.

The careers are the type to kill out of jealousy.