Whoop, whoop! I received 100 reviews, and I am so grateful! A big thank you going to those who submitted lovely reviews (: I am so happy that I reached 100 reviews, because it shows that people really like this story, and that makes me feel awesome. Thank you guys again, I really appreciate it very, very, very, very, very much!
Puddingpop12: Thanks! & yeah, that's just Vinera.
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I examine the sliced rope. Definitely from a knife, the victim used a knife to cut through the rope. Dammit! I swear if I find out who this escapee is, I will rip their face out with my bare hands. How dare they do that? They have made us Careers look stupid. And now, whoever they are, he or she is gaining sponsors for their daring stunt. My hand closes around the rope and I squeeze it with all my strength. How stupid we are. We should've used something else to make the noose. Like wire.
"Did they take anything?" I ask Sebastian, who is looking through the supplies.
"They took one of those really long spears," he says. I throw the rope on the ground angrily and stomp on it.
"That's it?" Marina asks.
"Yeah, or no. Hey, did anyone eat an apple?" Sebastian asks.
"No," Evan says first. "Not me," says Vinera. "I don't like apples," Marina says. We all look at Caiden. "No," he simply says.
"I didn't" I say. "They stole two apples. We have three left." says Sebastian.
I don't recall seeing anyone fleeing the bloodbath with a knife. I still don't know which tribute stole some canned goods. Maybe, I was so caught up in getting people to not underestimate me that I underestimated my own enemies. Do not underestimate or overestimate your enemies. This was one rule I told myself to follow, and I failed. Who knows who this mysterious escapee is, all I know is that I'll tear every fiber of their being to shreds for making us look dumb in front of everyone in Panem.
I get on my knees and pull my gray jacket and sleeping bag towards me. Tonight, it's Vinera and Caiden's turn to sleep in the tent. I walk over to the Cornucopia and set my sleeping bag down on an empty spot. Caiden pulls his and Vinera's sleeping bag toward the tent and puts them inside. Vinera gets her axes and Caiden's shuriken stars and stuffs them in the tent.
Caiden volunteered to make dinner tonight, he wanted to show me that he's a better cook. I could care less, as long as I had something to eat I was okay. Marina skins the big mouse we killed. When she's done, she hands the carcass to Caiden who already has the fire prepared.
"Maybe these would add a little more flavor," Gary says and takes two handfuls of green leaves out from his pack.
"Did you get this when we were hunting?" I ask. He nods proudly. Caiden extends his hand to get them, but I pull the leaves closer to me, examining it. It could be poison, this thought came to mind because one: I still don't trust Gary and two: Gary might not be skilled at edible plant identification.
The plants have a light green tone. I stare intently at the veins, checking if the veins are a pristine white color, or if the leaf was thicker than the average. I felt it, and gave it a little squeeze. It wasn't poison. I sniff the leaves and a minty scent fills my nostrils. They're mint leaves. My mother would sprinkle it over some roasted chicken for dinner sometimes. Thinking of my mother makes me feel a little homesick. My mouth waters when I think about that baked, tender chicken I ate back home, before the reaping.
"Amethine?" Caiden asks.
"Yeah?"
"Is it safe to eat?" he asks, I nod. Gary walks over and dumps the leaves in the pot.
Caiden stirs the contents in the pot, and the wonderful smell travels through the air, and spreads to our noses.
"I think two people should keep watch tonight, in case someone tries to sneak up on us." I say, trying to distract myself from the smell. "I'll be one of them," I volunteer.
Caiden and Gary agree. "Who else wants to keep watch with Amethine?" Caiden asks those behind him.
"I don't want to, I'm tired." says Marina.
"I'll keep watch," says Vinera.
"Okay then, it's settled. Vinera and Amethine are keeping watch tonight," Gary says.
The mouse is cooked and Caiden calls everyone to eat. He reaches for my bowl that I used this morning for the oatmeal. When he sees that it's been used, his nose scrunches up and he sets it back down. He grabs the bag of utensils and fishes a clean one out. He takes a chunk of the chicken out from the pot and transfers it to his bowl. I get a bowl and spoon and serve myself. The rest do the same, and we eat our food in silence.
Gary is always the first one to go to sleep, maybe he's really tired. All of us are tired, in fact. Vinera gets up and walks with Caiden to the tent.
"We're on guard." I tell her. "I know, I'm just going to get something from the tent." she says.
She and Caiden get into the tent and I hear giggling. I gag. They better not do anything that will keep up all awake. Bored, I take a spear out of from my sheath and run my fingers over the smooth metal. I twirl it around, scanning the area at times. Vinera hasn't come out of the tent yet. She said she was going to get something, and I'm pretty sure that she would be out by now if that's all she's going to do. She better not fool me and make me keep watch by myself. I'm not afraid to guard the camp alone, but I wouldn't like it if she tricked me.
I hear the grass rustle beside me and my head immediately snaps in that direction.
"Relax golden goddess, it's just me." Vinera says calmly.
"It's not my fault that I'm always high on alert." I tell her.
She ignores my comment and looks down at the axe on her lap.
"Are you and Caiden together?" I blurt out. My eyes widen when I realized what I just did. I brace myself for her to insult me and tell me that it's none of my business, but what she does is unexpected. She smiles and takes a glance at the tent.
"You could say that," she says.
"We messed around back home," she adds. I don't dare ask what she means by 'messing around'
"Are you both trying to hide it?" I whisper, so the cameras won't hear.
She nods, her expression is hurt. "Sometimes, I wish we didn't have to."
"Is that why you're always mean?" I ask, trying to sound like I'm joking around, and lighten the mood.
"Partially the reason why. I'm mean because, well…it's just who I am." she says in a low voice. "I'm mean because I wish we didn't have to hide our relationship. I know it's our fault, because we volunteered, but if we had a choice then neither of us would be here." she says. She's right, what she is saying, about if it was up to her and Caiden, then both of them wouldn't be here just doesn't apply to her and Caiden, but to me as well. It was my choice to volunteer, and if I didn't I wouldn't be here, on the grass in front of the golden horn.
"Are you saying that it wasn't your choice to volunteer?" I whisper.
"It wasn't. In district 2, the head trainer chooses the people who get to volunteer. Caiden was well-known for his throwing, and I was known for my skills with an axe. We didn't see it coming. There were so much people, who were better than us in that training academy, so we were shocked when the head trainer called our name." she says.
My dad was right. The head trainer decides who will volunteer to get in the games. The training there is strict. If the training there was like that of district 1, then Vinera and Caiden would be free to choose whether or not they wanted to compete in the hunger games.
"That's why I'm mean to you, Amethine. I'm so angry, at everything and everyone because not one thing can go my way. Things that I don't want to happen, happen. My wishes are never granted, and my prayers never answered. Nothing." Vinera keeps her voice low, but I can sense the anger.
"I'm afraid that I'll lose Caiden to someone else. If he wins, I need to die. When he becomes victor, all the girls in the district will beg him to be their boyfriend and I know he'll forget all about me." she says.
"Sometimes, when he flirts around with you, or annoys you it irritates me." she adds.
"Why? He's just fooling around."
"That's the point! He shouldn't be fooling around! This is the games for Pete's sake!" she says.
"You're right," I say.
"Ofcourse I'm right."
"Hey golden goddess?" she asks.
"What,"
"You're not so bad after all," she says with a smirk. I chuckle. "You're alright, yourself."
An Hour Later
"I'm tired," I say with a yawn. "Are you?" I ask Vinera.
"Nah, I'm still good." she says.
"Tell you what, I'll wake Caiden up and have him keep watch with you." I whisper, still trying not to make the cameras hear my words.
I swear I can see her blush, but I ignore it. "Sounds good," she says.
I nod and walk over to the tent. I unzip the front and step in, I look around the slightly messy tent with two sleeping bags, packs, and bags of food scattered around. I pick up a pack of nuts and throw it at Caiden's face. Due to the speed and strength of my arm, the plastic smacks against his left cheek. He rubs his check and turns over. I sigh and look for something else to throw at him. I pick up Vinera's pack and throw it at his gut. Hard. He lets out a soft groan and rubs the area the pack hit.
"Caiden, it's your turn to be on guard." I tell him. His eyes open for a second, and close.
"Caiden!" I exclaim. He tries to keep his eyes open, but exhaustion takes over and they close. I reach for him and shake his shoulders violently, which isn't easy to do since he is taller than me.
"Alright, I'll get up." he says. He sits up and looks around.
"Where's Vinera?" he asks.
"She's outside, you're going to be on guard with her." I say, paying close attention to his reaction. He creates a mask of carelessness, his face saying that he doesn't care, he'll just what he has to do. But, what gives him away is his eyes, I see the slightest of excitement sparkle.
I walk out of the tent and over to my sleeping bag. I close my eyes, just as I hear Caiden walk out of the tent and join Vinera on the grass.
"Let's go get water," I tell the others.
We're out of clean bowls to use, so I plan on taking the whole bag of eating utensils and wash them at the stream, and we'll might as well fill up our flasks.
It's morning, and no one has eaten anything yet, because there isn't anything clean to eat with. Noone has said much, probably because they haven't had something to eat yet. Caiden, who is always in a silly mood is not talking, too.
"Who's up for it?" I ask.
Noone even puts a smile on their face. Am I the only one that's in a good mood? Well, I'm not in a happy-go-lucky mood, but I'm the only one who is talking.
"Since someone managed to escape one of traps, some of us need to stay back and watch the supplies. I'll go, and I need two or three people to follow. So, who wants to tag along?" I ask.
Thankfully, Sebastian speaks up. "I'll follow,"
"I will, too" says Marina, following her district partner.
I look at the rest of my allies. Gary shrugs. "I'll go, I guess." he says.
"Okay, then. Vinera, Caiden, and Evan, give us your flasks, we'll fill them up." I say. They nod and do as I say. I toss their flasks in the bag full of utensils.
"Come on, the quicker we leave, the faster we'll finish." I tell those who are following me.
"This is heavy," Gary grumbles as he holds the bag of utensils and the other's flasks over his shoulder.
"Stop complaining." I scold.
"The stream should be somewhere around here," Sebastian says, looking around.
I nod my agreement. We walk further north, and just like Sebastian said, we stand in front of the stream. I take the bag from Gary and empty out the contents onto the grass. I rinse each bowl and spoon and shake the water off, then place them back into the bag.
"Fill up everyone's flask," I tell the others. I take my pack off and set the flask on the ground. "Don't forget mine," I add.
When everyone's flask is filled, we put them in the bag and start heading back for camp. We might hunt the other tributes when we're finish eating. The rustling of leaves fill the forest air, but my eyes pick something up. Hissing. Is it me, or do these leaves sound like a serpent hissing?
"Look out!" Sebastian shoves me out of the way, causing me to fly to the ground. I don't have time to ask, as I watch him impale a dark green, scaly serpent in the throat. Marina shrieks, and Gary's eyes widen.
The serpent falls in front of Sebastian, and he pulls his trident out. I get up and take a good look at the thing. It's longer than my body, than all our bodies. The scales are visible, and when you look closely, you think that your hands will bleed just by one touch.
"Thank you," I say to Sebastian. He nods.
"I don't want to wait for what else lies behind these trees. Let's go." I tell the others, and they agree immediately. We all run to camp, not bothering to look back.
Thank you again, to the readers who reviewed! I'm so thankful for them, and the fact that this story has reached 100 reviews! To those of you who don't like Vinera: What do you think of her now, since you know about her and Caiden's relationship? Do you still dislike her, or you kinda understand her? Let me know! I am going to warn you guys, that there might be some days where they're no deaths. This is because I don't want to rush things, and because the games last for 2 weeks. Don't forget to let me know what you think! Thanks for reading and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor (: