Thank you for all of the awesome feedback! I received a ton of awesome reviews, and they really motivated me! Thank you guys, you are all awesome people.
This morning I witnessed a cat jumping out of a car, and the owners were screaming for it to come back and I got scared because the cat just jumped in front of a huge pick-up. But fortunately, the pick-up stopped and waited for it to go, and the cat ran into another direction and hit the rims of a car! Yeah, but thank god it wasn't injured. The owners stopped the car and the cat ran back to them.
Sorry for the nonsense drabble, just thought I'd share it with you all.
A response to a couple of readers.
Amanda: Sorry for the cliffhangers. And thank you so much! Sorry, but Amethine isn't going to get in the middle of Caiden and Vinera's relationship, she's that girl who doesn't care about love right now, just the games. Again, thank you for your review! (:
Guest: Chill out, here is the update you wanted.
"I'm sorry, what happened, again?" asks Evan.
I am currently panting heavily from the long run. I run the back of my hand across my forehead, wiping the sweat off.
"There was a mutt," I say impatiently.
"How many were there?" he asks.
"We only saw one. We ran before we could spot more," I say.
"Thank you, again." I say to Sebastian. He nods. "No worries,"
"You should've seen Sebastian, he killed that mutt in a split second," Marina tells the others.
"What a nice story, Marina. Tell me more," Caiden says sarcastically. Marina glares at him and sticks her tongue out. Somehow, this reminds me of Amethyst. Oh how I miss my sister and her remarks.
"You know what? I wonder if the mutts are still in the water where the plates are." says Vinera.
"Me too, I wonder if they're going to stay there until the games are over." says Gary.
"Either that, or the Gamemakers plan on releasing them in various sections in the arena." I predict.
"I'm still trying to figure out what the barns are for," Marina says.
"I don't think it's something important. The Gamemakers must've put it there to make the arena look better." Gary says nonchalantly.
"That is one stupid theory." Caiden tells him. This doesn't affect Gary, he just shrugs and looks away.
Who knows, some of our predictions might be true and some may not. All I know is that every year, the Gamemakers have some tricks up their sleeve.
"What's for dinner?" Marinas asks Caiden as he takes the skillet out.
"I don't know, why don't you go check what kind of canned goods we have left." Caiden orders. Marina nods and walks over to the back crates. She takes the cover off and scans the contents.
"We have some beef and potato soup, some-"
"The beef soup sounds find, bring me three cans of that stuff." Caiden interrupts. Marina reaches in the crate and pulls out what he asked for.
I put my pack and sheath of spears down. I take a drink from my flask and screw the cover back on. I sit on the grass, and look around. Vinera is organizing the things in her pack, Gary is counting the stones he has left, Marina is watching Caiden heat up the food, Sebastian is cleaning his trident, and Evan is tightening the strings on his boots.
I look up at the sky, to find the sun setting. I try focus, with all concentration possible and watch. It's like a beautiful painting, although this one isn't on paper, it's real. Marina and Caiden's argument on whether or not the soup is ready is distracting me. I get up and go to the back of the Cornucopia, but I can't see the sun from here so I sit on a spot next to the steel wall.
I can still hear Marina and Caiden arguing, but it's not loud enough to mess with my concentration. I watch the sun slowly go down, then out of sight. I lay on my back with my hands folded behind my head. I could sleep out here, on the green grass out in the open. I highly doubt that a tribute would try and kill me. Don't say that I tell myself. Do not underestimate your enemies, and the people you hunt with because everyone is capable of doing something.
"Amethine, dinner is ready!" Marinas calls in a tone that reminds me of my mother and how she would inform me that supper is prepared.
I get up and make my way to the Cornucopia. Vinera, Sebastian, and Caiden already have bowls of the soup in their hands. I fill my bowl with soup, and sit down on the grass. The soup tastes great, to my surprise, but I'm not going to tell Caiden that.
I help myself to a second serving. "It looks like golden goddess likes my food" Caiden grins.
"It's not your food, it's from the Capitol. All you did was heat it up." I clarify.
"So that oatmeal wasn't yours." he accused.
"I never said it was." I retort.
"Both of you, just shut up." my head snaps to Gary and I glare daggers at him. He can't tell us what to do. Although no one says it, we're above him. We train and have enough to eat, and will sure as hell not take orders from a boy who cuts grain all day. Never.
"I think you should've said something else." says Sebastian.
"Like what?" asks Gary, keeping his eyes off of me.
"Anything besides 'shut up' look at her." he motions with his hand.
"I'm sorry, I'm just tired of all the fights and arguing. An alliance is a group that stays together an help each other… defend each other and have each other's back. Not argue and shove each other around." Gary says.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm with Gary on this one." Vinera speaks up.
"So what, are we all best friends now?" I ask.
"No Amethine, but there should be consequences for anyone who tries to provoke an argument or gets physical." Marina says.
"Anyone who doesn't act respectful to everyone, has to keep watch for the whole night." Evan says.
"And what if they fall asleep? Noone can stay up all night." I say.
"He or she should've thought about that before they acted disrespectful." Evan says.
"Sounds good." I admit and shove a spoonful of soup into my mouth.
When everyone is finished eating, we stack our bowls on top of the black crate. When I drink the last drop of water from my flask, I frown.
"Here," Marina hands me a canteen filled with water halfway.
"Thanks," I say and take it.
Not wanting to be rude and drink straight from the canteen, I pour some into my flask. I hand it back to Marina and drink some more.
"We should rest now." Vinera yawns. "Who's going to keep watch tonight?"
Noone seems to be interested, and this annoys Vinera. "Hello, anyone?" she asks. Noone answers.
"Fine then, I'll choose." she says.
"Gary and Marina, you're guarding. Oh, and that reminds me, Sebastian and Marina, it's your turn to sleep in the tent."
Marina shakes her head. "I don't want to sleep in the tent, I'm okay with sleeping in the Cornucopia." Sebastian nods.
"I'm going to sleep, night everyone." Vinera says and walks off.
I involuntarily let a yawn escape my mouth. I crawl into my sleeping bag and close my eyes, but I don't fall asleep. What's keeping me awake is the moment of that serpent springing towards me playing in my mind. That shark combined with a snake thing and its fiery fins. Those giant alligators with big, sharp teeth.
The Gamemakers have the power and the electronics to make any horrifying mutt they want. Whether the purpose for it is to kill the tributes, or drive them away from a section of the area that can't be revealed until the right timing. They can even create the most hazardous storms, that is beyond nature's abilities. The bottom line is, the Gamemakers can do anything, and I shouldn't underestimate them, too.
I'm sorry for the short chapter, but don't worry because I'll post up another chapter in two days. Everyone's thoughtful reviews were appreciated, and again, thank you all so much for them (: Your reviews made my day and I can't thank you enough. Thanks for reading and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor.
-The KTE