Time had slowed down. We're pinned against a river, surrounded on all sides, with no way to flee without dying. I'm frantically thinking of a way out. Suddenly, above Cato, I see a huge tracker jacker nest. I don't even think. I raise my bow, take aim, and fire. The nest falls and burst wide open. All at once the air is filled with a horrible humming sound, and the tracker jackers attack.
"Come on, Gale," I scream and yank him into the river. The current pulls us down stream and I look around once I come up to take a breath. I see most of the Careers running, but the blonde girl from One is convulsing on the ground, screaming.
We move down river with the current for a few minutes when Gale starts to swim for land. "Gale," I say. "We need to keep going, we're too close here."
He ignores me and shakily pulls himself onto the beach. Instantly I know something is wrong. He's shaking, and his eyes are glazed over. Then I see it. A huge red welt on his neck. He's been stung.
I instantly swim over to him. "Gale," I say his name a few times, but I get no response. I inspect him quickly to see if there are any other stings, but there are none. One sting won't damage a big guy like Gale, but the hallucinations could start any second. "Gale," I say again, but this time I grab him. Instantly his eyes snap up to meet mine.
He stares at me wide eyed for a second, then he lets out a blood-curling scream. He starts to try to run, but he's so weak from the poison he doesn't get fair. I realize he's just hallucinating and that I'm probably scaring him, but if I let him run he'll get himself killed.
I tackle him and try to pin him down with my weight. Normally this couldn't happen, but he's so weak right now he can't move. He keeps thrashing though, trying to run from me. Suddenly, I feel his hand make direct contact with the side of my face and I'm thrown off of him and onto the ground. That's gonna leave a bruise, I thought.
I'm back up instantly and pin him down again, being sure to pin down his arms with my legs this time. He keeps looking at me terrified and screaming, so I slap my hands over his eyes and mouth to shut him up. We sit there for what feels like forever. I'm helpless as I let the poison run it's course. Part of me is worried that someone heard him, but mostly my mind is consumed by his dreadful sounds.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he goes limp. I slowly move my hands away from him. He's covered in sweat and he looks like he's in pain, but he's not a danger to himself anymore. I get off of him and move over to our supplies that are still on the river bank. He's lost the pocket knife and the packet of dried fruit, and I've lost two arrows. But besides that everything else is there.
I go back over and check on him, and just by looking at him I know he's burning with fever. I need to get him closer to the river, but I can't carry him. Slowly, I drag him over to the river, wincing every time its seems like I hurt him. Once he's there I grab some of the bandages, wet them, and gently wash his face with them.
As I clean him up, I really get a good look at Gale. He's got a truly handsome face, with perfect eyes and beautiful lips. I knew that one day Gale wanted to have a family. Marry a nice girl, become a father, and make his living by hunting instead of going into the mines. Unlike me, he had a nice future. It would truly be a shame for him to die here.
I know we can't stay here. Reluctantly, I leave Gale and walk a little downstream. I hear a cannon sound, most likely for the blonde girl, but besides that it's quiet. The height of the river drops and the land starts to form a really small valley around it. I walk a little farther down, until I'm completely hidden from anyones view. Someone would have to look directly down to see me. It's better than being out in the open, so I head back to Gale.
I take our packs and move them down river. Then I pull Gale into a shallow part of the stream. I float him down to where our packs are, being careful not to let him drown. After I pull him back onto land i sit down next to our packs and put his head in my lap, rewetting the bandages and putting them on his forehead every so often. Its going to be a long next couple of days.