Gale and I would often take turns going out to hunt for extra food while saving whatever sponsors sent or to try and eliminate tributes. Gale took out two of the tributes from 4 & 8 and that evening; I took out the boy from 2. I finally saw that Gale and I were about out of water and I knew the closest source would be a pretty good hike. Gale got a few weapons and prepared to stand watch while I took our water bottles.
I climbed up into the trees and made sure my sword and knives were secured along with the water bottles and then started off for the stream. It was an exhausting trip but I made it. I knelt down and started filling our water bottles. Gale and I had managed to grab four extra water bottles a piece off the tributes we had killed. I had just finished filling Gale's five bottles and putting them in the pack when I heard a voice say "Well Phoenix; I had hoped I would see you before I won these final games."
"What do you want Bryce" I asked, filling my bottles and packing them. "You know Phoenix; you could still align with me and we could win together and I could make you my blushing bride. You deserve a life of luxury, not the unglamorous life in District 12" Bryce answered. "My life may not be full of wealth but I'm happy" I told him, going for one of my knives.
"How can you possibly be happy in filth and with such a spineless fiancé" Bryce asked. Anger boiled inside me and I cut a long slit in his arm. "Gale is not as spineless as you think and I don't care about being wealthy. I just want to be happy with what I've got including my promised marriage. District 12 might be poor but we are resourceful and always manage to survive" I replied.
I finished filling my bottles and Bryce said "You won't be returning alive. That weasel, Hawthorne will never have what should have been mine." "You really shouldn't have said that" I replied, pulling my sword. He pulled his sword and we began dueling. "You're the spineless one. I learned to appreciate hard work while were sitting on your pampered tail and being waited on who fought for their freedom. You and anyone who still enslave rebellious fighters will pay for costing others their lives."
We dueled until I got his sword away from him and he was on his knees. I knocked him down on his back, put my foot on his chest and asked "Any last words?" I grabbed his shirt collar and beheaded him. I gathered his weaponry and body armor. Finally; I made it back to the hiding spot, gave the signal, and Gale let me in.
"Are you alright" Gale asked. "Yeah; Bryce tried to kill me but I got him first. None the less; I filled our water bottles and returned unscathed" I told him, unpacking our water bottles. We started purifying the waters and then I took watch while he took off to check the traps for our supper.
He returned quickly with plenty of meat and we both kept watch as the night went on. It wasn't long before we heard the cannon which tonight, there was only three. There was only one tribute that stood between me and Gale taking the victor's crowns and most importantly; our forthcoming wedding. We couldn't have foreseen what was next.