This will probably be the last author's note, don't want this story being bogged down with personal interjections, this is a just a last appeal for any feedback or reviews they would be really helpful. Anyway Chapter 18!

Allies and Old Friends

Water. You never really think about it, when you have plenty to spare. It's the brutal truth that hits each tribute the hardest when they enter the arena. It's hard to imagine dying of dehydration, but over the years it had killed as many tributes as had a knife. Of course, the trainers try to drill into the tributes how vital finding that source of water is in the arena, but a bottle of water isn't going to protect you from a horrific attack from a Career, so this advice typically is ignored. And each tribute regrets their previous stupidity, as they haul around a backpack full of weapons, lacking the energy to wield them.

This is what Henry Wilberforce thought about as he trudged from his hiding place in the forest to the river. He didn't care who or what was waiting for him, he just knew he couldn't remain in the darkness any longer. He'd fled deep into the forest, sprinted until almost the edge of the arena. Not that he knew that of course. But he was alone and afraid, the worst combination. Spooking at every sound, jumping at every touch, Henry couldn't cope with the psychological damage the Games were causing him. So he had decided to return to the river, and take his chances with the Careers. He wanted that liquid so much, even though he knew full well it would be his destruction rather than his salvation.

When the artificial light re-entered his eyes, his pace quickened. Soon enough he was out of the confides of the overbearing trees and could hear water lapping up on the river back. He sprinted as fast as he did away from it towards the river, and drank handful after handful, relishing in the relief it gave him. The only way that moment could be trumped was if he were in his home in District 8, with his mother and father, his aunt and his cousins, with everyone he loved and cared about. It hadn't been long, but he was struggling to remember his new baby cousin's face.

Henry had gulped up all the water he could, unharmed. He thought he may be able to slip back into the forest undetected, and work out his next move later. He looked around. He was, as far as he could tell, completely alone. He was about to make a break for it when he felt something sharp and hard pressing into his shoulder blade. Then a teenage girl made her entrance, seemingly to appear from thin air. The Careers. There had been enough rumours about this particular alliance, and Henry could tell they were already living up to expectations. The girl in front of him was terrifyingly beautiful, Henry recognised her as Avalon from 2. Within seconds, the complete death squad appeared at the scene. There were seven of them. Henry had never seen an alliance so widespread. This was the first time in years every single tribute from 1, 2 and 4 had made it into the Careers. The seventh member was Callum from 11. He had been kind to Henry in the first few days of training, showed him how to throw a spear. The Careers had corrupted him into one of them.

They were the Capitol's dream team. They had the clear leader, Benedict, his stunning sidekick, Avalon, the ditzy but deadly blonde, Sparkle, the shameless murderer, Drennan, the brains of the operation, Pisces, the outsider, Callum, and the compassionate one, Annie. Annie seemed a strange addition to the pack, but each Career complimented all the others, the Gamemakers considered it a shame to have to kill them all.

Henry was silently gazing at his murderers, awaiting his fate. After several minutes of an agonising standstill, Henry finally cracked.

'Well?' he demanded. 'What are you waiting for?'

Avalon sighed, like she didn't have the time for this sort of nonsense.

'Do you want to make an alliance or what?'

'It's just my mother, my father and me. They didn't want to have too many children; they thought it would decrease the risk of losing one. So much for that statistic.'

Lily and Clara had moved on to talking about their home lives, an assurance that no cameras would be on them.

'Did they come and see you before you left?' Clara asked.

'Of course, in some ways I wish they hadn't though. Imagining them so upset makes me miss them even more.'

Clara nodded, she didn't need to say anything, Lily knew she understood. Some people are like that, can communicate innumerable words in a single gesture.

'It was impressive how you managed to get so many supplies from the Cornucopia,' Clara gestured over to Lily's plunder.

'Thanks, I didn't really know what I was doing. Luckily the only person I faced was that girl from 9, and she was more worried about protecting her friend than hurting me.'

Clara couldn't help but smile slightly, she knew who that friend was, and she was so happy that Grantaire had someone with him like she did.

'How long do you think we can stay here?' Clara wondered aloud.

'Not sure, how long have we even been here?' laughed Lily, which was a serious enough question. They had only walked for a few hours before Gavroche started tiring, and they decided to take cover under some low hanging trees for the night. Only now it had turned into what seemed like such a safe and peaceful place neither of the girls wanted to leave. Gavroche had little feelings on the matter, he had done nothing but sleep for most of the Games. Not that anyone could blame him, it was his own way of dealing with the trauma, and Clara and Lily were only too happy to cater for his needs.

Originally Lily was going to take the first watch and Clara was to sleep. Gavroche lay his head and her lap and was out like a light. Clara however, could not fall into slumber so easily and soon conversation arose between the teenage girls, and they became to feel very close to each other, despite having only known each other for a matter of hours.

They talked about their home, their family, about life in the Districts, and about countless other things. Naturally the conversation had swerved towards Callum, but all Lily said was that she barely knew him from home but he seemed decent. Clara didn't want to interject on that subject, and merely spoke of her district partner in a similar fashion.

'So, is there anyone special in 12?' Lily asked, with a hint of a grin. Clara looked her straight in the eye smiling and said,

'Nope. What about you?'

'Afraid not,' Lily replied indifferently.

Conversation quickly moved onto what their next move should be, but both girls couldn't shake the feeling the other wasn't telling the whole truth.

It was the end of another day in the arena, and not much had happened. Most tributes were recovering from the bloodbath, or strengthening alliances. Grantaire and Jen merely scoped the surrounding area of their camp, and apart from the boy from 8 the Careers had searched for the other tributes without any luck. The only event of any significance was the alliance made between the girl from 6 and the boy from 7, Stephanie and Ellis Courfeyrac thought their names were. He only had one eye on the screen while tidying up the living room, only interested for news on Clara. He was surprised the Gamemakers hadn't forced any tributes together, and at the end of Day 2 still the only victims were the ones of the bloodbath.

Courfeyrac heard the front door close and Harry entered the living room.

'Have a look who I found wondering about in the rain!' he grinned, gesturing to his companion.

'Enjolras! How are you?' Courfeyrac exclaimed. 'What the hell are you doing here, old chap?'

'It's good to see you again lads, sorry its been so long.'

'Don't worry, we know you have work of vital importance from your father and his compatriots,' Harry winked.

Enjolras rolled his eyes. 'Don't remind me, you'll never guess what he wants to have me doing next year.'

'There's plenty of time for all that, let me get you something to drink, you must be exhausted. It's a long journey from 2.'

'I came from the Capitol actually,' Enjolras took off his coat. 'But a drink would be very much appreciated. 12 looks very different on, excuse the cliché, a dark and stormy night!'

'I'll put your coat in the hall,' Harry offered, and went to hang up the wet garment. Enjolras went to join Courfeyrac in the kitchen.

'Can I help with anything?'

'No actually, no need. We've become pretty organised in this house.'

'I can see that, the old place looks better than ever!'

'We have Clara to thank for that,' Courfeyrac paused. In the mines he never really had time to think about Clara, but everything in the house reminded him of her in a different way. But always mostly of how much he missed her.

'I can't say how sorry I am about…..what has happened recently,' Enjolras tried to express his sympathy.

'I think your probably feeling it more keenly old friend,' Courfeyrac raised his eyebrows. Enjolras shifted uncomfortably, he didn't like to talk about something so totally beyond his control.

'Perhaps,' he waved the statement away. 'But it must be difficult for you.'

'It is,' Courfeyrac agreed. 'Posie and Cosette miss her naturally, she was like a mother to them. And Harry and Freddie have grown up with her, they don't know anything different to having her in the next room.'

'And you? How are you feeling?' Enjolras noticed Courfeyrac's own feelings were being swept under the carpet.

'You can say that you miss her you know. It's not a weakness, I'm admitting it pretty much openly aren't I?'

'Enjorlas…' Courfeyrac began. 'It's hard to explain. Of course I miss her, but it's not as if she left without choice.'

'What do you mean?'

The door slam shook the whole house.

'Hey Freddie!' Courfeyrac called.

'Whose coat is this?' he yelled back. 'It's sopping wet!'

'It belongs to Enjolras, Freddie. He turned up for a visit.'

'Fantastic!' exclaimed Freddie. 'Give me a moment while I tidy up this whole coat situation.'

'Okay!' Courfeyrac and Enjorlas shouted back to him, looking at each other and struggling not to laugh.

Courfeyrac loved his brother to pieces, and Enjolras felt much the same way, but Freddie didn't half have a way of making an entrance.

'Anyway,' Enjolras rebooted the earlier conversation. 'What do you mean, she didn't go without choice?'

'She volunteered remember,' Courfeyrac sighed. 'I love that girl but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forgive her for leaving us with no explanation, we'll always have this mystery hanging over our heads, nothing will be the same.'

'Unless she wins,' Enjolras pointed out.

'Of course,' Courfeyrac smiled sadly. 'I forgot that was an option.'

The awkward silence was removed by Cosette bounding into the room.

'Enjolras!' she giggled. 'I thought I heard your voice.'

'Hello Cosette, how are you?'

'Very well thank you, and yourself?'

'As well as can be expected under the circumstances.'

Cosette's smile faded. Courfeyrac frowned.

'Enjorlas, a little heavy don't you think?'

'Excuse me?' Dealing with women of any age was definitely not Enjolras' strong point.

Courfeyrac gave up. 'Shouldn't you be in bed?' he turned his attention to Cosette.

'I couldn't sleep, Posie kept kicking me.'

'I'm sure she didn't mean too.'

'I'm not saying she did. But it's hard to get to sleep when someone keeps kicking your leg!' she crossed her arms and pouted.

'Tell you what, why don't you go upstairs and when I've finished making this drink for Enjolras I'll see if I can sort something out okay?'

'Okay,' Cosette agreed, and skipped out of the kitchen.

'She's growing up fast,' Enjolras observed.

'Hey, don't get any ideas,' Courfeyrac narrowed his eyes jokingly.

'Oh no, I didn't mean….I was just observing that….' Enjolras struggled.

Courfeyrac laughed. 'You were never one for self effacing humour were you?'

'You never used to be one to doubt Clara,' Enjolras cleverly turned the conversation around. 'Since when don't you trust her, she must have had a reason, and a good one at that. She loves all of you.'

'Stop using that sharp wit of yours against me, Clara may have had her reasons, but I'm not sure you could tell me anything that would justify her actions.'

'I'm not so sure about that,' Freddie interjected, walking in with Harry.

'Look what we just found under the doormat.' He brought out an old letter, and handed it to Courfeyrac.

He took it and read it, with Enjolras looking over his shoulder. Neither could believe what they were reading. The content hit the latter particularly hard.

The four boys discussed the letter until the early hours of the morning, until Enjolras was forced to return to the Capitol for not wanting his father to become suspicious, but also promising to return as soon as he could get away.

But none of them knew about the little girl who, by disobeying her guardian's orders, found out something no one ever wanted her to know. And led her to making a very big decision, which while initially causing her much suffering, would eventually provide her with both a father and a husband.