Continuation of the Hunger Games and a return to District 12! Enjoy all and review if you have any feedback :)

Searches and Sacrifices

Distance is a relative thing. Sometimes the same journey to one person can feel like decades, but to another can pass by in a matter of seconds. Most of the time, the destination can make all the difference. Whether it's a place you want to be, or a place you have to be regardless of your preference. But the most important thing is what's waiting for you once you get there. Or who's waiting for you.

This was what was occupying the small 12-year-old girl's mind as she crossed her district from the place where she had finally felt at home to the place she had been saved from. No one had seen her leave. She'd been careful as she slipped out of the bed she shared with another girl her age with whom she had developed an uncertain relationship. Being so similar in age and personality, they had sometimes felt in competition with each other, but both had always been loved equally by the older members of their family, even the brothers who were related to one by blood.

The other had tiptoed around the house, stealing one last glance at the boys she had shared her life with for the past couple of years, the ones who had always looked after her, and the ones she had slowly seen turn into young men. She regretted not being able to see the man she shared her hair colour with, but she always managed to embarrass herself in front of him anyway, so perhaps that was for the best.

Cosette hopped playfully over the cobbles that ran across District 12. She didn't let her mind wander to anything unpleasant, not letting herself think of anything else except avoiding the cracks in the stonework beneath her feet. Although she didn't know it herself, she was granting herself the last feelings of happiness and freedom she thought she would ever have, before she went back to where she had felt so desolate and constricted before.

The destination of this young girl may seem strange, but there was a very valid reason for it. Sometimes eavesdropping is more trouble than its worth, but the conversation Cosette had overheard made her certain there was only one thing for her to do. And it was something she would have to do alone.

Time had slowed down for the young girl since her Angel had been taken from her. Even among all those children at the Reaping she shined so bright Cosette felt she had to avert her eyes. At the time, she hand't understood what came over her Angel, but she went onto a stage where she became so radiant Cosette believed even the Capitol citizens must have seen something in the sky. Then her Angel was gone, the reason for which she did not know. Until her Angel's friends had been talking in the kitchen when they thought she was asleep.

It was her fault. Her Angel was gone because of her. Well, not just because of her, but she carried a fair portion of the blame. She knew what she had to do to make it right. Her Angel wouldn't be coming home, but Cosette could make sure she would have her rightful place among all the others like her, and that she would never again be the downfall of someone she loved.

Suddenly, the cobbles became rougher and more uneven. She had to be careful to dodge the broken glass. She heard a moan, and when she turned her head towards the sound she saw a man slumped over a stool. This was it, she thought to herself. She was mildly impressed with herself for finding it so quickly; she'd expected to be looking around for hours. She had even prepared an excuse for going to this place if she had needed to ask a stranger for directions. But she had made it.

She quietly whispered goodbye to her Angel, even though she couldn't hear her. She murmured her thanks and love to all those who had taken care of her, the older boys, one with a mop of dark curls, the other with blonde curls sculpted by the finest artists (in her opinion anyway), the two younger boys, wild and crazy and fun, with eyes that sparkled even in the darkest hours, and her roommate, long dark hair with eyes like her oldest brother, who was becoming so much like Cosette's Angel. She then abruptly banished all of these thoughts from her mind, they had no place where she was going. They deserved better.

'Well, well, well,' said a cruel, scathing voice. Cosette forced herself to look at its owner.

'Looks like someone's come home.'

And that's how Cosette returned to the Thénardiers Inn. But she wouldn't be back for long.

Distance in the Arena is a different thing altogether. It doesn't stay the same, it's completely unpredictable, and the Gamemakers always decide when you get there. It's hard to say whether this is better or worse than the real world. On one hand, in the real world, at least you know your destination isn't going anywhere. On the other, whatever your destination is, it is inexplicably real.

Grantaire and Pisces were not looking forward to the end of the journey. Pisces had informed Grantaire of what they were up against, and Grantaire could only hope that the forest would go on forever. Silence between the two tributes were interspersed with various short, strained exchanges. It's not that the tributes felt a particular hostility to each other, it's just that they didn't really have anything in common to discuss. Pisces was from a relatively well-off district. His parents were good, kind, generous people, and his little brother was fast becoming big and strong, destined for great things. He had friends everywhere, at school, in the neighbourhood, even those who shared his favourite spot on the beach. In short, Pisces had never been short of company, and until he was reaped, had never known unhappiness. Grantaire in comparison, had lived a life of solitude, with a shameful father and a mother not inclined to go out for more than food. If you asked him to talk about his friends, his reply would be less than half a minute. His family was poor and ashamed of the man who had once been in charge of looking after them. These two boys could not have been more different.

'I have to say, I've never heard much about 12,' Pisces remarked at one point, to try and strike up a conversation.

Grantaire grunted in reply.

'It is not on the news very often,' Pisces continued, sick of the silence. 'Obviously I know you deal in coal, but I don't know much else. What is it like?'

This time, Grantaire had to give an answer.

'It is habitable,' he judged.

'That doesn't sound very complimentary,' Pisces commented.

Grantaire sighed. 'I don't suppose it is much compared to the beaches and ocean of District 4,' he elaborated. 'But you have to love your district, I suppose.'

'I believe you are right,' Pisces smiled sadly. 'I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Not even the Capitol. Before I came, I had never woken up without the soft sound of the waves breaking on the beach to comfort me. Silence is a lot less desirable.'

'I believe you are right,' Grantaire forced a smile in return. Neither of them wanted to be here, but both had to make the best of it. Before Pisces could reply, the heard a growl coming from their left. Pisces, a Career through and through, immediately stood to attention, weapon in hand, to face the attack head on. Grantaire was slower getting into position, but in the end was stood beside Pisces, but poised to defend rather than to attack.

For a few moments it was as if the whole world was standing still, as if everyone everywhere was holding their breath. The tension was only broken as another growl make it's way through the forest, quieter now.

'It is on the run,' Pisces judged. 'That is good. If we follow the sound, maybe we can catch it unawares.'

Grantaire nodded, leaving the tactics to the expert. A third growl then sounded, quieter still. Pisces had been right, the beast was moving away from them.

Under normal circumstances, they would have turned and run in the opposite direction. But the Hunger Games were never normal. And the 70th Hunger Games were no normal Games. That's why no one questioned it as the alliance of Districts 4 and 12 crept deeper still into the forest, to confront the beast that had already killed a Career, and wasn't finished yet.

'We commit this body to the ground, but we release the soul, as free and peaceful as the ocean that surrounds us…'

'The ocean doesn't surround us, we're in the bloody Capitol,' Jen grumbled, beyond bored at Annie's insistence for performing a full burial for Sparkle, whom they had just painstakingly laid to rest just behind a bush covered with beautiful pink flowers, which Annie thought appropriate for her feminine former ally.

'I'm sorry, I've never been to a funeral outside of District 4,' Annie admitted innocently. 'I am just trying to give her the respect she deserves. Now we must be silent for two minutes.'

'Why?' Jen demanded, but Annie didn't reply. Her eyes were locked to the section of soil which Sparkle was now lying beneath. Jen could do nothing but roll her eyes and transfer the bag of Sparkle's hair from one hand to the other. It had been harder to attain than Jen had expected, Sparkle's body had been so mangled and blood-stained it was hard to identify as human remains. She had expected Annie to recoil and refrain from touching any part of it, but she had calmly cut off the lock of hair, passed it to Jen, and got to work trying to make the body less repulsive. She instructed Jen to dig a grave, and together they had placed Sparkle in her final resting place. Whatever had ended Sparkle, it was ruthless and had no mercy. Jen did not envy her former ally's task. She was surprised at how little she felt about him meeting his fate. He was wounded and weak. She wasn't an idiot, she knew he would never survive. She expected to feel a twinge of sadness at least, but there was nothing. Clearly she was less of a girl than she thought.

After the two minutes had ended, or when Annie judged it to be over, she turned her attention back to Jen.

'We must head east,' she announced. 'That is where Samson will be.'

Annie picked up the backpack and walked purposefully in the direction she had specified. Annie had taken control of their task since Jen had got them lost five minutes after they had entered the forest. And naturally, Jen was not happy about it. Annie was a pathetic, feeble excuse for a Career. She needed to be taught a lesson about what it meant to be a formidable one. And as soon as Samson was buried, Jen was only too happy to be her teacher.

'Cosette! Cosette!'

The name rang out all over District 12, and by lunch-time everyone knew one of Courfeyrac's family had gone missing.

Courfeyrac had tried to stay calm and keep his mind focused on the search for the girl Clara had brought home to join their family. But try as he might, the thought of losing both of those girls within days of each other was almost too much for him to bear.

They had noticed she was missing almost immediately. Posie had come into Courfeyrac's room earlier than normal and shook him awake to tell him Cosette wasn't in their bed. She said she was scared because for the first time she had woken up alone. Courfeyrac had gone around the house with Posie looking everywhere Cosette could possibly be, and that didn't take very long since those places were very limited. Harry and Freddie had eventually woken up and joined the search. When they concluded she was not in the house, Courfeyrac sank to a chair in the kitchen in his despair, and his brothers could see he was not in a state to think clearly and objectively. So Harry had decided to be the pragmatic and sensible one (a tricky task for a boy such as Harry, but he was prepared to give it a go).

He and Posie had gone to the Hob to ask anyone there if they had seen her, and he sent Courfeyrac and Freddie to the forest beyond the electric fence, as it had become a place all of them would go if the stresses and strains of District 12 became too much for them. It was their version of the Thénardiers Inn.

'It's not your fault Courfeyrac,' Freddie told his brother, not for the first time. 'She went without any of us noticing. She's probably just gone for a walk or something.'

'Clara wouldn't have lost her,' Courfeyrac countered, his heart aching has he fully appreciated the truth of that statement.

'Well she's not here is she?' Freddie shot back. 'She's not here because she's already done all she could to protect Cosette. To protect all of us. We have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and follow her example. Now come on, we are going to find that girl and bring her home.'

Courfeyrac definitely didn't expect to hear such a motivational and clear-cut speech from his youngest brother. Freddie was never exceptionally clever, but sometimes that's just what you need in a situation. Sometimes if you're brain isn't bogged down with all the complexities and potentional complications of the world, things are so much clearer, and a lot easier to deal with.

Freddie's words also brought Courfeyrac's mind back to the letter. He had memorized the words and constantly repeated them to himself, on his way to work, on his way home, in the mines, even in his sleep. The words that had taken his sister away from him.

Today, someone you love will be put in unimaginable danger. You are the only one who can stop it. You're a clever girl; you don't need to be told what to do.

Clara had stopped it. She had volunteered to prevent either of her sisters from being reaped. She hadn't volunteered out of selfishness, the opposite in fact. And Courfeyrac's conscience was working overtime for all the bad thoughts he had ever had of her since she had been in the Capitol. And now, one of the girls Clara had volunteered to save was missing. Courfeyrac felt if Cosette was not brought home, her sacrifice would have been in vain. He couldn't let that be so. But he couldn't help the thought entering his mind that if Cosette didn't return, only the four original Courfeyracs would be left. The ones struggling to survive, just trying to get through each day, not thinking about the next because there was no guarantee it would come. Abandoned by their father and their mother lost to death. Clara and Cosette had changed everything, but now they were both gone. He supposed in a way it proved, maybe blood really was thicker than water.

The two brothers walked in silence the rest of the way to the forest, both occupied with similar thoughts. They were about to pass through the fence, when they heard hurried, heavy footsteps coming from behind them. Courfeyrac met his brother's eyes. Peacekeeper, it must be. What possible excuse did they have for being here? Far from the town or the mines, next to a broken part of the fence? Courfeyrac should have been at work. How idiotic had he been? Of course they would be looking for him! There was nowhere to hide, and things would be even worse for them if they ran. So they did the only thing they could, they stood and faced their aggressor, prepared to take anything he threw at them. Well, that's what they thought.

As the figure came closer, they realised it wasn't a peacekeeper at all. With a well made jacket dark red in colour, and blue eyes shining through blonde curls he was constantly flipping out of his face when he ran, they knew it was none other than their friend from District 2.

'Enjolras!' Freddie shouted, as he came within hearing range. 'Are we glad to see you! I don't suppose you've seen…..'

'We need to go to the Capitol,' Enjolras informed Courfeyrac, not even acknowledging Freddie's greeting. Enjolras was out of breath, presumably having run all the way from the station. It looked like he wasn't fully in control of his body, his hands were shaking uncontrollably, and his eyes expressed fear rather than their usual determination and firmness of resolve.

'My friend, what on earth is the matter?' Courfeyrac put a hand on Enjolras' shoulder in an attempt to steady him. Enjolras shook it off.

'My father,' Enjolras panted. 'He was the one….he wanted… we need to go to the Capitol,' he repeated.

'Why?' Courfeyrac was desperate to get some sense out of his friend.

'Because,' Enjolras took a deep breath. 'The Capitol…my father….the Gamemakers,' it sounded as if he couldn't decide on the culprit. Eventually, he must have concluded it didn't matter.

'They are going to kill her,' his voice cracked. 'They are going to kill Clara.'

The tributes in the Arena were now roughly halfway through the time allotted for their tasks, and the Gamemakers had decided to give the viewers a little recap of how each of the Capitol-made alliances were faring.

Pisces and Grantaire were hot on the heels of the beast. It wasn't long until the confrontation which would bring every single camera to the forest was due to begin.

Jennifer and Annie had left the cover of the forest and were searching among the rocks for the body of the boy from District 3. Well, Annie was looking, Jen was trailing reluctantly behind grumbling about the ridiculousness of their task.

They were only a stone's throw away from Pair Number 3. Callum was doing his best to single-handedly push the fallen rocks back into their original position, as Gavroche, try as he might, simply didn't have the strength to hold them up, and Callum didn't want to put him in any unnecessary danger.

Benedict and Ellen were still arguing over what the solution of their riddle could be. It was pretty much all they had done since they had been paired together. Benedict was too stubborn to let Ellen take the lead, and Ellen was too clever to put her trust in a boy brought up to think with his fists.

However, the tension in that pairing was nothing compared to what was brewing between the two girls that made up Pair Number 5. Avalon, perhaps more physically able, was striving ahead confidently, climbing up the cliff with ease, showing off to the Capitol was slightly behind, but being more careful, making sure every place she put her hand or foot was safe and secure. This summed up the differences between these two girls quite nicely. One was reckless and arrogant, the other was cautious and clever. And this would be the difference between life and death.