Hello! We've reached the 20th chapter, and the end of the story isn't far off. Maybe 4 - 5 chapters before the end?

To LastPower46: I know...it was sad to write Rue's death too. But its the hunger games, and only one victor is supposed to win. It'd be unrealistic if I let Rue live :'(

To Zia Jackson: I wont abandon any story. However, Tournament of Power is on hiatus till september. But dont worry, I'll finish it before I start a new story :)

To AFellowSingapore: Well, that was random. But HELLO! Im going to be 17 this year (Not yet, unfortunately). There arent many Singaporean fanfic writers on this site. I only just recently know one other Singaporean.

Aaaand Enjoy!

Katniss

There weren't many tributes left before she could leave the arena. At least, that was what Percy said. So they were down to Marvel, Cato, a district four girl whom Percy said was called Sheryl, Foxface - who is actually Emily, and Thresh.

Just seven more tributes.

Except she wasn't excited to kill Thresh, not after he saved them from a Hydra. She had already lost Rue, who reminded her so much of Prim. Rue, who helped Percy recover his memories. She was too young to participate in the games, and too young to die.

Seeing Rue die in his hands and getting his memories back, Percy became more determined to stop the Hunger Games. He was fueled by anger at the Capitol, and wanted at all costs for the Capitol to pay.

Thalia and Nico, after watching their close friend nearly falling into the hands of the Capitol, were also filled with fury and rage at the gamemakers.

Katniss tried to imagine what was happening up at the gamemaker's control room at this moment. The head gamemaker, Seneca Crane, was probably sitting in his comfortable air conditioned room, thinking about the failure of his plan to turn Percy against his demigod friends. The Hydra hadn't worked either. Thresh had spoiled his plans by saving them. Rue had vaporized any hope he had by recovering Percy's memory. He would be racking his brains, devising new plans to kill them before the end of the Games. If that was the case, he didn't have much time.

They walked downhill, searching for a water source. But like the first day, there was no water to be seen. The sun beat mercilessly on their backs and even the grass had shriveled up. They only had a half-filled, one liter bottle to share among five people. Two days was all they had, max, before they eventually collapse of dehydration. The heat from the sun would just speed up the process.

Percy halted in his tracks, causing them to all stop. "There's no water source anywhere nearby. There's only one left, and it is the lake at the Cornucopia."

Both Thalia and Nico just stared at him.

"Okay… So we shouldn't keep walking further." Nico said.

It was clear what the gamemakers next move is.

"The gamemakers want to regroup everyone, just like the fire they sent. If that is the case, the lake at the Cornucopia would indeed be the only water source." Katniss explained.

Thalia shrugged and said, "Well, we have no choice then. We should go for the lake quickly. It's going to be a longer walk there."

"But we can't just go. All the careers would be there too." Peeta protested.

"And if we don't go, we will die from dehydration." Thalia cut in. "It is the only way."

Nico nodded. "But it is five of us, against three careers, Emily, and possibly Thresh. Shouldn't be a problem."

"And don't forget that three of us are demigods." Percy grinned.

Katniss agreed. It was the only way. It was exactly what the gamemakers had planned. Yet it was too risky. After seeing what the careers had done to Percy, who knows what they might do this time? What if it is irreversible?

"C'mon. We are losing precious time as we speak. Our water supply is running out." Thalia said, pulling Katniss out of her thoughts.

After three hours of non-stop walking, Katniss spotted the lake some distance in front, just outside the cover of the forest. Night had also fallen, casting all of them in shadows. The sky lit up, and the anthem played, adding two more tributes, Clove and Rue, to the list of dead tributes.

"I'm going to refill our empty bottles. The darkness will prevent prying eyes." Katniss said.

Percy leapt to his feet. "I'll follow you. The careers mentioned that they have night vision glasses. Plus, I need a dip in the lake."

Katniss frowned. She knew Percy wanted to protect her, but at the same time, Percy wasn't exactly quiet when he walked, much less swim.

But she relented. "Okay."

Katniss slung her bow over her shoulder along with her quiver of arrows. Then, she told Peeta that she'd be back soon before catching up with Percy.

Percy was a little ahead of Katniss. He had his hands deep in his pockets, looking like he had no worry in the world. He looked like he was taking a relaxing stroll in the park, which was an irony, because anyone in this arena should be worried about getting killed.

Katniss had a strung bow in one hand, fitted loosely with an arrow. Other tributes could be anywhere nearby, and she didn't want to be caught in surprise. Since the lake was the only source of water in the arena, the careers could be hiding, waiting to ambush any unsuspecting tributes.

They approached the edge of the forest. Just a couple of meters into the open, lay the lake. The water was a dark. A clear reflection of the moon could be seen on the surface of the lake. Percy glanced back and shot Katniss a grin, before running the last two meters and diving, head first and fully clothed, into the lake.

Katniss was about to curse Percy of how much attention he would attract if he just splashed straight into the water, when she realized that Percy had broken the surface of the water without a sound. In fact, not a single drop of water was out of place. The surface of the water was still surprisingly calm, and Percy made no ripples. Katniss still had to get used to Percy's water powers.

Glancing in all directions to make sure she was indeed the only one by the lake, Katniss uncapped the empty bottles. She knelt down at the side of the lake, and slipped the first bottle underwater, and filled it to the brim. Katniss continued doing this with the second and third bottles, all the while looking back, just in case she had been spotted. Luckily, by the time she was done, no one had attempted to kill her.

Near the edge of the lake, Percy's had bobbled out of the water.

"Done?" He asked.

"Yep. And thanks for being so helpful." Katniss rolled her eyes, as she picked up all the bottles.

Percy gave a lopsided smile. "And you're welcome."

They turned to walk back to the rest of the group. Except that they were met by a slight complication.

Just as Percy stepped into the first row of trees, a boy jumped down from a tree branch in front of them.

It was Marvel, the career from District One.

Yet, the rest of the careers were nowhere to be seen.

Marvel drew himself up to his fullest height, clutching a gleaming, metallic trident in his hand. It was the exact same trident that was in the training room in the capitol.

"Saw the two of you going off to collect water." Marvel stated, shifting the trident from hand to hand.

Percy pulled an easy grin. "I, too, saw you and the other careers running off when a Hydra attacked. I must say you looked terrified."

Marvel scowled. "Let's get this done and over with, shall we?"

He grasped the trident, and posed it over his shoulder, in a throwing stance.

Katniss reacted instantly, and got her bow ready. It wasn't hard to aim because the target was just a few steps away from her.

But Marvel looked at Percy, who just took his hands out of his pockets, empty handed.

"You first." Marvel growled.

"Sure. No problem. Are you sure you can handle that weapon?" Percy asked innocently.

Marvel smirked. "Of course. It is one of the most powerful weapons. I heard it is Poseidon's symbol of power in Greek Mythology. Too bad you didn't take it from the cornucopia."

Percy nodded like a preschool teacher teaching his students. "You're right. It is powerful, indeed. So you want to kill me with my dad's favorite weapon? Do you think Poseidon would let you kill his son with his own weapon?"

This only made Marvel grin wider.

"Oh, it would terrify him, no doubt." Marvel laughed, "But he can't do anything. He isn't even in this arena!"

Percy shrugged, then closed his eyes. Katniss supposed he was sending a silent prayer to his dad.

"Giving up, Jackson? Finally embracing death?" Marvel taunted.

Marvel pulled his hand back, ready to let the trident fly.

But at that very instant, Katniss saw the trident glow a shade of sea green, exactly like that time in the training center when Percy was looking at the trident. Of course, at that time she wasn't allies with Percy yet, and didn't know his godly background. She had passed off the glow as a trick of the light. Now she knew it was actually Poseidon's doing.

Marvel let go of the trident as though the metal had burnt his skin. The moment he let go, the glow started to fade.

Katniss took the opportunity of Marvel's distraction, and released the arrow. It impaled Marvel in the chest, directly at his heart.

The clear sound of a cannon blast rang through the forest.

Another blast quickly followed, and Katniss wondered who it belonged to.

Percy bent down and picked up the trident, which was faintly glowing. He placed the trident over Marvel's chest, and wrapped Marvel's hands over it, before continuing walking off.

Katniss followed Percy. Behind her, she could hear the capitol's hovercraft descending to collect Marvel's body.

"Why didn't you take the weapon?" Katniss asked.

"My father's symbol of power is his trident. I doubt he wants it to be used for killing mortals. Besides, I've got my sword."

They reached the tree where Peeta, Thalia, and Nico should have been waiting. But it was empty, with no one to be seen.

Percy suddenly squatted down.

"Hey, look!" he said, picking up a handful of berries which were lying on a leaf, on the forest floor. "Wonder if it tastes nice?"

Percy lifted up a single berry with his two fingers. He held it up, observing it's unique blue color, tainted with some red juice from the inside. Then, he shrugged, about to pop it into his mouth.

And for the first time, Katniss could see clearly what he was holding.

Her father had warned her about these berries. Something about Nightlock. And the answer hit her: Nightlock are poisonous.

Swallowing a single berry could cause the consumer to die almost instantly.

Dun dun dun... how's that for a cliffy? MUAHAHAHA! I actually didnt mean to keep you guys in suspense, but this is a nice place to cut the chapter since it is 1,800 words (minus A/N). So...dont kill me okay? I'll be back next week :)

Please review! Thanks :)