First up, a mega huge thank you to my story followers. We've just hit the 100 follower mark! That is AMAZING! And here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoy it!
To PercyJacksontheChicken: See? One week just came and went so quickly, right? It wasnt that long. Anyway, this is the update you were waiting for :)
To Typhlosion: Thanks :) I started writing fanfics after reading other people stories. Thats how I got hooked :)
To unwisepea: Oh my gods! You read my mind! I was going to do something similar. And you can see that coming in this chapter :)
And thanks to all the other people who reviewed too!
Enjoy :)
Katniss
Before she could warn Percy about the consequences of eating the berry, a single, familiar silver tipped arrow cut through the air with extreme accuracy that would have definitely missed if the archer was a mere mortal.
If the arrow had been fired without such precision, it would have resulted in the loss of Percy's two fingers. Luckily, the archer had been taught by the goddess of the hunt herself, and the shot never missed.
Katniss saw a streak of silver sail through the air, right at the Nightlock berry Percy was about to eat, knocking it clean out of his hand, and impaling it right at the tree behind.
Only then did Percy seem to realize that the berry he was holding had disappeared, and to find it embedded deep into the tree trunk by Thalia's arrow.
Thalia stepped out from behind a tree, far from Percy's left.
"Gods, Kelp Head. Those berries are poisonous! We were planning on leaving them there in the open so that other tributes would pick them up to eat, which would kill them instantly. Do you have to eat everything you see?" Thalia scolded.
Percy frowned at the few berries on the floor.
Then he said, "But they're blue."
Katniss didn't understand what Percy was getting at, but Thalia certainly did.
She sighed in expiration. "If Annie hears that, she is going to die laughing from your stupidity."
Percy rolled his eyes.
"So has your brilliant plan killed anyone yet?" He asked.
"Yep. One. Emily Lace from your district." Thalia grinned. "You were going to be my next victim."
Katniss shook her head. "No, he wouldn't. I knew those berries were Nightlock."
At first, Thalia looked surprise at Katniss expertise. Then, she said, "You'd be a valuable hunter."
"At least Emily is gone. She was way to cunning for comfort." Percy said, interrupting them. "So where's Nico and Peeta?"
Thalia cocked her head upwards. Katniss looked up, and could make out the figures of Nico and Peeta on the lowest branch of the tree. They were discussing something.
"We are trying to come up with a plan to get the rest of the tributes. The careers had their chance at planning. Now it's our turn." Thalia explained.
Katniss nodded. "Let's see what they have come up with."
She placed her foot on the bark of the tree, and found a good hand grip. Then, she pulled herself up, holding on tight to the trunk of the tree. It wasn't hard. Back in her district, Katniss had climbed many trees with Gale. This one was relatively easy.
Within seconds, Katniss sat on another branch beside Peeta. Thalia was just behind her, and she had no problem scaling the tree either. Maybe being a hunter of Artemis, Thalia had spent lots of time in the forest too.
Katniss shifted herself to one side, allowing Thalia to share her branch.
"Must we all discuss on a tree?" Percy complained, looking up at all of them.
"Yep, Kelp Head." Thalia said, "But if you don't want to come up, we can carry on discussing without you."
Percy glared at her.
"But it is Zeus's domain!" Percy said nervously.
Thalia rolled her eyes. "It's not that high. Nico is up here too, and he still looks alive to me. Besides, you are on this quest because Zeus wanted you to."
Percy thought about it for a moment. Then he shut his eyes and whispered, "Please don't blast me, Lord Zeus."
He opened his eyes, and started climbing up the tree.
Katniss was surprised at the speed Percy climbed. He was fast. Within three huge leaps, he managed to reach the branch Thalia and Katniss were sitting on.
The branch gave a slight creak from the weight it was holding, but it was still firm.
The plan was only finalized somewhere at 3 a.m. in the morning. They had taken time to plan everything to the last detail.
Percy stood up on the branch, and leant against the tree trunk. He yawned and stretched.
"So," Percy concluded, "We climb to the top of the cornucopia and lay out our supplies right in the middle. Show everyone the goodies that we have to tempt them. We will guard it, but make sure it is laid out where everyone can see them. Those that can't resist, especially the careers, will come for the loot. But we have five people on our side, and the advantage of height. On top of all that, we will be in the open, and Thalia can use her lightning powers, Nico can summon skeletons from the ground below the cornucopia, and the lake is within reach. At that point, we have the maximum use of our powers. Just tick off the rest of the tributes, and finish our quest. Then you two," Percy pointed at Katniss and Peeta, "can go back home, and we demigods can go back to camp."
Katniss agreed. "Sounds good. Except that two tributes can't win, and you can't just disappear from an arena."
"Leave the rest to the gods. They said everything would be settled in the end." Nico said. He sounded doubtful.
"We should get moving now. We want to be up there at the first light of dawn." Percy said.
Percy leapt out of the tree, and landed gently on the ground. Thalia jumped, and Nico followed. Katniss and Peeta were left with the slow way of climbing down the tree.
They walked until they arrived at the age of the forest.
"Ready?" Percy said confidently.
All of them nodded in reply. Katniss never felt good being so exposed, but she knew Percy, Thalia, and Nico were always looking out for them, and she trusted them.
Percy sprinted off first, eyes on the cornucopia. Katniss, Nico, and Peeta followed right behind him. Thalia went last, to make sure that no one was left behind.
By the time Katniss reached the foot of the cornucopia, Percy had already pulled himself up on the metallic roof. He reached down to help Katniss and Peeta up, before arranging their supplies in the middle of the cornucopia.
Sleeping bags, water bottles, backpacks, dead squirrels, and Nightlock berries were spreaded out, in clear view for the other tributes.
Then, they stood, back to back, waiting for the attackers.
At first, no one approached them. But Katniss could feel hungry eyes on them, eyeing the tempting loot.
Suddenly, in broad daylight, the anthem started playing. It was followed by the voice of the head gamemaker, Seneca Crane.
" 'Evening, tributes of the seventy fourth hunger games." The voice resonated loud and clear throughout the arena. "The capitol has decided to make a slight…change… to the rules."
There was a short pause, and Katniss found herself clinging on to every word. Rule change? This had never happened before in any of the previous Hunger Games. From time immemorial, there had always been two rules: Be the last one standing to be crowned victor, and no eating any of the fallen tributes.
So why did the gamemakers change the rules?
The gamemaker continued, "President Snow himself, has imposed a new rule, as he believes that fairness in the Hunger Games must be observed. Yet there are a few tributes who have not complied with this. As such, these tributes will be barred, and will never have the opportunity to be crowned victor. They are hereby eliminated from the 74th Annual Hunger Games."
Katniss held her breath. She had a feeling she knew exactly what the gamemakers were trying to do. But she pushed the thought away, hoping against hope that she was wrong. Percy exchanged nervous glances with Thalia and Nico.
"Percy Jackson from district five, Thalia Grace and Nico di Angelo from district seven have cheated in the games, and will be removed. A hovercraft from the capitol will collect them shortly." The sound faded.
Katniss drew a sharp breath. It was like what she'd expected. Obviously, the president was desperate to get the demigods under control, before a rebellion could be started. Percy, Thalia, and Nico had five minutes maximum. The trip from the capitol to the arena wasn't long. They would be captured in a matter of minutes.
Suddenly, there was a loud 'clonk' sound, like the sound of crushing bones. They spun to look at the cause of the disturbance, and saw Thresh holding a stone, hitting it repeatedly against the girl from district four.
Seconds later, the cannon boomed, signaling the death of Sheryl. It was followed by a second boom, as a spear ran through Thresh's chest from the back. It was Cato. The only tribute left other than Peeta and the demigods. Instead of running at them, Cato turned and ran back into the forest, probably buying time and waiting for the demigods to be taken away.
A small object fell onto the roof of the cornucopia, right where Katniss was standing. Katniss bent down and snatched up the package, which was wrapped in brown paper.
"Here. Let me see it, quick." Percy said, sticking out his hand for the package.
Katniss handed it over, and all of them crowded around Percy for a closer look.
Percy tore open the wrapper, carefully observing the small, black, plastic object. It was a miniature, wireless microphone. A note was wrapped around it, with a messy scribbled handwriting. It wasn't in English, but Percy appeared to have no trouble reading it.
Smoothing out the paper on the palm of his hand, Percy's eyes flickered, speed reading the note, before handing it to Thalia and Nico.
Then, very unexpectedly, he hugged Katniss tightly, resting his head on her shoulder. Katniss stumbled backwards in surprise.
But Percy held on, whispering in her ear, "That was from Leo, another demigod from camp. He created a wireless microphone, which can override any system when it is turned on. The gods passed it to the future, and help us start the rebellion. I, Thalia and Nico, will be taken out very soon. The gamemakers will no doubt use us to scare the districts, before killing us. But your job is to kill Cato, and pretend to eat the berries with Peeta. They will have no choice but to let both of you out. Once you have done so, I will make the public announcement with Leo's device." Percy said quickly. "Do you understand?"
In truth, Katniss didn't really understand what Percy was saying. But she did understand that she needed to fight Cato, and make the Capitol allow both Peeta and herself to win the games. Percy's life somewhat depended on her getting out quickly.
She nodded numbly. The risk was high, and the stakes were higher. Percy, Thalia, and Nico's lives depended on her. They had helped her this far, and she had to complete the last bit.
Yayyy! That's another chapter completed! Did you like the little tweak to the rules? Please review! Thank you :)