Katniss POV
I slide down the rope ladder, moving through the trees as nothing more than a shadow. I had become accustomed to doing this over the years, slipping in and out of areas of the island using the trees and using some of the underground tunnels in the more mountainous areas. I hear the faint padding of paws that indicates Buttercup's closeness but I disregard it, focusing on stealth. If I'm correct, a new animal is on this island, nothing here other then me can walk like that and has the size for it. Running to a hollow tree, I slip into the crack as if it was an open door and I rush through a tunnel that leads to the beach. The walk was dark and I navigated by touch, feeling the roots and walls for directions.
I come out at the base of a large tree, the under growth hiding me from view. A figure of a small girl runs past my hiding spot, and I retract into the hole in fear of being seen. Those things I though were animals, are human. Real humans, live ones at that. I haven't talked to a human that isn't a skeleton in years. Another figure passes and he resembles my old friend, Peeta Mellark, so closely it might make me cry. No Katniss, I think, you haven't thought of them in a long time, don't start now.
"Let's make camp, we need shelter before it gets dark." The blonde with a girl attached to his arm says. The entire group, all from the ages of twelve to eighteen, start to enter the forest, heading straight for my home. Slipping into the hole in the ground again, I sprint for my home. I worked to long on it for it to be ruined by these filthy people, no matter how closely they resemble Panem. Back tracking into the tree house, pulling the ladder up on deck with me, I lay down on a mat I wove and stuffed with feathers and leaves, falling asleep, knowing that there are others on this island with me.
Cato POV
I stand between Clove and Glimmer, staring into the forest. Where is the best place to make shelter? When will we be able to get off the island? What is on this island? Is it deserted? These questions swirl in my head, but the only thing that was clear in my mind was this; we're alone on a deserted island with a bunch of kids, what could go wrong?
Answer, a lot.
The little kids could be stupid and die, the older teenagers could wander off and with out noticing, fall of a cliff. "Stop being cynical about everything, we'll be fine Dumbo." Clove says, nudging me in the ribs.
"You're right, but it's kind of hard to look after Primrose and Rue, they might be stupid and-"
"Blah blah blah, come on loosen up! We're alone, no parents or laws. No one here but us!" Clove interrupts me, throwing her hands in the air. Feeling a small hand in mine from behind, I turn around to see Prim looking up at me with big eyes.
"Can we sleep in the forest?" she asks quietly, looking down at her feet.
"Why? It might be dangerous!" I ask, kneeling down to her level.
"It reminds me of home. My Father and sister used to hunt before the boating accident, and we used to camp in this small concrete hut." She mumbles, just barely loud enough for me to hear. Prim looks up, her eyes locking with mine and I finally see the small trauma in her normally shining blue eyes. Losing family is hard, I know that and you want to keep them as close as possible, whether it's with clothes or memories or special places.
"Sure Hun." Clove states leading her into the woods before I can answer, sending a pleading glance at me. Clove has a soft spot for kids and love; the exact opposite of Glimmer in that way but both are highly trained and dangerous. Running after them, leaving the golden beach behind, I enter the forest with open arms. Let's see how long we can last on this island.
After hours of looking, we come across a cave right next to a waterfall and river for bathing and hydration. Rue along the way noticed berry bushes just like the ones in district eleven and started to pick them with Thresh. Entering the dark nearly entirely camouflaged mouth of the cave, I peer inside, trying to see if there is already an animal inhabiting the stone shelter. "Hey, I saw something!" I hear Prim cry from outside, excitement obvious in her tone. Dashing into the fading sunlight, I move quickly to her position by the waterfall.
"What'd you see?" I ask, putting my hands on her tiny fragile shoulders.
"I saw hair, not fur but long braided hair! It was hanging down from a branch before disappearing!" She exclaims, waving her hands around in crazy gestures. I frown, it just could have been an animal but the braid is unusual. Maybe it was the tail of an animal, yeah… that's it.
"Prim, it could have just been an animal tail, it's possible it was human but it was most likely an animal." I say, patting her on the back while I get up from my crouched position.
"But I know it was a human, a girl even! Believe me!"
Damn, I didn't know how right she was.