You can thank CR3ATIV3, who cared enough to review even the filler chapter! Why should you be grateful? Because if I didn't get that review, I would have no motive to update so early.
BTW, now that the action is starting, I will be updating every other day. HAHA! Maybe if I get enough reviews, I'll alleviate your pain occasionally... ^_^
Chapter 12
Petronius released his claustrophobia-induced grip on himself and cracked open his eyes. Blinding sunlight forced them shut again, and when he managed to redeem his sight completely he looked around. They were in a forest, in a large clearing, which was littered with the stumps of trees and fallen logs for extra obstacles. Overhead, the sky was blue with puffy white clouds and the blazing sun. The fresh green leaves on the trees, paired with the crisp smell of wind and the damp smell of rain, gave the impression of springtime.
There was the Cornucopia, with its overflow of life-sustaining goodies. This year there almost seemed to be more than usual, especially weapons. Lots of weapons, and there –– ! There, literally leaning against the Cornucopia itself, was Petronius's sword, the same one he had used in the Training Center. Its silver pommel reflected the sunlight and seemingly winked at him. Coincidence? He thought not.
He would have to run. He was a fast runner, it was true, but was he fast enough? There was also the risk of the obstacles littered around the clearing. One wrong move, one wrong step, and the representative of District 10 would be seen in the sky at the end of the day. He decided to risk it. No one, except maybe Julius and his cocky crew of "Elites", would dare challenge the swords master who got a ten in training. Then, after he got the sword and maybe a couple more supplies, he would run for the forest and scream like a little girl. The perfect plan.
"They're going to have a sword there. Don't go for it, okay? You'll just be killed."
He knew that Juno was probably watching him now, wondering how he was going to act. He also knew that she was probably thinking, That stupid Petronius. He's going to go for the sword, isn't he?
He had to agree that she was probably right.
He glanced at the clock. Thirty seconds before the horn would sound. His pulse started to quicken and suddenly, he wished that he had not eaten so large of a breakfast. His eyes darted around anxiously at the other tributes. The lean, muscular Julius was three plates away to the left, his eyes set on a large battleaxe nervously close to Petronius's sword. The slender, graceful Cynthia was five plates away to the right, gazing lustfully at a silver bow and a sheath of matching arrows. The skinny, awkward Caius, on the plate next to Petronius, seemed to be calculating the best course to take to reach the small black backpack and the short black sword next to it. The petite, anxious Augusta was trembling in fear as her brother gestured with his hands towards the deeper part of the forest directly behind them. The tiny, blond-haired Iris was turned completely in the other directions, preparing to bound into the trees. And the lithe, calm Artemis, almost directly across the clearing from him, wasn't aiming towards any particular weapon, tool, supply, or even general direction, but scanning the tributes as he was. Their gazes locked, and she inclined her head. Even from that distance, Petronius could see her dark eyes glittering with that maliciously strange light. Or maybe it was just the reflection of the sun. Either way, he was unsettled, and averted his gaze uncomfortably.
He knew that one minute should be up soon. He had been standing there far too long. But before he could even look up at the counting clock, the horn sounded and reflexively, Petronius leapt off his pedestal like a deer. With long, leaping steps augmented by higher jumps to clear obstacles he sprinted towards his sword and scooped up a large green backpack as he went. He was only three steps from the weapon when something large and powerful slammed into him, sending him sprawling. He and his attacker, whom he identified as Lucius, fell to the ground and rolled together, each grappling for control over the other. But eventually Lucius made it on top of Petronius and raised a dagger. In the brief moment before the knife started to descend Petronius instinctively lashed out with his right arm for a weapon and coincidentally found his hand on the hilt of the sword. It was still inside its sheath, but when Petronius raised it like a club Lucius scrambled out of the way. In his opponent's moment of distraction Petronius grabbed Lucius's dagger, got himself up and darted away from the Cornucopia, into the woods.
He stumbled through the forest blindly, without a clue in the world as to where he was going. The tortured screams of dying children rang in his ears. A painful stitch started to form below his ribs, but he didn't stop running. It was only when he heard the distinctive cannon shots that symbolized the end of the bloodbath did he stop. He looked around to find a tree where he could rest. He found one with thick branches and hoisted himself up as far as he dared. As he climbed he counted cannon shots. He numbered only eight. So either everyone in the arena was skilled or evasive fighters, which was highly unlikely, or many people chose flight as their first option of survival.
It was only then, once he was nestled in the tree, that he realized how exhausted he was. His mouth was as dry as sandpaper. He clipped Lucius's knife and his sword into his belt, then hefted the backpack onto his lap and unzipped it, taking out the contents. First he pulled out a coil of rope, a small pot of greasy white medicine, and a small hunting knife with a sheath, which he slid onto his belt next to Lucius's dagger. He found a tall aluminum water bottle with absolutely nothing inside –– what's with that? Petronius wondered. He next found a package of beef jerky, a loaf of bread, and some crackers. Last he found a heat-reflecting sleeping bag.
He quenched his thirst temporarily by swallowing saliva, then replaced everything, excluding the knife, back into his backpack and climbed down from the tree. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he died of thirst, so the first thing he should do would be to find the life saving resources. Prioritize, he said to himself. Water would be the first thing to look for, because one could survive for weeks without food but only a few days without water. He knew it flowed down and that high hills or even mountains were the best place to look for springs and rivers, but this year's arena was as flat as a pancake. He would have to just keep walking and hope for the best.
Luck was with him. After about a half-hour's hike, he found a river that broke swiftly over clusters of rocks. It seemed to be flowing fast enough to be clean. He knelt by the river and tentatively brought some to his mouth. It tasted fine to him, so he drank some more and filled his water bottle. He decided to travel upstream to see what he could find. Just before nightfall he reached a freshwater spring, from which bubbled the river's beginnings. Clustered around the spring were dozens of large rocks and boulders. There were several caves carved out of the rock walls and Petronius decided that caves were a good place to start. They would hide a fire and provide adequate shelter.
From the mouth of one of his caves he watched the nightly death toll as he cooked a rabbit, which he had been lucky enough to catch in one of his crude snares, over a small fire. The sky showed the pictures of the eight tributes who had died that day –– Livius and Aelia representing District 3, Tertius and Sabina representing District 5, Valerius the District 7 boy, Iovitan and Horatia representing 8, and Flavia the girl for 9. He felt a strange, gnawing sorrow in his chest. He had known some of them.
"Well, at least it's not us, right?"
Petronius jumped and whirled towards the source of the voice. Caius was sitting next to him, as casually as if he had been there all along. Petronius scrambled to his feet. He had already drawn his sword and now held the razor-sharp tip of the silver blade at Caius's neck. Caius watched Petronius calmly, not flinching or even blinking –– had he ever seen the kid blink? Creepy.
"What do you want?" demanded Petronius bravely, even though his body and voice shook.
"Nothing that you have," replied Caius evenly. Petronius noted how the younger boy's palm rested easily on the hilt of a short sword.
"How did you find me?" asked Petronius.
"No comment."
"Are you a friend or an enemy?"
"Double no comment."
Petronius slowly lowered his sword. "Fine. I'll go. You can even have my rabbit. Just promise that you won't try to stab me in the back as I walk away."
"I cannot answer to that promise."
Petronius was now getting officially annoyed at this boy's evasive answers and now had a sufficient excuse for leaving. He backed away slowly with his sword outstretched, and then picked up his backpack. Then, before he could tell himself not to, he hefted the pack over his shoulder and ran.
When Petronius was out of sight, Caius fingered the small knife he had stolen from the larger tribute's belt. Sometimes, he thought, size and strength aren't everything. Sometimes you just need a thief's skills and a whole lot of luck.
If you review Petronius will give you one of his cookies… see? Here's one, just a sample (::) no taking it, not yet… you get it when you review :P
Petronius: Give me back my cookie!
Me: It's for the readers…
Petronius: I. Don't. Care. Give me back my cookie.
Me: Fine. (gives him back cookie) The readers can have Caius's blueberries instead. (*) (*) (*) (*) (*)
Caius: HEY! GIVE THOSE BACK!
Me: They're for the rea –– ahh! *runs away being chased by a very scary insomniac with a very scary sword* Don't forget to review! Next update is Thursday unless I reach the twenty review mark! *shouts as she runs*