Chapter Five: The Game part 2
(Warning! Violence! Mention of suc!de)
It had been a couple days since Flora and Rue had found Katniss and brought her to the stump. They had taken turns keeping an eye out on the career base at the cornucopia. They had all the supplies there. Flora had managed to get more knives from the incident with the tracker jackers. She kept them in her belt just in case. Gave one to Rue so she could gather more of the leaves. They changed the leaves on Katniss a couple times. Flora decided to try hunting for the first time. Looking around, she wasn't able to find anything else but squirrels. Stalking the tiny creature as she held a knife at the ready. With a single motion of her arm, she flung the knife. Killing the squirrel instantly. She frowned at this. She took the knife from the animal and brought it back to Rue who had a small campfire going.
"Ugh." The sound of Katniss as she sat up rubbing her head.
"Katniss." Flora spoke softly as she sat next to her friend. She was examining the girl as Katniss gave her a look and moved to the side.
"I'm trying to help." Flora frowned as Katniss looked at her then to Rue. She nodded her head as Flora went back to examining Katniss. "We missed a few on the back of her neck. She should be okay." Flora spoke as she gently took out the stingers. Hearing Katniss wince before sighing a relief. Rue handed Katniss some of the squirrel as they ate in silence.
"So, where is Cato and the others?" Katniss finally asked.
"Is it true?" Rue asked with a smile.
"Is what, true?" Katniss raised a brow.
"You and him." She teased. Flora rolled her eyes at this.
"So, where are Cato and the others?" Katniss asked with a smile.
"They are camped up at the cornucopia. With all the supplies." Flora explained as Katniss nodded.
"Where is Peeta?" Katniss asked. Of course she did.
"He is by the river. He left the pack after the incident." Rue replied. "The pack still have the supplies though." Rue added.
"What if they don't have the supplies?" Katniss asked. Flora's eyes widened and grabbed Katniss by the cheeks and kissed her."
"Ew!" Rue laughed as Katniss pulled back glaring at her. She did it for the show.
"You're a genius!" Flora spoke as she got to her feet. She started going around digging through the bushes and what not. Grabbing a few branches with leaves.
"Oh. I see. Right. Light those up because they will smoke like crazy when on fire." Katniss had the idea to circle the fires as a distraction.
"Wait. We need a signal to let the other know we got caught up or something." Rue spoke.
"Okay. What did you have in mind?" Katniss asked as Rue looked at the pin on Katniss before singing a four note tune. It was beautiful. The next thing they heard was a perfect pitch of the four notes in the whistle.
"Mockingjays!" Flora gasped with a smile.
"Now, you two try." Rue spoke. Katniss did as the Mockingjays replied. Flora then whistled the tune and smiled as the mockingjays replied. They kept whistling it over and over to each other before the music died down. It made her want to dance for some reason.
"Alright. Let's go." Katniss spoke as they went their separate ways. Flora had a knife at the ready just in case. She had found her location and started. She didn't have any matches so she did what she had learned. Using sticks, dry grass and air. Putting a hole on a stick with her knife, putting the grass in the hole and using another stick to place in the hole. She used her hands to rub the stick. Her hands are going fast and downwards. Seeing the smoke, she smiled and leaned down. Blowing air gently as the flames started. Seeing the branches now on fire. Flora dashed away from the location and started on the next. It took her a few minutes in each area before she whistled. Hearing the four note tune as another one happened but in a different tune. She ran towards the different notes and spotted Katniss. Their eyes locked and nodded at each other. Flora was standing near Katniss. She had her bow at the ready with an arrow.
"Look! Smoke!" One of the tributes shouted. Sure enough, there was smoke in the air on the other side of the arena. Watching the pack run away towards it. There was only one person watching but they seemed distracted.
Flora was about to ask Katniss what was taking so long when she then saw it. The redheaded tribute girl. Foxface. She dashed over and started hopping about. Flora was confused before sneaking over to Katniss.
"Mines. They were dug up and replanted." Katniss explained. Flora saw it. The girl had made it over to the pile of supplies. Grabbing something before running off in the opposite direction. The boy was distracted by her. Katniss readied her arrow. Taking aim and letting the arrow loose. She hit the bag of apples. Nothing moved. Watching Katniss step out further. Flora held her breath and ducked a little behind the tree. Watching Katniss still. She strung another arrow. She let it loose as well. It only took a moment to register everything. The apples dropped from the bag and tumbled over the cases of supplies. It happened so fast. The ground around the area exploded. Sending everything flying while on fire. Flora saw Katniss fall over. Her ears were ringing. She stood up and ran over to Katniss.
"Katniss! Come on! We got to go!" Flora shouted while grabbing Katniss by the scruff of her shirt. Helping her to her feet before leading her away from the area. They found a safe spot to hide in bushes. Hearing shouting, Flora turned her attention to the pack. They had just come back.
"What happened?" Cato shouted at the boy who was guarding it.
"I don't know!" The boy replied. Cato took the boy's head and snapped his neck. Flora gasped and slapped her mouth quiet. She felt Katniss pull her away as they ran from the scene. Hoping to not get caught.
They arrived back at the camp they made. Katniss whistled. Nothing. She whistled again. Then out of nowhere there was a scream.
"Katniss! Flora!" It was Rue's voice. There was a horror look on their faces as they ran towards the screaming.
"Rue!" Flora shouted. She skidded to a halt as Rue was in a net. Flora helped Katniss untangle Rue from the net.
"Look out!" She screamed and pointed. Flora flung her knife just as when Katniss shot her arrow. They both hit the tribute square in the chest just as he threw a spear. Flora went and retrieved the arrow and knife. Then it hit her. She turned in time to see Rue pulling out the pear from her chest.
"No! Rue!" She shouted and caught the girl as she fell. Katniss was right next to her. She felt her eyes sting as a tear fell from her cheeks.
"You both have to win." Rue spoke softly. Flora closed her eyes tightly while holding Rue. "Sing for me?" Rue asked softly. Katniss took Rue into her arms. Gently rocking the girl. Flora gently ran her fingers through Rue's hair.
Deep in the Meadow.
Under the willow.
Katniss began to sing as Flora knew the song as well. She joined in.
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head and close your eyes.
Rue eyes were now closed as Katniss laid Rue down in the grass. Flora started collecting different colored flowers as did Katniss. Laying them all around her body.
And when they open, the sun will rise
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Flora sang the verse as her voice began to choke from the tears. She put the daisy flowers into Rue's hands as if she was holding them.
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true.
Here is the place where I love you.
They finished as Katniss was also crying softly. Making sure the girl was now at peace. They both stood up. Katniss grabbed Flora's hand and squeezed it as they walked away for the hovercraft to come to collect Rue. During that time, Flora let go of Katniss' hand as they both did it at the same time. Kissing the tip of their fingers and raising up three fingers above their head. It was their farewell to Rue. The young and sweet innocent girl the games took from everyone too soon. Too gentle. Too sweet. She did not deserve this.
Katniss had run far from the area as Flora had followed her. Watching her friend fall into the water on her knees and begin washing her hands clean from the blood they had gotten from Rue. She bent down and cleaned her hands as well. Hearing Katniss scream with a cry. Holding her knees after she got out. Flora sat next to Katniss and pulled her into a hug. She was rocking gently. Trying to comfort her friend. While her own tears were falling. It had seemed like they were like this for hours.
"Attention tributes. Attention tributes. There has been a slight change in the rules. More than one victor may be crowned if all members survive from the same district. That is all." Seneca's voice spoke. 'All tributes from the same district.' Flora's eyes went wide. She had a chance too!
"Peeta!" Katniss suddenly shouted while she got up and ran again. Flora felt her heart beating rather fast now as she followed Katniss. She had a chance of survival as well. As long as Katniss and Peeta were both alive too! She remembered that Rue had said that Peeta was by the river. Thankfully they weren't that far.
"He might have used his talent and hid himself." Flora spoke while looking around as well. She used a stick to poke about.
"Here!" Katniss gasped as Flora spun around. Seeing a hand grabbing Katniss on the leg. It was Peeta.
"Help me!" Katniss shouted as Flora ran over. Seeing Peeta blended in so perfecting with the rocks along the river.
"My leg." Peeta spoke as they pulled him out of the rocks. Pulling him into the river to wash him clean. Seeing the hole in his leg, she winced at the sight. Both of them put an arm around their neck and helped drag Peeta to a nearby cave. Propping him up against the wall. Flora had ripped away his pants by the wound. She quickly grabbed her bag and pulled out the container. There was still some left. She gently put the gel like medicine upon the wound. She frowned.
"What is it?" Katniss asked as Flora traced the red line. She ripped part of his shirt.
"Blood poisoning." Flora explained with a frown.
"There has to be something we can do." Katniss frowned. Cupping Peeta's cheeks.
"This is beyond me. I can't cure this." Flora frowned.
"You two go. I'm dead weight." Peeta spoke.
"I'm not leaving you." Katniss spoke as she leaned in and kissed Peeta on his lips and it was a deep one. Flora felt a pang of jealousy before looking away. Why did she feel like this? She had no feelings towards Katniss. Maybe it was because they had each other. She had no one and that sight of the two had reminded her of that.
"We win if we three survive." Katniss spoke.
"I'll take the first watch." Flora spoke as she left the two alone and sat by the entrance of the cave. It was well hidden from the vines and leaves. Her hand went back to the pin on her jacket. Her thoughts trailed back to their escort they had. Why? She thought before sighing.
"Attention tributes. Attention tributes. We have decided to be generous. We have a feast ready for you at the cornucopia. This will be the only time we do this. Happy Hunger games and may the odds be in your favor." Seneca's voice spoke again. Flora heard shifting around in the cave. She looked in to see Katniss leaning up from Peeta.
"No Katniss. You can't go." Peeta spoke.
"They have what you need. We have to get it." Katniss replied. Flora sighed. She wasn't wrong about that.
"I'll go with her." Flora spoke as Peeta nodded. Katniss led the way. They walked in silence. They had a good idea of the arena lay out now. Having spent days in the forest area. Or was it weeks? She lost track of time. They reached the edge of the forest and leaned by the bushes. Watching Foxface run over, grabbing the bag with her number on it before disappearing out of sight.
"Katniss. I'm fast. Let me grab it." Flora spoke as Katniss nodded. Flora took a deep breath and made a sprint for it. She was faster than Foxface. She grabbed the bag with district number twelve. Hearing a sword flung by her ear as she turned heels and ran. Making it back to the forest line before hearing a yell. She turned and saw Katniss under a girl. It was Clove.
"What was her name? The little girl? Rue? We laughed as we gutted her." Clove taunted Katniss. Flora felt anger rise in her as she dashed over and tackled Clove off of Katniss. Watching the shorter girl stand up as did she. Watching her fling her arms around with her knife. Flora grabbed her own knife and she was now in hand by hand combat with the career girl. She easily turned and dodged her attacks before seeing a flash of a large person. It was Thresh from eleven!
"What did you say about Rue?!" He shouted at her.
"Cato! Cato!" Clove screamed for her district partner before Thresh slammed her hard against the wall of the cornucopia.
"Just this once Twelve! For Rue!" Thresh shouted as he ran off. Flora helped Katniss up and they ran from the area. Just as a canon went off.
They arrived back at the cave where Peeta was still awake and waiting.
"You're back! I thought something happened." Peeta started fretting. Katniss shushed him and opened the bag. Seeing the medicine and laughing. She warmed it up and gave it to Peeta. There was also soup. Flora shook her head at it and pointed to Peeta. He needed his strength. She had berries to finish off before sighing a little. She felt herself drifting off due to the lack of sleep. She felt Katniss touch her shoulder and nodded. Flora got up and went back into the cave and sighed softly. Sitting near Peeta.
"So. I'm sorry about Rue." Peeta started.
"Don't." Flora started. Peeta had no right to even say anything about Rue. Has he ever killed anyone in the arena? All he did was hide. Join the career pack to hunt Katniss down. Flora frowned and looked at the ceiling of the cave.
"I'm still sorry. I know it's not my place but I understand now." Peeta spoke.
"Understand what?" Flora glared at him.
"We had to do whatever it took to survive this long." He spoke. It felt like Flora was slapped in the face. Feeling the pain in her heart as she killed the boy for the first time. Killing the career boy to protect Rue. Watching Clove get killed by Thresh. It ruined her. How would she go on from this? She closed her eyes tightly to fight off the tears from forming in her eyes. Katniss came back.
"We should find some berries in case." She spoke as they nodded. Peeta seemed to be feeling a bit better. They went separate ways while Flora was looking through a bush. SHe heard the cannon go off.
"Peeta!" Katniss screamed. Flora ran to the screaming from Katniss as found them.
"That's nightlock Peeta! You'll be dead in a minute!" Katniss shouted as she hugged him tightly. Flora saw the famous blue colored berries. She grabbed them and stuffed them into her pocket. They made their way back but stopped. Foxface was laying on the ground. Her mouth was covered in the purple juice of the nightlock berries.
"I had no idea she was following me. She must have thought the berries were edible." Peeta spoke. 'No.' Flora knew exactly what Foxface had done. This girl knew the berries just as much as she did. 'I won't be a piece in their game.' Peeta's voice echoed through her head. Foxface took her own fate into her own hands. They had finally got back to the cave as Flora slumped down against the wall.
"Please eat some soup. It's warming." Peeta handed Flora a bowl of the hot soup. She frowned and took the spoon. Tasting it slowly before feeling her stomach growl loudly. Her face flushed as Peeta chuckled.
"You're starving." He said as she rolled her eyes at him. She drank straight from the bowl and sighed. She handed the bowl back to Peeta as he put the bowl into their bag. Flora however was leaning against the cave wall and had passed out from exhaustion. It felt like she had only slept a few hours before being shook awake by Katniss. Flora jumped up looking around in alert. She heard growling. Looking around, she couldn't find the source. Hearing a canon went off. There were only four of them left in the arena. Her heart was pounding as she stood up. Peeta did as well. It seemed his leg was already healed perfectly. The poison was gone as well.
"What's happening?" Flora asked as Katniss looked around. She didn't know either. Another snarling sound came. It was coming from the inner cave!
"Run!" Katniss shouted and they did.
There were several of them.
"What are those?!" Flora shouted as the dog-like creatures were chasing them. No. They were being herded to the cornucopia.
"They're mutts!" Peeta shouted. Flora sighed. Another genetically engineered creature by the Capitol. Hearing the growling and barking getting closer as they made it to the
area where the bloodbath had happened. Flora was faster than the other two. She took a leap and slammed into the metal wall. She managed to climb up and turn to see the pack of mutts chasing close. She reached for Peeta's hand and helped him up. She then felt something grab her. Tossing her up in the air and slamming her down onto the metal platform. Coughing as she tasted blood in her mouth. It was Cato. He was already here and ready for them. He raised his sword at her. 'If you must.' Flora thought before she spun on her back and kicked her feet up. Bringing herself up on her feet as she sidestepped and Cato missed. It looked like he had gone mad. She flung a knife and it hit his shoulder. Cato was smirking as he threw a punch. Hitting her straight in the jaw. Feeling something crack against her teeth. She spit out the blood and a few pieces of her teeth fell out. It seemed like he shattered a couple of them. Groaning as she held the side of her mouth. Her mouth would be burning with pain if she didn't have adrenaline coursing through her right now. It seemed Peeta had helped Katniss up finally. It was now a three on one fight. Cato was a good match against the three of them. Flora was coughing again as she was trying to catch her breath. She pulled out her knife, stood up and turned. Seeing Cato now had Peeta in a headlock now. Katniss had an arrow up and ready to go.
"Just one more kill. I can do this." Cato spoke. He was also coughing blood. "All I have to do is twist my hands on his head." He added. Peeta then managed to move his finger and pointed it to Cato's hand. Flora's eyes followed. She knew that Katniss did as well as they both released their weapons and hit Cato on the hand. Peeta pushed Cato off and into the pile of mutts. Hearing the barking and what not. Flora looked over the edge and flung her last knife. Hitting Cato square in the chest. Putting him out of his misery. It seemed the night was over as the sun came up. It was already high in the sky. Flora had wondered if the game was shorter than it really was. It definitely felt like weeks since it had happened.
They all slid off of the metal platform and onto the ground again as the mutts had all left. Flora looked around and rubbed her throat. It was sore now. She saw Katniss and Peeta hugging each other. She turned to look away and sighed. Rubbing the side of her jawline.
"Attention tributes. Attention tributes. The rule change allowing multiple victors has been revoked. Only one victor may remain. May the odds be ever in your favor." Seneca spoke. Flora felt her heart fall again. He changed the rules again on a whim. She had hope! False hope. 'You thought the Capitol was going to play fair?' She thought. She looked at Katniss and Peeta as they were both also frowning.
"Go Katniss. Kill me. It's you that's supposed to live." Peeta spoke. 'I'm right here!' Flora frowned. Peeta just threw her away. After everything she had done for him?
"No! They don't have to have a victor." Katniss spoke. "Flora." She looked at Katniss and walked over to her. She reached into her pocket and handed them to Katniss. Katniss gave some to Peeta and to her. Nightlock berries.
"What? No!" Peeta tried to yank away but Katniss held his hand.
"Trust me." Katniss spoke.
"On three." Flora spoke as they nodded. She looked at the berries in her hand.
"One" Katniss spoke.
"Two." Peeta added.
"Three." Flora spoke. She raised her hand as the berries rolled.
"Stop!" Seneca's voice echoed through the arena. Flora stopped as the berries fell to the ground.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Your victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games!" Seneca's voice shouted. Flora laughed. She actually laughed. They pulled it off. She won a Hunger Games with Katniss and Peeta. She survived. The relief feeling she was getting as she sat down in the grass. The pain had kicked in but she didn't care. The Capitol would fix her teeth right away. The grass under her felt amazing. Hearing the hovercraft land as they all climbed aboard. Leaving the arena behind as they were taken back into the custody of the Capitol. Maybe there was hope after all. For the future.