I wake to the sound of footsteps, heavy but distant, only a few miles away. My heart skips a beat, and adrenaline floods my veins. I spring to my feet, barely awake, and dive through the hole in the wall of the cave. My eyes scan the shadows outside.

A boy stands, not Kai, but someone else. His curly brown hair flutters in the wind, and his green eyes are wide with pain. His frame is tall—at least a foot, maybe more, taller than me. His posture is off, shoulders hunched, and one hand is pressed to his stomach. I wince, recognizing the hilt of a knife buried in his gut. His belt holds a sword and another knife, weapons that make my pulse race.

Him.

My eyes widen as the realization hits me—he's one of the tributes I struck with my knives. He pants, and his hand that's clutching his stomach moves to his mouth. Before I can process it, he lurches forward and vomits right onto the cave floor.

My cave.

The rancid smell of bile and stomach acid fills the air. I recoil, but the boy doesn't seem to notice. He stumbles back, collapsing against the wall, and I flatten my ears in frustration. My hair is blonde; if he looks over here, he'll see them.

His breath is shallow. His hands are still wrapped around his stomach. I hear a soft sound in the quiet. A soft, broken sound.

He's crying.

A tight pang grips my chest, and for a moment, I can almost feel the pain radiating from him. Guilt gnaws at me, twisting in my gut.

I slowly crawl back through the hole and into the cave's far corner, keeping my movements as quiet as I can. He doesn't seem to notice me. His head is lowered, eyes squeezed shut. But I can still hear his sobs, feel his desperation.

What do I do?

I stare at the moss on the cave wall, my mind racing. It's the only option.

I gather a large patch of moss and crawl toward him. He hasn't noticed, his eyes still closed. I take a deep breath, steadying myself.

Focus.

I can't afford hesitation. I pull his hands gently away from the wound, and for a moment, I'm frozen—my fingers slick with blood as I remove the knife from his stomach. He gasps, and a sharp cry escapes him. I wince, but push through. His pain fuels my urgency.

The blood flows freely, but I don't panic. I open his jumpsuit and press the moss against the wound. I tie it quickly with strips of cloth, hoping it'll slow the bleeding. My hands move like lightning, fast, precise. There's no time to second-guess.

When it's done, I zip up his jumpsuit and step back, breathing heavily.

He looks up at me, his eyes wide with fear. His hand moves toward the knife at his belt.

I glare, grabbing his wrist before he can grab it. His chest rises and falls rapidly, and I know what he's thinking. He thinks I'm going to finish the job.

I let out a quiet laugh, trying to soften the tension. "You really think I'm going to kill you?"

His eyes widen, but he doesn't say anything. He's too afraid to speak, frozen by my grip.

I let go of his wrist and pull a parachute from my belt, slowly unwrapping it. I tear a piece of bread from it, holding it out toward him. "Eat."

He hesitates but takes the bread from my hand, chewing slowly, still eyeing me with distrust. I pull a knife from my belt, cut a slice of cheese, and place it on top of the bread, holding it out again. He takes it, though his eyes never leave me.

Once he finishes, I cover the rest of the food, tying it back into the parachute. I can't afford to waste it.

I turn to leave, but before I can, his voice calls out hoarsely.

"Wait… it's dark out there. You won't make it without night vision glasses."

I stop, glancing back at him. The night is thick with shadows, but I don't need glasses to see. I can make out the outline of trees, the shape of the mountains. But I can't risk it. There might be mutts, or worse, other tributes.

I give a slight nod and sit back down on the cold floor of the cave, my back against the stone wall. I stomp my foot twice, clap my hands three times, and hear the familiar whoosh of a parachute coming down. I catch it as it lands near the entrance.

"Thanks, Paxon," I murmur, feeling the weight of the item in my hands. I open the parachute and pull out a needle. Just the sight of it makes me shiver. I hate needles.

I crawl back toward the boy, who's still watching me warily. Without a word, I stab the needle into his arm. He gasps in pain, his muscles jerking in surprise, but it's quick. The contents of the needle flow into his veins.

I pull it out, tucking it back into my belt. It could make a good weapon, too.

I lie down on the cold floor, pulling my knees to my chest. I don't have to worry about him anymore. He can't even stand.

When I wake, the soft melodies of Mockingjays fill the cave. My tail twitches in excitement. I push myself to my feet, my heart racing as I move toward the entrance.

I spot the birds sitting high in a tree, their voices lilting on the wind. I lift my head and sing a soft, high note, letting it rise into the air.

"Aaaa."

They echo me, their song a perfect reflection of mine.

"Aaaa."

With a grin, I belt out the next verse, and they respond in perfect harmony.

"I'm rising up, I won't back down!
With every breath, I claim this crown!
Feel the fire igniting my soul,
Together we ignite, we'll take control!"

The Mockingjays pause, their eyes on me. I know they're waiting for me to continue. I smile and raise my voice, my body moving with the rhythm.

"Soar high, reach for the skies!
Nothing can hold me, I'm meant to rise!
With strength in my heart, I'll break through!
This is my moment, I believe it's true!"

The birds sing back, their voices carrying the power of our shared song.

I glance over my shoulder. Xander, the boy, is standing in the cave entrance. He's clapping. I tilt my head, a little confused.

"What happened to you not being able to stand?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

He chuckles. "I could always stand. You just held me down with your strong grip." He smirks. "Be grateful I didn't decide to kill you while you slept."

I growl, half-joking, and I hear the Mockingjays take up the sound, turning it into a song. I cross my arms and give him a sharp look.

"You know, I could've just let you die back there. Or finished you off," I say, turning away and singing another note to the birds. They echo it back, harmonizing with me.

Xander opens his mouth to say something, then pauses, realizing I'm right.

I take a parachute from my belt and open it, tearing a piece of pork from inside. I toss it to him, and he catches it, biting into it angrily. I laugh softly, eating a small piece of bread.

"You don't eat much, do you?" Xander says, watching me closely. "I can tell by how little you eat."

"No, not really," I respond, my voice light, and the Mockingjays mimic my tone. "But I try to eat to keep my energy up."

He nods, finishing off the last of his pork. He looks at me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, his gaze flicking between me and the Mockingjays.

"So… does this mean we're allies?"

I pause for a moment before shrugging. "If you want to be."

He grins. "Well, now that we're allies, what's your name?"

"Emerald Arora, District 3," I say, glancing at him.

"Xander Thornfield, District 2." His voice is a little quieter now.

I blink. District 2?

"You're a Career?" I ask, my hand inching toward my belt.

He shakes his head. "No, not anymore. I was, but I got kicked out. A girl three years younger than me hit me in the stomach, and they sent me packing."

I relax, retracting my hand, and smile a little.

"Well, now you're the ally of said girl, right?" I tease.

Xander chuckles, nodding. "Guess I am."

I laugh softly. But then, my ears twitch.

A hiss.

I turn to see a snake, its red, yellow, and black stripes standing out in the dim light. A poisonous one.

I rush toward Xander and catch the snake before it can strike. He shrieks, backing away.

"Hey, let me go!" it snarls.

"Wait…" I look down at the snake in my hands. "Did you just speak?"

"You can understand me?" The snake's voice is sharp and hissing.

I nod slowly, realizing that this is no ordinary snake. "I guess."

It hisses again, more impatiently. "Well, let me go!"

"No," I say simply.

It freezes.

"I need your help," I say. "I'll give you food, in exchange for protection. An alliance."

The snake narrows its eyes. "An alliance?"

"Yes. You and your friends—stay hidden in my jumpsuit. When I signal you, you'll jump out and strike."

After some back and forth, the snake agrees. "Okay, I can work with that."

I smile. "Great. What should I call you?"

"I don't have a name."

I think for a moment. "I'll call you… Raven."

The snake, Raven, seems pleased. "I like it."

I gently place him back on the ground, and he slithers away, gathering his companions.

Xander watches, wide-eyed.

"You want a snake as your protector?" he asks incredulously.

I shrug. "It's a start."

Raven returns with a whole army of snakes, and they coil around my legs, disappearing into my jumpsuit. I look up and see Xander, now backed into the corner of the cave. He's staring at the snakes, frozen in fear.

I grin. "You don't want to mess with me now."

I take the food from the parachute, stuffing it into my sleeve. The snakes feast, and I smile at Raven. He's already been a great ally.

Xander looks at me, still processing everything.

"Guess I'll be getting used to this," he mutters, eyes darting to the snake, Raven, curled around my wrist.

I just smile and lay down, content with the unexpected turn my day has taken.