I sat up in the treetops watching for the smoke and listening for the signal. I leaned back against the trunk of the tree, Rue had four fires to light, it would take at least five minutes to run to each pyre, 20 minutes all together. But I had to wait for now, Rue wanted to start the fires at first light, and the artificial sun was still below the arena.
So I waited, nibbling on crackers. I guess my guard was too low or I wasn't focused enough because I didn't notice the person on the branch beside me until he had a blade against my neck.
"Don't move." The deep voice said as he pressed the dagger closer to my skin.
I stayed frozen, a bit startled since the owner of the voice was Thresh Gunthorn, Rue's fellow tribute, "Are you going to kill me?" I asked in a surprisingly calm voice. I wasn't able to read this guy. He was stoic and expressionless as stone, unless Rue was involved.
The blade dropped and a calm, "No." answered my question, "While your alliance with Rue stands, you're unofficially my ally."
"How... how did you know about that?" I asked, tensing up at the idea that others might know what we had planned. Did the Careers know about the alliance? Were Rue and Peeta in danger?
Thresh, to my surprise, chuckled at that question and probably, subsequently, my unspoken words, "I watched you and her building pyres from the trees, I've been watching Rue from the treetops since the start. Excellent plan with the Tracker Jackers by the way."
He's been watching us for that long? I thought, looking at him. "So you won't try to kill me today?" I was pushing it a bit with that, but it seemed Thresh had a greater sense of honour than I had expected.
He looked at me, eyes narrowed, "I'm going to regret saying yes if you continue to push the topic." I shut my mouth at that, I knew when it was best to stay quiet. The silence wasn't an uncomfortable one. We sat there on our respective tree branches, both watching the Cornucopia and the large pile of supplies the Careers had laid out far from where their sleeping bags had been rolled out.
It looked like Clove was on guard duty, throwing knives at the innocent lizards, squirrels and rabbits who got in range. Every so often she would get up and walk over to the animals, grabbing her knives and taking the victims back inside the Cornucopia.
"Looks like she has a way to entertain herself." Thresh muttered to me, he could obviously now see Clove too.
I nodded, "I still can't figure out how to go about destroying the supplies once they move." I admitted, though I had thought of a few ideas, none of them really worked, "Slashing or crushing them or dragging them all to the stream would take too much time. There aren't any animals large enough to be attracted to all that food. And eating it all is definitely out, especially since half of the supplies are inedible." I whispered, voicing out all the ideas I had thought of.
"What about blowing it up?" Thresh asked, "Dig up one of the sensor mines and throw it at the pile."
I turned to look at him in disbelief, "That... that could work." Then I groaned, "I didn't do any practice with bombs during training. I only stuck to survival training." I regretfully admitted, "What about you?"
He shook his head, "I mostly trained with weapons and terrain. I learned a couple of survival skills but nothing bomb related."
We both sighed, I looked down at where I had been standing not four days ago. Something was off. I leaned in closer to look at the area in front of my pedestal now starting to become clearer in the rays of the rising sun.
"Hey Everdeen, smoke's rising now." Thresh informed me, and obviously saw me staring at the spot because next he asked, "What are you looking at?"
I turned back to him, "I think someone removed all the mines from in front of the pedestals."
He looked confused, moving to see what I was talking about, and then a smirk crossed his face, "Well it looks like someone had a similar plan to ours, but who could have..." his voice trailed off as his eyes had fallen on something near the supply pile.
"Have they moved yet?" I asked quickly, but to my chagrin they hadn't, all the Careers and Sextus were still in the Cornucopia, Clove hadn't left yet so she hadn't alerted the others to the smoke. However what had caught Thresh's attention soon caught my own. A figure was moving near the pile, in a very strange manner, "Are they... hopping?" I asked Thresh, confusion laced in my voice as I asked the question.
They were jumping methodically over small mounds of earth that hadn't been there during the Bloodbath. I looked around the ground in front of the pile, sure enough more mounds could be seen clear now that the sun was getting higher off the horizon. I counted them and realized, from what I could see, that there were about 15 and more on the other side that I couldn't see.
The figure continued jumping, stopping suddenly when we all heard a yell coming from the Cornucopia. Cato was running out of the structure with Clove and Marvel running out after him. They were all going in the direction of the smoke. This was our chance. Thresh and I jumped down from our tree branches and hid in the bushes, still watching the figure by the pile. They were now clear enough to get a good look at and I realized it was Fox. She was moving quickly now, getting to the pile and ripping open a bag of apples. As she grabbed one apple, another began to roll out. She looked like her heart had stop as she quickly caught the apple before it could fall on one of the mounds.
That was odd. Why would she not want it to fall? It wasn't as if she would alert the Careers with just one apple falling. Then it hit me. Like an apple dropping onto my own head, "The Careers replanted the bombs around their supplies." I whispered to Thresh.
His light chuckle didn't surprise me at all, "That's why they needed Sextus, he's from District Three and knows how to work with wires. I saw him at the bomb station during training, practically lived there on the second day." He explained and I nodded, not understanding until now. The Careers had formed an alliance with him all for this one purpose. To remove the mines safely and replant them around their supplies. They probably also didn't kill him to make sure the bombs would work perfectly until only he and the Careers were left.
"There's a flaw in their plan." I told Thresh, watching Fox, run back into the trees.
"What would that be?" He asked, still looking at the mounds.
"Well the mines are so close to the pile, if we trigger one it will trigger the others and blow up the pile." I smirked, turning to him as I did. He obviously caught my meaning as he grabbed a large stone.
"How's your aim Everdeen?" He asked, holding up his stone.
"It's what got me a 12." I said, already cocking my bow string and walking carefully towards the pile with Thresh walking around to the other side. Once we were both at a safe distance but in range of the pile I nodded to Thresh, who nodded back. We started counting down from three as I took aim at the apple bag Fox had left open and itching to be made larger.
I shot the arrow, hitting one of the apples, which slowly began to tumble down the pile. Just as it was about to hit a mound Thresh threw his stone and ran back into the trees. The apple and stone hitting the mounds was the perfect amount of the force to set off every mine Sextus had placed.
The force was so concussive that it threw me back, literally, five feet away from where I had been standing. The ringing sound in my ear was deafening, making everything sound like I had been dunked underwater. I breathed in, the muffle sound was accompanied by yelling from somewhere. I had, luckily, been thrown into a small group of bushes. They had been able to give me cover from whoever was yelling. I couldn't quite make out what they said, but I could tell that one of the voices belonged to Cato. I must have been out for longer than I thought for the Careers to return so quickly.
I got to my knees, moaning at the pain I felt in my chest, my head and especially in my ear. I touched my ear and felt a rush of pain and the feeling of blood against my fingers. Damn, I didn't have time to apply anything to my ear. Not that I had anything on me to begin with.
Just as I was about to get up to go looking for him, Thresh appeared out of nowhere and helped me to my feet, "We need to get out of here." He said, his muffled voice was just loud enough for me to hear it, but hopefully not enough to alert the Careers who weren't far off.
I nodded, taking his extended hand to get up to my feet. I quickly wobbled towards where Peeta and Rue would be waiting for us. Suddenly a canon fired above us and we both turned to see the aftermath of the Careers' angry fit. Sextus' broken body lay dead on the ground, his head twisted in an unnatural way. Cato stood above his body, and I swear I could see his smirk as he took a dagger handed to him by Clove and nicked his finger.
I observed in disbelief at the fact that he was grinning as he marked Sextus' right shoulder. It was like he had made the mark into a way of marking his kills instead of a way to protest the treatment being done to us, "Why?" I growled between clenched teeth as Thresh and I ran through the forest as fast as we were able.
"Because the Capitol can't know." Thresh said, running with me to the last pyre, "They have to act like that, because that's how Careers act. What we've decided will be impossible if the Capitol knows why."
It made sense, a rebellion was easier to achieve with an element of surprise and secrecy. But I wasn't sure if Cato wasn't just a guy who got off on hurting others. His grin had been a bit too wide for my comfort.
Once we got close to the meeting spot I whistled the tone into the air. I had to signal to Peeta and Rue that I was safe and coming back. The mockingjays carried my call through the trees, echoing in the forest as Thresh and I slowed our pace. I waited for a reply. Nothing. I whistled again, and once again the Mockingjays took up my tone, but there was no return.
"What's wrong?" Thresh asked, obviously noticing that I had a look of confusion on my face.
I looked at him and in a bewildered and confused voice, answered him, "Rue or Peeta should have whistled back, but there's no reply." I explained picking up speed to get to the meeting place quicker, "Something's wrong."
Just then I heard a scream in the air, "Katniss! Katniss help us!" It was Rue.
"Rue?!" I yelled, running faster with Thresh running beside me.
"Katniss! Hurry!" Rue cried again.
"We're coming, Rue!" This time it was Thresh who yelled the words, as I got an arrow readied in my bow and Thresh got a knife out of his pants pocket. We were ready for anything.
Or at least I thought we were because I certainly wasn't ready for what I saw in the meadow before us. Marvel was standing over a bloodied and badly beaten Peeta while Rue struggled to get free from a net trapping her. Thresh rushed over to help Peeta while shouting, "Get Rue out of there!"
I ran to Rue and got my knife out quickly, cutting her free and holding her to me, "It's okay. You're okay."
I pulled away from Rue, smiling in relief, just in time for her to shout, "Katniss look out!" She pushed me out of the way just as a spear thrown from Marvel whizzed past. I didn't even flinch as I shot the arrow straight into Marvel's neck. The cannon fired and Marvel fell to the ground, dead.
I sighed, and turned back to Rue with a smile, only for it to fade. Rue stood beside me, "Katniss?" She said in a small voice as she fell to the ground, Marvel's spear stuck in her small chest.
"RUE!" I heard Thresh cry as he ran to her, catching her just before she could hit the ground. He fell to the ground stroking her hair has a brother would his little sister.
"Thresh?" Rue said in a small broken voice.
He looked relieved that she recognized him, "Yeah, Frizzy I'm here." He said, obviously using a nickname he had for the sweet little girl.
She smiled and looked a little sad, "Tell... tell Mintie I'm sorry. And I'll miss her."
He nodded quickly, taking her hand to squeeze it, "I will Frizzy, I promise." I knew it would be almost impossible for him to do that unless he won this.
Rue smiled again and turned to me, "Katniss?" She whispered her voice getting weaker.
"Yes?" I answered quicker than Thresh had.
"Will... will you sing... will you sing to me?" I looked shocked, I wasn't sure I could sing for her right now, but her next words gave me the strength to say yes, "Peeta said you have the most beautiful voice."
I took her hands nodding, "Of course, Rue." I said softly, it took me a bit of time to decide which song was perfect. It was one my mother had sang to me and Prim when we were younger. It was old so the lyrics won't exactly the same as what I remembered.
"In the meadow, underneath the willow, lay your head on a soft flower pillow." Rue smiled weakly as I sang, trying not to cry.
"I'll be near, holding you dearly, til the sun rises." Thresh stroked her head and to my surprise, he began to sing as well. His voice was a soft baritone that harmonized well with mine. I guess the song was popular in all of Panem.
"You'll be safe, you'll be warm, close beside me, where you're safe from harm." Rue's breathing was getting weaker, it was hard to watch her suffer.
"Sleep now soundly, while I'm watching over you, with a crown of daisies, upon your head." she was smiling softly, but I could tell it was hard for her to keep her eyes open.
"I will hold you, in my arms tightly, in the meadow, underneath the willow tree." I felt a hand touched my shoulder and could hear Peeta's low, gentle tenor singing with us.
"Forget your troubles, your worries. They are meaningless here." Peeta leaned over to touch Rue's hand gently.
"You'll be safe, you'll be warm, close beside me, where you're safe from harm." To my surprise Rue began singing, her voice small, almost broken. Her breathing was getting heavier.
"Sleep now soundly, while I'm watching over you, here is the place where I... love... you..." As we all sang the last part Rue's eyes drooped shut. And finally I felt the life slip from her, she took one deep sigh and died in Thresh's arms as a canon fired in the air.
Thresh's heartbroken cry seemed to carry the weight of his entire District with him. I buried my head into Peeta's shoulder and held back my tears, Don't let them see you cry. You have to be strong... for Rue. I told myself and touched Thresh's shoulder, "Are you ok?" It was a stupid question to ask, but I needed to hear him say it.
His fists were clenched, as well as his teeth, "No... This wouldn't have happened if they hadn't sent her in here." He growled between his teeth. I knew which they he was talking about. The Capitol. Them and their Game. They were probably enjoying every second of our grief. Relishing and cherishing this moment that they had recorded permanently on their cameras. Then an idea struck me, I gently pulled out the spear in her chest then turned to the others, "Will you help me with something?" I asked, raising to my feet.
I didn't give them time to say yes or no. I simply began searching around the clearing for what I need. I began picking flowers. Blue, violet, yellow, red, every color imaginable of every kind. I started laying them around Rue. Peeta and Thresh following suit as we gently lay the flowers all around her. The last and most delicate flowers I placed in her hand.
While the guys had been collecting flowers I had taken off Rue's jacket and laid her on it. After we had given her a bed of flowers I took my dagger and nicked my finger then handed my other daggers to Peeta and Thresh. They repeated my action and all three of us drew the symbol on Rue's right shoulder. And though he didn't deserve it, I marked Marvel as well.
As I did I thought about his mother and how happy he had said his volunteering had made her. The thought of Marvel's mom soon made me think of Auricula and then Glimmer. I wonder if Auricula's parents regret sending her into the arena. Did they cry? Maybe Glimmer's mom or sisters cried when her cannon fired? Would her mom be praising her death or did she close the shop and cry for hours? I guess I'll never know what happened. All I know is that I killed three people. Though Glimmer was with the assistance of Tracker Jackers, I had killed Auricula and Marvel with my arrows, by my own hand to save Peeta and Rue's life. I just hadn't been quick enough to save Rue this time.
I walked back to Thresh and Peeta who were standing around Rue's lifeless body. I then looked for the nearest camera and looked straight at it as I brought the three fingers of my left hand to my lips, Peeta and Thresh followed suit. It was a final goodbye; not just to Rue, but also to all the fallen tributes. Past and present.
For a while we stood around Rue in silence, I'm not really sure how long, but I finally broke it when I suddenly remembered something Rue had said, "Thresh? Who is Mintie?" I asked.
"Mintie is our nickname for my youngest sister, Clementine. She is Rue's best friend, they've been joined at the hip since they were five. Carmine, my second youngest sister, stopped her from volunteering for Rue. She told me she regretted not volunteering for Rue herself." He explained, his attention focused solely on Rue, "I don't blame Carmine for Rue though. Neither of them should blame the other about Rue. He didn't kill Rue." He stated, looking over at Marvel then glared at the nearest camera, "They did. They're the ones who are forcing us to kill each other. They're who we should blame."
I looked up at the dome as Peeta answered Thresh, "You're right they should be blamed. They should know how it feels to watch their own children die in the arena." I was surprised by that reaction and looked back at Peeta and Thresh, "But we can't do anything about it. We can't change the law, all we can do is follow it, for now." He stated, his eyes on me as if he was telling me that I was the one who could change them. Obviously he was shooting for the stars.
While the thought echoed in my mind I saw something flicker in the corner of my eye, "What's that?" I asked, walking over to where the red flashing originated from. It wasn't far from where Rue lay peacefully on the grass. The flickering was coming from a light attached to a large woven basket. A checkered red and white cloth covered the basket and its contents. Inside was a loaf of fresh bread and a small wedge of cheese. Tucked beside the cheese was a note, These sponsors spent a fortune on this, don't waste it. H. & C.
I showed the note to the others and took out my food knife and carved up the bread and cheese into thirds, handing a third to Peeta and Thresh, "Who do you think the sponsors who sent this are?" I asked, taking a chuck of my cheese and bread, I would definitely save the rest of my share.
Thresh was looking at the bread and cheese with tears threatening in his eyes, "District Eleven sent this." He said, staring at the bread and cheese, "The bread is a sourdough loaf and the cheese is apple smoked cheddar. It's the most expensive bread and cheese you can get at home." He explained.
Peeta looked over the bread, "It looks like a very well made loaf, the seed and fruit are distributed perfectly throughout." He sniffed the delicious aroma of the cheese, "And the smell of the cheese is really good."
"Why don't we stop talking and enjoy the meal District Eleven sent us?" I suggested, taking my bread and cheese in my hand, "To Rue."
"To Rue." The others echoed, tapping our chunks together similar to what Gale and I had done not just a week ago.