Uncharted Waters [1]

Chapter 23

Mira couldn't help but stare at the fake sun that had already risen in the sky. There were no other sounds, just the waves crashing on the rocks below the bluff, the birds in the forest chirping, Grace sharpening her knives, and Destan quietly doing his work beside her. They both had the task of weaving nets out of the materials found in the Cornucopia so that they could set up traps around the arena. The others were still asleep and Mira couldn't help but steal a glance from the sleeping forms of her companions, observing how different they looked when they were asleep and not killing other people. They looked like normal teenagers, minus the part where they were each clutching their weapons on high alert. 

"I'm impressed, you did quite a better job than me." Destan voices out breaking Mira out of her thoughts. "How is it that you are able to do these things faster than me?" He adds making Mira smile while continuing her work.

"I had a lot of free time to practice. I rarely got out of the house and had to keep myself busy or else I'd go crazy." 

"Yes, I rarely see you out, and when I do you're either visiting the orphanage or leaving the docks." 

Mira ties up the last knot on the net she was doing and relaxes on her spot while she watches Destan doing his work. "My grandparents are very protective of me, and would only allow me to go to the docks if I woke up before the sun does. They are also the ones who taught me everything I know." She sadly smiles at the memory. 

"So were you the one who makes Hurley's nets?" 

Mira bites her lip before answering. "Yes and no. My nan- I just help her make it." 

Footsteps alert the two that a person is nearing them and Mira looks up to see Grace tying up her ponytail. "Nice work guys. Just the perfect size to catch a person." She compliments and Destan finishes up the last knot on his net. They made a total of six nets in a span of four hours. Grace was the one to propose the traps and asked Mira and Destan to make bigger ones since the only ones available were for catching animals. 

The others wake up and they set up a plan to go into pairs around the forest and set up the traps. Mira was assigned to go with Suave, Destan with Stone, and Slate with Grace. Mira didn't question the suggestion about the pairs not being in the same district, because she knew exactly why it was like that.

Mira had her spear in hand, while Suave carried his sword and the nets while walking along the trees. They were supposed to cover that part of the forest while Destan and Stone covered the river. No canons were heard so far, meaning seven tributes were still alive, excluding them.  

"So Mira, I heard you were good at handling spears." Mira turns her head to see Suave grinning at her with raised eyebrows. 

She contemplated what to answer and remembered Finnick telling her not to show weakness. She must be confident in her abilities and show that she is a capable fighter or else the others might see right through her and use her softness against her. "Oh yes!" She answers with a few nods.

"Really now? I'm pretty good with spears, too." He declares in a suggestive tone, but Mira is too distracted by her surroundings to notice the different meanings of her companion's words. 

"I think this is a good spot to set up the trap." She suggested with a smile that was too contagious it made Suave look at her with a lovestruck expression. She blushed when she noticed that Suave was staring at her with hooded eyes. The sun through the trees created the perfect amount of light that made Mira look ethereal. "We should probably start setting the trap up." She mutters shyly, averting her gaze to the wild roses on the ground near Suave. 

Without any other words spoken, the two began to hide the trap beneath some leaves. Then, the sound of a twig breaking alerts the two that there is another presence around the area. Mira looks at Suave who already had his sword held tightly in his hand when his eyes met hers.