ＷＩＴＳ | ＭＡＲＶＥＬ ＨＵＮＧＥＲ ＧＡＭＥＳ ✅

ｎｉｎｅｔｅｅｎ

Sitting in front of the cornucopia with a wire in hand and knife in the grass, Rye looks for any sign of trouble as her allies get some sleep. She had just switched with Glimmer some time ago, seeing as she looked like she'd missed someone two feet in front of her. Besides she couldn't sleep despite how exhausted her body was. Her eyes just wouldn't stay shut for long.

A yawn makes Rybbon shut her eyes for a few seconds, needing to stretch the muscles in her back. "You really need to pay attention." She freezes in her spot, eyes opening immediately. A feeling of relief falls over her when she sees it's just Cook sitting across from her. "I kind of need you back home."

A sigh passes her lips, looking back at the trees. "I know Cookie. I know."

"I miss you too."

"I know." A couple of seconds pass, Rye toying with the wire. "Do you hate me?" she asks, looking over at him. He looks back confused. "Do you hate me for joining them?" she says, nodding toward her sleeping allies. Cook shakes his head no. "How come?"

"Because I need you. I may not understand what your going through, and I won't for a while. But I know in the end all that you do is to get back to me."

His words make her nod, looking back at the trees. They both stare at the horizon for a while, Cookie humming some tunes while doing so.

"How was the food?" His words make her chuckle.

"Divine," she says sadly, missing the food. Her stomach grumbles but she keeps it to herself, already used to being hungry.

"What's divine?" Her head turns, seeing Marvel sitting where Cook just was, placing his canteen on the ground. A quiet sigh leaves her lips. She rubs her eyes, getting tired of seeing things that aren't there.

"The view," she says with a yawn, waving her hand at the forest and beyond.

"Yeah, I could say the same."

Some time passes before either of them says anything.

"You need to make a plan." Rybbon looks at him, brows furrowed. "If you don't make yourself useful sometime soon, Cato may think something is up. Which will put a target on your back and mine." His words make her turn towards him.

"Why are helping me?"

"Because I know you're smart."

"So was my district partner."

"Yeah but you got the will to live, so I know you'll think of something to help you last longer." They both stare for a while before Rye looks away, finding her heart beating a bit too fast. Probably from fear, or at least that's what she makes herself think. "Besides it will get Cato off my ass too," he says. Silence follows as he goes to grab his canteen. Rye scoffs quietly.

"You don't have an ass." Her words make him spit his water out.

"Why were you looking?" She goes quiet, trying to find a rebuttal before a loud crack gains her attention. Rye stands looking up above the trees to see dark smoke high in the sky. Something is burning. Marvel wakes up the rest of the careers, pointing at what Rybbon sees.

"What do you think it could be?"  Glimmer asks.

"A forest fire. That's the only way it can be that big," Rye says.

"Why?"

"I think we should find out," Cato says. He grabs his sword before running off toward the smoke. Everyone soon grabs their own weapons and follows. Clove suggests following the creek since anyone smart enough would run there. Everyone follows suite, leading the careers to find the Girl on Fire.