ＷＩＴＳ | ＭＡＲＶＥＬ ＨＵＮＧＥＲ ＧＡＭＥＳ ✅

ｔｗｅｎｔｙ ｔｈｒｅｅ

Despite being half awake and exhausted from the medical leaves, Rye and Chase continue thinking of how to place the mines. It took some talking with the careers, but they agreed as soon as she said, "Chase knows how to heal our stings." They were pretty on board soon after. Now the district partners sits in the dirt, drawing up a plan that neither seem to agree on.

"I am telling you we can just have the mines around a mountain of food and no one will touch it."

"But what if something falls on it? The way you're putting them will blow all the food up."

"No one would dare run through them?"

"How would you even know that?!"

"Because I'm smart, unlike you it seems like."

"Oh you ignorant-" Rye cuts herself short. "Fine. But I'm putting the rest of the mines around the arena. Especially near the wheat fields and the lake."

"Why? There's no point in that."

"Because there's other tributes out there," she sighs. "Better chance to kill them than your stupid 'blow up all the food' idea."

"It's not a bad idea."

"You say that until Cato kills you for destroying his favorite meal." Rye stands from her kneeling position, giving her legs and back a good stretch before standing straight. Chase does the same, but Rye can feel him eyeing her.

The feeling she feels between them is different from what it was back in the Capitol. She believed she wouldn't live to see another day then, feared that she may not be able to see her little Cookie or hold him again. But now she's made it a few days and she survived longer than Glimmer, a career. Her chances are better than she ever thought they'd be. So now the thought of having to take care of Chase weighs her down like a ball and chain.

"Hey, Rybbon." She turns to look at him. "About what happened at back on the patio..." he lingers off. Rye sighs quietly into her hand, rubbing the grime from her face.

"I don't think this is the best time, Chase."

"But I think..." his words trail off again, but only because Rye isn't listening to him this time. He keeps talking for a bit as both walk off to the few mines that are already dug up, Rue wanting to check the wiring as he continues to talk.  At this point, he seems more like a nuisance than an asset.

"I swear," she grumbled, turning around to look at Chase. Grabbing him by his shirt she pulls him in for a kiss. It wasn't like the one on the roof, that one was soft and innocent. This one was quick and to the point. After a moment let's go of him. "Do you feel better now?" He's quiet except for a slight nod of his head. "Great, talk to Cato and Marvel about moving the mines. I'll start working on the mines."

Hours pass before they are even halfway done. The wiring took more time than expected due to the fact Chase wasn't all that certain on how to rewire them. She figured somewhat, allowing him to lead the placement of the mines. It's just like back at the factories; she works, he takes the credit.

They quit before the sun sets, deciding they should simply start a fire near the cornucopia and get some food in their system. Rye couldn't agree more due to the fact none of them had eaten since yesterday. A rabbit that Clove killed is roasted on the fire before split between the group, Chase receiving the smallest portion. Rye gives him a small bit of her meal when the others aren't looking, hoping to keep him wrapped around her finger.

The thought alone makes Rue feel guilty, not wanting to trick others to survive. But on that same note, what else does she have?

She continues to think that as extra water and bread are spread about before everyone tucks in. Rye herself agrees to take the first shift. It only takes a few minutes for everyone to fall asleep, giving Rye some time to clean her sword of the dirt it accumulated. She looks at the surrounding forest, wondering how far her opponents are from her and how many she had left. Off the top of her head, she remembers both tributes from 12 and 11 are alive still, the boy from 10, and then the rest of the careers.

"So close to the end," she mumbles to herself. The thought of seeing Cook again lingers in her mind. The idea of feeling his unruly curls between her fingers, seeing his eyes shine brightly as grins happily, hearing him laugh at something stupid she said. She wished for all of that. "Soon Cookie, soon," she says. Her chest aches softly at the thought but it stays in her mind nonetheless, finding nothing happier to think about.

"Chase, what a nice dog." She doesn't bother looking as Marvel comes out the cornucopia to sit beside her against the crate. She can hear the annoyance in his voice. It makes her smile softly in amusement.

"No idea what you're talking about." She hears him scoff.

"We both know that's a lie." She shrugs, looking over at him.

"You don't like dogs?"

"Why do you need one? He's literally following your every move," Marvel scoffs.

"Maybe he'll help me stay alive. I have to keep my options open, you know?"

"Yeah because he's been so helpful." He's right. She knows he's right. He can't fight, he doesn't know much, he's just another mouth. She told him exactly what plant she needed, as she learned from her mother what would help if she ever came across tracked jackers again in her life. She had the better plan but allowed Chase to use his. Hell, he didn't know how to wire, something her district is known for. And the sad truth is she knew how this whole scheme will end.

"He reminds me of home," she lies with a shrug, picking her nails with the tip of her blade.

"He's another mouth to feed. I just don't get why you need him around. Glimmer reminded me of home but look what happened to her," he says. She hums in agreement, trying to find the words but everything she thinks makes her feel guilty. She feels guilty because she knows the actual truth is short but harsh.

"As of now he's my shield," she admits with a sigh. "He's a good barrier between me and Cato."

"Why would you need a shield against Cato?" The real reason lingers in her mind, but she makes up a lie instead, not wanting Marvel to know her whole plan.

"It's a 'just in case' type of measure. Besides, I know Chase would save me." A few seconds of silence follow before Rye breaks it with a chuckle. "Not like you could save me."

"Yeah because doggy boy can do so much better," he scoffs.

"So you'd save me?" His face slowly becomes red.

"I didn't say that."

"It was implied, though." She eyes him, seeing his face a light shade of pink. An idea forms in her head, wondering who else she can wrap around her finger. "You want to be my dog instead?"

"Shut up," he snaps.

"I'll give you a treat," she eggs him on.

"I told you to shut u-" he goes quiet when she gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. Her lips stay for a moment, allowing him to feel every single bit of it before pulling away. Her warm lips made his warm face even hotter. He looks away immediately, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

"You happy now, Marvel?"

"I think I should go back to sleep," he says, grabbing his spear before getting up back inside the cornucopia. A smirk forms on Rybbon's face but her shoulders feel heavy. She wonders when it'll go too far when enough is enough. But at the same time-

"When is there ever too much in the Hunger Games?" And with that in mind, she goes off on her own, wanting to put some mines where only she'll know.