ＷＩＴＳ | ＭＡＲＶＥＬ ＨＵＮＧＥＲ ＧＡＭＥＳ ✅

ｔｗｅｎｔｙ ｅｉｇｈｔ

 As the sun slowly rises so does the temperature, making Rye have a layer of sweat on her brow. She wipes it away, as well as the tiredness from her eyes. Despite the sleep she did receive, staying up for the last couple of hours makes her eyes a bit heavy.

 She removes herself from Marvel's grasp, leaving the sleeping bag open so he doesn't get too hot. She moves in front of the thicket of bushes before standing up straight. She stretches out her back and arms, both sore from yesterday's fight. Her thoughts linger on yesterday but she forces it from her mind, deciding it'd be best to start the day. Her stomach grumbles softly but it doesn't bother her. She's used to being hungry.

 "I can hear your stomach from here." She looks over her shoulder, Marvel stuffing the sleeping bag back into her bag.

 "I'm used to it," she shrugs.

 "Great. I'm not. We should go looking for food." He hands her her bag and her sword. She hums in thanks. "I say we go near the stream so I could hunt for some fish. You could look for roots and berries at the edge of the forest."

 "I'll probably have to go further in to find anything good." Marvel nods his head slightly. "You'll hear me if anything goes wrong."

 "How are you so sure?"

 "The cannons are pretty loud," she shrugs, wiping her blade on her jacket. Seconds pass before she looks at Marvel, seeing him expressionless. "Sorry. Bad joke." She feels guilt form in her stomach despite knowing it's the truth. One of them has to die, one way or another.

 "I'd rather not think about that right now."

 "Right," she clears her throat. "Let's start heading back towards the stream."

 The two walk for some time, the sun slowly beating down on them. Both take their jackets off as their shirts start to get soaked in their sweat.

 "Guess they're raising the temperature," Rye states, Marvel humming in agreement. Her stomach grumbles loudly, a small cramp forming in her side. She takes a couple of sips from her bottle, hoping to minimize the pain.

 "Here." Marvel hands her a bag of dried fruit, which she takes with confusion.

 "When did you get this?"

 He shrugs, a smile on his lips before replying, "I planned." Rye can only smack her lips, a chuckle coming from him.

 "Very funny." She bites in the dried fruit, her stomach grumbling once more. She eats a couple more, giving Marvel some as well, before splitting the last piece between the two of them.

 Luckily they hear the stream by the time they finish the fruit, making both of them stop in their tracks. "You sure you'll be okay?" His question makes her smack her lips.

 "Come on, I'll be fine. I'll make sure I'm close enough to hear the water." He eyes her for a little bit longer, a glossed-over look on his face. It makes her stomach turn again. Looking down she feels his hand brush against hers just like last night. A shaky breath escapes her as she holds his hand. "I'll be okay." She looks him in the eyes, a soft smile on her lips.

 "Don't do anything stupid."

 "No promises." He smiles before letting go, walking towards the stream. The smile drops from Rye's face once he disappeared, her stomach still turning. She takes in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "One step closer," she mumbles to herself.

 She lays her jacket down on the ground before looking around. She digs up some roots nearby before placing them on the jacket. Moving deeper into the forest she finds some berries. She rolls them in between her fingers, not completely sure what they are before shrugging, thinking they may be helpful in the future. Plucking a small handful she puts them on her jacket before going to look for some more. However, she stops in her track when she hears a branch snap behind her. Immediately she pulls her blade out, turning quickly to find no one there. But she knows she heard something. 

 Going back to her jacket, she eyes the food. She knew she had a handful of berries and at least seven or eight roots, but now there seems to be less. The handful of berries seems smaller, and there are not as many roots as she remembers. Looking around, it takes a moment before she spots a dash of red in the distance before it drops to the ground. Sprinting over to it, she discovers it's the girl from five. Her breathing is erratic, each breath short and hitched. All she can do is watch the girl, trying to figure out what is happening.

 And that's when she spots it, the berries in her hands.

 "They're not good, are they?" Rye asks herself. She watches the girl's eyes roll in the back of her head before her breathing stops.

 She feels in the girl's pockets, finding a small sack. Immediately she fills it up with the berries in her hand before sprinting back to where she had her jacket. As she's placing the berries into the sack a cannon goes off, signifying Five's death.

 She listens for the stream before moving towards it, knowing Marvel would be doing the same thing. She hides the sack of berries in her pocket before she collides with Marvel.

 "What happened?" he says frantically. "I heard the cannon."

 "I don't know," she lies, forcing her breathing to become a bit more uneven. "I thought Cato got to you."

 "I'm okay," he says, holding her against him. "I'm okay." She feels his arms wrap around her. It makes her hold her breath. It takes a moment for her to hug him back. She lets out a shaky breath before pulling him closer. She hides her face in his chest, hoping his heartbeat is louder than her thoughts.