Songs & Seas | Hunger Games

IX.

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IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE NORA JOINED THEIR ALLIANCE.  It had been rather boring the past two days. According to Nora, the careers had taken the mountain and Titus was still roaming around. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the careers turn on one another. Especially if this dry-kill spell continues.

However, a canon went off early this morning waking the group up. Maria sent Archer and Nora off together to look for more wood while she packed up their things to move locations. There's no telling who the canon was for though. She instructed them not to go too far as to ensure she'd be able to reach them quickly if they were to come into any danger.

Maria wasn't sure what she'd do if it was only the three of them left in the end. Perhaps she'd just drink from the poison river water she keeps stashed in her bag. That way it would be a fair fight. Archer against Nora the two youngest tributes. An even playing field.

When she heard the sounds of laughter coming from below she assumed it to be the kids but upon looking down below she found all four careers making camp underneath the tree she was perched upon. If Nora and Archer came back they'd surely be killed in an instant. And Maria is trapped up in the tree with no way of getting down without alerting them.

The girls Crystal and Pandora were sitting down leaning up against the tree while the boys were crouched down sharpening their knives.

"Did you see that 12 girl's face!" Crystal laughed throwing her head back.

"Yeah, she was all "No, please don't, ah!" Pandora mocked making the others laugh. Maria's nostrils flared. How could they make fun of someone dying? How could they be so cruel?

"We need to find that eight girl and the boy from six," Ryle said dropping his bag on the ground. Maria rolled her eyes. If they just looked up they'd find her. Idiots. "The two kids will be easy once their protectors are out of the way."

They thought Nora was still with Titus. Maria thought for a moment about how she was going to fix this issue. How was she going to kill them before Archer and Nora returned? Rummaging through her bag as quietly as possible she pulled out the container that Rhett sent her sponsor gift in. Then digging a little deeper she found the poison river water.

Placing the poison bottle inside the sponsor gift she sealed it shut. She wasn't sure if this would be viewed as smart thinking or cheating but she didn't care. She climbed higher into the tree until she reached nearly the top to ensure they wouldn't possibly be able to see her. Then she let it drop the small parachute carrying it down to the unsuspecting group below.

"Guys look!" Ryle pointed to the container that was floating down to them. "Another sponsor, gift. Let's see what it is this time." He said cockily as he caught the container in his hand.

"Hope it's food," Everest said.

"Hope it's a hairbrush," Crystal added earning odd looks from the group. "What? We're on camera. Maybe you guys are good with looking like wild animals but I'm not."

Ryle popped the container open to reveal the metal canteen of water inside. "It's drinking water," he said with a smile.

Maria climbed down further to better be able to view the group as they received the gift. Ryle took a long swig. He didn't even offer it to his companions.

It was only a minute before Ryle got a strained look on his face. "Hey guys I don't-I don't feel so good," Ryle said standing up.

He began to claw at his neck much like the District 3 kids had before. Pandora went over to Ryle holding onto his shoulders as she attempted to speak with him but the words wouldn't form. Before they knew it he had collapsed on the ground and began to convulse.