Reaper ~ THG AU

Ch. 18: The First Night

After walking for hours, we come to stop under a bunch of tall trees. No water was found, no useful plants, or other tributes either. With both of us silently huffing from the long walk and beyond ready to drop again, we stop and look around for a place to sleep. The trees above seem to be good enough. All strong with multiple limbs good enough to sleep on.

"Let's stop here...it'll be dark soon and we don't want to be wandering around when we can't see."

"I was thinking the same thing. We can set up in one of these trees? Find water in the morning?"

Acacius nods, looking up at the trees above. He seems to be picking one out for us as I scan the area for any threats. Acacius looks back towards me with a smile.

"Good thinking, Z. Let's get up there before anyone comes our way."

——

An hour later, it's dark all around us with both of us in an elbow to the biggest tree. I pull out one apple, grabbing one of his knives as he watches the ground below.

"We shouldn't eat..."

"Why?"

I give him a confused look, both of our voices barely above a whisper. Acacius looks towards me before turning back towards the ground below.

"Eating causes the dehydration process to set in faster."

"But we should still eat something...we haven't since early this morning."

"But we still don't have any water."

"How about just a half apiece? Like we used to do when we were kids?"

"Fine."

I smile, cutting the apple in half before handing him the bigger side. I take a bite out of my half as he eyes his. I hand back over the knife before he stops me.

"Keep it."

"What? Why?"

"You need more than just two swords...what if they both get knocked out of your grip and your left defenseless?"

"But you only have six knives..."

"And a hatchet. I'd rather you take one then to leave you with the chance of not having a weapon. Don't argue with me on this, Azalea. Just take the knife."

"Fine."

I sigh, moving to stuff it into my right boot. It's almost completely hidden by the leather around my ankles. I take another bite of my apple as Acacius finally takes his first bite. Before either of us can finish our apple, another cannon sounds through the air.

"That makes it eleven...thirteen of us are left."

"I know."

I take the last bite of my apple before tossing the core. Acacius does the same, keeping an eye out into the night. I lean back, looking up at the sky as the Panem anthem starts to play. It starts out with the boy from 3. I didn't see him at the cornucopia, so he could have been the one from less than ten minutes ago.

The girl from 3 follows her district partner, I guess her threat level isn't as high as we thought it was. Both from four are right after them, both just a year older than Sloan. I immediately look away as the next one comes up. The boy from 7, the same one I killed.

After his face falls, it's replaced with the boy from 8. Next is the girl from 9, then the girl from 10 and her district partner. Then it's the two from 12, ending with the face of the sweet twelve year old Acacius shared his food with back at training.

The night goes silent again, the only sounds being the critters living around us. Acacius clears his throat as I finally drop my eyes from the starry sky above. He starts fiddling with one of his knives while watching the ground below.

"You should get some sleep...I'll take the first watch."

"Okay."

I sigh, leaning lack against the tree. I cross my arms, my eyes closing as I try to shut my brain off enough to sleep. The sound of shuffling barely registers as the exhaustion over takes me. I feel something being draped over me before the darkness completely over takes me.

——

I jump awake, looking down to see the spare jacket across my torso. Acacius is nowhere in sight, immediately putting me on guard. Setting the jacket to the side, I stand best I can while scanning the area.

"Ace! Acacius!"

My heart beats rampant in my chest, my breathing hard as I check everywhere underneath me. There's no signs of him anywhere, only the dark forest floor. A branch snaps above me as I look up.

"Calm down...I was just getting a better look of the area. There might be a few places we can check out in the morning for water."

He slips back into his spot, my look not changing as he gets comfortable. He exhales, looking up towards me with a smile. My worry turns to anger as a glare sets on my face.

"What?"

I reach over and punch his shoulder, not enough to really hurt him but hard enough to show how mad he made me. Atlas, Acacius, and I would always do this when we're playing around as kids.

"Ow!"

"Don't ever do that to me again!"

"Okay!" He rubs his shoulder, giving me a look before popping on his usual smile. "But you gotta take watch now...I'm beyond-"

A yawn over takes him, cutting him off mid sentence. I smile, shaking my head before reaching for the spare jacket. I watch as he wipes his face before meeting my eyes.

"Tired."

"Here."

I laugh, handing the jacket over before reaching for one of the swords. He sighs, taking it before covering up. He mumbles a thanks before almost immediately passing out. I sigh before looking up towards the sky. The stars shimmer above, a hint of a dome overtaking the arena.

——

An hour later, I'm still watching for any threat that might strike in the night. Acacius is sleeping in the elbow of the tree below me. My arm still stings where the cut is. It's barely noticeable on the outside, but on the inside I'm grimacing from the pain.

I'm used to the wounds. The whips and manual labor back home making sure of that. As well as the countless wounds I sustained from years of playing with farming equipment. My hands and arms are covered in jagged scars, some similar ones on my back and legs.

I guess somethings actually do come in handy....

I take a deep breath before looking back up towards the sky. I see something drop from a hovercraft, moving slowly as I pull my blade closer. I stand on the thick branch, watching as whatever it is grows closer.

A familiar ringing makes me sigh before moving to secure my weapon. I watch the parachute land before glancing down at my brother. It's about eight feet above me, definitely a high climb but nothing I'm not used to. Acacius is still sound asleep below and if I don't grab it now...

It might draw a threat onto us.

Sigh, freeing both my hands from the items I hold before looking back up at the gift from above. I access how high it actually is before reaching up to begin the climb.

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