The Hunger Games: The Cry of Temperance

The Third Morning

"That's six people in the past hour," Catler looked up at the sky as he looked up to where the Fallen should have been. "What hap'nd out there?"

Hidi slid up, looking out at the cornucopia as the sun was slowly rising through the smoke that was being put down on the ground as she stood ahead, her eyes kept on the smoke as it eventually sifted back into the air. "Sounds like someone bombed the area."

"That's n'possible though," Catler responded as he leaned up, grabbing the tarp down as he look in her direction. "How the hell is anyone gettin' bombs? I know damn well, that the Capitol wouldn't let anyone sponsor 'em either."

"Dunno," she murmured, "but it's not safe here anymore. It's sure as hell not safe out there either." She slung her bow over her shoulder as she stood upfront, slinging her bag over as well as she looked back at him.

"But we could get some goods. After all, six people just went. Who knows what goods they've got buried under all o' that?"

"I don't wanna take a risk."

"There's nothin' else out here, Hidi. We don't really got chances out in a deadland, where no animals to hunt, or any greenery to eat. Most of all, we ain't got water."

"We can find something."

"It's been three days now," he stated, not in an attempt to backtalk her, but to state the facts because they were stuck in a wasteland at this point. "If there was somethin', we'd have found it by now. Right?"

Hidi didn't want to argue with him, nor did she really need to do that. But she knew that he was right, there was nothing out there for them. "Why would our chances be better up in the center though, everything's soiled after the explosion?"

"Who knows?" Catler shrugged. "I'd rather take a gander than waste our chances out here."

"What if we find someone?"

"We do as we always do," Catler nodded, "we keep each other safe."

Hidi took a moment, her mind seemed to be at a crossroads of some sort as she leaned down, her eyes getting heavy as she rubbed them again. "Mm."

"You know, Hidi," Catler leaned in, though keeping a respectable amount of distance. "You don't gotta do all this. I can hold myself, too."

"What do you mean?" She wondered, her voice pricking for a moment as she leaned by the tree trunk, trying to snap herself out of her drowsiness.

"I'm sayin' that you don't have to be the one to watch out over me, after all." Catler stated, "I've got your back too."

"I know you've got me," she murmured. "It's just tough being out here on our own. Again."

"Ain't never stopped us 'fore though," he grinned, despite the circumstances in front of them.

"It's not going to stop us now." She nodded, her lips picking up as she looked over to the smoke. "If you really think we've got a better chance back in the middle, I'll take your word."

"I know it's better than waitin' around out here to starve."

"But stick close, I don't wanna lose you."

"Watch out for y'erself first," he nodded, "I'll always be right behind ya."

Eleksa rummaged through the ruined building as she peeked her head out from the window frame, gripping onto a box that she had snagged from the cornucopia before she had evaded the other tributes. She tore it right open as she placed her back on any remaining rubble as she threw the top ahead, looking into the contents.