The Wings of Fire Hunger Games!

Chapter 3: Qibli

I glance around, lost in the woods. 

This is so difficult! How am I supposed to see in such a thick forest?! And I don't even know where Moon is, and I don't dare make a noise to alert my competition. The cannons have sounded a few minutes ago — four dragons dead. I'll know who they are tonight, when they project the dead's images into the sky for the living tributes to see. 

Earlier on, I had made note of the more dangerous tributes. The most obvious was the firescales SkyWing, from District 10. She would be especially hard to confront, with her SkyWing speed and burning scales, so I should just avoid her and wait for someone else to kill her. Other than that, there are RainWings, too. At least two of them. Both can spray venom, but aren't exactly physical wonders. 

But I have to make preparations for the nights to come. I ran away from the Cornucopia pretty fast, so I don't have much. Only a leather pouch with a dagger and some dried lizards. Those lizards won't last long. And I need water. I know that SandWings are built to survive a long time without it, but I still need moisture. But what to find first? My ally, Moon, or the survival necessities?

I think for a moment. Well, only fining one of the two isn't enough, so I suppose I'll keep an eye out for Moon while hunting for water and a source of food. Thankfully, there's rabbits and squirrels everywhere, and although I don't like being in a forest, at least it'll provide concealment and food.

The sun is setting, and temperatures are dropping quickly. SandWings need heat. Warmth. And the warmth my scales radiate isn't enough to stop me from being cold. But there's no choice, a campfire would only draw attention. So I decide to find a tree with a lot of leaves and fall asleep. 

A few hours later, I wake. It's hard to sleep out here, where it's so cold. i lie awake for a while, unmoving, until a noise makes me whip my head around. I look at the ground, but see nothing, until I notice a greenish gray NightWing sliding through the undergrowth. My eyes widen in excitement. Then, the gleam of silver teardrop scales confirm who it is. 

"Moon!" I whisper-shout. "It's me!" She turns around slowly, frozen, and then beams in relief and joy. 

"Qibli!" She cries in a murmur. "I was looking for you."

"I was looking for you, too, but didn't know where to look," I respond. "Do you have any supplies from the Cornucopia?"

"Only this small blanket," she said, revealing a piece of fabric not even large enough to cover one dragon. "It's going to be hard to keep warm."

"Don't worry, if we stay close to each other we can share the heat," I say. "Anyways, I have a dagger and some food. Enough to last maybe a day."

Suddenly, the anthem begins. Moon jumps, startled. 

"It's okay, just the anthem. Come on, Moon, get into this tree," I say, and she smiles and then climbs up to where I was sleeping. She is really relieved to have found me. "Let's see who's left."

After the anthem ends, the images of the dead dragons are projected into the sky. (WARNING: THIS MIGHT BE UPSETTING!!!)

I try to recall the dead tributes as they appear in the sky. Both from District Two. The glittery IceWing and the bratty little SeaWing. I only really remembered the IceWing because i suggested that we be allies but he refused. His name was Winter. The SeaWing was Anemone, I think. Anyways, then there's the creepy male LeafWing from District 6 and the metallic green SilkWing from 8. Hawthorn and ... Luna. Yes, Luna. She was so scared to be in the Hunger Games. 

"Twenty people left," Moon whispers. 

"Only one of the dead dragons was really competitive," I whisper back. 

"Do you have a strategy?" She asks. 

I smile at her reassuringly. "Not yet, but let's get some rest and come up with one tomorrow morning, alright?"

She nods. "Alright."

And with that she wraps her wings around me, soaking up all the warmth, and we both fall asleep.