Nightmares And Seashells

chapter twenty-five

After walking for a few hours. Or stumbling in Avery's case. The district four tributes stopped in a shaded spot to rest, drinking some water.

Avery reached into her bag splitting the rest of the first package of crackers and more of the dried meat.

"We're going to need to try hunting if we want to keep eating, what we have won't last. Now that we're both hurt making snares is probably our best bet." Avery said as she finished her last cracker and a sip of water.

"We can set a few when we find a place to set camp. I suggest we look for some kind of cave. That way we can build a fire without being seen and we can cook whatever we catch and save the dry food for when we really need it." Jasper responded getting up and offering her his hand.

As soon as Avery made it to her feet, using her spear as a crutch. They both jumped taking defensive stances.

"Boom.."

"Boom."

That night Avery took first watch, her leg was hurting too much to sleep and she knew she'd be less helpful once the blood loss started getting to her.

They had managed to find a small cave, and Avery caught three fat squirrels with her throwing knives while Jasper retrieved them for the girl, that gave them the fullest meal they'd had since getting here.

"Who knew squirrel could taste so good." Jasper said moaning while savoring the taste of the juicey meat in his hands.

"It's no salmon but hell it beats crackers!" Avery laughed back.

As she was about to take another bite she nearly dropped it completely hearing a sickening crack and a scream before the cave floor below them rumbled making them both look up worried about the cave floor above their heads.

"Boom."

"How many is that?" Avery asked picking the meat from around the leg bone, less hungry than she was before.

"fifteen I think, that leaves seven including us. Things will start to wrap up now that were in the final 8.. hows your leg?" Jasper responded laying down with his head on his bag.

"Sore as hell, but you did a good job wrapping it. I haven't bled through yet." Avery responded tossing the rest of the squirrel bones in the corner with his.

"Just get some sleep Riggs, I'll wake you in a while."

When the anthem started Avery made her way to the opening of the cave looking at the sky.

When she returned to her seat staring into the dying fire, Jasper rolled over to look at her.

"The boys from 5 and 7, the girl from 8 and the two from 10." She said knowing what he was thinking.

"Their names were Tanner and Cassiopia Barren... siblings."

With a sigh Jasper sat back up looking at the younger girl.

"There's nothing we can do now Winters. They attacked first, we did what we had to do."

When she didn't respond he continued.

"That just leaves the girls from 11 and 12, us and the three careers."

Still she said nothing.

"Well I'm awake now, you get some rest. You'll need it. I'm sure they'll be bring us together sooner rather than later." Jasper told the girl taking her spot closest to the entryway of the cave.

The next morning Avery woke up to a beeping noise. Sitting up and watching as Jasper made his way out of the cave.

Coming back a moment later with a small white parachute.

Opening it he took out two cannisters, and package containing bread and bandages before reading the card to her.

"Purple for your wounds, red is soup. Heal, eat. Not long now. -F"

Jasper then opened both handing Avery the soup.

"Looks like we're wrapping things up. You eat first while I take care of your leg. I'll eat after while you do my hand." Jasper said scooting closer to unwrap Avery's leg. The sight almost making the girl gag. But the moment the paste hit her leg, Avery slumped instantly feeling better.

After smelling the soup in her hands Avery didn't care about her mangled leg anymore.

She drank a little under half while munching on the bread watching as he worked, knowing the bigger boy would need more.

Once he tied the new bandage off she traded him the remaining soup and second roll of bread for the medical supplies.

"Wow capital medicine is like magic.." Jasper sighed as she applied a generous amount of paste to the wound, knowing he'd need his hands for what was about to happen.

"How do you think they'll pull us together? I heard my older brother say sometimes it's a banquet with things we need. But I don't think we've been here long enough to need anything THAT badly." Jasper inquired. Still scooping soup into his mouth with ripped pieces of bread with one hand. As she finished tying it off she looked up at the boy. A scared look on her face.

"I've heard they use natural disasters, or even mutations to corral tributes."
She said thinking back to when she was old enough start watching some parts of the games with mags or the boys.

Chuckling darkly Jasper drank the last of the soup setting the canister aside.

"Well let's not wait around to find out. We should head back towards the cornucopia just in case. Stay in the trees and scope it out." Jasper said dusting the crumbs off and offering Avery a hand up.

When they were both finnished packing whatever supplies they had out they left the cave. Finding only one small rabbit in their snares they stowed it away and decided keep moving.

"It's only day three and we're down to the last seven, this has to be one of the quickest games ever." Jasper said breaking the silence.

"Well seeing as we've only been there for five deaths, the careers must have been really putting the work in." Avery responds.