The Hunger Games

Chapter Twenty Five

EDELMIRA'S POV
"I hear it!" I whisper excitedly, pushing past Hayden towards the sound of rushing water. I break out of the trees into the open, skidding to a halt in front of the river. I take my water bottle 
from my bag and remove the lid.
"You've been here before?" I ask Hayden, crouching down beside the water. "Yeah. It's normal water." I nod and fill the water bottle. I screw the lid back on and tuck it back inside the pack. "Should we set up camp?" Hayden asks, kicking at the loose pebbles with his feet. "Probably. But we should eat before it gets dark." I say, turning away from the river and walking over to him. "In the woods? It's still close to the river." I say. I don't want to stay out in the open, and I'm not going to. Hayden hesitates but reluctantly agrees. We turn and walk back into the woods. Crunch crunch. Rustle rustle. I stop to glare at Hayden. "Could you be quiet?" I hiss.
"I'll try." He answers, not meeting my gaze. I turn back around and continue walking, but Hayden seems to be deliberately stepping on every twig and pile of leaves. "Sorry, sorry!" He says as I turn to look at him again.
"You know, just take of you shoes. But keep your socks on, they'll muffle some of the noise." I say, reaching up and holding his shoulder to steady him as he attempts takes his boots off. "You have terrible balance." I mutter as he struggles to stay upright. "Sit down?" He nods and very loudly sits down. "There. I got it." Hayden huffs. I release my grip on his shoulder and once again, turn around. Hayden follows close behind, hardly making a sound.
"That's better." I say quietly.
"Hey, how about that?"
"What?" I ask, looking around.
"That." Hayden points to my left. I follow his finger. I nod and slink towards the tree. It's huge, and it's roots arch above the ground.
"Yeah this works." I say, getting down on my hands and knees and carefully peering under the roots. I rock backwards and sit down, crossing my legs. "It's empty, and it's big enough for both of us." I inform Hayden as he sits down next to me. "We should start a fire and eat before it gets dark." Hayden says, grabbing his backpack and dumping it's contents out.
He has a half full water bottle, a blanket, some strips of beef, a blanket and... "Where'd you get these?" I say, snatching up the knives. "I stole them for you." Hayden answers simply, standing up and gathering materials for a fire. "From who?" "The careers. They left their camp unguarded." "That's not very smart." I say softly, twirling one of the knives in between my fingers. I stand up. "I'll hunt for something." I say, grabbing two more knives. I walk soundlessly though the undergrowth, pausing to listen every now and then for food. A clump of ferns rustles ahead of me. I see a flash of feathers and throw my knife. There's a squawking cut short, and bam. I've caught another groosling.

I set the groosling down in front of Hayden before sitting down next to him. "I have some roots to cook also." I tell him. "I'll start the fire then." He says. I lay the groosling down and grab handfuls of feathers and rip them off. "What are you doing?" Hayden asks,
managing to make a spark. "Are you interested in eating feathers?" I ask, plucking the final few from the groosling's wing. "Well no,"
"I didn't think so." I say, drawing a knife. "Now what are you doing?"
"I suppose you want to eat the head too?" I snap. "What? No." Hayden says, confused. I roll my eyes. "I'm gutting it! That's what I'm doing!" I explain in a slow tone, like I'm teaching a three year old something. I raise the knife and bring it down on to bird's neck several times. "Oh my." Hayden whispers as I remove the head. "Just get the fire going."  I order. He gets the fire going in a few minutes, and I slowly begin to cook the groosling and the roots.
I put the fire out and divide the roots and groosling. Hayden eagerly grabs his share, only to drop it again.
"Hot." He mumbles, and I can't help but smile. "Just get it in your mouth before it can burn your fingers." I say as I grab a root, pop it into my mouth and swallow. "Like that."