Rose on Fire

Chapter 63

(Johanna POV)
Even after seeing what happened to Gale I still go outside of thirteen for some fresh air. I run to the woods not wanting to stay out in the open to long. I don't take any weapons as I don't plan to hunt. I see some bear paw prints and a dead salmon head. Knowing there's got to be a stream or something not far up ahead I sprint following the bear tracks. I get to an opening and see a stream. Wanting to find the source if possible I follow the winding stream. I run for probably 2 miles before I see a waterfall and a rocky cliff. I scoop some water into my hands, as I take a sip, I quickly spit it out realizing its saltwater. I climb the rock wall, looking to my left I can see some lamprey climbing under the waterfall so they can get some water to breathe. I pull myself onto the cliff and look down at the 40 foot drop making me smile remembering climbing the tall trees in district 7. I look in front of me to see a breath taking view, tall snowcapped mountains line the horizon, a massive and wide sound in front of me. I walk over to more stable ground, as the sound overflows creating the water fall. I find a massive tree and climb it quickly, I get to the top and find a sturdy branch perfect to sit on and view the sound. I look around the shallows of the sound seeing salmon sharks fins scrap the surface of the water. I laugh at the fact that I know all this, Finnick taught me way to much marine biology in the 75th hunger games. I almost pee myself with excitement when I see a pod of orcas swim into vision from behind a few pine trees, their swimming creating ripples in the motionless sound. I look at their tall straight fins swimming across the sound gracefully. I just want to live forever in this moment. I notice three of the orcas are small and are staying close to their mothers. I know if I'm lucky enough I'll get a little show. I slide down the tree quickly and walk to the waters edge, I lay down on the ground and put my ear in the water holding my breath just listening. After a few seconds I can hear their voices, I listen to the sounds of their calls. I hear their unique clicks and high frequency sounds like a radars beeping but louder and constant, or you could compare it to a creaky door opening and closing. I look up just I time to see one of the baby whales breach. His body slamming the water as gravity pulls him back down. At the same time the two other baby whales breach. Then it almost becomes a breaching contest, the biggest orca, probably the dominant male of the pod breaches, because he's so ginormous he barely makes it out tif the water, but the splash does' fail to amaze me. The orcas breach for a few more minutes before settling back down and swimming out of view. I walk around looking for more wildlife. The sun has already set but there's still a soft glow in the horizon, I continue to walk around the the forest never going to far away from the waterfall. I find some snails and let them slowly move around on my hand, their cold sliminess making me smile and shiver from the happiness of how amazing nature is. I set down the snails and just as I'm turning to step toward the water fall to go back home I hear a loud explosion go off. A bomb. I hear more explosions and look down the cliff. Next to the water fall just under me I see a baby red fox, it's mother nowhere insight. Knowing there are bears around here I wouldn't be surprised if the mother could have been dinner for one. I quickly climb down the cliff and carefully grab up the baby, I throw my jacket over it so it won't run away. I look up to see a forest fire starting, not to far off I can see the tops of trees up in flames, the baby fox doesn't struggle or bite as I zip up my jacket with the foxes head sticking out, the rest of its body pressed to mine. I quickly climb up the cliff and run deep into the forest, I run probably 5 miles the darkness making my vision limited. I find a tall tree near the water and climb it to see if I can see the forest fire or any hovercrafts. The hovercrafts are pretty much just specks of light from here, I wait about two hours and watch them bomb thirteen just hoping everyone will be okay. Once the hovercraft's disappear from view I climb down the tree and gather a few rocks and sticks. I manage to make a small fire, I gather bigger branches and rocks, I dig a pretty deep hole circling the tree. I line the edges with rocks, the fox only making it harder to move.I light 3/4 of the circle so I can still get in and out of the circle. It's taken so long to build the fire circle, it's probably around 1 in the morning. I use one of the rocks to sharpen a branch into a spear. I wad knee deep into the water and plunge the spear in  almost immediately catching a good sized salmon. I use another branch and carve it into a knife. I clean the fish throwing what I don't need to the side. I set the rest of the fire creating a full circle. I finally let the fox out of my jacket. It stays close to me afraid of the fire, then it finally gets enough courage to pick at what I didn't use of the fish. I cook the fish and have my fill. I let the fox pick at it until I feel it's had to much as I don't want to sleep with a bloated fox. I throw the rest of the fish over the fire and hear it plop in the water, I don't want it to attract any bears tonight. I climb back up the tree and find a thick branch. I close my eyes and let sleep take over hoping everyone is ok.