Inferno: A Hunger Games Fanfic

Chapter 25

Hi !

As soon as we're packed we decend from the trees and set off toward the village.

"How long will it take?" Ask Meir, encumbered with countless bags and weapons.

"We should get there by dawn," calls Lepus from the lead, " Maybe a bit before,"

We walk in silence for a while, struggling along under the bulk of our bags. The darkness grows darker until the moon appears, bathing everything in a soft, unearthly glow.

Gradually it begins to get lighter, and a small stream of light peeks over the horizon, momentarily dazzling us.

"How much further, Lepus? You said we would be there by dawn!" I mutter, exhausted and annoyed.

"Just over this hill,"

We climb the steep hill, tripping over stones and pushing through the fabric-ripping branches. My jacket is in shreds and my will to continue probably looks quite similar. The forest ends at the summit of the hill and for the first time in days I'm in direct sunlight. I never realised how hot the arena actually was. I pull up my fortunately relatively unscathed hood to protect my face from the burning sun and look down toward the village. It's beautiful. I've only seen things like it in the history books at school. Though in the history books the houses weren't flamboyantly coloured. I guess it's a weird twist for the veiwers. I guess sandy yellow and pale ivory isn't to the taste of the eccentric capitol.

"What do we do?" I ask Lepus, who is resting on nearby tree.

"We ought to stay here for a bit, check the careers aren't still here. I think they left while we were here, but I'm not sure." He says apolgetically.

"Better safe than sorry," says Meir with a shrug, "Let's set up camp, if there's no sign of them by noon, we'll go in.,

We divide up the jobs and a small while later me and Meir are picking berries in a small clearing. Sunlight trickles in through the leaves above us, throwing Meirs injuries into a better light. They look better, but the scars that are snaking up his arms may take a while to heal.

I busy myself with collecting berries, occasionally saying a random unconnected comment which will start a short conversation between me and Meir. The bush fades to another similar nearby bush, which contains berries that I remember from training.

"Hey Meir look at these!" I hold out a few berries. "These could be deadly poisonous or delicious."

He looks at me strangely, " Isn't it the same with all berries?"

"No no I mean... well...watch," I slice a berry open with the top of my knife, and an idea crops up in my mind. I slice a few more berries until one lets out a small burst of crimson, instead of cerulan.
"It's red," states Meir unnecessarily.
"Yeah, the blue ones are posionous and the red ones are edible. Watch!" I pop a blue one in my mouth.

I hear Meir shout "NO!" And drop to the fall eyes closed. I feel Meir shaking me, and open my eyes bursting with laughter.

"Tricked you. The red ones are posionous, note the blue. Hopefully you'll remember that now." I sit against a tree, still in peals of laughter.

"Not funny!" Says Meir harshly, and see tear tracks down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I should have thought about you. Sorry." I say hurriedly, trying to amend things.

" It's fine just... don't do it again." Meir grabbed my hands, "Please, I don't want to lose you,"

I spared answering this by the arrival of Lepus and Emily.

"We heard screams?" Lepus says, looking around, worriedly.

"Hazel was messing around," Meir says, and I still sense a little bitterness in his words.

I look at the pine needles littering the floor and feel my face going red. I fiddle with my hair guiltily.

"Sorry!" I stammer ashamedly.

"Well if everyone's fine, why don't we make oh way to the village?" Suggests Lepus.

I grab my berries and hurry after Lepus, eager to explore the village.

Ok first bad news. Well kind of news. Just play along.

Bad news: I have lists of test/exam things so this was quite a short chapter sorry don't kill me.

Good news: I have a revision break on Friday so I have time to update, and soon it's the end of exams and stuff and I'll have less homework and stress and be able to update longer, better chapters! Yay!

Sorry the last couple of chapters haven't been very good. I've had super lots of homework and have been very tired. Sorry again! It'll get better!

Xxx