Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-six

Gale's POV

"There you two are. We've been looking for you two," a voice says in the darkness off to my right.

My whole body stiffens. My bow is pulled back ready to let an arrow fly in the direction of the sound.

"Step out into the light, will you?" I say in an even voice.

I keep Madge behind me, and my bow aimed at the sound. A slight movement in the shadows let's me know that their is more than one person.

"Okay, okay. Would you like us to come out with our weapons on the ground?" the voice says again.

"That would be much appreciated," I say. "Why don't you just toss any weapons you have up here in front of me so I can see them."

A few sighs and chuckles issue as a pile of weapons starts forming in front of me. Clanking of metal as the weapons land on each other in a heap.

"Is that better?" the voice says. "You better hope that crash didn't alert any of the others of our position."

"I think I'll take my chance with that. Now if you don't mind stepping forward so that we can actually see one another," I say.

I still keep my bow ready to fire. They threw their weapons forward, but that doesn't mean someone didn't keep something small with them, like a knife.

"Of course, by all means. You still probably won't be able to see us very clearly though," the same voice says.

I can hear light shuffling as they move forward. By the movement of the shadows I can tell there are four of them.

"Still have that bow raised huh? We, well at least I was told, to expect something like this from you. I suppose you know how to use that bow pretty well with Katniss Mellark as your cousin."

"Enough with the idle chit-chat. Who are you?" I say, keeping my bow raised.

"We're your allies," the voice says.

Allies? I didn't want any allies. How stupid do they think I am. Allies? I don't need any allies.

"Prove it to me because I sure as fucking hell didn't want any allies," I spit, keeping the bow aimed at the closest one's, the one talking, heart.

"Haymitch said you would be difficult. How would you like us to prove it? I think we both know Haymitch had you scouting us all out during training and that you were suppose to say who you would want for allies."

How do they know that? The only people that knew that was myself, Madge, Haymitch, and Effie. Maybe I made it obvious that I was taking notes on people. No, that can't be it. I wasn't really paying attention to anyone. I just blew it off entirely.

"You're questioning how I know that, aren't you?" the voice says. "I"m going to take your silence as a yes. I told you Haymitch. Is it really that surprising that he did something behind your backs? Didn't he do something similar to Katniss and Peeta?"

"How do you know he did something like that to Katniss and Peeta?" The tip of the arrow drops slightly as I debate about what to do. Do Madge and I make a run for it? Do I try to kill all four of them before they kill me and/or Madge?

"I think it was pretty obvious by the look on Katniss's face during the Quarter Quell. When she saw that gold whatever on Finnick, the look on her face. It only became more obvious when he said they were allies. She had no idea, by the looks of it."

Did Katniss look that way in the Quarter Quell? I cannot remember because I was in the mines. Mine production didn't slow just because the Games were going on. Everyone in the mines had to watch the overview before we were allowed to return home for the night. The overview included any 'important' events during the day such as fights and deaths. I can't remember that being in the overview. The Gamemakers must have decided it was irrelevant. Although, how could that be irrelevant? It was a group of Tributes making an alliance. Then, again I can't say I payed particular attention to the overview or even the Games much in the first place, especially when Katniss was in them. I didn't want to see all the things that were happening to her.

"Yeah, fine, whatever. Haymitch would do something like this," I mutter. I clear my throat before speaking clearer and louder, "I'm sorry, I didn't seem to catch your names."

Chuckles ensue, "That's because we haven't given them yet."

I sigh, "It was a prompt to give them out. Obviously you already know who we are since you were so called looking for us."

"Yes, I suppose it was," they say dryly. "You can't see us, but I'm Secundus Herenus," the voice that has been doing all the talking says.

It seems we have a name now for our mysterious voice. The leader of this little group for sure. "If my memory serves correctly, and it usually does, aren't you from District One? Shouldn't you be with the Careers? I know they didn't come this way after that bear attack."

"Bear attack?" Secundus muses. "I suppose we'll have time later to figure out what you mean by that. But, yes traditionally District One Tributes are in the 'Careers', as you call them. However, I like to be different."

"Fair enough. How are the rest of you? I know Herenus here isn't alone, even though he's the only one who has talked. I can see the outline of your shadows and hear your breathing," I say gesturing into the darkness where the other shadows are hiding.

A throat clears from one of the shadows, "I'm Canutia Livigena, District Three."

"I'm Ash . . . Plainbrook from District Six," another voice pipes up.

"And I'm Vibius Messala from Four."

"Great, glad we all found our voice," I say. I turn to Madge, "Seems like Haymitch really listens to us."

"Don't be mad, Gale. He said to choose allies. I trust that Haymitch knows what he's doing. Afterall, he did get Katniss and Peeta through the Games twice," Madge says, touching my arm.

"More like one and half for Katniss and once for Peeta," I mutter. "You're right though. He is our mentor and he should have his head out of his ass enough to know what he is doing."

"So about this bear attack, do you care to explain?" Secundus says.

I turn back toward the group of our 'allies'. "I suppose. That's why we are out this way now. We were camped out in a tree when we heard something. First some kind of animal sound and the pack of Careers. The Careers lured the bear over, not sure they meant to, and it got ahold of one of them and killed them," I say shortly. I didn't one to drag out the story. It's not really that important anyway.

Before anyone can say another word, the sound of more footsteps and loud arguing is heard in the distance. It's still a bit away, but not as far as I would prefer. If I'm perfectly honest, it wouldn't be anywhere near me and I would be contentedly back in District Twelve not worrying about any of the fucking bullshit.

"Well, I would hate to cut this chat short, but it sound like we're going to have company. Now since we are supposedly allies you're welcome to join us, I guess, but be quiet. I don't want to give our position away. Now let's go, they're getting closer," I say grabbing Madge's hand and taking off into the darkness of the forest again.  

Once again my dumbass w key isn't working so I have to copy and paste it in there. I updated today as a back-to-school present, mostly to myself because I'm starting my senior year tomorrow. -- Alexis