Forever in the Games- UNDER EXTREME EDITING

Chapter Twenty

By the time I've woken up the next morning, Rue has already collected breakfast. Just a few leaves and fruit, non poisonous of course. 

"Are they still there?" I ask, as I finish my last leaf. Rue nods.

"And so's Katniss. She's in a tree, just next to a tracker jacker nest"  The sun's just rising, and after I check that the coast was clear, I make my way from the Careers, Peeta and Katniss, I don't know why. It was one of those moments where you just want to be by yourself. The times when I was an innocent girl fill my mind. My first games wasn't fun. I was terrified. I didn't know what to expect. I mean, i was trained to kill by the Capitol everyday up to the beginning of the games, I think their plan was intended so I didn't survive. But I did, how, I can't remember, but what I do know is that the head Gamemaker didn't live after that. 

A small pond lies ahead, so taking out the bottle from the backpack, I fill it up for Rue, whilst I drink it there and then.  I wonder what Haymitch is doing now, and Effie. Are they trying hard to get sponsors for Katniss and Peeta? Did they know Peeta was going to join the careers? Some people back home, in a few Districts and the Capitol class me as a career. It's weird to me, I've always thought of myself as just, another Tribute, a mutt, monster, and murderer, but never a career

I just sit silently for a while, thinking of my life, what a mess it's become, watching the sun rise. But my peace is interrupted by a blood-curling scream coming from Rue's direction. Immediately, I jump up, my knife raised, and I run to Rue. But the funny thing is, she's not there. The careers ae running in the opposite direction, Katniss is still climbing down the tree, but where's Rue and what's happened?! I start to run around frantically, searching anywhere for her. I search deeper into the trees, where she's hiding behind a tree.

"Rue what happened?!" But she shakes her head, and pokes her head around the tree, I follow her gaze. Katniss is kneeled next to a stiff body, who's I don't know, and I don't care, when I see Peeta run around the corner.

"Run! Katniss go!" He shouts, kneeling down next to her. "What're you doing?! Go!" I come out of hiding, and run to them. Peeta's eyes widen, but Katniss doesn't seem to know that I'm there. I smile at Peeta.

"I don't know your plan, but I'm holding up my end of the bargain" I tell him, grab Katniss' upper arm, and drag her towards Rue. 

"We need to move deeper into the woods, or the careers will find us" She doesn't hesitate, she grabs hold of Katniss' other arm, and we run further. When we're deeper, I let go, and with the lumps on her hands and neck, I'll let the hallucinations of the tracker jacker venom take it from here. She tries to run away, but collapses next to a tree, and falls backwards onto the ground. 

_*_

It's been a couple of days since Rue hid Katniss, and tended to her wounds. Right now, I'm currently tracking the careers, or any other tribute. Well just seeing if there are any close by. Nothing exciting's happened really. Only two deaths, the girl from 1, Glimmer I think her name was, and the boy from district 10. The careers, who now I figure are still at the cornucopia, have piled their supplies up in a big pyramid, it didn't look safe when we went to check. 

By the time I get back to Rue, it's afternoon, meaning my favorite part of the day, dinner. I slowly walk through the woods, holding three tree mice, one for me, one for Rue, and one for Katniss when she wakes up. But it surprises me when I get back, Katniss isn't where we hid her, and Rue is out of sight. I put all of my things on the ground, and have a quick glance around. Katniss is kneeling by a tree, and she kind of looks like she's talking to it. That's when I notice Rue hiding behind it. Very slowly, I tip toe behind Katniss, as she whispers

"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you" That was my cue for a bit of fun. I hold my knife to her back.

"Maybe not, but I can hurt you" She stiffens, but doesn't move. I laugh, and push her gently. "Only joking, loosen up" Rue comes out of hiding, with a tiny smile on her lip.

"That wasn't funny"

"Maybe not for you darlin', but it was for me" I pick up the mice, and start to skin them. 

"Why haven't you killed us yet?" Katniss asks with a frown. 

"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it instead of saving your ass from those tracker jackers wouldn't I? And anyway me and Rue are in an alliance" The expression on her face wasn't what I expected. She was silently laughing. "What's so funny?" I smile.

"It's just, I didn't know you were the type of person to make an alliance with a twelve year old." She explains, sneaking a glance at Rue, who's collecting leaves. 

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me darlin'" 

The meal was alright I suppose, not one of my favorites. Rue explained everything that happened, how I saved her and Katniss, how we came into an alliance, the rats, the tracker jackers, and then the careers supply pile in the cornucopia.

"That sounds tempting" Katniss smiled 'my thoughts exactly'   

Rue slept with Katniss during the night. It was kinda weird, without Rue next to me. Instead, I sleep in a tree a few meters away from them, looking up at the sky. No one died today. The careers are still out there, with a lot of supplies, there's only one thing for it. Katniss has her bow, Rue knows how to make big fires, and I know how to defend us all. That's how the plan comes together.