Rue's Fight

Chapter 11 - The meadow

Chapter 11 - The meadow

Morning comes and I find Katniss has prepared a bird a bird for each of us and gathered more water. I eat my bird and Katniss has already begun talking of how we will take out the careers supplies.

" They'll see smoke from miles away, we can set alight lots of wood in desperate places and send them running ragged. Meanwhile the other person can figure how to get rid of their supplies."

" You should go, their supplies are surrounded by underground mines. and your the one from the mining district."

We spend the morning walking around the woods, setting up great piles of wood and green plants that will catch fire easily. I'm exhausted by the end of it, but I know in the long run it will all be worth it.

" I'll go, light each one up then move onto the next. You don't want to be nearby when the careers come running."

" We need a signal then, so we know we're both Ok."

" Like what?" Katniss asks.

I pause for a moment and look to the trees as if they will provide me with an answer, and strangely enough they do. Perched on one of the highest branches sits a mockingjay, so I begin to sing.

The mockingjay mimics my song, and Katniss whispers under her breath,

" Mockingjays...."

We part ways and I know we will find each other. I don't like the idea of splitting up but we don't exactly have a choice. I give Katniss 15 minutes or so to reach the outskirts of the careers camp. I'm amazed the careers haven't starting fighting each other yet, they usually have by this point.

I've watched the hunger games too often on tv to know that alliances can't last, and I know that the one I have with Katniss can't last either. I don't have the heart to kill her while she sleeps and I hope she doesn't have the heart to kill me either. Most likely we would part ways and hope someone else got the other one.

I stumble across the first log pile, I was so deep in thought I had nearly walked right past it. I begin to rub twigs together, and a tiny spark lights up. I lay it down onto the leaves and in seconds the pile is on fire, I see the smoke fly high into the sky and I run towards the next pile.

I set them all alight without catching sight of any of the careers, or Katniss. I keep moving far away from the piles, until I find a great oak tree. I begin to climb up, and I swing my legs over the thick branches. All that's left to do is sit and wait, and thoughts take up most of my time.

How many days have I been in the arena now? Katniss was unconscious for two, before we met here three days had passed so this is my fifth day.

I wonder where Thresh is? I haven't heard any cannons today....

And funnily enough just as I think that one goes off in the distance.

Its followed by an enormous eruption, and I stand tall in my tree to see the spectacle. An enormous ash cloud has rose, much bigger than any if the smoke my fires could have caused. Then, as soon as its over silence. No sounds, not even the song of the Mockingjays, they've went silent.

Katniss? Is she Ok? She may well be dead.

I listen out for more cannons, but none come, unless the first canon was for her then she is still alive. She could be dying for all I know, wounded, or suffocating but alive for the moment.

I begin to walk through the woods again hoping to catch sight of her, but I see nothing. I can't remember the way anymore, and I'm sure I'm lost just when my foot catches on a prices of netting.

Before I can move more nets fall on top of me, they've been pinned down with nails and I can't move or lift them. I'm panicking and I don't know what to do, if I scream someone other than Katniss might find me. But if I don't she never will.

What choice do I have?

" Katniss help! Katniss!"

I scream repeatedly, trying to pull the nails from the ground, kicking my legs high into the air. Trying to free myself.

" Katniss!"

I hear footsteps and I turn, someone is picking the nails out of the ground and suddenly my vision is no longer in squares. I find myself in Katniss' arms, holding onto her as tight as ever. The worry, and fear is gone from me now I am safe.

And suddenly I'm pierced by something so sharp, it knocks the air right out of my lungs.

I'm scared to look at my chest, because I'm not sure if I can move, I can't feel my body, but I can see the tip of the spear that has came from my back and out of my stomach. I see the blood pouring out, and I see the shock on Katniss' face. Within seconds she shoots someone with her bow and arrow, I try to turn to see who she just killed but my legs fail and I fall to the ground.

This is it, I think. Its over, this is how I die.

" Its Ok, your Ok. We can fix this." Katniss tries to reassure me, I already know I'm out of luck that my time in these games has came to a halt.

" Can you sing?"

" Yes, yes."

Katniss breaks into the meadow song, its soothing and calming. Nearly all the districts sing this song, like a fairytale passed down generations. My mother used to sing it to us before we went to sleep. My eyes flutter close, and the last image I ever see is Katniss' face. But in my mind, it is my mother and siblings. Even my father, the pain slowly comes to a halt, and everything becomes dark....