The Hunger Games

Chapter 17

          The voice…its Danny’s…Danny…Danny…Danny! Oh no! No, no, no! This can’t be! I think to myself in terror. If he dies, this is my entire fault, meaning that I killed my best friend!

          Danny’s shrieking of pain echoes through the forest. I feel relaxed that he’s not dead, yet. But he could be anytime soon. The only thing I could do at the moment is help him.

          I turn to Lily. “Lily, stay here. If you get into any trouble, climb that tree over there.” I point to a tree nearby. “I’m going to be right back.” Lily nods and I climb the tree Danny’s apparently in, one hand griping onto my bow, and the other grabbing the branches.

          My backpack strapped to my back, most likely won’t be falling off.

          As I get to an open gab, I see Danny a few feet above me. But only his head, dangling off one of the branches, while I still don’t know where my arrow hit him. I hope it didn’t kill him, when he’s killed, I don’t want to be the one responsible for his death. Someone else can take the blame.

          “Katharine, are you okay up there?” I hear Lily call from the ground.

          “Yeah,” I call back. I grip onto a tree branch and continue climbing up. “Danny…?” I say softly under my breath, trying to be careful not to startle him.

          I see Danny’s eyes flicker open indicating that he’s still not dead, and he’s obviously in much pain. I see the end of the arrow, still not sure where it hit him. “Katharine…” He says in a soft, weak voice.

          I finally manage to get onto the same branch he is. It connects to other branches so it’s easy to stay in without falling, much like the other tree’s I’ve been sleeping in.

          I look at him expecting to find the arrow in his stomach or near his heart somewhere, but I find it stuck into his right shoulder.

          Blood is oozing out of the gash, and it tells me that the arrow is deep in there. He has a bruise on his chin and a cut under his left eye and a big bump on his forehead, that’s still turning into a bruise. Little patches of dry blood cover his forehead and mouth area. His black hair also has dried blood on it, sticking it together and leaves and twigs are also stuck in his hair.

          I place my backpack on a branch and take out the medicine kit. I open up the pack and find bandages, burn ointment, fever pills and a few other things.

          I look over at him. His breathing is fast and he keeps coughing. I place my hand on his cheek and smile. “You should be a bit quieter, unless you want the other tributes finding us.” I say. I smile and lift up his head towards me, and place my backpack under his head so he can use it as a pillow.

          He smiles at me and coughs. “I didn’t think you’d come up here. I wouldn’t suspect you’d notice it was me anyway. I’d thought you’d just leave me out to die, especially for what happened on the first night in the arena, and everything else.” He looks down, knowing he’s hurt me in many ways. Especially confusing me with my feelings. I’m still uncertain if he’s playing a love act or not, but by the look in his eyes, they are full of pain and love.

          “You knew I was in that tree?” I then ask, and brush his hair back out of his eyes with my hand.

          Danny nods. “Yeah, I saw you that night while the Careers were trying to get information out of me. But I returned, hidden just to check up on you.”