The Hunger Games: Never Safe From Danger

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Frinn’s POV

When I wake up under the tree, the sky is purple. Clouds drift around above my head. If I wasn’t probably going to die, I’d say it was beautiful.

One day.

I have to congratulate myself for managing a whole day- well, almost a whole day. I’m definitely one of the smaller kids, and they usually get pounded into the ground in the first few seconds.

I’m still clutching my tiny little knife tightly in my hands. It’s my only chance if a tribute attacks me. Or a mutt. Or whatever. Point is, when you’re in danger, sharp objects are like gold dust.

I feel awkward and sweaty beneath my t-shirt and my mouth is dry. It’s pleasantly warm now in the twilight, but it was quite warm during the bloodbath…and I guess it could’ve gotten a lot hotter while I was asleep.

I don’t feel like I have the energy to do anything, but hunger and thirst drive me up. I start walking after nothing in particular. I just want something to eat or drink. I’ve never really been hunting before, and I’m not sure if a knife will be much use, but I don’t care. I’ll have to figure it out. As for water…I have no idea where to find a stream, but maybe I’ll get lucky.

I decide to find a new place to camp. It’s not like I really need to stay by this tree. I mean, it didn’t fall on me and crush me in the night, I have to give it that, but it’s not that special and to be honest it’s dangerously close to the cornucopia. And the careers. This year, they’re kind of…a package deal.

The grass just has to be fake, or genetically engineered, or something, because grass does NOT feel this soft. I’m tempted to take off my shoes because it’s just so…fluffy, but some weird thing’ll probably bite me or something if I do. Or something. New catchphrase, perhaps?

Yeah, Frinn, way to focus on the important stuff.

It’s not long before I see a bush. I cautiously run up, expecting a raccoon to jump out and maul me, but it must be asleep or something because my face is still intact when I lean in to examine it. There are berries and I’m about half-sure they won’t kill me, but I didn’t pay much attention at the edible plants station, something which I am sorely regretting right now.

After several minutes of consideration, I decide that if I die, it’s just speeding up the inevitable. I pick a few and hungrily stuff them in my mouth. They taste all sweet yet tangy and marvellous or something.

When I’m somewhat satisfied and still not dead after eating berries for what must have been another ten minutes, I just shrug and stand up, knife in two hands now, and go on forward.

Right, now for shelter. Or water. I mean, whatever comes first, really, I’m not going to be fussy.

Problem is, I have no idea how I go about finding either of these. Blind wandering? Sounds like the best option I have.

Oh, dear. I am stupid.

I’m quite nervous about all the little silhouettes I keep seeing, but they’re always just mice or rabbits or messed up birds at further glance. All the same, I don’t get too close. Maybe people will laugh at me for yelping whenever a bunny runs along a hill. Maybe I’m the new joke of Panem. But I can’t help it, now can I? And who cares what they think of me? Apart from, well, everyone…

I jump as one of these rabbits just appears to my right and end up with two wet feet. Not the nicest way to find a stream, but it’s something.

I leap back out. It wasn’t too cold, but my feet are practically freezing now that the breeze is blowing against them. I cup my hands and scoop up water and drink as much as I possibly can until I start to feel a tad sick. I hope I’m just full instead of, like, poisoned or something.

Yeah, having water purification would probably work out well for me about now.

Only one thing left now, and that’s shelter. Can’t be too hard, I mean, how far can I really walk without seeing a big tree or something?

Well, now I’ve probably cursed myself. Oh, well done, me.

No, no, the peaceful, rational (I hope) Frinn Keyden will not be controlled by superstitions.

But maybe I shouldn’t, just to be sure…

As I walk, my mind wanders. Leighla. Zech. My family. How are they all? Alline…will she be okay? I really haven’t considered her enough. She’s my sister, and I love her, and if I hurt myself I hurt her and my mother and my grandfather. Now there’s pressure.

Leighla. She has to be okay. She just has to be. She came with her brother. He’s strong enough. He was training like mad so he could protect her. She’s safe with him. Hopefully. I mean, he’s gotta be, like, a protective wall! He’ll know stuff, I know he will. He seems responsible from what I’ve gathered when he isn’t threatening my life.

I have come to the conclusion that there are no trees for miles around. I sit down on the grass, and leap back up almost immediately, brandishing my knife. Great, another reason to laugh at me- nobody’s here, I just heard the start of the anthem. Frinn the failure.

I scowl, wondering if there are any cameras able to capture it, and sit back down, arms crossed in a way that doesn’t dig my weapon into my skin.

Bleeding is not on the top of my to-do list.

Then all of the sudden I feel like it’s the most nerve-wracking moment of my life. Now I see if Leighla’s lived.

I hug my knees and stare up intently, not stopping to wonder how it’s even possible to project stuff onto the sky.

First face. District Three. Harles, bless him, he had no chance. He pretty much walked into his death.

Spear boy! I saw Alerra shoot him, yes, but it’s such a nice feeling to see him up there…which makes me sound like a horrible person.

District Five’s boy, the one Ryda murdered. I feel as if I owe him some sort of debt, because she was too caught up in killing him to notice me. I give him a tiny salute.

Both from Six. Transportation’s cool and all, but it doesn’t exactly help you escape eighteen year olds with weapons.

Up comes a girl’s face, and I think she must be District Seven, but the words underneath her say she’s from Eleven. I squint. Am I reading that right? It just completely…missed out Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten? That’s a streak of luck, isn’t it? Relief washes over me, though, and I relax. Leighla’s alright.

The boy from Eleven is also dead. That’ll be encouraging for the agriculture district, won’t it? Poor people.

Both from Twelve show up, too, but that’s pretty normal as Twelve is so poor. Their industry is coal, so they’re all horribly unprepared. So am I, of course, I’m no career, but the kids from Twelve are usually the sort of people who can’t afford food. They’re usually weaker than the others. It’s not fair on them, really.

But no! I can’t afford to be a human right now. It’s them, not me, not Leighla. Nine deaths. Less than usual, but certainly something. That means I am now one of fifteen. Fifteen kids, most of whom will kill me on sight. Better stay away, I suppose.

Ha! I’m strategizing! As if that will help me. I won’t stick to it! I’ll see a rabbit in a snare and just try desperately to help it and get myself shot.

I wonder if I’ll ever see the kids from Ten again. I mean, I hope so, because they’re my only chance at having an alliance, and also I would quite like to see Leighla. She’s my friend. One of my best friends, now, even though I’ve known her for…days? Week? I’ve lost track.

Well. They’ve been long days. They count as a lifetime.

Or something.

I guess I should probably go find a tree now, and soon enough I realise that this entire time, there was one just in the next valley.

I hate my life. Trees are just never there when you need them.