Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 19 - What Do We Do With The Careers?

We just sit there in silence…rather awkward silence if I may add. I’ve not said a word and I still refuse to say a word to Talon. My thoughts are still spinning around about whether or not just to leave him here in the middle of the night. If I had any sense though, I would’ve killed Talon on top of that mountain. He’s just being a pain right now and I’d have one less tribute to worry about. It’s just there are unwritten rules in the Games: 1) you don’t kill your district’s partner, and 2) he’s spared me from being killed and I don’t know why. He’s refusing to actually tell me because I don’t buy his whole ‘district loyalty’ story. There’s more to it than just that. I know it!

“So what do we do next?” He then asks me as he prepares the fire. I’m still stuck inside my thoughts, although I do hear him. I just don’t answer the question. I could have an answer for him, but I’m not giving it to him now. I can tell he’s slightly annoyed by my silence, but what the hell. He caused it in the first place. “You know, silent-treatment is not recommended for partnerships to work…you might as well just get over it.” He says. I look at him slightly surprised. He notices my look. “What, didn’t anybody tell you that? Well, I can’t say I’m surprised over that fact.” He then says slightly cocky about it. How dares he?!

“You just told me that your initial plan was to bring me to the Careers so that they could kill me! And now you want me to help you plan ahead?!” I snap back at him as I’ve gotten up on my feet. Talon stops what he’s doing and gets up. “I’ve told you, your ego and your selfish bastardly ego, that I’m not going to go through with it! Try to get that inside that thick self-absorbent head of yours!” He answers back as he calms himself down and continues working on the fire.

Oh wow, Talon actually had it in him. He actually had it in him to insult me…it doesn’t help him much when it comes to regaining my trust. I actually hate him even more for talking back. It’s like he can see right through me, even though he’s not looking at me. “You walk around the District, acting like you own it, like you’re something the others aren’t. Truth be said though, you’re just like the rest of the kids. You’re just a girl like the others. Your goddamn thick skin is the only thing that separates you from the rest.” He then says. Huh, imagine that. He actually had more than what he let on earlier. However, what he says does hit me. I do realize that most of the time, I’m the one who’s brainless. I’m the one who walks around thinking I’m special…to myself I’ll always be I guess so I am self-absorbent. But to the world outside, at least outside of the naïve people’s minds, I’m just one in the crowd. Talon is right. I have a thick skin and that’s the only thing that does separate me from the rest. Way deep down, I’m still one of them.

After a moment I sit down as the fire starts to fire up for real. Talon just stares at it as the silence covers us once more. “I know…” I then mutter out of nowhere. Talon looks over at me. “The things that you said…I know…I just can’t see myself like the rest so I put it at a distance. It’s the way it all works for me.” I answer. Talon nods weakly. “We all have something…your way stands out which is why people look at you differently. It’s why you might’ve felt that you are something they’re not…” Talon answers. I simply nod as I lean my chin against my knees. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I’m asking you for the benefit of the doubt here. I could never kill Feisty Mason.” He then lets on with a weak smile. I smile back at that comment. “No, you couldn’t. I’d get to you first.” I answer.

“So for the third time, what do we do about the Careers?” He then asks me as we’re finally able to put this feud behind us…for now. But jeez, I haven’t even started to think about them with all of this drama. It’s like I’ve forgotten I’m actually in the Games and that they’re actually hunting for us. “To be honest, I haven’t wasted an ounce of energy on them…you know, about what to do with them.” I point out. Talon nods. “However, if I may suggest it, I suggest we stick to higher ground. I saw the high ground continue on in to the forest. It’ll give us an advantage being able to see them when they don’t see us.” Talon suggests. I nod in agreement. “It’ll be our best shot considering we’re two against six of them.” I point out in addition. “But what do we do?” Talon then asks. Well, I’m guessing this is where I answer with a genius plan…except I don’t.

“And yet you are constantly calling me brainless?” Talon then lets out slightly cocky. “Hey, don’t think too highly of yourself, brainless. For your information, I do have a brain and I do have a plan.” I let out. I really don’t. I just said that to make him shut up. Still, damn it, I’ve gotta come up with something fast! “Okay then, do you care to share this genius plan of yours?” He then asks. That’s when I actually come up with something. I really am a freaking genius! I turn rather smug about it. “We need to get ahead of them in the forest or stay on the high ground…we’ll lay down some traps. I know a few using simple things like rocks, vines, berries. We then lure them our way and the Careers can perfectly set off the traps themselves.” I answer feeling quite good about myself.

I can tell Talon’s thinking through the plan. “Okay, that sounds like a good plan…but what about the girl with the bow?” He then asks me. Hm, nice try, brainless, but I have an answer for that one a well. “We’re keeping an eye on them on higher terrain, and I do pretty good with my knives. I’m sure there’ll be a time and place where I can throw the knife to cut the string on the bow. If she’s gonna come after any of us, she’s gonna have to get her hands dirty.” I answer back with a cunning smile. See? I do have a brain and I do have the smarts! “Okay, I’ll admit, you do have something in there.” Talon comments as I shrug.

“You shouldn’t keep on with that, brainless. It might just get you hurt.” I warn him as I grab my backpack and search for that tiny bag with meat. My stomach is rumbling and we’re both hearing it. “We should really get some food tomorrow…the woods should be able to provide us with some living creatures we can cook.” I say as the meat doesn’t really help my hunger much. Talon smiles at me. “I’m sure we’ll be having a better meal tomorrow. Let’s just get some rest for now. I have a feeling it’s going to be harder to get in the forest.” He says as lies down next to the fire.

I take the first watch. I know that we’re not gonna have any attacks tonight, but I’m staying up, partly because I know that the amount of tributes are getting smaller and smaller and it’s getting closer to the point where Talon and I will have to split up. None of us want to be the other one when there’s two tributes left standing…I don’t want Talon to be other one because honestly, despite his lack of brains from time to time, I don’t want to kill him. Sure, if we still had the same relationship as in the reaping, I’d have no problem killing him off, but after saving my life and treating my ankle, even fighting for this alliance to actually still be one, I can’t. In fact, I’m actually in debt to Talon!

Oh my God, when did all of this get so goddamn complicated?