The Fourth Quarter Quell

Hunger Games Day Six

Jo Stevens' Perspective

        I don't know how I fell asleep but it was a numb slumber. No dreams, no visions, no wisps of an imaginary world. It was a black, endless, unconscious feeling that matched how I felt. Watching the one you love sacrifice themself for your survival is a situation like none other. I wanted to stop Ryan but I knew he wouldn't satisfy my pleading. All I could do was watch him defend us and go down fighting.

         I was physically and emotionally exhausted. As the mutts died off and Paisley, Penny, and I hobbled towards the Cornucopia, there was a block in my chest. I felt as if I was drowning with each breath of chilling air I took. My best friend was gone. The one I love was gone. What good was living if I wasn't guaranteed to survive? I almost wanted to die in that moment. I wanted to just scream and crumple to the ground and sob, trying to bring Ryan back but I couldn't. I have to accept that.

        However, when I awoke the next morning, I knew that we were faced with a new problem. I almost broke down again. Sunrises are supposed to bring hope and symbolize new beginnings, not another form of torture or dilemma that my new alliance and I were supposed to cope with.

        "What is it this time?" I sighed, standing up and brushing myself off.

        Paisley, who had been stamping out the remnants of the campfire, looked at me in surprise. "You sound better. How do you feel?"

        I furrowed my brows together and took a breath. I could breathe easily without doubling over in painful coughs. I wiggled my nose to find that it wasn't stuffed or running. I touched a hand to my forehead and found it at a normal temperature. I was sweating like crazy but I wasn't dealing with any form of sickness. I was back to health.

        "That's weird. I broke through my hypothermia. How did that happen?" I stretched my arms a bit.

        Paisley stepped away from the campfire and crouched down next to her backpack. She began removing her jacket, leaving her in the athletic tank tops all the female tributes wore. Then, she pulled out a water bottle and took a small sip. "Well, hypothermia is a cold-induced sickness and the weather has changed again, if you haven't noticed."

        My eyes widened. Suddenly, the heat got to me. I followed Paisley's example and pulled off my jacket. The thing was gonna give me heat stroke. Some strands of my short blonde hair had fallen from its ponytail and was stuck to my face in sweaty tangents.

        "Where's DJ and Penny?" I asked.

        Paisley stood, resting her hands on her hips. "They're catching some food from the bay."

        I arched a brow but Paisley just jerked her thumb towards the mouth of the Cornucopia. "See for yourself."

        I paced over to the opening and my eyes widened. No longer was the arena a winter wasteland, but it was now a tropical jungle. The Cornucopia itself was isolated in the center of a saltwater bay, camoflaging with the several glistening boulders settled on the island.

        I warily stepped out of the structure, eyeing the beach off in the distance for any possible attackers. When I didn't see any, I sauntered carefully along the rim of the island, keeping a watchful eye on the beach and a ready hand on my belt filled with shurikens.

        After a few minutes, I found DJ and Penny deep in focus. Penny had turned her pitchfork into a trident and was shin-deep in the blue water, carefully watching for fish. DJ was perched atop one of the largest boulders, arrow nocked and ready. I stood awkwardly near the waves, not wanting to break the focus of two of my companions.