Mockingjay's Daughter (Hunger Games Fanfiction)

Chapter 23: Blood

"Why did you say that Drakob found the Fornestics earlier?" I confront Autumn later.

"Sorry. I forgot that I did. Not him," she tries to laugh it off. "Won't happen again Willow. I swear to you. It was just a mistake. Being dehydrated nearly all the time is really getting to me," she rubs her head. "Don't you think?"

Something seems really off with her.

I know I should kill her if it happens again, if I like it or not. This is The Hunger Games, as Drakob always points out.

"Right." I say uncertainly placing the last stick we have to the small fire while Fletch rubs two rocks together.

The sky is almost pitch black now. Me, Autumn and Fletch have started a fire to cook the food and Drakob still isn't back yet.

"Ok guys, who's hungry?" I ask getting up. "How about a bird each with some leafy salad and a piece of rabbit? Then a small apple and a couple of brambles for dessert?"

They both nod practically drooling. "Me," they both chorused. I don't bother asking them if they are thirsty since us three went to the lake not long ago and had a lot to drink.

I climb up to retrieve the food. When I put my hand in, some of the things feel...missing. I cut my finger on about of the bark inside which stings. The only thing I can find is the three birds, which I had caught today.

What about the rabbit from yesterday? The brambles? The rest of the apples? The salad leaves? Everything else that we had all got?

...how is it all gone?!

"Why do you just have three birds?" Autumn lifts her head, inspecting the food when I get down. My finger feels like it is throbbing already.

"Everything else is missing, I don't know how. Even that apple which I put in from my bag pack is gone." I scan both of their faces carefully. "Does anyone know where it went?"

"No," Autumn keeps we gaze fixated on the birds I'm holding. "Here," I hand one to her.

"Thanks," she says bright eyed.

"What about you Fletch?" He is unable to meet my eyes. "Do you have an idea as to why nearly all the food is gone?"

"Could it of...been eaten by an animal?" He suggests. "This place is crawling with weird things. They could of got most of our stuff while we went to get some water."

He could in fact be right, but I just don't believe it. It probably is though, I should just forget it. They both seem suspicious to me though, espeshly Fletch.

We cook the birds each, our stomachs rumbling from hungriness.

"Hey," Drakob greets us with a spear in his hand, leaning it on the tree. He must of left his sword here. "How long has that fire been on?"

"Not long," Fletch says between mouthfuls. "We where just cooking the birds."

"What about all the other stuff?" He asks looking at the three measly birds.

"Well we where going to use everything for tonight since none of us have probley eaten properly since we got here but it's all gone. This is all there was." I hold up my untouched bird in his face. "But you caught some stuff, right?"

Drakob sighs deeply and joins us to sit down. "Only some green salad leaves," he opens his palms to show us. "That was even hard to find. I swear, it seems like all the animals had just...vanished into thin air along with most of the plants."

"Maybe today was just a bad day?" Autumn say while licking the bones of the bird, already done. I hadn't even started to eat mine yet.

My appetite had suddenly vanished even though I haven't eaten anything today. My finger I had pricked somehow curbed my wanting for food "Here," I thrust the bird into Drakob's hand. "I bet you've eaten nothing today." He pushes it away. "Take it." I insist trying to make him have it.

"Have you eaten today?" Concern fills him.

"Yes I have," I lie. "Now please take it Drakob." I push it into his hand.

My stomach feels tight and knotted, as if I'm going to be sick. Like the small amount of water left in my stomach is trying to regurgitate out of me.

The smell of the birds really isn't helping.

"I'm going to sleep," I get up walking over to the tree. This sick feeling isn't going away. It feels similar to when I was on the train but a lot more intense.

That was only nerves making me feel ill, now it's something else.

The tree I'm climbing feels like it's...shaking. The trees trunk is merging into two, then four, now back to one.

I only make it to about halfway to our large branch which really is high up, when I'm forced to stop. It's still quite high up. The pain is worse. Everything is moving around me.

What's wrong with me?

Now I cannot hold it in. I lift my head to the side and puke for around seven seconds. I had nothing much inside of me to begin with.

I don't realise what I had puked up until Autumn and Fletch shreak.

It's blood. My hands feel numb.

Without realising, I lose my grip of the branches. Wind slaps me as I fall. I feel so out of it, that I don't react to it.

I can feel someone's hands gripping me.

"Willow!" Someone shrieks as I get jerked back.

"You're safe now," whispers a calm voice.

***

Sunlight hits my eyes, forcing me to shoot them open.

"Wha-what happened?" I stammer. Autumn was stroking my cheek, making me feel like a little kid.

"She's awake Drakob!" Autumn calls out. "Don't worry Willow, everything is going to be ok."

Sorry to leave such an abrubt ending but the next chapter will be out soon!