Burning Heart ~ Cato 2 (Completed)

Chapter Twenty

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let the 75th Hunger Games begin," A voice rings out over us. The time begins and I trace the water up to the Cornucopia. I see the gleaming gold bow at the top of a pile. Dead center, no cover once so ever. I catch Finnick's eye and nod. He positions his body to dive, nodding for me to do the same. 

As soon as the gong sounds, I dive to my left, swimming as fast as possible. Once I reach the Cornucopia, I take a running jump and scale my way up the mountain. I grab the bow and shove the quiver over my back, quickly sliding down. I take a few steps backward, running into someone. The bow is loaded and aimed just as Finnick turns around with his trident. I notice the gold band on his wrist. 

"Forgot you could swim," He says, water dripping from his blonde curls. His eyes harden at something behind me. I catch his eye and in once swift moment duck, dropping to my knees as Finny's trident sails past me. 

The man from 5 drops into the water and I manage to grab Finnick's trident before it goes down with him. I hand it to him. His eyes are dark and calculating. 

"Don't trust 1 and 2," He says. I look at him. 

"What about Cato?" I ask him. I don't recognize the look in his eyes. 

"Don't trust 1 and 2," He repeats harshly. 

We dig through the pile, realizing there's nothing but weapons. I sense someone behind me, and turn and let an arrow go. Enobaria suspects it and dives back into the water, missing it. Cato and I stand, staring into each other's eyes. His comforting blue eyes are now filled with something I can't place. I duck as the spear in his hand sails towards me. It finds home into the pile next to me, tearing open a bag. I turn to him and he says something, but in the chaos I can't hear him. He gives me a distant smile and dives into the water after Enobaria. I'm confused, and grab the spear, shoving it in my belt. I grab an extra quiver and run back to Finnick.

"Told you," He mumbles, grabbing my hand. Finnick turns, looking for Johanna when I notice Mags. I look up to see Brutus targeting her. Before he can react an arrow sails through his calf, and I reach my hand out to Mags. I pull her up onto the bank and load my bow, waiting for more assailants. 

We stand in the sand, waiting for Finnick and Johanna. When Fin returns without her, I panic.

"Finnick, where is she?" I ask, panicked. He shakes his head and leads us into the woods.

"She'll find us," He mutters. We continue through the woods, and I can't help but know there is something to the arena we haven't yet figured out. 

After what feels like a lifetime, I become restless. I turn back to Mags, who is happily munching on some nuts I found earlier, and an observing Finnick. I force myself out of his gaze.

"I'm going to climb this tree, get a look around," I tell him. He nods and I begin to scale the large tree. 

I make my way up the rubbery branches, hugging the trunk as close as I can. The last thing I need is to die of a fall. I notice a slight sheen above us, a sheen that creates a dome above the perfect circle arena. I glance above me and pull Cato's spear from my waist. I throw it up and blue sparks emit from the sky, sending the spear shooting towards the ground. I grit my teeth and climb back down, giving Finnick a look.

"There's a force field trapping us in here, a perfect dome. The arena is a complete circle, the only water source I could see is the water at the cornucopia," I say. Mags gives Finnick a worried look, and he gives it to me. It's no secret the same thought is rushing through our brains. There's no way to get out of here without killing people. If they aren't fast enough, we all might die. 

We settle on a campsite close to the forcefield, to use as a backup weapon if necessary. Mags begins weaving grass into matts for us to sleep on, and Finnick begins roasting nuts using the forcefield. 

"I'm going to look for more water," I say, standing and situating my collection of weapons.  I hike through the trees, on the lookout for water and other tributes. I notice an excess of creatures in the trees, and I recognize one from a book I read in the training center. In the blink of an eye, an arrow leaves my bow and the large grey-brown rodent drops from the tree. As I begin to prepare it to take back to camp, I notice a wet sheen on it's muzzle. I glance around and being to head in a spiraling motion, looking for any water source. 

Right as I turn a corner, a cannon goes off, panicking me. The bloodbath must be over. Eight cannons go off and panic and dread kicks in. I shake it from my head and head back to camp.

When I walk into camp, my eyes widen in what can only be described as shock. Mags along with Finnick have created a makeshift hut with the mats, including three walls, a floor, and a roof. The nuts Finnick roasted are on plates, as they wait. Finnick raises his brow and I shake my head.

"No water, but this guy knew where some were," I say. We cut the creature up, and stick his meat on skewers, throwing them into the field. We feast on our meal, and I look up at the white rose sky. The Capitol emblem appears and I begin to brace myself. 

The man from District 5, the one Finnick took out with his trident, is the first to appear. That means that all the tributes in 1 through 4 arealive — the four Careers, Beetee and Wiress, and, of course, Mags and Finnick. The man from District 5 is followed by the male morphingfrom 6, Cecelia and Woof from 8, both from 9, the woman from 10, and Seeder from 11. 

"Seeder," I whisper. I feel a comforting hand rubbing my back and I turn towards Finnick. 

"At least the rest of the team is safe," He whispers, his voice at a breaking point. 

A silver parachute falls from the foliage and Finnick brings it over. Mags opens the bundle. She pulls out a small silver thing, and Finnick and Mags share confused looks. I let out an overjoyed gasp.

"Why didn't I realize that?" I exclaim, and Mags cautiously hands the spicket to me. I pick up a large rock and beat the spicket into the tree.

"What are you doing?" Fin asks. A goopy, sap liquid runs out, before crystal clear water streams. We take leaves and make makeshift cups, to clench our thirst.

After we finish, I pocket the spile and we enter our hut. 

"I'll take first watch," I say. Finnick eyes me. 

"Let me, please," He asks and I nod. He sits outside of the hut, and Mags falls swiftly to sleep. After a while I make my way out to Fin and lay down, my head resting in his lap.

"Why did Cato go with the careers?" I ask him, letting my guard slip. Fin's hand brushes my hair away.

"I don't know. I really don't," He answers, his voice soft. I close my eyes. 

"I hope he's okay," I say playing with the gold band on my finger.

"Me too, for your sake."