The Sword's Other Half

Let the Games Begin

Hello, Lovelies! I am so so sorry that I've been inactive! I'm taking 2 English classes this semester so things have been very hectic. I know that isn't much of an excuse but it's true. Here is this weeks chapter I hope that it will have been worth the wait. I am putting a reminder on my phone so the next chapter will be up next Saturday no excuses! Thank you so much for sticking with me despite my irregular updating schedule! Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter! Stay Lovely!

The gong sounds and everyone moves into action many choosing to run into what I was warned would be a bloodbath. With my promise to Cato echoing in my mind I turn my back on all the supplies and make a run for the woods. Before entering the woods, I make the mistake of turning around and witnessing many children lose their lives in a span of three seconds. With much effort, I force myself to turn away from the horror that's taking place and run into the woods to find safety. I run swiftly through the woods ignoring the limbs slapping me in the face as I go. I much more favor the idea of staying alive than worrying about the discomfort. I burst through some foliage and immediately find myself tumbling down a steep hill. I finally stop rolling at the base and jump right back up to continue running. 'I am so lucky I didn't hit a tree or a stump on the way down.' I finally find a clearing and stop to take a breath. As I am catching my breath I hear a cannon fire signaling to the number of tributes that died. After counting them I realize 12 tributes have fallen.

Cato, are you okay?

I'm all good, Baby. I'm headed your way. I have supplies and weapons with me too.

I hear rustling nearby and my instincts kicked in causing me to jump up into a fighting stance. "Whoa, whoa it's me, Mel!" I sigh and relax my stance smiling as my soulmate steps out of the brush. I run up to him and immediately begin inspecting him for injury. Cato grabs my hands that are on his face as I look for any little injury that could easily get infected out here, "I told you I'm fine, Baby."

"Thank God. I wouldn't be so worried if you didn't make me turn tail and run. I would've been useless if anything happened to you." I tell him.

Cato sighs and nods gently pushing a loose strand of hair out of my face, "I understand, Love. Let's dig through these packs and see what supplies we got. The only weapons I got my hands on were a sword and a few daggers. I wasn't able to nab a bow and quiver but maybe we can get our hands on one later in the game."

Cato and I dig through the two packs he was able to grab and find some rope, empty canteens, some matches, and other things that could really help us in winning this thing. Cato and I pack the bags back up and then set out on our first task...find water.

I am back in my element in these woods. Kneeling by some moss I grab a handful of dirt and feel it is moist. "We're close," I tell Cato.

"How do you know?"

"The soil right here is moist. So there has to be a stream nearby that's causing it," I explain. Cato nods and follows me until we come upon a stream where we both take a drink and fill up our canteens. After filling up our water supply I look at Cato and hand him one of the knives he got me. I instruct Cato on how to form a trap and after a bit of waiting, we were able to trap a couple of squirrels that we cooked over a fire. After cooking the food and eating, Cato stomped out the fire.

I lead us a bit away from where we lit the fire for in case someone saw the smoke. "The safest place for us to sleep would be in this tree. If we tie ourselves in with the rope we will be fine," I tell Cato. Cato nods and climbs up with me following right after him. Cato finds a really thick branch and gets situated on it. As I begin to climb passed him onto the branch above him he grabs me by the waist and gently pulls me to rest on his lap. I giggle, "Whatcha doing, Handsome?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just holding on to my girl," he tells me with a smirk.

"Won't your legs fall asleep if we stay like this?" I ask him.

"No, I'll be fine. Just...please let me hold you." All teasing fades from his voice. I already know that even though it is the first day the games are getting to him. Cato played the act of the heartless Career for so long but he actually has one of the biggest hearts I've come to know. Cato had to witness the bloodbath and I already know how hard this is on him. I can feel the weight and stress he's feeling. I can feel how helpless he feels in this situation and I understand that because I feel the same way. I lay my head on Cato's chest resting my ear right over his heart letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe me as I let my presence in his arms soothe him.

Cato and I both look up at the roof of the arena as music begins to play. Those that have died in the bloodbath are being displayed for all the tributes to see. Cato's grip tightens on me as the names continue to roll until finally, they are over. After a bit, both of us end up falling asleep.

I am woken up by a light. Groggily I look around the forest and my eyes quickly land on a fire nearby. I shake my head in sorrow knowing this kid signed their death warrant with the embers of that fire. Suddenly I hear an ear-piercing scream causing Cato to jolt awake under me and hold me tighter protectively. At the sound of the scream, I bury my face into Cato's neck shivering at the utter fear and pain in that scream. "Someone lit a fire. It must've attracted unwanted attention," I explain to Cato with a shutter. The cannon goes off signaling that whoever found her has finished what they set out to do.

As the two of us try to regain our composure we hear rustling and laughing coming our way. I place my hand on one of Cato's that's around my waist for comfort and his arms tighten around me both for his own sake and mine. We both look down just in time to see the Careers emerge from the brush along with... Peeta.

"Wait! Did you see the look on her face? How stupid can you get? A fire?" Marvel asks with a laugh.

"Oh, no! Please don't kill me! Oh, no!" Glimmer mocks causing me to grit my teeth in anger.

"That's actually a good impression," Peeta says with a laugh.

As the Careers walk away Cato and I wait a couple of minutes before we relax our tense muscles. "I can't believe that Peeta joined the Careers even after Haymitch and I warned him that they will just turn on him," I whisper.

Cato quietly mock gasps, "But I'm a Career. Does that count for me too."

I chuckle softly, "You aren't just any Career though, Babe. You are my soulmate and I know for a fact that you will never stab me in the back...or the front...or at all."

Cato laughs lightly at this and places a finger under my chin bringing our lips together in a soft kiss before resting our foreheads together. "I can't wait till we make it out of this hell hole and I get to spend the rest of my life with you," he tells me softly.

I kiss his nose causing him to smile at me before I lay my head back on Cato's chest and go to sleep.