Dying is easy, living is harder

Part 13

"Are you ready for Day Three of the Hunger Games," Ollana practically skipped, nay hopped, over to Astrid as she spoke.

"Super excited," Astrid intoned, eyes scanning the others. They all looked much better than they had when they left last night. She went over to them as they spoke quietly to one another.

"... interviews," Fishlegs said. "At the rate it's going, they should be arriving any day now."

"Hey guys," Astrid made her presence known. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Ollana said that when there's only eight tributes left, they make home visits where they interview the family and friends." Snotlout eagerly told her.

Yup. Even as he's freaking out over his cousin's mortal peril, he still finds time to try and get on her good side.

She had to give him credit. It took him almost two weeks to do so. Despite the fact that she hated when he flirted with her, it was nice to see some of his normal self emerging. She wondered how long it would last.

"There's only ten tributes left including Annie," Fishlegs added. "I want to prepare some answers with some practice questions."

"Who cares?" Astrid doesn't want to be complicit in any ways with the Hunger Games.

"You should," Fishlegs responded. Astrid raised an eyebrow. Fishlegs seems to have grown a bit of a backbone in the last few years. "The way we act can affect how people will see her and how many sponsors she can get. Do you really want to leave the twins to go into the interviews with no prep?"

"Hey!" The twins yelled, vexed. She tried to imagine it. It would be a disaster.

"I've been writing down how expensive the items they can get are," Fishlegs waved his notebook in his hand. "Each time they show up at the bottom of the screen when Caesar does his commentary, it becomes a little more expensive. Especially water."

They showed the price of Annie's healing cream and the other items at the bottom of the screen? She hadn't noticed.

"And there's like no water in there unless they hike up that cliff. They'll need some sponsors for that when they run out," Snotlout stayed the obvious.

So she can do something that might actually help Annie. She felt a ghost of a smile spread across her lips.

"It's starting," Ollana exclaimed giddily as she ran to her seat.

"Let's get this over with," Stoick grunted. Where the rest of the younger generation was in a much better mood after some much needed sleep, he looked worse than ever. His hand gripped an unopened can of beer even this early in the morning and there were dark circles under his eyes that spoke of a sleepless night.

"Now, last night was a doozy," Caesar Flickerman exclaimed cheerily. "For those of you who weren't up all of last night watching the Hunger Games, where were you!" He yelled jokingly.

The Dragon Riders exchanged glances. What could've happened in the eight hours they spent sleeping? Apparently a lot.

Caesar rolled the tape that went on in clearly the middle of the night.

The Careers were sleeping with Annie on watch between the window and door. She checked the two openings silently and after a moment of clear indecision she stood up.

She went close to Percy and waved a hand in front of his face. Satisfied, she did the same with Amity and then with Dulce until she made all the rounds. She sneaked by and quietly snuck six water bottles into her backpack.

"She can't be..." Ruffnut trailed off, voice strained.

She looked at the remaining three water bottles and then at Percy. Astrid wondered if she was thinking of taking those ones too. Annie turned around and left the wooden house.

"She just stole most of their water supply," Fishlegs sat disbelieving. "They'll go thirsty in three days max because of her."

Annie might've just gotten rid of her strongest opponents. What the absolute fuck. WHAT THE FUCK?!

"There you have it folks! Annie Cresta made the betrayal of the year with this move!" Caesar laughed. "It might even win her the game!"

"That's my girl," Gobber exclaimed. Snotlout pumped his fist in the air as he let out a happy shout.

"Absolutely ruthless," Ruffnut said admiringly.

Astrid smiled big for the first time in forever. She finally allowed a bit of the hope that she so pitied Snotlout for feeling the day before.

She might have underestimated Annie in all this by seeing the twelve year old girl and not the grown woman she admittedly didn't know. What she does know is that Annie hasn't given up. Everyone else might've given up on her but she hasn't. She's doing whatever it takes to come home. She's found ways even if they are a little unconventional to get a leg up in the competition (I.e Finnick Odair) and Astrid won't let anyone shame her for that. Because of those unconventional methods, she's now one of the last ten tributes standing.