Of Victors and Tributes

Chapter 19: Claws from the Trees

When we wake up, we eat slices of cheese, bread, and meat. It isn't a good idea, and probably is kind of stupid, but we're exerted and wounded and tired. The exhaustion has sunk into my bones, and my eyelids stay heavy as I weakly take a look at my burn. It looks about the same, hurts a little less but aches, but at least it isn't any worse. Meadow seems tired too, exhausted really, but we can't stay here any longer. It's dangerous. The Careers are sure to be combing the woods, furious, and if they come upon us as a group, we're goners. I am relieved that Silver and District 2 is gone. Will only Pearl and her district partner come out, leaving Spark to watch what little supplies they might scrounge? Or will they just come out in a group of pure fury, killing whatever makes the slightest move?

"I'm scared of the Careers again," I murmur to Meadow, and she gives a weak chuckle.

"I'd say we can take them on now," she says. A belt of knives is now hanging from her thin waist, and to my surprise she hands me a small hatchet. I loop it in my belt.

"Wow, you really went for it at the Cornucopia," I say as we pack together our things once again.

"Better we have it than the fire or them," Meadow replies, and smiles at me afterwards. I nod my assent.

We retreat deeper into the forest, making a giant circle to the other side of the arena that we have yet to explore. With only eight of us left, I wonder if we'll run into anyone else trying to escape the Careers's wrath. Possibly, but extremely unlikely.

"Where do you think Axel has gone?" I ask suddenly. He walked in the other direction as us yesterday, but that's the last we've heard of him.

"Probably back to the mountains. I think he'll wait it out, avoid the fighting," Meadow responds.

"He better hope it doesn't come down to him and those three Careers. He won't make it," I say. It's not me doubting his abilities, he did succeed in killing Silver, but me stating a fact. Pearl is blood thirsty. I'm sure her friends are, too.

"Do you think we should kill him?" Now, there's a question. I wouldn't doubt that we could kill Axel, lure him in with food or water or safety, and then give him a good stabbing. But, oh, how awful that thought is. I think of all the times I wanted to punch him, how I dared him to kill me yesterday. For all I know, Axel could be hunting us down right now.

"If it comes to it," I decide. Hopefully, it doesn't, and he is taken out by someone else.

As we walk, we do a mental checklist of who is left in the final eight. Spark, the girl from one. The girl from 3, we're pretty sure. Pearl and her boy from four. Axel, of course. Me and Meadow. Who else? Who else? Finally, we realize one of those blonde kids from District 9 is still floating about somewhere. The boy.

So that's it. The Careers might start fighting soon, killing each other, and at first I'm happy about that, and then worried. What about Meadow and I? It could come down to just the two of us, or extremely close to it. I know I can't kill her. I'd have to force every memory of my family into my head and close my eyes and wave my sword around wildly. Does she feel the same, or would she be willing to take me out to return home? Should we be splitting up soon?

"Meadow," I say. She looks at me. "Should we split up?" There's a long, painful silence.

"Do you want to?" she asks pointedly, looking at me. I stare back. The Capitol is probably wondering if we're going to sic each other with our weapons.

"I don't want to be alone," she bursts out, "and I don't want you to go."

"Then I won't," I say hastily, glad she feels the same but also fearful of the not-so-distant future when only one of us can leave. She hugs me gratefully, and I hug back.