After the Battle (Prevailers)

I nod slowly, thoughtful. I'm not very hungry, but I'm not selfish. If they need my help, I'll look for food with them. But for now, I remain silent, looking out over the water. Something seems to be missing. Well, duh. The Cornucopia's gone. I blink, surprised. The Gamemakers are bringing new surprises. My eyes travel over to the knife that Cherry holds. It's not a sword, but it's a blade. I'm comfortable with any kind of blade. A pang of jealousy strikes my core, and without meaning to, I speak.

"Cherry, do you want to trade weapons?" I ask. Embarassed, I quickly add, "This hammer is big and powerful. It'll provide better protection for you, and I'd be more comfortable with a knife as it is." I decide to clamp my mouth shut after the last words leave my mouth. I doubt she'll be willing to make the trade, but I might as well suggest it.

((Sure, we'll do that. Just gotta wait for Kale.))

I'm surprised by her answer. Most people would be reluctant to part with a knife. It's both a quick and efficient weapon and a useful tool. Not that I'm disappointed by the loss of the hammer, though. I pass the large battle hammer over to her and she hands me a knife. I grip its handle. It's nice and long, probably about a foot long from the handle to the tip of the blade. It's slightly curved at the end, and is serrated at the base for sawing through things. The razor sharp blade will need to be tended to each day, but I doubt that'll be a problem. I grin up at Cherry. "Thanks," I say. I slide it into its sheath at my hip and look back out at the water.

Nineteen more to kill. Nineteen more lives lost. Four are already dead. I can't say that I'm not surprised. Usually, there are more tributes dead. I've seen Hunger Games where more than half of the tributes die in the bloodbath. The Capitol audience will get bored, no doubt about it. But what will the Gamemakers do to quench the audience's thirst for blood? Send mutts after us? Set off explosions all around us? Sink our island? I could go on and on with the possibilities, but they make me feel nervous. I keep staring out at the water, though.

Sixteen enemies are scattered around these islands. The Cornucopia is gone, so there won't be any quick passage across the arena. We could try swimming the distance, but I can't even see the island directly opposite us. Better to stay where we are for now. I wonder where the others are. They might be an island over, or all the way across the arena. For all I know, they could be on this very island. I glance over my shoulder nervously. But no, no one else followed us here. I was awake most of the night, and I would've seen them. I have a feeling we're all alone on this repulsive, foul island. Alone in terms of humans, at least. But what might be stalking us at this very instant?

I nod, thoughtful. I'm not surprised. Argent has proven himself to be a traditional Career -- ridiculously strong, bloodthirsty, and traitorous. I wouldn't put it past him to kill the one tribute that everyone liked. I stand up, brushing sand off of my shorts. "I agree with Nachele," I say. "We should go look for some kind of nourishment." And hopefully Argent, so I can kill that little piece of crap, I think bitterly.

I watch Nachele jealously as she gets the antivenom shot. It's obviously single dose. What about me? Don't I have any sponsors?