into the jungle {district two // day one}

Her scarlet stains the shoulders of my multicolored camouflage shirt as the mists make quick work of our shadows. Silent steps trace the edges of our existence as the dampened wood beneath our feet deafens all noise of our escape. There's no point in gazing back towards the chaos since I'm certain the ones who were left are busying themselves with picking their prizes. Instead I tempt our tempo higher, push our skin to sweat in the humidity. I want to take in as much of the arena as I can before the Hailshams and their friends even have a chance to see it. I want to be ready when they come for the crown their sister failed to secure.

We've nearly reached the edge of the cornucopia and the entrance to this new world when I realize it. The thickness of the mist isn't normal, there's something different about how dense it is. Droplets of water drench our clothing and it's not just sweat, its condensation. As though from a... cloud. My feet furiously halt despite my momentum still trying to hurl us off the drastic drop only a yard ahead of us. Procured by panic I hurl Gala off to the side and fall opposite of her, anything to stop us from plummeting to our deaths.

A lonesome,

"Fuck!"

flies free from my lips. 

"This is why I never let you do anything."

Gala grunts sarcastically as I see the few scabs that have started to form on her skin beginning to seep again from the shove.  My jaw tightens and my teeth grind, but I force down my failure as nothing more than a minor mishap. We are both still alive. We are still learning the arena. All and all, it's an error that wasn't too costly.

Although, it's far too easy to image those watching in the gym ridiculing such a near deadly mistake. So far what they've witnessed as been a rather lack luster start. Aside from the fact that, as a duo, Gala and I were well in the running for the wealth. That is, before Gala got the nasty cut on her forehead that forced us to flee. The anger at the defeat still simmers beneath my skin. The items the Hailshams, the District Fours, and their band will have now is sickening. But I can't bury myself in those thoughts, I have to make advantages in other ways just like I was trained to do. Just like Papa would be telling me to do right now.

"Well maybe don't try going and getting yourself killed first and you'll be able to lead sometime." 

I begin sarcastically before forcing myself up slowly to stand with a much sharper tone.

"I'm serious though Gala, what the hell were you thinking? You should have gotten out of there way earlier."

Her blue eyes transform into illuminated spheres of ice, the eyes of a killer. She's entirely unphased by the pool of blood building below her. 

"I wanted to destroy them."

Even her answer cuts sharper than a sword. I want to be angry, to the let the seed of fury bloom into a rose of rage, but it wilts instead. I can't be upset at her answer because it's the truth. Not only that, but if I were in her shoes then I would have done the exact same. That's the thing about us, even if were are broken or bleeding we still go for the kill. I help her up from her place on the damp panels of lumber.

"Fine, then do it next time."

Her smirk spurs mine and we turn our attention back to the arena. Through the scattered swirled edges of cloud, I can just make out the outline of some kind of jungle below. Instantly I'm grateful of the years of vine climbing I practiced at the gym. If I were alone then going down right now would be easy, but with Gala's injuries we need to patch her up a bit first before we descend. We waste no time with the basics and getting down into the trees. I don't want to risk the Hailshams finding us while we're vulnerable.

Along the way down, my fingers begin to grow feeble and raw from the vines and the bark. Blisters are certain to be the vain of my existence tomorrow along with the red bumps of bug bites which now are starting to sprout across my skin. Ultimately, I'm getting royally pissed off by the time I can see the soil below. It's dark and makes a sudden surging sound when my boots sink into it. The mud will make travelling slower, but we have to make sure we cover our tracks. Just as the thought crosses my mind, I spy the tracks of another tribute nearby and quickly bring my bow to the ready.

But that's not the only reason I feel on edge.

As Gala and I draw deeper into this jungle something simply feels, off. The plants seem to be swaying although there is an absence of breeze. I can't catch the glimmer of any reflective eyes waiting in the wings for their dinner, but it's as though the plants themselves are watching us. I can't shake the shiver spreading down my spine as we continue to drive deeper and deeper and deeper.

Only once I'm certain that there's more sweat on my skin than water from the cloud, do I find a small clearing to stop in. Despite the sense of unease this jungle presents, the plants are breath taking. Greens and reds swathed in sheaths of yellow, to most people it would be a haven of beauty. But to me it carries another conclusion, beauty in the games is often deadly.

I'm distracted from my thoughts by the sight of steel shimmering from within a nest roots. Woven between the fingers of the forest and the sinking soil is a sword. My hands rush for its handle, embracing it with excitement and a sinister smirk. A gift from the Gamemakers no doubt. They want to make things interesting. I show the blade off with a few swift spins, a smile blossoming across my face. I kiss the cool cut steel softly and wink towards the sky.

"Looks like its my lucky day Gala. Things just got interesting."