Game plan

We take everything salvageable from Colin's things including coat and gloves. even if we use the fabric from bandages it'll work.

He had some food, his weapons, and a water bottle. Still useful things.

We decided to lay low for a little bit considering one of our allies died. I think this is all the first time we've seen people die.

It all took something out of us, though none of us want to show or admit that.

I couldn't get 1 getting mauled out of my head, it was horrific, it looked like they got put in a meat grinder..

Stop thinking about it.

I visibly snap myself out of it.

I feel a hand intertwine with mine. I look to see River holding it.

" Are you ok?" He asked.

" I will be."

" It was horrible to watch." He says quietly.

I nod in agreement.

" At least we don't need to worry about fighting them." Prim said as she swung her trident around.

" True. Saved us some time, and our primary threat."

Everyone agreed, except for Doja who looked a bit sheepish looking at all of us.

Looking like she knows something we don't.

Something that I'll need to question her later on.

We found another cave more in the mountains, it was quiet. No body was talking we all just looked around or at the fire.

Lilli was mad at me I'm pretty sure, she didn't want to leave Colin I know she didn't but we were sitting ducks, anyone could've saw us.

Though I don't think they would've attacked us. But more mutts could've came. They seemed to be able to smell us, where there's one there's more.

No way I'm facing anymore of those, it's terrifying how easily they tore the two of them apart.

River pulled out parts of the bird I shot earlier, while Lilli and Prim built a fire to roast it on. We all ate in silence.

No doubt all thinking.

I hear a small beeping sound coming from outside of the cave.

" What's that?" Lilli asks.

" I think a sponsor gift." Prim says going out to see.

Sure enough, She brought back a canister. " For...2." She says looking between the two of us.

Aspen goes to grab it, he opens the gray canister a note was on the top reading:

Dead eye indeed!

We love seeing a girl who doesn't miss, whether it's hunting birds or mutts.

I think you need some energy to keep slaying mutts

- N. And Team

There were the bar we ate before the games, though this one says satisfy hunger and energy shot.

" Cheers." Aspen says breaking the bar in half for the both of us to eat.

This one tasted more oily then the others. We look at eachother trying to to laugh but puke at the same time.

Though when I ate I felt a lot better along with feeling like I got the best 8 hours of sleep in my life.

" Thank you." I say, hoping the cameras will pick it up.

" I was about to get jealous for you two not sharing, but by the looks of your faces it didn't look that great." Prim said bluntly. " What was that for anyways?"

I shrug. " They liked me killing the mutt. It's an energy bar. We would've shared if we had more bars but considering there's 6 of us."

" I don't think I'd want to try it even if we had enough." River said laughing lightly.

" Taste like straight oil." I joke, making everyone smile or laugh.

Except Doja.

Who still looks bothered.

She was sharpening a knife, deep in thought. The more she sharpened the sloppier she was getting, at one point she shook her head looking over to us, out eyes meeting.

I get up walking over to her, " Wanna get a breather?"

She looks at the group, then at me. " Yea."

We walked out of the cave, I had the small sword just in case there was someone.

She looks at it laughing, " What? Want to kill me now."

I look at the sword then at her. " No. If I wanted to do that, I would've just done it in the cave. Not like they would say anything anyways."

She shifts nervously, " Your brought me out here for a reason."

" Yea. Your keeping something." I say a little more bluntly. " And for the best for all of us.. I think we should all know."

She pauses looking at me which I return.

" When you said we have no competition... I think the kids from 1 were the least of your worries."

" Who did they put in here. How did you guys even get in here? We didn't hear anything."

" We came from the tubes, no timer or anything we just got shoved in, told of the rules hours before."

" Did they have anything in the cornucopia for you, or did they leave it empty?"

" They did have some stuff, I just managed to grab the knives and a small bag."

" How many came up with you?"

Her smile faded and she focused at whatever was ahead of her.

" 10. I think."

" Ok, that's no bad."

She just shakes her head.  " Some aren't bad. But there's 2 I'm really worried about."

" Good thing we are a team then. We can hunt them, with the six of us we can kill two." I say with a smirk.

She shakes her head, " I think they could easily kill all of us."

My smile quickly fades, though I can't let anyone see fear. I keep my face as blank as possible.

" Who are they."

" Achilles and Ryker."

I cross my arms, " And they are?"

Doja rubs her arms anxiously. " Achilles is 7 foot. Absolutely massive. He's so crazy when he get's moved he has a welded collar on with pole attachments. 4 grown men could barely control him. No one really knows what he's in there for, we all think he's part mutt that couldn't be controlled."

I swallow. That doesn't sound good..at all.

" And..Ryker?" I ask.

She looks out in the night. " She was an ex-peacekeeper. She got caught by rebels or something they hijacked her. Haven't been sane since."

If these people win, they want them to go free in the Capitol?

No way. I think they all need to die, tributes win. Why would they have murderers kill the poor Capitol people?

I shift, I think of Aspen, I can't let them hurt him. We need something that can take down people like the ones she said.

Something that's.. a mutt.

People have used mutts before whether it's luring them, or The Capitol giving them traits so you can properly interact with them sometimes.

People used bees, dogs, lizards.

We need to figure out how to use the mutts.

That's the plan.

" Any, others?" I ask.

" Well there are like 6 more but all are like me, had something happen to turn them crazy, all can kill, all are smart. We need to be careful."

I was now looking nervously around, but I was already thinking about how we are going to get out of here. I turn back to look at Doja, " Let's go get some rest, I think everyone just needs a rest from today, that's the first step of the plan."

" What's the rest of the plan?" Doja says starting to give me a smirk.

That mutt tore apart 1 in seconds, one bite killed Colin.

We know how to kill the mutt but does anyone else?

" We could use the horse mutts, maybe the others as well."

" And how would we use the mutts?"

"Lure them there and try not to die. I haven't thought that far yet." I say lightly laughing.

Doja nodded and we headed back to camp.

Lilli, Prim and Aspen were sleeping while River was by the fire on watch I suppose. " Where were you two?" He says sharply.

" I was getting information." I say sharply back at him.

" Without telling anyone Kay, really? You know if something were to happen like a sick announcement or another attack we would have had no idea where you were! You need to tell us where you are specifically  in this time and place!"  River yelled, hopefully no one heard.

I see Aspen wake up, rolling quickly to look at the both of us.

" Ok! Calm down I'm here, your here, we're all here." I say shortly, River softens and wraps his arms around me. " I'm sorry, I was watching waiting for you guys and you didn't come, I was getting worried."

He went from a 100 to 10 real fast.

" I'll take watch." I told River.

" No I just started not to long-"

" I'm not tired." I say quickly.

He doesn't fight, he takes one of the blankets going in a corner. Soon I hear soft snores, he's already draining.

Doja also went to lay down, wrapping her arms around herself  trying to stay warm. I saw Aspen get up giving her his blanket.

" Here. I can keep watch while you try to sleep."

" Thanks." She mutters. Soon after I hear her sleep.

Aspen mentions me a little further away sitting. I follow sitting on the other side of him.

" What was that about?" He asks.

" What part?"

" You two just yelling at eachother, then he just hugged you being all sweet again?"

I looked over at River, " Maybe he's bipolar."

" I think he is. He seems very much like that I've noticed. And second.. what was the conversation with Doja?"

" You saw us leave?"

He nods, " I would've followed but I didn't want them to talk about us or make any secret plans."

" Smart boy."

He still looks, " Well.."

I look at our group one more time, " Doja said there's some dangerous people in here. I'm thinking of a plan."

" A plan for us? Or for...them?" He asks.

" You know... I didn't think of that."

" I think we need to." Aspen whispers. " I feel.. tension. Especially when we got that gift, they didn't hide their resentment. Even River."

" Doja?"

He shakes his head. " No not her. She seemed occupied."

" Do you think we should?" I feel the nerves show.

" I think this would be the perfect time. It'd be the third day, they wouldn't expect a break yet. We can go hunting."

" Hunting?"

" Yea, Kaylaya. Hunting. You have your bow, they need more food. We still need to eat. Remember what Cato said."

Oh yea, I'm well aware.

And I think this would be the time to follow that gut feeling.

" Ok."

He smiles, " Ok."

" But I still think we need Doja."

He nods, " I agree. If she agrees."

" Hopefully she will."

                          —

Today we plan to leave.

Again, I could barely sleep. The nerves were getting to me, I try to think how to tell them or where to go.

It's just the third day and we barely know the arena yet. I have no idea if there's more horse mutts or whatever else they thrown in here.

Will Doja, Aspen and I be ok?

How can I take supplies without the rest knowing?

We need to be smart about this.

Maybe if we all hunt but we split up? Eventually they'll look for us.

That's the only thing I could really think of that would give us some time to get away.

That will be the plan go right now.

A little while later, a cannon rings out waking all of us.

I yawn looking around at everyone else looking around nervously.

" I think we should hunt." I say looking out. " Everyone will be moving, and we need more food. I can feel myself getting weaker."

I feel fine. More then fine, those bars they fed us are really working, if I make it out I'll be sure to thank them a lot for giving us those.

I feel the weaker line will get everyone moving. Or if they try to kill me, they'll be in for a treat.

I look at River. He runs is hand down his face, " I suppose we should. Someone might run in here, there's not much room if a fight breaks out."

Aspen started packing, putting most of the food in one bag, which he carried.

I grabbed my bow and arrows, along with my knives. We should be decently set.

Everyone else packs up and we're on our way.

We make it to the other side of the arena, River insisted on leading the group which I was fine with.

Me and Aspen didn't even need to speak to know what we were doing. That's on thing great about us.. we understand each other.

We both know we need to break up. We just need to give it a little time.

" Where do you think they could be?" Prim asks.

" No idea. Maybe we should move more to the flat then the hills, we haven't found anyone since we've been up here." I suggest.

" The hills are safer." River says putting in his pointless input.

" I mean they are, but no one is getting killed. No kills equal boredom, we don't want that." I point out.

If anyone was going to bicker, it should be me. I don't want any tension between Aspen or Doja.

I need both right now. I can handle myself.

" If we go to the flat, there could be more mutts. Or if anyone decides to move up here, we're at a disadvantage." River objects.

I feel my anger bubble up, " There's 6 of us. I bet no one has as large of group as us. Nor would I think any of them would want to attack us if they were smart."

I see Lilli and Prim exchange glances. Though I don't know what that could even mean.

" Or maybe we should split up? We can cover more ground up here?" Aspen suggests.

River stops turning to the both of us.

Crap.

" No. We're staying together. We have no idea who's in here with us."

Oh.. I have an idea.

" Doja can come with us. We can meet back at the cave in an hour or so if we don't see anything. Maybe if we have smaller groups we can catch something to eat to."

I give River my puppy eyes, which he fell for instantly. " Fine..an hour."

I smile kissing him. " Don't be surprised if you hear a cannon." I whisper. He gives me a look, " Doja." I mouth.

" See you in a hour." He says.

I nod.

Gosh, I'm so good at this.

" Come on you two." I said happily.

Aspen follows, same with Doja.

Now we need to tell Doja.

If she doesn't.. We need to get a good distance first.

I try to walk kinda hastily at first I didn't want to make it look like I was running away.

As soon as we rounded a corner I sprinted, the others following.

" Why are we running?" Doja breathes heavily.

I turn, " You need to pick a side."

She blinks a couple times, " What?"

" Pick a side Doja. Me and Aspen, or River and the others." I say quickly. " If you pick them... All i ask is that you give us time."

" You guys seem a lot more trustworthy." She says quickly. " No doubt he'll kill me the first chance he got."

I smile. " Ok.. Ok, good. How about that mutt plan yet?"

She smiles. " Still sounds good to me."

" We need to move." Aspen mentions. " Make sure we get a good distance away from them, try to find somewhere to hide out."

Me and Doja nod. We that's what we did. We ran.

Cato better be proud of me right now.

I can only imagine Johanna and Finnick right now. Livid I'd imagine.

We travel for a good hour, we decide to be on the way opposite side close to the boarder of the arena, not to close for them to chase us out, just enough.

All of us were out of breath.

" How about a break?" I suggest.

It took no convincing.

" Let's see what we all have here." Aspen said.

He passed out some of the roasted bird from last night, it felt good to eat something. I felt even better then before.

" So how are we going to lure the mutts?" Doja asks.

" First we need to find some." Aspen comments.

" Then I guess we need to find some first before we go any further. We where they're hiding then we can figure out how to lure people."

Doja and Aspen look at me, before Aspen shrugs, "As long as we can make it out alive I'm open for anything."

" Doja?"

She swings her knife around, " Majority rules. I agree with him. As long as we don't kill ourselves I'm fine with anything."

I smile, " Ok, let's scout out a place and we can go from there."

" Yea, we shouldn't be staying to long anywhere. I can only imagine what River and them are thinking." Doja says looking over where we came from.

" I think River knows better then to attack us right now." Aspen mutters. " If he figured out already that we aren't coming back. I bet he's heart broken."

" I was convinced." Doja said looking at me.

I smile. " Thank you."

" Let's get moving." Aspen said once again getting up.

We stay on higher ground so we can see any potential threats, but low enough someone from above us can't injure us either.

As we were walking, a blood curling scream rings out.

" Stay down!" Aspen says pulling me to the ground. Doja was right behind us ducking also.

I hear grumbles it sounds like and more screaming before unusual sounds replaced that.

" That sounds awfully close." Doja points out.

I give her a worried expression, " Stay here for a moment."

We wait a couple minutes before we hear a cannon.

" What the hell was that?"

Aspen shrugs, " I don't know but we can go find out."

" What if it was tributes? Or the prisoners?" Doja asks a little nervous.

" We have 3 of us, we should be fine."

He gets up peeking above us to see if the coast was clear.

He climbed up to the next small walkway and continued up.

We followed him up keeping a close eye out ourselves. We reached the top in the middle where there was a small flat like a stadium it looked like.

And there were some caves.. With bears.

Bear mutts. I saw a heap they were by, they circled it a couple times before they went back in the caves.

" We have our trap." I say confidently.

" And we could set fire over there. They'll need to run through here to get to the other side, or at least wait for everything to burn up." Aspen said pointing to some dry brush spreading through a part of the arena.

It'll lure them for sure

" That's perfect." Doja smiles.

As they were talking I was looking at the heap, no idea what it would be. We heard those noises and the cannon.

" Guys, lets go down towards that opening."

I took the lead looking all around before preceding, the closer we got my suspicions were coming true.

There lied a tribute or prisoner, the mutts tore them apart, but there was green puss and infection all inside and around the corpse.

" They were just killed why do they look like-" Aspen was just about to touch it when I pulled his hand back.

" Are you stupid? Don't touch it!"

He rolls his eyes before there's a glimmer in them. " One of the knives have a case right?"

" On the blade, yes."

" Give it here."

I give him an disgusted look, " Your not playing with the body."

" Just give me the knife before I fight you for it."

I give in, digging in the bag giving him the knife. He takes it out plunging it in the corpse so all the puss is on the knife before he puts in in the case again.

" What was that for?" Doja asks.

" If it's fast acting like this.. If we see anyone all we need is to slice them to contaminate."

Doja took her knife to, do the same thing, " Smart plan two."

I looked hesitantly at the body, then at some of my knives, if I miss I guess I can still kill someone. I give Aspen 4 knives to cover before putting them in the holsters again leaving some clean.

" So lure them in and let the mutts do the rest?"

" And if they don't kill enough we have this." Aspen says.

" Let's win this then."

I looked over at Doja who had no idea we were whispering, she was to occupied staring at something, at the cave.

" When are we.."

Aspen gives me a knowing look. " Let me take care of it."

I smile lightly. " Thank you."

I can taste the victory.

" We'll rest up for the rest of the day and then tomorrow.." Aspen says loudly so Doja could hear.

Doja smiles, " Can't wait."

Can't wait indeed.