Hunger Games

(Kay I think we were all deciding wether to follow Aka or not. The chick with the gun is dead leaving them all safe for the moment)
Daine's jaw fell open when the girl hit the ground limply and a terrified shudder hit her core. It was as if the image of her brother dying was the only thing she could see. She took a step backwards and fell into Ain. She jumped at the contact and moved away. "I," she whispered then cleared her throat. She couldn't make enemies of them, if she wanted to live she needed them. "I trust you." she said honestly and then looked at Shugan. "And I don't think you'll hurt me." She blinked and looked down. "I don't want to hurt anyone...and the Game Makers aren't going to make me do anything I don't want to." the last bit she barely whispered.

Shuugan gasped but it got stuck in his throat... and he fell to the ground infront of the girl as she hit the ground... he breathed heavily and thought of when he was at the dinner table before the games started... she was the girl beside him... she was so sad... and he had wanted to ask her name... but the games made her try to kill him... and she ended up dying... he would never know her name now...

Shuugan desperately got to his feet... and treaded slowly to the nearby tree... he used it as a crutch and turned to the girls... "I don't think I will be going with you... the wounded ones are always picked off quickly and I'm too much burden for you two... besides... if you plan on playing the game then we have different objectives... I'm going to beat this thing... and I won't sacrifice the lives of others to do it..." he wiped the dirt from his cheek and started to walk off...

Daine stared at the two trying not to feel the sick feeling that was welling up from the smell of blood. 'don't look...don't look.' she thought and bit her lip when she heard the boom of the canon. She sucked in a breath but a strange sense made her catch it. A blood red bird sat in the tree above staring down at them with a strange knowing. Daine smiled slightly at the bird and let out a low whistle. The bird fluttered down and she realized it was a small Mockingjay. They were a breed of bird used by the rebels and Capitol alike during the rebellion because of their incredible vocal ability and memory. They could relay a message given to them for months. "Hello," she laughed and the bird repeated it almost exactly. Daine giggled and whistled a small tune and as expected the bird repeated it except said something garbled inbetween each whistle. "what is it little guy?" As if she'd ripped the birds feathers out it let out a choaked scream and fled with incredible speed into the forest. She didn't need to be told twice. She darted over to Ain and shook her. "Ain I think we need to-" before she could even finish an arrow flew past her head and hit the tree infront of her. She looked back and saw the glimmer of the next arrow head soaring through the trees and she shoved her hard forward. "Don't be stupid just come on!" she hissed taking Shugan by the arm and pulled him aside in time to miss the next arrow.

As Daine and Ain helped Shugan he questioned their actions... 'I've watched every game for the last few years and I know they'll be putting themselves in danger like this... but maybe I'm wrong... I can't let my guard down completely but having someone there to watch my back couldn't be too bad...' Shuugan landed on the hard ground when they put him in the cave as his strength gave up on him... he could feel the blood dripping out of his foot into his shoe so he took it off... he cringed as he pulled the bloody sock off... his ankle was swollen and bruised around the where the bullet entered... he backed against the cave wall and used it to push himself up... he didn't want to be on the floor when their unknown attacker arrived... he would have to wait before he could do anything about his wound...

Daine really had no clue why she helped them just then but it seemed like the right thing to do. After all who else did she have that he at least semi trusted. A loud crck came from the next arrow that hit the stone bracade and Daine could have sworn she heared the person hiss out a breath. It was easy to hear alot when you felt like you were going to die. "Dont supose you are willing to leave that shabby excuse for a shelter?" A female voice called out with the sound of another arrow being prepared. "Lets be reasonable...toss out one of you and I'll tell my friends to spare the rest." Daine grimaced. That voice sounded firmiliar but why? "Come on I think Im being more than fair." The girl laughed in a spiteful tone.

Shuugan made his way along the wall and grabbed Ain by the shirt... "what are you doing?.. you shouldn't try to negotiate with them... just send me out there... I'm no good to either of you anyway... I appreciate the help but... I'd rather give myself up then have you two get hurt or killed..." he said strongly...

"Stupid choice...don't you know shivalry is dead." The girl called obvious irritation in her voice. Daine looked worriedly at the scene between Shugan and Ain but rather than crying to some one else she moved over to a nearby stone. She was shaking but lifted herself up enough to look through a small gap in the stone. The treeline that loomed only feet away was shaded meaning the chances of easily spotting the archer was less likely. However she grabbed all the knowledge she possesed and scanned the trees a movement in the brush very nearby made her jump back fearfuly and hurry to the bracade. "she wasn't bluffing about her friends. The archers a decoy." She said lou enough for the two to hear. "If I can at least tell you where she might be can you get a close enough shot to startle them?" she said then motioned toward a tree that was to the far left and one that sat next to the tree in the dead center of her sight. "They are the same trees back home...and my brother taught me a few things about hunting.." she said and lookdown with a rueful frown. "Im sorry but that's all I can reallly help with."

when the gun went off Shuugan used the opportunity and grabbed the medpack... he sat and used the alcohol on his foot... he wasn't worried about his shoulder yet... while he cleaned the wound he thought about how much Ain and Daine had wanted to protect him and their own humanity... and he wondered how long they would last before losing sight of their sound mind... 'would it be the hunger... exhaustion... fear... depression?..' he shook his head trying to get the thought out... 'these are good people... and I've done nothing but complain... if their offering help then I should let them... and when my wounds are better... then I can help them... as much as they helped me...' he wrapped a adhesive band around his foot which was comfortable... it reminded him of the wraps they used in his martial arts classes... and he cheered up a bit...

The area above where Ain shot shook slightly and Daine hurried to her veiw point the outline of two people caught her eye but they were both frozen. 'Seems they didn't expect that.' She found herself actualy smiling to herself even as the silence from the others drug on. Finally she heard someone say, "Anymore bright ideas?" A boy said and he took a step forward to peer up at the tree. It was a boy from district 4 who carried a sword that hung at his waist. The silence from the tree continued before another more familiar voice made her freeze in place. "Ashley," Thresh came out from behind a tree only a few feet away arms folded, "I searched the whole place. There's no way in except for the mouth of the cave." What he did next made her blood run cold. He looked directly at her as if he could see through walls and smiled tauntingly. "besides I think 3 tributes is enough for today."
A small movement and a short leap and the blonde girl, Ashley, from district 1 landed next to them. "don't think this over...some of you might want to reconsider your loyalties." with that they disappeared into the forest.
Daine dropped away from the crack and walked aimlessly over to the wall and slid into a sit. She released a breath she'd been holding and stared at the caves mouth for a long while. "I didn't expect that to work so effectively. Well thanks to you Ain. Hey, are you able to walk?" she asked jutting her chin towards Shugan ankle.

"hmm?.." shuugan looked over at her and then down at his ankle... he was lost in thought and almost forgot where he was... "yea... well... maybe... I was able to get here even if it was only because of you two... from now on it'll only be the pain keeping me from moving... but I'll be ok..." then he pulled his shirt down past his shoulder... "I'm not to sure about my arm though... it's been pretty numb for the last while... it might be a week before I can do anything with it...

he sighed tiredly... "I'm sorry to be a burden on you two... but I am truly and honestly grateful for your help... especially you Ain..." he said looking up at her... "I realize I was a bit doubtful at first... but I trust you... and I'll be sure to watch your back from now on instead of complaining when you try to watch mine..."

Daine shifted noting the strange dryness of her mouth. It reallly was hot out. She got to her feet and peeked past the rocks at the forest. "I think Im going to try and find some water..." she said but shivered involutarily from the image of being squeered by an arrow. "It would also be useful to check for hidden supplies around here. Never know what might be needed."

"this isn't so bad..." Shuugan said flinching... "until I learned martial arts I used to get hurt all the time... I don't think I've ever been shot though..." he said laughing alittle... "but... thanks Ain... you should go with Daine though... I'll be ok here... she's the one who shouldn't be off alone right now... it would smarter if there was two of you..."

Daine blinked not sure if the fact they believed she needed protection was a good thing or a bad thing. 'I'm not stupid, but I guess going out there alone is pretty dumb...crap now were seperating.' She felt a frown forming at the thought and gulped. "maybe that's a bad idea." she mumbled now staring at the forest with a new light. She wanted her forests back home, where she felt safe, not scared to evenlook at them too long. But how long would it be before night showed up and they were supplyless? Either way she had to go in there.

"wait Ain!!!" Shuugan tried to say but his wounds kept him from going after her... "she doesn't listen well does she?.." Shuugan asked Daine...

"If she did, we'd be dead." she said smiling slightly. She knew she was no help for Ain but the idea of her out there alone was frightening. 'i've got to grow up and live with what Ive got.' she thought then looked at the gun in her hands. "So your from where?" she asked looking back at him. "Martial arts? Hm, that would explain your score on the test." she said leaning against the wall.

"I'm from district 3..." Shuugan said thinking back to his home and family... "I could've done better on the test but I was tired from the night before... you did even better then I did..." he said with a laugh... "I worked hard in martial arts... so I could live a comfortable life free from the people who would try and take it away from me..." he said with a determined expression... "alot of good it'll do me now... right?.."

"and what about you?.." Shuugan asked trying to get comfortable... "where are you from?.. did you have any family there?.."