The chirping of birds coaxed Hazel awake. Her mind was heavy, like a dull weight was pressing down on her skull and her eyes ached. The subtle warmth of breath against her ear and the steady rhythm of a heartbeat beneath her cheek brought her to the realization that she was resting on someone. As her consciousness knit itself back together, disorientation gave way to a spinning sensation that clutched at her senses. A few quick blinks dispelled the last vestiges of sleep, grounding her in reality: she was perched on a branch, leaning against Silus, trapped in the godforsaken Hunger Games. For a fleeting moment, she yearned for the blissful ignorance of those first confused seconds of awakening.

As the dawn broke, the warm air gently caressed Hazel's face, her lungs filling with the freshness of the new day. The sunrise painted the sky in rosy hues, shifting to golden as time passed. She rubbed her eyes, wincing at the tenderness of her swollen lids, the rough texture of dried tears beneath her fingertips. The memories of the previous night surged forward, Mia's screams were a haunting melody in her mind. She tried to shake away the images and the sounds, but her body resisted, her muscles aching with every stretch. Pain, though unwelcome, offered a brief respite from the relentless replay of Mia's voice. Hazel had never experienced a hangover, but she suspected the feeling might be akin to this.

Silus, stirred by her motions, met her gaze. His expression carried a solemn heaviness, underscored by dark circles around his eyes. They shared a conversation without words, finding speech inadequate in the shadow of the previous night's horrors.

Aaron, Ethan, and Ruby gradually woke up. Aaron's gaze was locked on his clenched hands, his body tense. It was as if sleep had eluded him throughout the night—a sentiment Hazel understood all too well. Looking down from their refuge, she noted the absence of the wolves and their menacing quills. In their place, the arena's birds chirped cheerily, which was unsettling compared to the nightmare that had unfolded just hours before.

Without words but with a mutual understanding, the group began their careful climb down. Hazel's head spun, a dull ache pressing at her temples as she worked her way through the branches.

Hazel's breathing hitched as she forced her eyes to where Mia had last been. Mia, with her eyes full of warmth, her hair a cascade of night, and her spirit unyielding, was gone. Instead, the ground, blanketed in moss and pine needles, cradled her abandoned knife. Pressing a hand to her mouth, Hazel battled the urge to vomit. A sizeable maroon stain trailed away, disappearing into the morning mist. Silus towered beside her, his gaze fixed on the ground as his deep sigh mingled with the crisp morning air.

Aaron approached the knife, bending down next to it. A faint shiver passed through him as he lowered himself next to the dark red streak. Lifting the knife from the earth, he cradled it in his hands. Silence enveloped the group; even Ethan held his tongue. Only the vibrant chirps of pudgy songbirds filled the air with life. Aaron remained stationary, hunched over the large stain that wove through the pine needles and into the forest's embrace.

Ruby joined Aaron's side, her delicate hand finding its place on his shoulder. Aaron accepted her comfort, remaining still and silent. The group stood motionless for a while. Hazel grappled with the sounds of Mia's last moments—a pain and fear she wouldn't wish upon anyone. A gentle breeze caressed her face, the cool, fresh air snapping her back from the fog of her mind. Adjusting her backpack, she found a dark comfort in the sapphire petals resting in its depths. The hope remained that she could save herself from such a horrid fate.

Finally, Aaron placed his hand over Ruby's, gazing up at her with tear-filled eyes and a melancholy half-smile before rising to his full height. He clipped Mia's knife to his belt and rejoined the group.

Drawing a deep, unsteady breath, Aaron lifted his head, his red rimmed eyes sweeping across Ethan and Silus before settling on Hazel. "What now?"

"I think we should look for Kai and Iris," Silus proposed. "We have an alliance with them, and we should at least try to help them if we can."

"Of course, you would say that," Aaron's gaze flickered, "And move us to another tract?"

"The District Eleven tract might be where Kai and Iris are," Silus proposed, his tone soft yet laced with caution.

Aaron's response was bitter. "Do you really think it'll be any better? Better than here or District Ten?" His words came out more as a resigned statement than an inquiry.

Silus replied with a subdued, "There is no way to know for sure."

Silence stretched between them. Aaron's expression hardened a storm brewing in his eyes. "If we had just stayed put, maybe Mia..."

"Aaron, you know it wouldn't have mattered which tract we were in..." Hazel murmured. "It is why she made the choice she made."

Aaron remained silent, his eyes shifting away, unable to meet theirs. Ruby's small form oscillated her gaze among them. Beside her, Ethan shifted his weight from foot to foot, the bow resting on his shoulder.

Silus chimed in, "We couldn't predict what awaited us. Mia's choice was hers alone."

Aaron's response was sharp, laced with bitterness. "Easy for you to say."

Ethan intervened, "We couldn't keep moving her. She made her decision. And the reality is, you weren't going to be able to drag that poor girl around this arena forever."

Aaron's gaze sharpened as he shifted between Ethan and Ruby, lingering on the girl momentarily. "And how will you be any different? Your arrogance might just be what gets Ruby killed in here."

Ethan squared his shoulders, his demeanor firm. "Is that a threat?"

Aaron scoffed. "No," he said, running a hand over his eyes. "Let's talk about reality here—I wasn't the one acting impulsive, putting everyone at risk."

Ethan bristled at the accusation, taking a step forward, but Silus intervened. He stopped Ethan in his tracks as he placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Hold on," Silus urged. "It's been a long night. Let's take a moment to cool down, gather our supplies..." His eyes met Aaron's, "...and get our bearings."

Retreating, Aaron shook his head in dismissal. "Just fill me in on what you decide," he announced, then veered off into the trees, sword in hand.

Ruby murmured, "Should we go after him?"

Hazel responded, "He needs a moment alone, Rubes."

"It's time to figure out our next steps," Silus cast a contemplative look toward Hazel, then Ethan and Ruby.

Hazel exhaled, casting a pensive glance at her companions. "According to Festus's card from yesterday, at least one of our allies is still out there, somewhere."

Ethan sighed, "Assuming they survived the night. Aaron might have a point; we could stay put, climb back up the trees at dusk, and deal with the wolves."

"Shouldn't we try to help Kai and Iris like we did them?" Ruby asked Ethan, her head tilted to the side.

"Who is to say we will even find them, Rubes," Ethan said, looking out through the misty morning air, "To be honest, I don't have a lot of hope; those two are very young, thin."

Hazel studied the District Twelve tributes, "Ruby's just as young, isn't she?"

Ethan's posture stiffened, a protective fire igniting in his gaze. "Ruby's different."

Ruby countered, "I'm not so different. We are all just some underfed kids from the poorest districts. We all have a low chance of being victors. Kai and Iris are just like me. " She added, "Like Tulsi."

Ethan paused, his expression shifting through surprise, reflection, and then a subtle tension. Ruby maintained her steady, persuasive gaze.

Ethan finally nodded, the lines of his face softening in acquiescence. "Alright, you've made your point, Rubes." Tousling Ruby's hair, he then shifted his focus forward. "Can't live forever anyways. Lead the way, Seven."

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As they sipped from their water bottles and nibbled on the remaining food, Aaron reappeared from the woods. His gaze was downcast, his face etched with somber shadows. "Did you come to a decision?"

Silus responded with a nod, eyeing Aaron with concern. "We're headed to the district Eleven tract, going to try and find Kai and Iris," he stated.

Aaron nodded, a subtle twitch in his brow.

Ruby stepped forward, offering Aaron part of their provisions. He gratefully accepted, taking tentative sips of water and expressing his thanks for the food before tucking it away.

With their preparations complete, the group moved out, making their way toward the center of the arena, traversing around the unseen barrier that marked the edge of their current tract.

As Silus and Ethan took the lead, the group navigated through the forest with caution. Ethan kept his bow ready while Silus balanced his axe on his shoulder. Ruby, maintaining proximity to Hazel, seemed lost in her own world. The sudden crack of a stepped-on branch would occasionally startle her, causing her to flinch. Each time, Hazel's comforting hand found its way to Ruby's shoulder.

Clutched in Ruby's hands was a tool resembling a small axe, yet distinct in its design. The handle extended into a double-bladed head, each blade protruding in opposite directions at the top.

Curious, Hazel inquired about the tool, "What's that called?"

Ruby's attention shifted to the object in her grasp, lifting it for Hazel to see. "It's a miner's pick. We always use them back in Twelve."

"Do you go down into the mines then?"

"No," Ruby replied, pausing before adding with a slight twinkle of mischief, "Well, I'm not really supposed to." A tinge of sadness crept into Ruby's smile as she confessed, "My brothers and dad work down there. I'm too young." She traced her fingers along the pick, lost in thought for a moment. "My best friend and I used to.... go on adventures."

Hazel let the warmth of the rising sun wash over her face as the mist began to recede. "Who knows," she mused, her eyes following the wisps of steam rising from the ground, "maybe you two will have new adventures someday. District Twelve has had a victor before."

Ruby's pace did not falter, but her tone softened. "That'd be nice, but she won't be joining me even if I did win. Not in this life, anyway."

Hazel's heart sank at the implication. "I'm sorry."

With a small, dismissive shrug, Ruby pressed on, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. "It's okay. Everyone's story ends at some point, right?"

As they progressed, a comfortable quiet enveloped the group, their breaths visible in the warming arena, fading with each step.

Aaron positioned himself at the back. He trudged in solitude, his gaze lowered, enveloped in his thoughts. His hands were clenched, the whiteness of his knuckles stark against the morning light, and his entire posture was rigid. Hazel slowed her steps until she was walking alongside him. He seemed only faintly aware of her approach.

"How's the hip?" she ventured, breaking the silence.

His reaction to her voice was a brief, startled glance. "It's fine."

Observing him closer, Hazel pressed, "Are you sure?" She searched for any telltale signs of distress or continued bleeding.

His response was immediate and flat, "Yes."

"I couldn't help but notice you were bleeding."

Aaron's pace decelerated further, his eyebrows knitting together as he shot her a look, "I wasn't."

Hazel could not hide her concern. "You don't have to act tough. If you need more bandages, just let me know."

He met her gaze more directly now, "I'm not just acting tough. It really hasn't bled since the first day," he paused to pull back the fabric around his hip, revealing a neatly scabbed cut, no longer fresh or bleeding.

Confusion and concern mingled within Hazel, "I was sure that you..." she trailed off, her mind racing.

"Ethan's calling," Aaron noted, breaking her train of thought as Ethan's voice echoed, urging them to catch up.

They had arrived at the end of the District Seven area, where the grassy field at the center swayed gently in the late morning breeze. It was dotted with tiny colorful wildflowers. The salty tang of the ocean air from the District Four tract wafted around them. Ethan's bow remained taut and ready as the group spotted the flowing cornfields of the District Eleven tract. They gathered just inside the tree line.

"Alright," Silus began, " We're going to make a run for it."

"Great, more running," Ethan remarked. Silus shot him an annoyed glance.

They needed to navigate around the perimeter of the Cornucopia once more. Fortunately, the District Eleven tract was only two tracts away from District Seven, minimizing their exposure to the center.

As Silus's count concluded, they burst into motion. Her hefty backpack shifted with each step, its contents bouncing against her spine. The axes tied to her belt swung against her hips. Her injuries ached with the exertion, sending sharp reminders of their presence with each footfall. Her headache, though fading, still throbbed in time with her racing heart.

Before long, their rapid approach brought them to its edge, where the dense growth of corn stood.

The group halted, their breath still heavy, ears alert for any sign of danger. Hazel scanned over the center, but there was no change, no movement, and no signs of life. Several minutes passed without any of them speaking.

"Seems like we're in the clear." Hazel and her companions stood at the brink of the expansive cornfield, illuminated by the bright mid-morning sun. The field stretched out as far as their eyes could see, in endless rows of corn, the green stalks swaying as if to welcome them. Hazel had never witnessed such a cornfield in person before, and its beauty was mesmerizing, like an ocean made of maize.

The air hummed with the melody of birdsong, their cheerful chirps mixed with the rustling of the cornstalks. The scent of ripe corn mingled with the mineral-heavy aroma of soil. Dewdrops still clung to the leaves, sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight.

"Here goes nothing," Ethan mumbled. Moving in a tight formation, the group followed Silus's lead, navigating a narrow path between the rows of corn. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the stalks.

The rough texture of the leaves brushed against her face and neck. Dew soaked into her clothing and bandages. She kicked herself for not changing them earlier. It would again have to wait. As they advanced, the soft rustling of their movement through the stalks blended with the natural soundscape of the field.

Amidst the tranquil beauty, Hazel could not shake the feeling of unease gnawing at her insides. Mia's screams from the previous night rang in her ears when her mind wandered. She glanced at her companions, noting the tension etched on their faces.

The once melodious birdsong shifted as if it mocked their careful progress, with the birds flitting from stalk to stalk just out of reach. The terrain, uneven and unfamiliar, made Hazel's ankles twist in her boots with each step. A glance at her fellow tributes confirmed she was not alone in her struggle; the deep furrows between the rows of corn tripped them up.

Amid their cautious advance, a rumbling sound broke the rhythm of their footsteps—a stomach growling, loud enough to echo in the enclosed space. They all paused, exchanging glances, no one claiming the noise. Hazel sent a sidelong glance at Aaron, but he kept his head down. The light breakfast they had shared, meager and consumed, was a distant memory now, lost to the adrenaline and exertion of their escape.

As the group resumed their walk, Ethan smirked, "Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?" his hand trailing along a cornstalk beside him. "Think we could make popcorn with some of this?"

"I'd advise against a fire," Silus responded, continuing to lead the group, "Last time we had one, it nearly got us discovered by a hoard of cow monsters."

"Popcorn does sound good." Hazel smiled at Silus, "Might be worth being mauled by a cow beast or two."

Silus merely huffed, adjusting his axe and batting away a stray cornstalk.

"Do you dislike popcorn as much as you dislike cheesecake?" Aaron called out from behind.

"I don't hate popcorn," Silus retorted, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.

Ruby, who continued to navigate the rows, asked with feigned innocence yet twinkling eyes, "Are you allergic?"

"He's just allergic to fun," Hazel whispered to Ruby, prompting a peal of laughter from the young girl. The sound of the chirping birds faded into the background.

Silus shook his head, the corners of his mouth upturned, "You finally found someone who enjoys your lame jokes, sis."

Hazel's laughter died as she caught something unusual on the ground – boot prints, fresh and defined, marking their path.

"Hold up," she called, pointing down to the earth. "Look at this." The group halted, following her gesture to a set of distinct bootprints etched into the soft soil.

"Are those Kai's?" Ruby's gaze was fixed on the prints that were neither distinctly small nor overly large.

"It's hard to say," Hazel responded.

Silus scrutinized the tracks, "Let's see where they lead."

The agreement was silent but unanimous among them, and they resumed their trek, following the trail left by the mysterious prints.

The remnants of their earlier banter and laughter had by now dissolved into a tense anticipation. They continued until they came upon a noticeable clearing. Here, the corn stalks were not just brushed aside but crushed down in a wide circle. The vibrant chorus of birds that had accompanied their journey thus far had tapered off to an unsettling stillness, leaving only the sound of their boots rustling through the corn.

The flattened cornstalks underfoot created a carpet of green and gold; the destruction hinted at a frantic struggle or confrontation.

Ethan halted, "Guys, check this out." Following his lead, Hazel noticed a piece of pale navy blue and brown plaid cloth hanging from a leaf on the edge of the area, its tip drenched in dark red.

Hazel wracked her brain, trying to match the fabric to any of the tributes, but came up empty. As they examined the clearing, they found it dotted with more red splotches and scraps of plaid clothing. The metallic scent of blood hung in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of disturbed soil and trampled corn.

"That's strange," Hazel noted, looking up to find the previously bird-filled sky ominous and vacant. Then, something caught her eye among the debris.

As Hazel knelt to the ground, her fingers traced over the details of the disturbed soil. A set of boot prints caught her eye; she noticed they were narrow, with a distinct pattern that zigzagged across the sole. Next to these, another set bore heavier, deeper impressions, the tread pattern more pronounced and rugged. A third set was smaller, the prints less defined, with a sporadic pattern that suggested a lighter, more agile wearer.

"These tracks can't just be Kai's; there are three different boot prints here." The tracks overlapped in places, the direction occasionally changing as if the bearers had paused, circled, or doubled back on their route. Hazel's gaze lingered a moment longer on the ground when a sudden flash of metal cut through the air, accompanied by a chilling scream from Ruby.