Pochahontas' POV
I stopped running and leaned up against a tree. I heard talking behind me.
I turned around and saw the Careers conversing about something. Among them was Kocuom. He was supposed to be my ally.
"Pocha is strong. We should definitely get rid of her." He said to the others. My eyes grew wide. The boy with ginger hair turned his head and locked his eyes with mine. He raised a finger to point at me.
I turned and ran.
How could he do that? If he didn't want to align with me then why did he? Just so he could betray me? It didn't seem right.
I kept running. I wouldn't stop. I couldn't let them catch me.
I was almost out of the forest when a tall boy with long blond hair stepped in my way, a long knife in his hand.
I stopped and turned around.
He chased after me.
Was he part of the careers?
Then, I came to a dead end.
I stopped and turned around.
He pounced on me and pinned my arms down with his knees, the knife up to my throat.
I looked into his blue eyes. I saw fear.
He kept his knife at my throat.
I turned my head away. I didn't want to watch him do it.
Then, he pulled the knife off my throat.
***
Hercules's POV
"Meg? Are you awake?" I peeked through the small opening in the log.
She opened her eyes and a look of fear spread across her face.
"What the heck! Hercules, let me out!"
She started banging on the small log.
"Only if you will stay with us." I said.
She pushed her face up to the hole.
"Let me out." She said through clenched teeth. Even angry she was beautiful.
"Meg, you have to promise-"
"I don't have to promise you anything! You kidnapped me!"
"I saved you. Mulan was going to kill you."
"I don't need help!" She banged the log. "Now let me out!"
I rolled the log over and she fell back and thumped on the back of the log.
I took out the small chunk we used to close off the log.
She crawled out and got up.
Then she slapped me.
"Never do that again." She pushed my chest and walked away.
***
Naveen's POV
"Come on, Tia, don't leave me here!"
"Take a knife. You can defend yourself. I won't be gone long. Somebody has to find food." She turned around and walked away.
"Let me go with you!" I was so scared. I almost peed when the tube started rising, now I was here and felt like crapping.
"Naveen, we found water. We can have anybody take it." We had found a small creek that ran around our small camp.
"Don't be gone long!" I called after her.
She put a thumbs up in the air and walked away.
I bit my nails. I wasn't for the Games. I didn't show how nervous I really was in the interviews and reapings.
I heard a twig snapped and whipped out my spear that Tiana made out of a small twig. A fuzzy grey rabbit sniffed the air. I calmed down. Maybe I could kill it, maybe I could show Tiana I wasn't completely useless.
I took a slow step towards it, it froze.
"It's ok, come to daddy's belly," I tried to coax it calmly.
The leaves crunched under my feet and the rabbit scattered. I grumbled and plopped down onto a log.
A shrill, scared voice sounded through the trees. "Naveen!"
*******
*Tiana's POV
As I trudge through the forest, I can't seem to get him off my mind.
That kiss at interviews, it's one of the best things I have ever felt. I thought he would say something cocky after like "Aren't I a great kisser?" But instead, he apologized. He knew where the line was, he was trying to be genuine and save his butt. I know that we have to go to some extreme measures for the Games, I don't blame him anymore.
I hear a twig snap behind me and turn around, nobody is there. I relax a little. I'm about to turn back around, when suddenly I feel a knife press up to my throat.
On instinct, I scream. "Naveen!"
"Shut up! I'll make it quick," A boy's voice says.
"Please, you can take our weapons, our food. Please-"
"I said shut up!"
I recognized his voice as the scrawny boy from six.
I started crying. I never thought I would actually die in the Games, I mean, I knew I would but I never really thought about it.
"I don't want to kill you, but I have to do what I have to to survive. You understand that?"
"Please," I croaked.
"I'm so sorry,"
I squeezed my eyes shut and prepared for the pain in my throat. I love you mom, I thought. I love you Naveen.
"Wait,"
I opened my eyes and saw Naveen peeking out from behind a tree, confidence in his eyes. "No! Leave! You can't be here!" I pleaded.
"Don't kill her, take me, just leave her alone."
My heart dropped into my stomach. "Naveen, you can't do this, I won't let you-"
The boy released me and Naveen stepped forward, his arms opened, welcoming his death.
The boy had deeply tanned skin, shaggy dark hair, and kind brown eyes, he didn't look like he would hurt a fly. He was about to drive the knife into Naveen's heart when I stopped him.
"Wait, one last goodbye." Tears filled my eyes. How could I let him do this? He barely knew me, he couldn't sacrifice his life for me.
"I understand," he stepped aside and let me face Naveen, tears were in his eyes too.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed. He squeezed me back.
"I love you," I whisper.
"I love you too," he pulled away and kissed me lightly on the lips. It ended too quickly.
I stepped out of the way and immediately regretted it as the boy immediately killed Naveen. Blood sputtered out of his mouth as he fumbled for the knife in his chest. I screamed and the boy from six caught me as I fell. Naveen doubled over, smacking to the forest ground with a thump. A cannon went off. The boy yanked his knife out of his chest and I sobbed even louder.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he raised his knife over my head and I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't care, Naveen was gone and I was alone. But what bothered me even more was that his death was for nothing. I waited for the blood to gurgle up my throat as he stabbed me, but instead I felt blood being spit on me. I looked up and saw the boy drop his knife to the ground, a silver pointed arrow in his chest. Another cannon sounded. He fell on top of me and I pushed him off. I looked at his killer.
She had fierce green eyes and frizzy orange hair. The girl from two pulled another arrow from her quiver and nocked it. I heard the hovercraft and felt the wind whip around my chocolate colored hair. I stumbled to my feet and ran the other way, an arrow grazing my ear.
I was going to survive, for Naveen.