After our little feast, I flop backwards onto the bed of grass and clover. Sighing, I close my eyes, ready to sleep.
Just as my mind starts to drift off, a voice to my right pulls me away from the land of dreams.
"If it comes down to you and me, you're going to win. You have to. Just remember me when I'm gone."
It's so sudden, I'm not quite sure I heard Flávio right.
"Don't think like that. Anything can happen in the games, like this freaky change in weather. If it comes down to it, we'll decide what to do then. For now, let's just enjoy this time. Another day alive." I reply, frowning at first, then relaxing.
Flávio shakily reaches out to my hand and I let him hold it. We both need support right about now, and knowing someone is there for you is comforting.
"Your hand." Flávio says, sitting up and holding it in both of his to examine it.
" I'll be fine. I'm tough, I'll survive. This is nothing compared to the pain I would feel if I lost Halsie." I reply, frowning at the ceiling, eyes still closed.
"Is Halsie your sister?" Flávio asks, surprised by the statement.
"Yes. We're orphans now, and she's all I have left. I couldn't bear to lose her. She's only six months, too. If she died..." I can't finish. It's too horrible thinking about it. I can only imagine the pain he's feeling, having lost his sister. I slide over next to him, hugging him close to me.
"I'm sorry... I can't imagine what you're going through and I'm sorry." I murmur into his neck, my voice muffled by the cloth.
"I-it's fine, I guess. There's not really anything we can do except, make sure she didn't die in vain. One of us has to win." Flávio says, burying his face in my hair. I can't help but feel a little self conscious, it's probably coated in dirt from my fall.
Funny how things can be so different, yet you still have feelings of life before.
Before the war.
Before the Mockingjay.
Before this retched games.
We fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle and each other's breaths, breathing in one another's scent.
Water is poured across my face. It's think consistency causing it to slowly slide down my face. But... Water isn't...
I shoot open my eyes to come face to face with the ugliest thing I have ever seen.
Large, yellowing tusks loom centimeters from my face. Blue and red feathers adorn the body of the monkey shaped beast. A long tail waved slowly back and forth, it's tip covered in spikes. Sharp canines were visible through the beasts gaping mouth, it's jaws unhinging as it readies for the kill. It's heavy body sits atop my chest, making it difficult to breath.
"F-Flávio..." I whisper, slowly shifting my left arm towards a sharp rock. My big brown eyes dart over to where he lies, still sleeping. I choke back a scream as more of the beasts enter, snarling with sticky saliva dripping from their haunches. Finally, Flávio wakes up.
And screams. Not a manly scream, a five year old girl scream.
Despite the situation I laugh hysterically, confusing the beasts. Try tilt their heads at me, watching me with their small, beady black eyes.
I laugh loud and hard, my stomach beginning to hurt. I continue to laugh as the beasts back away slowly, probably scared and freaked out.
Flávio joins in, the sight of my red face, eyes closed tight, being too much for him.
We laugh together, clutching our stomachs. The beasts retreat and scamper off into the water. Water.
Water.
"Oh hey! Water!" I shout, still laughing with Flávio. We stop for a moment to gaze at the dark water before bursting out laughing once again.
"Y-your... Face!" Flávio manages to say in between fits of laughter.
"We've... Gone... Mad!" I say, laughing as tears stream down my cheeks.
Sleep hits us like a rock. I fall back, Flávio soon after. We yawn in sync, falling asleep almost immediately.