Searching for a Myth

Safety In Numbers

Devin's POV:

It happened when Isabelle and I were sitting around the small fire I made, eating some nuts I roasted for dinner. As soon as I heard a rustling in the leaves I immediately stand up, grab Isabelle, and shove her behind me. She wraps her tiny arms around my waist, the firelight illuminating her terrified face.

I catch a glance of some sort of dark clothing and I relax a little bit, since if it was a peacekeeper chances are they would be wearing their white uniforms.

"Who's there?" I demand, hoping my voice comes out stronger than I feel

Nothing moves this time but I can here hushed whispers from a few feet away.

"Who's there?" I ask again

A tall girl with dark hair and tired eyes emerges from the trees. She has a tired look in her eyes and her clothes are dirty.

"What do you want?" I ask her, still keeping Isabelle as far away from this strange girl as possible.

"I don't want anything" She replies smartly

"Violet!" A voice hisses from somewhere in the trees "Be nice!"

"So, Violet." I say with a smirk, "What brings you out here?"

"I think I should be asking you the same thing." She counters "Who's that" Violet asks, motioning to Isabelle, who is peeking out from behind me.

"Who's with you?" I challenge

"That's none of your business." Violet says stubbornly

"Well all of this stupid back and forth crap isn't going to get us anywhere" I state

"Well then start talking"

"Fine," I sigh "I'm Devin and this is Isabelle" I say, bringing Isabelle in front of me so Violet can see her.

Her face lights up when she sees Isabelle "Hello" She says "I'm Violet"

Isabelle smiles up at her and I have to admit, it's strange. Usually Isabelle is super shy around new people but Violet seems so good with kids that she quickly starts chatting with the little girl. As she does this two younger girls walk out of the woods. One taller with bright red hair that seems to glow in the firelight, and another shorter one with blondish hair.

"I'm Basil!" The younger one tells me excitedly "Your little sister is so cute!"

"Oh" I say "she's not my sister but thanks"

Basil simply shrugs it off and goes to join Violet in talking to Isabelle.

"Poppy" The pretty redhead says as she sticks out her hand.

"Devin" I tell her, and shake her hand quickly. "Is that you sister?"

"No" Poppy tells me "just a friend from back home"

We all sit around the fire and I pick Isabelle up to put her on my lap.

"Are you okay?" I ask Poppy, noticing her shifting around with a pained on her face

"Eh" she says, shrugging her shoulders "could be better, we had a run-in with some Tracker Jackers."

"What the heck? Oh wow. You're sure you're okay?"

"Yeah" She says "I think Violet got hit the hardest."

I look at Violet who nods

"Do y'all need anything? I mean, we don't have much"

"Have any food?" Poppy asks "When the Tracker Jackers attacked we ran and left all of our stuff."

"Yeah, sure" I say, getting up and handing them each a small handful of roasted nuts from earlier along with some berries "Sorry about your stuff"

They all nod and shake it off and we make small talk for awhile, falling in and out of conversation.

"Where are you guys from?"

"Basil and I are from 12. Violet is from 11." Poppy tells me

"Gotcha. We're from 8." and they all nod

"Didn't one of your tributes win last year?" Violet asks

"Um- yeah" I say. Honestly, after Mackenzie died I kind of stopped watching but I'm pretty sure our male tribute River won. "Your tribute Hazel did really well" I tell Poppy and Basil

"She was a really close friend" Poppy says with a blank expression

"My girlfriend was in the games too" I say, playing with Isabelle's hair "it's hard isn't it?"

They all nod and Violet looks up at me "Who was your girlfriend?" She asks

"Mackenzie" I tell her with a lump in my throat.

"She allied with my brother and sister didn't she?" Violet perks up "And Hazel!"

"Was your brother Aspen?"

"He was!" Violet says excitedly "And Olive was my sister"

"How weird..." I say and the others nod their agreement.

"We should put them to bed" I say, interrupting all of our thoughts that I'm sure are about the games

"Yeah" Violet agrees, looking at Basil and Isabelle who are both nearly asleep

"I gently stand up with Isabelle in my arms and lay her down under a tree, kissing her forehead as Poppy nudges Basil and she moves away from the fire a bit to lay down.

"Why did you run?" I ask Violet and Poppy, guessing they'll have a reason similar to my own

"It was too hard" Violet says, looking into the fire "After Aspen and Olive dies it was just too much. I had to go."

Poppy nods in agreement looking so sad that I can't help but put my hand on her shoulder and squeeze it gently, ans she gives me a weak, almost forced, smile.

"It's just so hard" I say softly

And they nod as all three of us are helpless to stop the tears. 

Chapter by Ida_e_D2