"I can't be so sure."
I toss and turn in my bag , having a small window of sleep available as Tiernan takes a shift keeping watch of our small camp inside the waterfall. The sweat that started as a small drop at the nape of my neck has grown into full body sweats, and a steady stream of shivers takes over my muscles in spasms.
Tiernan watches me , a concerned frown making his boyish face look aged and torn. His gaze bores into my head , burning holes into the side of my skull, and so I turn my body to face my young district partner.
As we stare at one another , the scratch of the commentators microphone booms through the arena, followed by the pompous Cladius Templesmith's Capital drawl.
"Attention tributes, attention. There will be a feast tomorrow at the cornucopia. Each of you needs something , desperately. And we plan to be generous hosts. This will be the only announcement."
He looks to me with such worry, and so I put on a stern face.
"I'm okay." I say , putting as much valor into my words as I can manage.
He doesn't look convinced , and begins to protest.
"No. I'm okay. I'm fine." I interupt him.
"For god's sake Orla, you're turning green!" Tiernan snaps at me, and I lean back in shock at the quiet boy's outburst. He releases a huff.
"You're sick. You need medicine. I could get it!"
I shake my head. "No way , not by yourself."
"You can't get it on your own."
"And you can't go without me."
"But Orla-" he starts , but I point my finger at his face and scald.
"But nothing. You're not going to get yourself killed because of me." I say , my tone stern and cold. "You're staying here. End of discussion."
Tiernan deflates visibly , his shoulders slouching downward and sitting on his knees. The look on his face hurts me , but I keep my expression unreadable. I wouldn't risk the boy's life for my own stupidity. No way.
I turn over on my side again as a bead of sweat slips off of my head and onto my arm as I rest my head down to try and sleep again. I stare at the back of Tiernan's head , hoping he will turn around to look at me again. I huff.
"Come here." I say , holding my arm out. He turns, and slides into his sleeping bag next to me and I wrap my arm around him , holding him to me.
To me , Tiernan is a brother. A person I must protect. The thought of hurting him, even if it is for his own good puts a frown on my face. . The boy rests his head on me, and I hug him.
"It's up to us now, okay? Everything has to be decided by both of us."
"Okay." He mumbles into the fabric of my jacket.
I let the lull of his breathing and the sound of the waterfall ease sleep over me, the shivering and sweat forgotten over my argument with Teirnan.
I rest my head on top of his , holding him close, and close my eyes.
***
The sound of early morning birds rouses me from a dream infested sleep, or rather nightmare. Images of me, green with illness and infection, my eyes bulging out of my head and skin tight. As my sweats subsided during the night , and the shivers turned into aching muscles, I now lay on my back , finding no other position comfortable . The mist of the waterfall surrounds our little camp, droplets form on the side of my head , easing the remains of my fever.
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𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬; 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫.
Fanfiction"It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart." Every victor of the Hunger Games has been a mentor to the tributes of their district , preparing them for a fight to the death. Having Finnick Odair as a mentor had...
