章 61: The Explosion

Katniss and Thresh left the cave silently, determination in their eyes and a clear objective in mind. Foxface stayed inside the cave, trusting that Jacob would soon wake up and be safe under her care.

On their way, Thresh broke the silence and asked Katniss if it was really a good idea to leave Jacob with Foxface. He had reservations about trusting someone they barely knew in such a dangerous environment like the Hunger Games.

Katniss, recalling her encounter with Foxface during the bloodbath at the beginning of the games, responded confidently. She told Thresh how she had come face to face with Foxface in that critical moment, but instead of attacking her, the girl had caught her fear and both had fled in different directions. That gesture showed Katniss that Foxface was a noble and innocent person who was not willing to harm others.

Thresh reflected on Katniss' words and finally accepted her reasoning. Although still cautious, he understood that it was necessary to trust some people amidst the brutality of the games. Together, they decided to set traps to hunt animals and ensure they had enough food to survive.

With skill and dexterity, Katniss and Thresh put their plan into action, carefully selecting strategic locations for the traps. Every move was calculated, every piece of rope and twig was placed with precision. It was a combination of cunning and knowledge of the terrain, leveraging Thresh's experience and Katniss' proficiency with the bow and traps.

As they worked in silence, trust began to form between them. There was a connection based on their mutual need to survive and admiration for each other's skills. Although they were competitors in the games, they had become allies in this struggle for life.

Once the traps were ready, Katniss and Thresh took a moment to rest and reflect on the next step. They knew the arena was unforgiving, and any carelessness could be fatal. But they also knew they were united in this battle and had to trust each other to survive.

With their stomachs growling with hunger and their minds filled with confusion thinking about Rue's death, they prepared to move forward, driven by different desires.

With hope ignited in their hearts and determination etched on their faces, they continued to wait, silence being the only thing that flooded the surroundings.

Crack!

"What was that?" Thresh immediately alerted and raised his weapon, looking vigilantly around.

The sound suddenly shattered the previously quiet place, alarming both of them. But after a few seconds, Thresh noticed two large rabbits a few meters away from him.

Katniss also noticed the presence of the rabbits. Her hunter's instinct kicked in immediately, and without hesitation, she raised her bow and aimed at one of the rabbits. With incredible precision, she released the arrow, hitting her target and bringing down the rabbit in a swift motion.

The other rabbit, startled by the sound of the shot, quickly fled. Katniss couldn't resist the temptation to chase after it. A smile formed on her face, excited at the opportunity to secure more food.

"Wait, Katniss, it could be dangerous!" Thresh knew that food was important, but he was also wary of a creature that had recently claimed Rue's life.

Looking at Katniss as she quickly moved away, Thresh held his bag, glanced at the rabbit in the distance, and cursed before quickly getting the dead rabbit to catch up with Katniss.

Meanwhile, Katniss had once again failed to catch the elusive rabbit. Like a massive wave driven by nature, she didn't realize she had strayed far from her original position until she saw the rabbit reach an open field, filling her with joy.

However, her joy quickly faded when a dark shadow materialized in front of her. The giant mutated beast, lurking in the shadows, had captured the rabbit with its sharp fangs. Fury and bloodlust filled the creature's eyes, its enraged gaze making it appear even more monstrous.

"You..."

In an act of fury and desperation, Katniss quickly took another arrow and shot it at the mutated beast. The projectile found its mark, impacting the creature's body. However, this only further enraged the beast, intensifying its bloodlust.

The beast, now more curious than ever, chased its attacker through the trees. The young archer ran for her life, dodging obstacles and trying to keep her distance from the bloodthirsty creature. Every time she looked back, she could see the fierce eyes of the beast relentlessly following her.

Katniss, at this moment, was running for her life, berating herself as a reckless fool. There might have been a chance to escape, but when she saw that wound in the beast's mouth, she imagined how Rue had attacked this creature in a desperate bid for survival.

But now being pursued, Katniss had no other choice but to run. Fueled by adrenaline, she pushed herself to the limit, using her agility and skill to stay one step ahead of the mutated beast. Every beat of her heart echoed in her ears as she ran, driven by fear and adrenaline.

Meanwhile, her mind raced, searching for a solution to escape her pursuer. She knew she couldn't fight head-on against such a powerful creature, so she focused on finding an exit, seeking an opportunity to evade the beast and find shelter.

Finally, a glimmer of hope appeared in her mind when she caught sight of a small opening between the rocks. Without hesitation, Katniss veered off her path and ventured into the narrow passage, utilizing her slender figure to swiftly slip through the cracks.

The mutated beast, unable to keep up with Katniss, abruptly halted, growling and howling in frustration. Katniss seized that brief moment of respite to distance herself even further and search for a safe place to hide.

With her heart pounding and breath ragged, Katniss found refuge in a rocky hollow. She crouched in the darkness, holding her breath as she listened to the distant roars of the mutated beast searching for its prey.

However, at that moment, she heard a roar filled with fury that she immediately associated with Thresh.

"I'm going to kill you! You'll die!"

"No, run!" Katniss emerged once again from the rocks and witnessed Thresh lunging at the beast.

Thresh, agile and brave, maneuvered through the terrain with surprising dexterity, capitalizing on a moment of distraction from the mutated beast. His movement was so quick and precise that he managed to inflict a deep gash on the creature's side, causing it to roar in pain and fury.

But the beast didn't stop. With unrestrained ferocity, it began launching desperate attacks against Thresh, seeking revenge for the inflicted wound. Thresh, nimble as a feline, skillfully dodged the blows, jumping and rolling to avoid the sharp claws that sought to tear into his flesh.

In that critical moment, Katniss positioned herself behind the beast, raising her bow with an arrow ready to be released. But before she could release the string, the beast roared with such terrifying and sudden force that it left Katniss and Thresh stunned, momentarily disoriented.

Taking advantage of that moment of confusion, the mutated beast pounced on Thresh, striking him with its powerful claws and sending him flying through the air. Thresh hit the ground with force, dazed and pained from the impact.

In that moment of desperation, Thresh spotted his backpack in the distance, where he knew he had stored landmines. His eyes filled with gut-wrenching anger and resentment, erasing any trace of subtlety or restraint. Limping and determined, he rose from the ground and crawled toward his backpack.

The beast, still enraged, was closing in on Thresh. But in a final act of bravery and sacrifice, Thresh grabbed the landmines with his hands and drew the beast's attention, luring it towards him. Just as the beast was about to reach him, Thresh forcefully struck the mines, triggering a deafening explosion.

The blast's shockwave was so powerful that it reached Katniss, who was nearby. She was thrown into the air, disoriented and stunned, while the beast suffered the direct impact of the explosion. The creature howled in pain and fury, having sustained significant damage.

Katniss, dazed on the ground, witnessed blood gushing from the beast's muscles. Its face was completely disfigured, and she could swear that half of its vision was lost. But she couldn't comprehend why, with all those wounds, the giant beast wasn't dying. It still breathed, its body displaying confusion.

"I can't die here..." Murmured Katniss, unable to move from the ground.