Chapter 9

The lush forest greets me as I find a rock to sit on. I pull out the map. It looks like there is a stream about 10 miles northeast. I pull out my compass. I direct myself northeast and start walking and pushing myself through the underbrush.

I wonder what Finn is doing right now. I wonder how Annie is. I miss everyone. Especially Jo. She is so... Johanna-y. She always smirks at you and has comebacks for everything. OW!

A prick on my leg snaps me out of my thoughts. I slowly examine the bush. It looks like a raspberry bush, but I'm not sure. I see a fruit. I pluck it off the bush. I stare at it. That is defiantly a raspberry. I put it in my mouth, slowly chewing it, examining the flavors. I notice some other berries on the bush. I rush over to a maple and grab the largest leaf I can find. I gather berries to seat on my walk. I begin once again.

Oh, these trees are so pretty! The big oaks are huge! I wonder if there will be a little clearing by the stream. I could set up camp there for a couple nights. I wonder how long I will stay out here. Myabe forever. That would be ok. I like it here. Plus, there is a whole forest full of plants and animals I can use to make medicine and food. Maybe I could build a cabin out of logs. There are certainly enough trees. But, I'm not sure how to cut them down. Oh yeah! In the 56th Hunger Games, that girl from 5 made an axe out of a rock and a stick. She sharpened the rock with another rock and tied it to the stick using vines. I could do that. That would be easy. I could also make a spear out of an arrowhead and a stick. I could also make another bow and more arrows. That would be nice. But it will take me a very long time to make another arrow.

After a few hours of walking, I reach the stream. It is rushing water, cold and beautiful. I can see the fish flopping around in it. I fill up my water bottle. I look around. The clearing surrounds the stream. I find a nice rock, stick and other rock and get to work building my axe. It time it is finished. I tie it off using a difficult knot Nixie taught me. She would make nets for the fishermen in District 4. She inherited that from her father. I find a tree and start chopping. After about 30 minites, there are around 6 trees on the ground. I split one open. It is rough and jagged on the inside. If that is going to go on the inside of the house I want it to be smoother. I could use sand paper if I had some. Or... I could make some. I take a leaf from a tree and rub some pitch(sap) on it. Then, I grab a handful of sand from the river and smear it onto the pitch so it sticks. Perfect! Instant Sandpaper. I start bilding. It is hard to build without any screws or nails, but if I make notches in the logs, then the other logs with fit perfectly into them. I grab my axe and make my way to a log. I gently tap it into the tree. It makes a small hole. I continue until I have a nice notch. I do the same to the other half of that log and it fits perfectly. Because this will be the bottom layer of this cabin, I tie it off with vine. I work all day until the sun goes down and the sky is lit up with oranges and reds. I remember the old saying, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky at morn, sailor's take worn." Well, since the sky is red at night, I know I will have another nice day tomorrow. I want to finish this cabin before the first frost. Right know it is only September, but the weathermen were saying that we were going to have an early frost this year. I curl up on the moss near the river and fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

I wake up as the sky lights up. I have another idea for the house. I start gathering river rocks. I make a paste out of pitch and mud. My stomach growels warning me that I haven't eaten yet, so I grab some food from my pack that I brought with me. I'm not afraid to eat this because I can always hunt if I need to. I grab my axe and go to the logs in a rectangle on the ground and cut and whole right in the middle of one. I use that to make a board that fins in the hole. Then, I grab the paste and smear it of the rock and place it on the log. I continue this all day, eating berries and leaves for lunch, and rabbit for dinner. I fall asleep with the sun.

Imedietly after I wake up, I can tell the frost is near. The air is brisk and I feel chilled. It has been about 2 monthes since I've been here and the cabin is almost complete. I scurry up the wobly ladder I made and started placing more board on the roof in a slanting pattern. If they are not slanted, the snow will pile up and will make the roof cave in. I place the last board. I have been using nails that I found in a sack a couple miles west. I found them when I was hunting. I go over to the other side of the roof and smear more pitch and mud on the finishing touches of my chimney. I walk around the perimiter of the cabin, sealing cracks with mud. The only things I don't have is windows and doors. I think I will sneak back into 14 to get those. I put logs in the house, so if it does frost they won't be ruined. I really need to build a woodshack. I planned to sneak into District 14 tomorrow. I gather meat that I have been drying for winter and my bow and arrows and fell asleep in expectation of tomorrow.

As soon as I wake up, I begin walking. I reach the edge of the forest just as the sun is setting. I walked a lot faster than I thought. Well, I have been working all day every day. I guess my stamina is better than I thought. I find a nice log to sit on and eat my meat, the flavora of rosemary drifting over my mouth. I found a rosemary bush by the cabin and that has been my main seasoning. A couple hours after dark, I sneak under the fence. I dart into the main marketplace an leap into te hardware store. I grab four glass panes that should fit my windows. I also grab hinges and screws and a screwdriver, but not electric. I slide out of an open window. I see a food place so I dart inside. I see sacks of salt, sugar and flour. I imedetly snatch them up andrunning out my hands full of goods. I stop in my tracks as soon as I exit the shop. A human silhouette caused this. It was short. The person looked out into the woods expectetly. I can tell the person can tell I am here. His head snaps around revealing baggy eyes and a very skinny body. He has blond hair and stormy grey eyes. He looks like he hasn't slept for weeks. Our eyes meet, blue to grey.

"Rue!" His voice is hoarse. I realize who it is and I get bombarWith with a massive hug.

"Finn," I whisper into his hair. "I've missed you so much."

"I haven't sleeped since you left."

"Well, I'm fine now so you can sleep" I say. "I really should get going. I want to be back before sunrise."

"Back where?"Finn questions.

"Does it matter? Because a little guy named Finn needs to sleep."I turn to leave.

"No!You can't leave me! I will die. I have to be with you!" he shouts.

"Shh! You need to be quiet. Noone can know I am here. " he looks at theWindows's and sacks in my hands.

"What's all that for?"

"Ooh well I built this cabin."I start, going to tell him everything when I stop. "Look Finn. It was really nice to see you againbut I need to get home. "

"But Rue," he says, his voice small. "This is your home. "

"Not anymore," I tell him. "Goodbye Finn."

"No!"

"No what?"

"No, I'm not lettin you leave without me."

"Sorry bud you can't do that. The forest is a dangerous place."

"So it's ok for you to be in there but bit me?"

"I have been planning for years to run away."

"But you taught me everything you know about the outdoors."

"Fine, you can go, now let's get out of here." Wesnake out into the forest as the blues and pinks and oranges fill the sky. A new day. A new beginning.

A/N- Sorry for all the mistakes, i did this in my iPod. Well, Finn did win the poll and I think I will have another person come into the story so keepvisitiing the poll on my profile. Thanks!