Only by your side

"[Clear zone, no hostile figures within a hundred meters radius!]"

After a period of rest and care, Jacob's wounds had healed enough for him to face one final challenge. His determination and fighting spirit remained intact, ready to give his all in the ultimate confrontation. Katniss, on the other hand, had also recovered enough, feeling revitalized and prepared to face any obstacle that stood in her way.

After spending at least thirty hours in the relative safety of the cave, Jacob and Katniss feel it's time to leave. With caution, they venture outside, aware that the final confrontation is approaching. The surroundings are silent, and they constantly receive reports about the enemy tributes' whereabouts, but so far they haven't encountered any.

With each step they take, tension builds up. The beats of their hearts resonate in their ears as they venture into unfamiliar territory. Every sound, every shadow, becomes a signal of alert. They know that at any moment, they could come face to face with their most dangerous adversaries.

Their determination and survival instinct drive them forward. Each movement is made with caution and cunning. Jacob, always vigilant, constantly informs Katniss about the details of the environment and any hint of danger that may arise.

As they progress, the landscape becomes more hostile and challenging. But their goal doesn't fade away. They know they are reaching the climax of the Hunger Games, the showdown that will determine who will be the last duo of tributes standing.

With each step, adrenaline flows through their veins. They are ready to face any obstacle and use all their skills to ensure their survival. Concentration and self-confidence reflect on their faces.

The final confrontation is approaching, and Jacob and Katniss are determined to fight with all their might. Together, they form a formidable team, an alliance based on mutual trust and the determination to survive. With destiny at stake, they advance towards their ultimate challenge, prepared to give their best and secure their place as the last tributes standing.

"[Master, clear zone to the right, there is a better path where your camouflage is still effective!]"

"Let's keep going..." Jacob, leading the way, wished to exit the damp forest surrounding the area.

Katniss didn't object.

As they started moving in the late afternoon, they reached the plain in the early evening. There's no trace of Cato or Clove, or anything other than the golden Cornucopia shining under the last rays of the sun.

Both of them remain alert in case the professional tributes set a trap for them, so they follow Foxface's advice and circle the Cornucopia to ensure it's empty.

Afterward, coordinated as if following instructions, they approach the lake and fill their water containers.

"Fighting them in the dark is not ideal, especially in an open field with Clove and her knives." Jacob analyzes their possibilities.

Katniss, holding her bow, says, "I'll be faster than her, you can leave her to me."

Jacob closely observes Katniss, who is a skilled archer, holding her bow with dexterity and confidence. He knows her ability to shoot accurately and her capacity to adapt quickly to different combat situations. He recognizes that Katniss is a formidable rival, especially when she has her bow in hand.

On the other hand, there's Clove, a tribute from District 2 known for her skill with throwing knives. Jacob has witnessed her ability and speed in throwing, as well as her deadly precision. He acknowledges that facing Clove in close combat would be extremely dangerous and risky.

Analyzing the strengths of both opponents, Jacob sees a clear advantage for Katniss at a distance. Her skill with the bow allows her to stay out of reach of Clove's knives, giving her greater security and the ability to attack from afar. Furthermore, the accuracy and speed of her shots could throw Clove off balance and give Katniss the opportunity to incapacitate her before she can get close enough.

However, Jacob is also aware that Clove won't be an easy opponent to defeat. Her knife skills and agility could enable her to dodge Katniss' attacks and close the distance between them. In a close-quarters confrontation, Clove would be a real threat to Katniss, as her knives could cause significant harm in a short amount of time.

"You just have to cover vital areas, you can beat her..."

"The problem is that we're less effective in darkness, we don't have goggles..."

"Maybe they're waiting for that." Jacob replied, carefully dropping iodine drops into the water. "What do you want to do? Go back to the cave? Either that or climb a tree, but let's give it another half hour or so. Then we hide."

"We sit by the lake, in plain sight; there's no point in hiding now."

Katniss then began to repeat the notes with the mockingjays, as she had done before with Rue.

"I love that sound..."

"It's Rue's song." Katniss responded, touching the pin she wore on her shirt. "I think they remember it."

The music swells, and I recognize its brilliance; as the notes overlap, they complement each other, forming a celestial and enchanting harmony. Thanks to Rue, that was the sound that sent the workers in the District 11 orchards home every night. Will anyone repeat this sound after her death?

"I wear this ring; my coworkers must be watching me. Someone special gave me this ring, someone to whom I owe a lot." Jacob touched the ring on his hand, with vague memories.

For a moment, Jacob simply closed his eyes and listened, mesmerized by the beauty of the song.

"[Master, enemy detected one hundred meters away and approaching rapidly. One target spotted, rescanning!]"

Then something interrupts the music, the melody breaks into irregular and imperfect lines, and discordant notes intertwine with it.

The mockingjays' voices turn into a warning screech. Both of them jump to their feet, Jacob gripping his Kusarigama in his right hand and Katniss preparing to shoot with her bow, and Cato emerges from the trees and runs toward them.

He doesn't have a spear or sword; in fact, his hands are empty, but he heads straight for them. "Katniss, take care of him."

Katniss' first arrow hits him in the chest and inexplicably bounces off.

"He's wearing some kind of armor, aiming for his head or feet!" Jacob suggests.

Just as Katniss is about to attack with an arrow, Jacob receives an alert from his intelligent assistant about a figure that was just detected emerging from the lake. In that moment, Jacob shifts his gaze and sees a knife out of the corner of his eye heading toward his direction.

Quickly, Jacob raises his right arm, and the retractable gauntlet does its job in defending his skin from the blade of the knife coming towards his neck.

Crack!

Clove, who appears pale, struggles to emerge from the water, her smile wide as she looks at Katniss.

"Are you enjoying the scenery when you should be thinking about surviving? I'll kill you like that stupid Foxface, damn you."