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Jacob and Thresh cautiously advanced through the dense forest, their senses heightened and their eyes scrutinizing every movement and shadow. Each step was firm and silent, aware that any noise could alert their enemies. The forest seemed to have a life of its own, whispering murmurs and crunching branches resonated around them.

As they moved forward, Jacob reflected on the harsh reality of the days to come. He knew that every decision he made, every move they made, could mean the difference between life and death. The arena was unforgiving, a place where only the strongest and most cunning survived. They had to be prepared to face any challenge and quickly adapt to changing situations.

In the midst of their concentration, a sudden sound broke the silence of the forest. A branch snapped, alerting Jacob and Thresh of a possible threat.

Crack!

"[Non-human movement detected, may shoot!]" Before Jacob could react, the voice of his intelligent assistant warned them of an unregistered movement in their records.

With sharp reflexes, Jacob raised his compound bow and shot an arrow towards the source of the sound. However, seconds later, Thresh cautiously advanced and they discovered that the source of the noise was simply a startled large rabbit.

A sigh of relief escaped Jacob's lips as he stored his bow. Although the situation had been a false alarm, he knew they couldn't afford to let their guard down. Every movement, every sound, had to be carefully evaluated and analyzed. They couldn't afford to make mistakes that could cost them their lives.

With the incident behind them, Jacob and Thresh continued on their path, keeping their senses alert and their weapons in a combat-ready position. "We have dinner, this is a very big rabbit."

Upon hearing Thresh's words, Jacob pondered for a moment and had his doubts. Just last night, a tribute died precisely because of this fact, and that raised doubts about whether to cook it or not. "Let's take it for now, we'll consider what to do with it later."

"Aren't we getting too far away from the forest?" Jacob looked around cautiously.

Equally alert, Thresh mentioned, "We don't have a choice, staying in motion and heading in this direction will bring us many more possibilities to find Katniss and Rue..."

"You're right, but I still think finding them will be a difficult task..."

Jacob continued advancing through the forest, his left arm still resentful from the injury he had suffered. Although his mobility was not severely affected, he could feel a 30% reduction in strength. Every movement reminded him of the knife that had stabbed his arm, but he refused to let that stop him.

As he continued walking, Jacob struggled to adapt to the decreased strength in his arm. Although he was aware that he wasn't at the peak of his ability, he refused to let it weaken him or put him at a disadvantage. Every step was a constant mental reminder that he would succeed in winning these games.

Despite the discomfort and reduced strength, Jacob found ways to compensate, adjusting his technique and relying on his skill and agility. The hidden weapon in his right arm was an incredible weapon that could get him out of certain predicaments, and this gave him confidence that he wasn't doing so badly.

As he continued moving forward, Jacob repeated to himself that his arm wouldn't dictate his fate in the arena. Although he would face numerous challenges, he wouldn't allow the injury to defeat him. In his mind, he visualized himself skillfully raising his bow, shooting arrows with precision, and overcoming his enemies.

These days he used the bow more or less well, not as good as Katniss or other tributes, but he knew how to defend himself. The bow he had in his hands was highly accurate, so it didn't take much effort to hit targets that were too big.

After three hours of walking alone, Jacob stopped by Thresh at a small river where they refilled their canteens. Jacob splashed his face with the cold water and looked at Thresh, who was doing the same. "We should clean the rabbit in this place, let's make the most of the water and not be thirsty when we leave this place."

"Shall we keep moving in the same direction?" Thresh was considering changing direction.

"That's what we should do..." Jacob didn't have a set plan, and his intelligent assistant could only explore a hundred meters around to provide information at all times.

Just as Thresh was about to suggest changing course, a loud scream echoed through the forest in the distance.

"Ahhhhhh!"

"That's Rue!" Thresh shouted and suddenly ran towards the nearest source to the location of the scream.

"Wait, it could be a trap!" However, Thresh ignored Jacob's words and ran at full speed.

"Damn!"

Jacob took his bow and started following him while asking his intelligent assistant, "Give me the location!"

"[Take the route past the two big pines on the right, it will take a shortcut and get you there faster.]"

"Follow Thresh in case he gets lost..."

"[Understood, master!]"

...

Five hours ago, early in the morning, a few thousand meters away from Jacob.

"Move!" Katniss whispered to herself, aware of the importance of keeping herself moving and not succumbing to thirst and stifling heat.

She swiftly got up from her sleeping bag, quickly rolling it up and packing it into her backpack. Taking a deep breath, she knew that the cameras were watching her even in the darkness of the night. She had to put on a show, to show them that she was above everything that was happening, just as Jacob had taught her throughout their week of training.

With confident steps, Katniss emerged from the foliage and entered the area illuminated by the dawn. She knew that the cameras would capture every one of her movements, so she decided to act with self-assurance, tilting her head slightly and smiling with confidence. She wanted them to know that she was one step ahead of them, that they couldn't underestimate her.

As she moved forward, she couldn't help but remember the traps that could be lurking in her path. Although the other tributes were nearby, she felt the need to check them. Her years of hunting had taught her to be cautious, and the reward of a good rabbit was worth it. In the blink of an eye, she skinned and quartered the animal, leaving some parts as decoys.

The idea of starting a fire to cook the meat crossed her mind, but then she remembered the dead girl and decided to take advantage of the fire she had left behind. She prepared the rabbit on an improvised spit and placed it over the still-hot embers. While the rabbit cooked, she took the opportunity to camouflage her bright orange backpack with dirt and burnt branches. She needed to hide it as well as possible.

Once ready, Katniss took the roasted rabbit and ate it while continuing to move forward. She wanted to show the sponsors and the audience that she could survive in the game, that she wouldn't easily fall prey to hunger. Although her stomach had calmed down, thirst persisted, and finding water became her top priority as she searched for Jacob.

She pressed on, aware that her image was still being broadcast on the screens in the Capitol. It was crucial to hide her emotions and act as if she were in control of the situation, but at the same time, she was worried about Jacob. As she walked, she wondered what the commentators were saying and about Jacob's condition.

The scorching sun rose in the sky, and despite the protection of the trees, Katniss felt its intense glare. She smeared rabbit fat on her lips to alleviate the dryness and tried not to pant, although dehydration was already taking its toll on her body.

But just then, her sharp senses focused on searching for water and staying alert to any danger, she heard something. Her concentration was interrupted when she saw a silver parachute floating towards her.

Curious, Katniss approached and took the parachute. Inside, she found a small letter indicating Jacob's approximate location, understanding Haymitch's hidden message. Her eyes fell on the knife attached to a long chain, and she immediately knew it was meant for him. The question that arose in her mind was why Jacob would need that particular weapon.

Katniss briefly reflected as she held the knife between her fingers. She knew that Haymitch, her mentor, had sent this message. The fact that Jacob had the knife meant that something important was at stake, something that required a tool like that. Intrigue took hold of her, and she began to wonder what was happening with Jacob and why Haymitch was so interested in her finding him.

Determination filled Katniss' eyes as she held the message in her hand. She knew she couldn't ignore Haymitch's request. It was not only about fulfilling her duty as Jacob's ally but also about discovering what was happening and how she could help him.

In addition to the weapon, there was a large canteen with something other than water. This seemed to be a serum that would hydrate her much better than a liter of water.

Without wasting any more time, Katniss tucked the knife into her bag and set out to follow the directions in the letter to find Jacob. Her heart beat with anticipation, aware that she was about to embark on a new mission full of uncertainty and danger. But she was willing to face any challenge with courage and determination, in honor of the trust placed in her by Haymitch and the friendship she had forged with Jacob in the arena.