"The main thing is to make a truce with the group of career tributes..." Jacob looked at the light filtering through the entrance of the cave with complete calmness, a stark contrast to the meaning of his words.
Foxface silently looked at Jacob, knowing he must have a plan to say such words. Furthermore, that plan must be feasible since he had to consider that the career tributes had been hunting down the lone competitors. She had been fortunate enough to keep her distance from other tributes for most of the time, but that didn't prevent her from finding out things.
But he had thought of a very feasible plan for their survival. Jacob approached Foxface, looking directly into her eyes as he explained his bold plan. He knew the proposal was risky, but he also understood that it was a unique opportunity to change the course of the Hunger Games.
Who among the watchers or sponsors expects this change? The answer is no one; Jacob thought it had never been seen before.
"Listen to me, I know it sounds dangerous and risky, but I believe we can form an alliance with the career tributes. I know they could attack us instantly, but we have a crucial advantage. Glimmer, the archer of the career group, has died. That means her archery skills are no longer present, which gives us an opportunity to negotiate and collaborate while keeping the doors open for us to escape them."
Foxface furrowed her brow, processing the information Jacob was giving her. While she was concerned about the safety of their group, she was also aware that the muttations were a common threat to all the tributes in the arena.
"How do you plan to convince them to join us? Career tributes are not known for their cooperative spirit."
In response to Foxface's questions, Jacob smiled and said, "You're right, it won't be easy, but we have one thing in our favor. None of the career tributes would benefit from the muttation staying alive. If we unite and eliminate the muttation together, we could increase our chances of survival. Furthermore, with Glimmer's death, their group has also suffered a significant loss. We can leverage that situation to negotiate a temporary truce and focus on eliminating the muttations, which is a common problem for all of us."
Foxface pondered for a moment, weighing the risks and benefits of Jacob's proposal. Finally, she nodded slowly, showing her willingness to consider the alliance.
"Alright, Jacob. Let's see if we can convince the career tributes that this alliance is the best for everyone. But remember, we must be cautious and prepared for any eventuality."
Jacob nodded, grateful for Foxface's willingness. He knew that achieving this would not be easy, but he had hope that this alliance could make a difference in their struggle to survive in the Hunger Games.
...
Jacob made sure Katniss was comfortable and safe in the tent. He observed her with a determined smile before heading towards the central area of the arena. He carried his reliable Kusarigama, a sharp machete, and the seven land mines in his backpack. By his side, Foxface had a bow and a knife, the only weapons she felt relatively comfortable with.
Jacob understood that Foxface wasn't an experienced fighter, but with Thresh dead and Katniss injured, she was the only companion he could trust. Together, they ventured into the dangerous territory surrounding the Cornucopia.
The path to the central area of the arena was filled with tension and silence. They both walked cautiously, aware that any misstep could cost them their lives. Jacob kept his senses alert, watching every corner for any threat.
Wanting to ensure they were fully prepared, Jacob said, "We must be careful and attentive to any suspicious movements from the career tributes. Remember, our priority is to eliminate the muttations and secure our survival afterward."
If their truce succeeded, Jacob was certain that at least one of the three career tributes would target them for elimination. Therefore, with the help of his intelligent assistant, he would identify the threat and eliminate it at all costs.
But beyond killing the muttations, Jacob aimed to eliminate at least one tribute and leave another severely wounded. Yes, it sounds extremely unreal, but he had the resources to do it. Not only did he have an electric smoke grenade, but he could use it depending on the situation.
Jacob had run out of ideas, but he was confident that at least something good would come out of this plan.
Foxface, who had eaten Jacob's food, felt the warmth of companionship and said in a low voice, "I'll do my best with the bow and knife. Although I'm not as skilled as you, I'm willing to fight."
The only thing Jacob could do was give encouragement to his companion. "You're brave, Foxface. I trust that you'll do everything you can. Remember, if things get complicated and we find ourselves overwhelmed, our main goal is to protect ourselves and find an opportunity to escape. Survival is the most important thing regardless of the outcome."
"If everything goes wrong, we must be cunning and seize any opportunity to flee. We can't let ourselves be cornered." Foxface had gained more confidence with Jacob.
"That's right!" Jacob said with a satisfied smile. "Also, if we manage to convince the other tributes to form an alliance, we must be cautious. Some may have ulterior motives and could betray us at any moment. Let's keep our instincts sharp and trust only ourselves."
"I won't let my guard down."
With their words of support and fresh advice in their minds, Jacob and Foxface prepared to initiate the first contact, which would be the most important one.
...
"[The professional tributes are at the Cornucopia, it seems they're all on alert in case the beast attacks!]" informed the intelligent assistant.
Jacob immediately thought, "At least they were smart..."
As usual, the professional tributes take control of all the most valuable resources, and with that, the course of the games is filled with food to survive. Now that a mutated beast has appeared, it seems they have decided to stay at the center.
Regardless, they have enough food to withstand not moving for a while, and given the situation like this, it would be better for them to wait for all the other tributes to die. But this wasn't good for Jacob and his group, so if he wants to win the games, he must burn that valuable card of the professionals, his enemies.
"I'll go ahead, halfway you wait while I advance, understood?" Jacob had a plan, so he prayed that it would be a success.
"I'll be right behind you..." Foxface didn't want to be a burden, so she nodded, and when Jacob entered the open space, she took her bow and followed closely behind.
Everyone, including Jacob, was afraid. Their hearts were pounding, and they could feel their blood pumping. But there are two types of people who exhibit these symptoms in reactive situations: those who do nothing and those who take action. Jacob, of course, belonged to the latter.