The Xatian Games (TXG)

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games; All credit goes to Suzanne Collins.

Constructive criticism is always appreciated, any flames will be used to roast marshmallows.

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour." - Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games

Chapter 1

"The Games change people, mommy. Even through the screen you can see the scariness in their eyes that shouldn't be there." whispered a child.

"I know, Darling, I've seen it for myself. It's the survival instinct that drives every one of us. Don't be scared, Sweetheart, I promise I won't let anything ever happen to you." Came the reply.

A ring of Twenty four tributes stand on circular metal plates, all equidistant from the large metal Cornucopia, a giant golden structure shaped like a horn with a golden tail, the mouth of which is filled with supplies that will give the tributes life in the arena.

The majority of the tributes are staring hard at the supplies, poised and ready to sprint at them at a moment's notice. Others are looking around, evaluating their surroundings and planning their best route of escape, while a couple of tributes are staring viciously at the others, a blood lust glowing fiercely in their eyes.

One tribute is crying.

"Sixty seconds!" calls a bearded man in an expensive suit from his platform at the top of the Cornucopia. "Remember what you are fighting for, tributes. I have high expectations from you this year." He smiles widely. "This is your host, Chris Johnson, and may the odds be ever in your favour. Happy Hunger Games!" he cries, vanishing into thin air as he's teleported back to the safety of the Arena HQ.

After a few seconds, a buzzer goes off, signalling the beginning of the Games. The tributes spring forward from their plates, some sprinting for the Cornucopia, while others dash into surrounding forest.

The crying tribute falls to her knees only a few paces from her plate. At 12 years old she is the youngest of the group. An older-looking ginger strides through the bloodbath that is commencing around the Cornucopia, easily swatting away any attackers with his large, bear like hands. He scoops up a large backpack and turns away, heading over to the girl who hasn't moved. He leans over, but makes no move to hurt her.
"Hello inferiorite." He whispers. "How about you come with me? I can guarantee your safety for a while if you help me out here." He pulls out a small pocket knife from the backpack and unsheathes it.
The little girl looks up at the ginger with large blue eyes, but before she can reply, he is hit across the head with a skillet and he stumbles away, dazed.
"I know we're in the games now but I can't let you hurt a defenceless child, Jared!" says a girl with long dark blonde hair wielding a skillet. "Maintain your honour." She says, before hauling the child up onto her back and running away into the forest. Jared stares hard at the girl as she leaves, then picks up his backpack and takes off in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, the bloodbath around the Cornucopia is beginning to subside. A couple of cannons go off, each signalling the death of each tribute. Their bodies litter the ground, amongst a few other fatally wounded tributes. A wary face pokes out from inside the mouth of the Cornucopia as some of the surviving tributes start to walk away together in a small group. The tribute inside the Cornucopia ventures out further from her safe place, her blonde hair appearing almost ginger in the sunlight. She begins sifting through the meagre pickings of the dead or dying tributes, hoping to find something that'll keep her alive in the games. She rolls over a male tribute, expecting him to be dead. As he rolls over he coughs, spraying blood over the female tribute. Startled, the girl squeals in surprise.

"Save… me." he wheezes at her, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. She notices that he is holding a small dagger, and takes it from him.

"It's okay, you're safe now. Your games are over" she whispers to him softly, sliding the dagger through his clothes and deep into his chest. The pain and relief in his deep brown eyes quickly fade and a cannon goes off in the distance.

Suddenly, she feels a heavy hand on her shoulder. She tries to pull away, but another hand clamps down on her other shoulder and she is shoved into the dirt next to the dead tribute.

"Well well, who do we have here? A survivor?" asks a tall guy with spiked dirty blonde hair as he walks in front of her. She tries to wriggle away from the two guys holding her down, but has her head shoved roughly into the ground, causing her to choke on dirt. "What are we going to do with you, dear?" he smirks. "William, Travis, let her up. I want to look her in the eye when I do this" he says, malice glittering in his eyes as he unsheathes his dagger.

[A/N: Have fun dangling off the cliff for a while, folks! ;D]