Chapter I

Before the five tribes inhabited the Island of Zuk, there were only the simple-minded creatures who survived in a balance of nature, fighting, but never warring. Among these were the Naga, the Antrion, the Chimera, and so many more that I cannot possibly name them all. These creatures could live their lives untouched and unbothered by any external enemies, although the more intelligent species had legends of their creators.

All of the simplicity was destroyed when Zuk gave his island the Humans. In a huge explosion that left a crater on the top of the island's mountain, he dropped the First Two: Ojo and Ekeb. He created a paradise for them to live in, with trees that bore magical fruit and a stream that never ran out of fresh water. They looked after the island, protecting the magical creatures and enjoying each other's company.

The two could've lived in that paradise forever alone, but they became a little lonely with just the two of them. There's only so much two people who are stranded together can talk about. They decided to have some children to fill the island more.

Their first son, Ojag, was spoiled by his parents, who would give him the best fruits and made him the best bed from the feathers of a Phoenix and the skin of a Puffskein. Ojag quickly became a strong hunter, killing only enough animals to keep him alive and content.

The next child, Kels, wasn't as strong or brave as his big brother. He could get very emotional and always succumbed to Ojag's orders. He was usually found… well… nobody could really find him a lot of the time. He hid in the shadows of his own cave, where he listened to the slow dripping of water by himself.

The next two children were twins, but they could not be more different. Ndomi, who was often considered the oddball, was strong, hard-working, and not very pretty. Compared to his handsome brothers and father, he was thought to be quite ugly, and he knew this fact well. He decided to devote himself to working and creating art, often working for days in the mines he created, chiseling statues of his family members and building homes for them all to live in.

His twin Fedol was the only daughter. She never cared for work, because she felt her beauty made up for it. She spent hours admiring herself in the stream and in her twin's crystal mirrors. She never lifted a finger, but nobody seemed to mind, especially Ndomi, who admired her and treated her like a queen.

The youngest was Cgemd, who was looked down on by his older siblings. He helped his father Ojo with the great fruit-bearing trees that had always been there, and then took over the farm altogether, letting his father rest. He was the calmest of all the children, happy just being around the forest or in the orchard.

Then, disaster struck.

Ekeb was expecting another child. The family rejoiced for the new child, and all seemed fine. However, both the child, whose name was to be Koedr, and Ekeb died at childbirth. The family was crushed, Ojo the most of all. He plunged into a deep depression, unable to assist in any of the chores he normally did. He eventually took his own life by jumping off of the edge of a cliff.

The five remaining children all decided to swear an oath saying that they will never take their own lives as their father did. However, tempers still rose. Ojag lost control of himself and the family, often exploding in rage-filled tantrums. Kels sunk further into the shadows, never smiling, only crying. Ndomi worked even harder in order to distract himself, and he often sacrificed his own blood to Zuk asking for his parents back. Fedol completely ignored the fact that their parents were dead and denied it any time it was mentioned.

Only Cgemd was able to get past the death without being affected. He understood that death was simply a part of life and that, since it couldn't be avoided, there was no use fighting what had already occurred. He continued to work in the orchard, feeding his siblings and keeping them alive.

The siblings worked themselves into frenzy, and Ojag, who had tried to take charge, could feel his control slipping. They shot threats at each other, and fights often broke out. It finally came to the point where Ojag had to do something. He sent each sibling to a different part of the island so that they could separate and calm down. He sent Kels to the Western Dark Woods, Fedol to the Southern beaches, Ndomi to the East Quarries, and Cgemd to the Northern Forest. He stayed in the paradise himself, claiming that someone had to watch over it. The siblings reluctantly agreed to Ojag's orders, and traveled off to make their own homes.

Once they reached their own regions, they build camps and found spouses in order to start their own families. Ojag married a harpy, named Relcao, and stated the Ojag tribe. Kels married a Naga, Ndomi an Oread, Fedol a Siren, and Cgemd a Nymph. These first families were the birthplaces of the five tribes, which would grow, war, split to smaller tribes, and rule the island of Zuk."

The mother realized that her child was fast asleep at this point. She laid him down in his bed with a little smile, taking care not to wake him. He stretched his innocent body and curled into a ball, breathing lightly. The mother lay down next to him, keeping one arm around him, protecting him. She fell asleep to the quiet crackling of the dying campfire, knowing that all was right in the world.

At this point, you're probably wondering, "What does any of this have to do with the Hunger Games series?" I understand your confusion, because not once have I mention Katniss Everdeen or even Panem. This world, the Island of Zuk, is only loosely, but definitely, connected to the world of Hunger Games. I will drop more clues later, but you might be able to find some connections already.

Also, I need a name for the male main character, who I'll reveal in the next chapter. Suggest some as fast as you can, because after a few days, I'll have to put up another chapter, and I'll have to just use a generator or something. Names may be used for other characters, too!

As for future chapters, I'm planning on adding three per week, and I'll have the most out on weekends. Most of this is improvised, so if you have an idea for the story, simply PM me (we don't want to give anything away) and I might fit it in.

Finally, you might be having a hard time with some of the names. They are simply part of a secret code that translate to what they represent. As for how to say them: Ndomi = (en – DOE – mee), Zuk = (ZOOK), Cgemd = (GEMD), and Relcao = (rel – AH – oe).