Victor #2:

Name: Torrent Swell

Age during games: 18

District: 4

Games: 02

Death: Hunger Games # 66, Adam Hook

Lupus Marterus sat in a cushioned chair at one end of a large and elevated dining table. The Justice Building's ballroom was one of the largest rooms in the building. It hosted a massive array of tables draped in the finest, cleanest table cloth from District 8 and was adorned to the brim with pieces of art from the local schools about the second Victor. The combination of it and the food nearly made him throw up. Surrounding him along the dining table was Mayor Nemesis, regal and volatile in black as always, the Capitol liaison in a suit that closely matched obsidian's dark as night color, District 4's escort in his stupid blue electric suit that needed its own plug and turned off the heating, and District 4's Victor himself-Torrent Swell.

Torrent considered himself a normal teenager before the Hunger Games. He had District 4's signature copper hair, a tanned and toned body from almost daily swimming, and possessed the District's signature ocean green eye color. He enjoyed the water more than land most of the time. But his family often kept him moored to the shore, figuratively speaking. His brother, mother, and father enjoyed life as happy fishermen and pearl divers. Though that isn't to day that he was often than not he would sneak down to the tributaries feeding the main river and hop across to meet up with his friends. They'd fish, fight, laugh, hang out in town like normal, the usual.

The fun ended during the dark days, when their usual tributary was no longer running, Torrent's parents died much like most others, and the ocean was restless for days on end. He and his usual group of friends drifted apart. Growing up was a hard mistress. Torrent became one of the hardy fishermen alongside his brother with their own trawler. Life was stable for about two years after their parents died, then it just had to get shaken up with Torrent's reaping. Some of it came back when Torrent left a victor- left as a murderer, left somewhat dead himself.

Torrent didn't ask for this, much like Lupus didn't ask District 4 to hold a party for him during his tour, and it was clear that Torrent was uncomfortable. Lupus could resonate with the boy on that account. "So, Torrent is it?" Lupus asked to break the ice. "How are you enjoying the food?"

"Oh, it's lovely," the copper haired boy said with a jump. "I'd love the recipe but I'm not that much of a cook myself."

"I'll send a care package next time we meet. I need to compliment you for the skill you had in the arena." Lupus' voice carried a trace of coldness as he complimented Torrent about his time in the arena. "I didn't expect to see you make that large jump."

"We have a large river down in District 4," Torrent replied. His sea green eyes glistened in modesty as he recounted tales of how he and his friends would often challenge each other to hop along on the wet rocks across to the other side of the river. "Actually one of the few times I fell in was because a fish jumped up and slapped me in the head."

The dining party roared with laughter at that statement. "I guess that's how you have a knack for dodging," Lupus replied. "I hear the weather's nice in District 4."

"Yeah, I guess it kind of is, unless you step out during a hurricane. There are tales of a beheaded corpse swirling with the water and the wind," Torrent chuckled. Even through the chuckles spread from both his and Lupus' seats, they both remembered Torrent's most iconic kill. The arena was split in four quadrants that year by a ten foot gap that played host to two intersecting tussling ten foot deep 'rivers' with several pointed rocks. The cone of supplies sat on a square platform supported by the corners on all four quadrants and there were bridges on the farthest points connecting the quadrants. Several tributes fell into the river, pushed by other anxious fellows and stained the water red.

One of the bigger contenders that year was Therod, one of two tributes Lupus took under his wing as his duty of mentor. She went down with a kick in the chest and a slash to the throat. She fell in the river, and drowned knocking another girl in the process. Both kills went to Torrent. The body in the hurricane metaphor kind of dug home for Lupus. "I'm sorry guys, but I have to get home, I don't suppose Torrent wouldn't mind a walk around the District with me."

"I'm willing, just not too long. I promised Nemesis a dance together, an hour?"

"Might as well, I don't think District 2 compares to District 4 for you, but it's my personal favorite," Lupus warmly says. Together the two of them stroll out of the ballroom almost like old friends. Lupus points out several of his favorite locations, a watering hole that barely passes as a pond in District 4, a steep mountain path, and the tranquil gardens behind the train station. "I've been spending much of my time here just thinking. It's a scary thing, being alone with your thoughts."

It didn't seem like much to Torrent, but somehow he knew that Lupus was trying to threaten him. "If you have a problem with me, Lupus, can't you just say anything?" he sighs.

Lupus turns to him with an eyebrow raised and a deep scowl. "I've been a Victor for a year longer than you have, I know what happens after. Tell me, do you have nightmares?"

"Yes I do," Torrent says grimly. "The girl from your District, trying to hack at me with a pick. The District 3 boy almost taking my eye out. The District 6 girl, my only obstacle to get home at that point, going straight at my jugular vein."

Lupus laughs, long, hard, and cold. "I won't hold it against you. You killed how ever many you needed to. I don't know what you're doing talking to a man who killed twice as many as you, but I won't blame you."

"And why is that?"

"Because I failed, and you punished me for it," Lupus explains quickly. "I tried to bring one of them home, either Tungsten or Therod. I guess the advice I gave them was too much for their own good. You did kill them in the end."

Torrent tries to object but he remembers the brief brawl with a boy he didn't bother to name. He ended up impaled on a protruding sword. "I did what I needed."

"And I won't blame you for that," Lupus repeats. "I can only hope that your pain isn't as severe as mine. And that we can look past the games as friends."

The first Victor stood up, an inch taller than Torrent's already remarkable six foot frame. "Don't worry, we will be," Torrent replied, holding out his hand. Lupus looked, and shook it. "I look forward to seeing you next year."

"As do I, Torrent Swell."

Hi, Hopps here. I don't think this is as good as my last one, but here is the second victor. I hope you enjoyed my take on this and please leave a review

Hopping out

Hopps