Animal; Part Two.
And I won't be denied by you, the animal inside of you.
Wild One - 105th Hunger Games.
Head Gamemaker Knightley Knox.
I try to lower my breathing as Esmeralda Snow glares at my hologram. If it was alive, well, it wouldn't be now. Clyde shuffles away the papers, but Esmeralda jabs her hand down swiftly on one particular drawing. Everyone holds their breath as she slides it out and picks it up with nimble fingers. She hums slowly as she stares at it.
"What is this one based off?"
Clyde takes a quick look before coughing to clear his throat. "That... that is based off of an elephant."
"I see," Esmeralda ponders for a moment. "Can I ask where the inspiration for these creatures came from?"
Clyde looks at me from over his shoulder, and I instantly know I have to tell the truth. If I don't, and despite no actual problem with where the inspiration rooted from, she will definitely kill me and then my family. That's a must; lying to the President is always the worse thing you could ever do. I only ever took this job so that I could afford a better life for me and my family. I wanted Tiara to grow up, knowing that she could be whatever she wanted, no matter the risks. To get that future for her, well, it lead me to this.
"M-My daughter, Tiara, she had them created. She didn't mean to. One day, she was just drawing, a-and these came from it. It became the roots of my inspiration for the arena."
Esmeralda hums in agreement, eyes never leaving the picture. "Your daughter is very much talented, I'll give you that Knightley. She'll make a fine Gamemaker one day."
I just nod furiously, the fear taking over. I never would want my daughter to be dragged into something like this. Not to be involved with Esmeralda. She slowly hands the picture back to Clyde, who sweeps it from her hand and skitters away, back to my side. She finally allows her eyes to flick up to us, and when I see them, a smirk forms on her face.
"It sounds fantastic. Now, these Mutts, when do you plan on placing them within the arena?"
"Exactly two months before the reapings happen," I quickly answer. "We decided that since the whole idea of a game reserve is to watch and protect, but not interfere, we thought that the better choice would be to distribute them early on, allow the Mutts to adapt, and then, they will take territories and homes around the vast land. Since they are based on animals, their natural instinct is to protect their young and homes, as well as hunt for food. Our tributes won't understand this, when, say, they walk onto grassland and find it's the home or a large group of elephants, carnivorous and hungry."
Esmeralda nods.
"We have a variety of species, as I mentioned, and a dozen or so will be made of each. Since the arena is large, it will hold them all as well as "safe zones", areas that aren't taken by a Mutt or roamed by one, usually out in the open, though. They will be able to fight with each other, kill each other, and stalk. Everything a normal animal would do, and all before our tributes are placed out there. Life would have been set up before our tributes are even reaped."
"This sounds rather impressive, Knightley, I applaud you for it."
"Thank y-"
I'm cut off when the familiar mechanical sound of a door slides open. My heart races when I see Tiara, small and cherub-like, looking at me and smiling widely. Helena appears behind, flustered pink. Tiara grins and begins to run into the room, right past Esmeralda.
"I take it this is your daughter?" Esmeralda asks, voice laced with cruelty.
I scoop Tiara up protectively when she's near, fighting the urge to look composed rather than hysterical. "Y-Yes, this is Tiara."
Esmeralda smiles fondly, but there's something else there, and everyone can tell. It's a fond smile but layered with a predator's teeth. Her eyes narrow down and seem almost mockingly. I blink away the shock and continue to hold Tiara close to me.
"Well then, I'll leave you to building and your "distributing", Knightley," Esmeralda stands and grins wickedly. "Just remember this though. If something goes wrong, well, it won't be just your fault. Understand?"
She says it in a way I understand perfectly. Her eyes glimpse to Tiara, cradled in my arms, and I already know. I know it so well and every part of my body just feels like it's being weighed down, heavy and hardened. If I fail, I won't be the only one to die.
She'll kill my daughter too.
I clutch onto Tiara far too tight as she slips through the door quietly and elegantly. Clyde coughs and I turn around, my body rigged and tight, my nerves ready to burst. He sympathetically points to the stack of papers on the table where Esmeralda sat. I move over, placing Tiara down, although I keep her fingers laced through mine. On the table sits twenty-four pictures, labelled and stated.
"And these are..."
"The mentors she wants for the tributes," one of the unknown Gamemakers says absently. "She's being awfully picky this year. Wouldn't be surprised if the tributes aren't already decided and the bowls are rigged. Actually, come to think of it, she did mention about certain districts needing better tributes. Could have some fixes, you know."
A lot of the other Gamemakers around him edge their seats away at his flippant attitude. He doesn't realise his life could be taken in the snap of his fingers for his words against her. I nod, a frightening clench around my heart, almost like Esmeralda's nails teasing my most vital organ, waiting for me to slip so they can dagger through my heart and kill me so swiftly. She was never this obvious before, but clearly, my time as Head Gamemaker is running out.
Expect the reapings in about a week or so, and hopefully, one update a week should go to plan to get through pre-Games!
Here, however, are your tributes for this wonderful story and underneath, information and such;
List Of Tributes.
District One - Luxury.
Male: Kit Felix, 16.
Female: Fawn Asprey, 18.
District Two - Masonry.
Male: Ransom Denvir, 17.
Female: Minerva Li, 18.
District Three - Technology.
Male: Terris Avar, 14.
Female: Nova Watts, 13.
District Four - Fishing.
Male: Percival Harlin, 17.
Female: Odette Leith, 17.
District Five - Power.
Male: Stellan Kingsley, 18.
Female: India Cross, 15.
District Six - Transportation.
Male: Theon Sykes, 18.
Female: Justice Florence, 15.
District Seven - Lumber.
Male: Ewan Cole, 16.
Female: Laurel Aston, 14.
District Eight - Textiles.
Male: Anubis Cotton, 18.
Female: Challis Glenley, 16.
District Nine - Grain.
Male: Quinlan Nour, 15.
Female: Fay Amaris, 15.
District Ten - Livestock.
Male: Ezra Zinnia, 16.
Female: Serena Pierce, 16.
District Eleven - Agriculture.
Male: Bracken Mathis, 16.
Female: Lena Romero, 17.
District Twelve - Coal.
Male: Colton Dacanay, 15.
Female: Katerine "Katey" Holloway, 17.
Animal by Neon Trees.
The blog for this story is wildone hunger games . blogspot - all deaths will be notified here!
All deaths will be based on realism, story arcs and whether or not the submitter is reading the story. Obviously, reviews let me know this, and if said submitter chooses to not review, I have no idea if they're reading the story, and therefore, am more inclined to keep other tributes over said submitter's tribute. Each decision is painstakingly hard but must be done. Everyone knew the odds when they created a character. I would hope you stick around, but if not, I understand.
I would love for you to answer a specific question I have for each chapter!
Who are your favourite six tributes from just a simple, first impression look at the blog?
And, of course, a general review on my writing? It's invaluable!
Here's the plan for those who don't know my layout.
- Reapings in one whole chapter, twelve POV's to cover the twelve districts (usually done from a third POV).
- Pre-Games will be four chapters, split into twelve POV's in a chapter (one tribute from each district) so each tribute gets limelight twice. This will cover chariots, interviews, scores, training, alliances and launch. Scores and alliances will be added to the blog during this time.
- Twelve arena chapters, including bloodbath and the final battle.
- One final chapter that covers replay and Victor's Interview.
There you go for those who don't know. For now, please check out the blog and look at the competitors. Reapings will be here between five days to a week, depending on how easy some of them are! A review is always appreciated. :')
I would just ask that all submitters review this chapter, just so I know whose been reading, waiting, and who hasn't, sorta thing, and that you've checked the blog out (or haven't, if you've had trouble) and are happy with the way your tribute looks and that! It's more of my own nerves, kinda thing, since it's been a while... *awkward laugh*