The sun rises in the arena for the sixth day for our tributes.
The Sounds of Battle
Day 6
D9: Scarlett Halvorson
"Uh, Scarlett." A hesitant voice said.
"What?" I asked, opening my eyes. Lorcan was leaning over me.
"The animals are back." Lorcan whispered.
"It's ok, they can't get in." I reassured him.
"Yes, they can." Came the response.
"Damn." I muttered, "Well, let's get ready for a fight."
I picked up my knives and started tucking them into my belt. Lorcan had his sword out already and had the pack slung over his shoulder.
"Let's do this." Lorcan muttered grimly, gripping the handle of his sword.
I heard the familiar laughter of the animals as they rose ominously over the top of the sand dunes. They cautiously approached the oasis. The largest animal nudged the air with his nose then grunted. Letting out another round of insane laughter the animals leapt at us.
My knives flashed through the air, fending off any of the creatures who came to close. I ducked under the body of one who leapt clear over me.
"Lorcan!" I shouted. There was no reply. It's ok Scarlett, he probably just can't hear you over the laughter. I thought to myself.
I dodged another round of claws thrown at me by the largest animal. I stabbed at its paw and it yelped. I swiped at it with my knife and cut into its side. Then I got an idea.
I dove into the mind of the creature and tried to find its annoyances. It took longer than normal because its mind was muddled with pain and because it is an animal and I only ever tried with humans.
At last I found it and I pulled it to the front of its mind. It looked pissed off and growled. Then I turned around and focused on another animal. I pulled the thought of fire to the front of his mind as well. It whined and took off, running away from the fight.
One by one the animals took off, either scared by the thought of fire or because their pack was leaving and they didn't want to be left behind.
That's when I noticed Lorcan, laying on the ground in a pool of blood.
"Lorcan!" I cried, rushing to his side. Lorcan groaned and opened his eyes. I quickly scanned his body and found the source of the blood, four parallel cuts just under his ribs.
I cut his shirt off and cleaned the cut with water from the oasis. I had nothing to bandage his cuts with and nothing to help ease the pain.
"I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do." I whispered to him.
"Scar, if I don't live, I just want you to know that I really do love you. I volunteered to fight in the Games because Daisy told me that you got reaped and I knew I had to protect you." Lorcan replied, his breathing was shallow.
"You idiot. You did this all for me? I would have been fine without your help. But you won't die. I forbid it." I said, crying.
D2: Arden O'Harrah
I trekked through the woods of the Cornucopia Island. The strange growling and snuffling sound had been following me and I was desperate to get away from it.
I found a tall, sturdy tree and grabbed the lowest branch. I climbed up the tree and perched on one of the branches, looking down at the ground beneath me. The snuffling got louder and louder as a shadow appeared on the forest floor below me.
Into my line of sight, walked a fuzzy little creature, it looked kind of like a wolf and a baby combined. I had found a werewolf cub. I dropped down to the ground near it and slowly approached it.
"It's ok." I cooed at the cub. It sniffed at me then stumbled closer to me. I hesitantly touched the top of its head. It whined and I quickly pulled my hand away. It was covered in sticky red blood.
"Oh, you're injured." I whispered, "Here, let me look at it."
I examined its head; there was a shallow cut across the top of its skull. There was a lot of blood but head wounds always bleed a lot.
I grabbed some bandages and quickly pressed down on the cubs head. It squirmed around but I managed to slow the bleeding. Then I wrapped the bandage around its head, preventing infection.
I don't know what made me do it. It's just an animal. I wouldn't even do this for a human in the arena but something was compelling me to help this baby and I learned from a young age to follow my instincts.
"Can you show me where your home is?" I asked the cub, I knew it might not understand me but it is part human, it was worth a shot. Immediately the cub started sniffing around then trotted off into the woods.
After an hour of alternating between following the cub and carrying it, we reached a very dark part of the woods. I could hear growling emanating from inside a tight ring of very tall trees.
"Is this your home?" I whispered to the cub in my arms. He struggled to get out of my arms. I placed him on the ground and he sprinted into the ring of trees. I followed him reluctantly.
The cub ran to a half wolf-half human sitting on a high throne on a raised platform. They growled and barked at each other for a minute then the werewolf sitting on the throne looked at me.
"You saved my son." Came a gruff growling deep in its throat. I swallowed and nodded. That's when I noticed a crown perched on its furry head.
"My people and I owe you a debt. I am Blood Paw the Second, Ruler of the Wolves, Mistress of the Wild." Blood Paw growled.
"I'm Arden O'Harrah, from District 2." I said as loudly as I could muster.
"Name your payment Arden O'Harrah." Blood Paw barked. I froze, I didn't know what to ask for. Then I had an idea.
"Your Majesty, I would like an alliance with the Wolves." I announced, Blood Paw looked surprised.
"If that is what you wish, then the Wolves will follow you into battle but only once." Blood Paw replied. I had wanted an alliance for the rest of the Games but I didn't want to push it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I said, curtsying.
D11: Fawn Sahar
Ever since Ballard had died I had been working with the leopards, plotting and strategizing with them.
Finally the planning was done and we moved out. The leopards had proven to be good swimmers so we had swum to the center island.
I stood on the sandy shore line of the island with Magnificent Rule standing by my side.
"Little Deer, are you prepared for this?" The King of the Snow Leopards asked me.
"Absolutely." I replied. I climbed onto his back and the leopards moved out.
We began searching the island. I was tired and ready to give up after only an hour when the coughing bark of the leopards sounded. Magnificent Rule bounded towards where the leopard had barked, with me on his back.
We broke through the trees to see the leopard that had let out the sound of warning. He stood on top of the Cornucopia; in front of him, standing on the ground, was Arden O'Harrah.
Leopards poured into the clearing. Arden smirked, she must have lost it, because no one could possibly smile when surrounded by giant Snow Leopards.
"Oh no," Arden cried in a mocking tone, "I am surrounded by ferocious cats, what ever will I do?"
Then a howling erupted from the forest behind Arden and half wolf-half human hybrids leapt into the clearing. They started biting out jugulars and stabbing into hearts with their claws. The leopards jumped into action, countering the werewolves and attacking them with precision.
I stood at the back of the line of leopards and Arden stood on the opposite side of the clearing. Every time a leopard fell my heart throbbed painfully. My allies were dying for me and I wasn't even doing anything.
"STOP!" I shouted, "ARDEN, THIS IS BETWEEN US. WE SHOULD BE FIGHTING, NOT THEM!" Arden smirked.
"Ok then, come and get me." She challenged. I raced over to her with my weapon drawn. It is a tooth from one of the leopards with a piece of rock as the handle.
Arden laughed when I slashed at her with my makeshift knife.
"That's all you've got, 11?" She taunted, I jabbed at her side and she easily blocked it. "Where is your little boyfriend now? What was his name again?"
"Ballard." I hissed, and swiped at her face. She batted my knife away.
"Oh right, Ballard. How did he die? Mutt? Another tribute? Starvation?" She asked, her voice dripping with false sympathy.
I was furious now. How dare she pretend to care? How dare she act like nothing hurts her? I attacked her again with renewed force. A jab at her head, feign to the right then a stab at her ribs. I whirled and spun, the world didn't exist beyond Arden and me.
I finally managed to get a cut across her cheek but she didn't even blink. She stabbed into my ribs and suddenly I couldn't get air into my lungs.
"I may have punctured a lung." Arden whispered, bending over my prone, dying body. With my last bit of life I plunged my makeshift-knife up to its hilt into her leg.
I smiled when she screamed. So things do hurt her.
I closed my eyes as the pain pulled me under. I saw Ballard and Devin waiting for me, looking blissfully happy.
D2: Emmett Feece
I hadn't left the forest like Aira and Pippa had demanded. I wasn't going to leave. I couldn't make myself do it.
I was hunting; the only food in my pack was fruit and bread. I needed to find some meat; a bird or squirrel would be perfect.
I scanned the forest, where the hell were all of the animals hiding? I looked even further, so far that even my enhanced eyes were straining.
I saw something flicker far off in the distance and I started walking towards it. Then I realized it wasn't an animal.
Pippa. I thought to myself. She must be hunting as well.
I made my way as quietly as possible towards Pippa. She was sitting with her back up against a tree with a mouse sitting on her knee, squeaking at her.
Pippa had a smile on her face as the mouse whisked back and forth. She looked at peace as she created a piece of cheese for the rodent to nibble on. The harsh lines that had formed on her face before I had last seen her had smoothed out.
I stood behind a tree just watching Pippa. She started talking to the mouse in a cute, babyish voice.
"And how are things at home?" She waited for the mouse to finish speaking. "Oh, wife issues. Well try this." She handed the mouse a small blue flower and the mouse took it in its mouth and scurried off.
A bird chirped and landed on Pippa's shoulder.
"Oh, well that's interesting. Thank you." She said to the bird. My breath hitched as Pippa looked right at the tree I was standing behind. "Come on out Emmett."
I walked around the tree, Pippa glowered at me.
"I thought we told you to get out of the forest." She said.
"Why were you talking to the animals? They can't talk back." I said, completely changing the subject.
"Animals like me, they think most humans are noisy and scary but I'm not. They let me understand them." She explained. "Why didn't you just kill me?"
Another change of subject. I shrugged.
"I couldn't do it. You looked so cute and innocent talking to the mouse." I replied, Pippa blushed.
"You thought I looked cute so you went against your training and let me live?" She asked, incredulous.
"Uh- yeah." I stammered. She sighed and muttered something under her breath that sounded a lot like, "Of course, because this is the Hunger Games. Obviously."
"Emmett, you know that within the next couple of days, at least one of us, probably both of us, will be dead." Pippa said slowly, like I was stupid.
"Yeah, I do know that," I spat, "But if these are going to be my last days I want to be happy. I want to spend it with someone who I care about."
"You care about me?" Pippa stuttered, "You don't even know me."
I moved closer to her and grabbed her wrists. "Does it matter?" I whispered then leaned in. My lips touched—
Nothing. Pippa twisted out of my grip and sprinted into the forest.
BOOM! A canon went off. The second one today.
D5: Aira Vent
Pippa stormed back to our camp and threw herself onto her sleeping bag, muttering darkly.
"What's wrong? What happened? Did you cause the second canon?" I asked her, voicing all of the questions whirling through my head. Pippa only shook her head.
Stupid idiot, trying to kiss me without permission. The nerve. He's 18! I can't have feelings for him. Stop thinking about it! Grrrrrr. Damn it! He almost kissed me and I ran away. Maybe I'm the idiot? But it's the Hunger Games he has to die if Aira or I are going to win. I wonder what Tristan is thinking about the whole thing. Surely it was the major thing on then they cut to whoever died. He had no right to call me cute. That idiotic, Career-trained, boy! How dare he… But I wanted him to. Or did I? STOP THINKING ABOUT IT PIPPA!
I walked over to Pippa and hugged her. She looked startled for a moment then sighed.
"I'm sorry, it's just—" She started but I cut her off.
"I know; I kind of heard your thoughts. But I didn't do it on purpose, you were shouting." I admitted.
"So you know about the whole thing, huh?" Pippa asked me, sounding slightly ashamed.
"Yeah. So what's the deal? Do you like him or what?" I asked, ignoring the fact that we were in the Hunger Games. I just wanted to forget about all of the deaths and torture of the games and feel like a teenaged girl once again.
Later the sky lit up with the symbol of Panem and the anthem began playing. The faces of Lorcan Carrington, Pippa's District partner, and Fawn Sahar from District 11 lit up the sky.
"Oh god. Poor Tristan." Whispered Pippa. I looked over at my ally, her eyes glistened with tears.
"Who is Tristan?" I asked her.
"My… my best friend, he's also Lorcan's little brother." Pippa replied as tears coursed down her cheeks.
Then a surprise lit up the sky. The face of Angel Seasons was displayed into the night.
"The feast." I whispered, excitedly.
"Hello tributes." Angel chirped cheerfully, "Only seven of you remain. It is time for the feast. Usually this involves a banquet of food for you but this year the President and Head Gamemaker have decided on something different. At this feast there will be a bag for each tribute, containing a message from home, a small amount of food and something you will need for later. The feast will be located at the Cornucopia on the central island. The world will be watching. Good luck and may the odds be ever in you favor."
"Should we go?" I asked Pippa, her tears had dried up and she looked determined.
"Yes. And I have an idea; it's something I saw on a Hunger Games rerun once." Pippa started explaining her plan and I couldn't help but grin.
"That's brilliant, no one will see it coming and no one will want to chase after us because then another tribute would be able to kill them easily." I said.
Pippa smiled then gripped my hands. "We will make it out of here alive. I don't know how but we will. Both of us, Aira. You can go back to District 5 and your dad and sister. I'm going home for Tristan, if he loses me and his brother I don't think he'll survive."
"Let's do this." I whispered. Together we gathered up our things and started putting our plan into effect.
District 10: Tristan Carrington
I thought that the hardest thing I would ever have to experience was watching my best friend and my brother leave. I was wrong.
The hardest thing I have ever had to experience was watching this past say of the Hunger Games. Lorcan getting injured would have been bad enough, what with Tyler crying and all, but then the District 2 boy almost kissed Pippa and then Lorcan died.
The past twenty-four hours have been total hell. Tyler started crying while we ate breakfast because Lorcan got hurt. He has been crying off and on all day. We were excused from school. People kept stopping buy and offering their blessings and best wishes and hopes that Lorcan would be ok. The jealousy I felt when the Career almost kissed Pippa was enough for me to scream, which scared Tyler and made him cry even harder.
"Tyler, Tyler, please stop crying." I said, it was midnight and my little brother was still crying.
"Tristan, can you sleep with me tonight?" Asked Tyler in a soft voice. I sighed and got up. Tyler moved over and I laid down next to him. He hugged my waist and sighed.
"It's going to be ok Ty. I promise." I whispered.
District 11: Lillith Sahar
"Aaron, please calm down." I whispered, scared.
"No. I can't calm down. I won't!" Shouted Aaron, my brother had been pacing back and forth for hours now. Not eating. Not drinking. Nothing. Just muttering to himself.
Ever since Fawn had died, three hours ago Aaron had been doing this. Jackie, Fawn's best friend, had come over and hugged me while I cried. She was still here, sitting next to me.
"Seriously, Aaron, Fawn wouldn't want you to be over reacting like this." Jackie piped up. Aaron glared at her.
"Shut up." He growled. I grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and bit into it.
"Aaron, I know you don't want to hear it but she's right. There is nothing you can do for Fawn now. She's really and truly gone." I said and tears welled in my eyes again. Aaron stopped pacing and looked at me.
"I'm sorry Lily, I didn't even think about how you must be feeling about this." Aaron said softly, he gave me a hug, "It'll be ok, Lily, we can get through this."
Lorcan Carrington- District 10: Well many people will never forget you and your kindness. Poor Scarlett, she's probably freaking out right now. Your poor brothers, they are so cute... :) You did everything you could to protect Scarlett.
Fawn Sahar- District 11: I loved you and so many readers loved you but I didn't know how else I could advance your character any more. At least you got to win over the hearts of the Snow Leopards and injured Arden, that's called going out in a flash.
Oh my. Oh my. I have officially finished the plot outline for this story. I'm currently even writing Day 8. I know who is going to win! I have it all planned out. Ack! I feel weird, the weight of the world rested on my shoulders while I decided between the final two. I feel horrible about my choice but it makes sense. And the person is more likely than the other even though some people might be upset about the choice.
Ok. I'll stop rambling on now.
Since it's Friday, that means new sponsor questions on my profile!
Questions for you to answer in your reviews:
1) Who do you think will be the Final 4? Final 2? Winner?
2) What do you want to happen at the feast?
