Be sure to check out Kaden B.'s SYOT! It's all filled up now, but it should be a fun read! My own tributes will be competing in it!
The First Night in the Arena
Copper Brody D12M
The warm water hits me with a force as I dive into it. A few moments later, I hear Isis splash in after me. I swim out a few paces and look back to make sure that the rest of the alliance, including Olive, made it into the water safely. They are all stroking out towards my general direction. I stop for a moment and tread water so that they can catch up. I don't know myself where Olive thinks we should be going anyways. Although Isis started much earlier than the rest, they are caught up to her already.
"Where is it that we're going anyways?" I ask when they reach me.
"Well, there's no definite direction, but I'd guess it's this way," says Olive.
"What?" asks Isis skeptically.
"The island," says Olive.
"There is no island," says Scotch.
I'm sure the people back in the capitol are having a good laugh over this. All of us treading water in the middle of the ocean, talking about swimming to an island that doesn't exist.
"Think about it, there has to be an island. There has to be something at the end of this ocean. Whenever the game makers create something, it has a purpose. Without an island, this ocean is out of place," says Olive.
"I think that your logic Is rather faulty Olive. This ocean could be here merely for the purpose of a water source for the tributes," says Isis.
"A salt water source?' asks Olive with a smile. I'll bet Isis is kicking herself for that one now.
"Let's just keep moving, I can't tread water for that much longer," says Caleb. I agree, all of my muscles are on fire. We continue on swimming, but some of us fall behind others. Isis and Caleb are towards the back, Scotch and I are in the middle, and Olive's in front.
"It's a good thing there isn't any current today," says Scotch.
"Yeah, and the waves aren't bad," I reply.
"Look everyone! The island!" exclaims Olive. Strangely, the island is now only 50 yards or so away. It's as if it appeared out of nowhere. Maybe it did.
"Help!" comes the bloodcurdling cry of a young boy.
I look back to see Caleb, intertwined in the tentacles and claws of some unknown, scaly creature. Isis screams "Somebody, please!" I look over to Scotch, who has already turned around. "Don't Copper," screams Olive. I remember that conversation back at the training center. Olive told me, if we only looked out for ourselves, we had a shot. I promised. I continue swimming for the shore. As soon as I stand up on it, I look back.
Boom
All I see is Scotch pulling a struggling Isis to the shore. As soon as they reach it, Scotch falls flat on his back, breathing heavily. I see the blood oozing from a chest wound.
"You little witch!" screams Isis as she slaps Olive in the face. Olive registers shock, then anger.
"It was your idea to come to this horrid island. Now Caleb's dead! And it's all because of you!" she lunges at Olive.
"Hey, hey, hey!" I intercept her frail body and easily hold her back.
"Listen to me Isis," says Olive as she points her finger at her, "I also saved your brother from the bloodbath. Both Scotch and I did, while you stood behind and let my own little brother run in for a weapon to protect your worthless self with. Now, it's your own fault that it wasn't your life taken too, and that you got Scotch injured for it. You'd better step it up Isis, because I'm not here to protect you." With that, Olive moves over to where Scotch lies moaning on the beach.
Isis gets out of my grasp and looks in Scotch's direction. Her eyes are filled with a calm that is somewhat unnatural. She straightens her tank top, pats down her hair, and walks on with a resoluteness and determination that cannot be matched. I follow her as she walks over to the scene. Olive already has Scotch's shirt off, and I can see that the wound is bad. There are three long claw marks along his chest. Olive rips open his survival pack. In it, there's some iodine, a rain poncho, some crackers, a canteen, an apple, and rope. "You've got to be kidding me!" says Olive.
"Why don't you check your own," says Isis. Inside the pack is a lighter, iodine, a light sweatshirt, coil, and the roll of bandages we need. "Yes!" I say, excitedly.
"Wait," says Isis. It's hard to wait when we hear Scotch's painful moans, but we watch her as she heads off in the direction of some foliage just outside of the jungle. She jogs back with bright purple leaves tucked in the pouch she created using her tank top. "Out of my way," she says quietly as she forces both of us to move from huddling over him. Scotch's cries of pain continue as she leans over him. "Shh," she says as she spreads the purple leaves across his chest. She remains almost unnervingly calm throughout the whole thing, whispering words of comfort and not flinching when he screams.
"Copper, I need you to go get me the red berries that are right next to the purple leaves I got," says Isis. I run my fastest to go get the berries she's talking about, hoping that it will relieve Scotch's pain. Not only that, but that I would have to hear his cries of agony anymore. As soon as I bring it back, Isis mashes them up and shovels them into his mouth.
"What are those for?" asks Olive, sitting up straighter.
"They're to knock him out temporarily. Now we can only hope that we have sponsors that care enough to heal him quickly," says Isis.
"I think you did a pretty good job yourself," I say, "How did you know about all of that stuff?"
"I read about it once," says Isis quietly as she strokes his forehead, feeling for a fever.
She may not be strong…but she is. Perhaps not physically, but her mental strength is incredible. She just lost her little brother less than a half hour ago and now she's saving someone's life.
Bouddica Rhannag D7F POV
I'm just so glad that the arena has any closure at all. As soon as the bloodbath began, I ran as fast as I could to the jungle, the perfect spot for me. I know that Lilliana is also in the jungle, because I saw her come in from a different direction, but I don't think she saw me. Other than that, it's pretty sketchy. There are a lot of places people could go in this arena.
The sheer size of it is what struck me first. Even the pedestals were spaced a distance away from the cornucopia. The huge ocean and the large expanse of the dessert, even the towering jungle that I am now hiding in, screams vastness. I'm glad that there's a river running in between the sections, as if to separate them. It will be a great source of freshwater.
When I actually ran from the cornucopia, Scotch was placed on the pedestal next to my own, which was a comfort. I didn't and still don't know if I'll ever see him alive again. As of now, I've heard 9 cannons. Most of them were at the time of the bloodbath, but a few were a little later. I hope that none of those cannons were for Scotch, but deep in my soul, I know there's no real way to be sure. I know that he can fend for himself though, and so can I. I wish that he could be here when I'm so frightened.
At that very moment, I hear the beeping of a parachute being sent down. I have to admit that I'm surprised, but someone must have realized what a feat it has been for a twelve year old to make it through the first day, or at least felt pity. I bend down to pick it up off the ground. It's a rather large one and I find myself wishing it were food with the way my stomach is growling. As soon as I open it up, I see that it's not food, but rather a tent. This will be quite nice if I can camoflauge it well.
I set to work at once. I find a spot that is very much hidden by the tropical bushes. The thrill of my being sponsored has not quite worn off yet, but my aching stomach cannot be cured by it. I know that tomorrow I will have to eat, and drink for that matter, but I'm too tired tonight. After I settle in, I start to think of my mum. Is she proud of me? Is she with Scotch's family? I hope she's ok. I hope she knows how much I love her.
Mystic D8F POV
It had been a shock to me that anyone else would have the intuition to make it to this island. I had seen the big alliance swimming to the shore, and had seen someone go down in the ocean. I didn't find out who it was until I saw that the boy from 1 didn't make it on the beach. The girls had a tiff and then rushed over to help the other boy that was lying on the beach. When the 1 girl and 12 boy came to get the leaves and the berries on separate occasions, I was right there. I thought about making my presence known by killing one of them, but then realized that it may be better for me to remain hidden until I could surprise them and get the stronger ones. Having the 7 boy injured was a stroke of luck for me because he's one of the stronger tributes in the alliance.
I decided to stay hidden in the brush near the edge of the jungle, far enough away to avoid detection and close enough to monitor their activity. I camoflauge my hideout, which is a good one. Whittled into a tree and overgrown by long, hanging vines I can easily be passed by. But I dread having to go to sleep tonight. The good thing is that I do have a sleeping bag, but I'm not worried about comfort, I'm worried that I won't wake up and that when I am asleep my dreams will be haunted by flashbacks and delirium.
Finally, it's time for the telltale anthem and pictures to light the sky. I emerge out of my hide out and look to the sky. Is it pure coincidence that there's a gap in the branches that wasn't there before? It's large enough so I can clearly see the deaths. District 1 male- Caleb McKinney. That's one I already knew about. It's not too much of a surprise to me since he had lots of disadvantages. I wonder how long his sister can last without any real protection. District 3 male- Cord Blitz. I didn't quite see it with the cornucopia in my way, but I did hear his name being shouted by the girl in his alliance. That wasn't a very smart thing to do. District 3 female- Tamara Watson. She didn't seem particularly strong to me, but I probably would have expected her to last the first day. That means that all of District 3 is gone. It's pretty typical, unless they have a really brainy tribute. District 4 female- Quinta Rorlance. That's a big surprise. Quinta was a pretty strong tribute and I'm sure that the career alliance will sorely miss her, she was one of the few team players they had. Without her as a buffer, they can't last long I don't think. District 6 male- Jono Morales. I don't have too much to say about him. I wasn't really sure what to think of him. He scored pretty low in training, but I would have expected more of him, plus he had an ally. District 6 female- Haze Carter. That explains a lot. Maybe they made a really stupid decision that put them both in danger, but I have no idea. District 8 male- Dax Griffon. This makes my blood boil. Who could have done this to such a little boy? He was my partner, but we had little contact. I just remember being so proud of him when he aced his interview with Ceaser. At that point, I had hoped that with his little bit of knife training and good first impression, he might make it a little farther. But sadly, I was wrong. District 10 male- Ronan Ernest. This makes me happy. This was the boy who had realized my hidden skill set. How he did it I will never know. I'm glad he's gone, because he sacred me. I knew that I was his target. It's good not to have to worry about him anymore.
Lilliana Bure D5F POV
The hunger gnaws at my stomach as I try to get myself comfortable on the hard ground. The jungle has lots of good places to hide, but it doesn't offer the most comfort. I really should have gotten good rest last night and ate well this morning, but I was just so nervous. At that very instant, an odd beeping sound starts. After it stops, I see that there's a blinking sponsorship gift, and it's huge! This takes me totally off guard, because I never would have guessed that I would receive any gifts from sponsors. As I rip it open I am totally floored. In it lie, a jug of water, a sleeping bag, five knives, and a bit of rope. There must be some die hard supporter of District 5 out there, because this is outrageous! I wonder if Art received any gifts.
I get settled into my new home. I spread out the sleeping bag and feel the soft down inside. I lay the knives, jug, and rope to the side. I'll have to sharpen the knives tomorrow. I'm so glad I'm no longer completely helpless. The jug of water should last quite a while, which will give me time to focus on other things. I take a nice long sip from it to pacify myself as I stare at the rope. There are so many possibilities for it. I'll have to decide which I think would be the most useful.
As I settle into my sleeping bag, I hear another beeping noise. I get very frightened. "It couldn't be another for me!" I think. "Someone else must be very close by." But when I don't hear anyone move to get the gift, I cautiously make my way to retrieve it. Sure enough, it has a 5 on it. I nearly shriek with joy as I head back to my little home to open up my present. Inside there's a canteen of water and an axe. So now I am the proud owner of a sleeping bag, a jug and canteen, both full of water, a rope, 5 knives and one axe. Who would have thought?
Laying on my sleeping bag, I think of how well off I am now. I was smart to escape the bloodbath, and would have done it even if I didn't get these gifts. I'm just pleased that was recognized. I think now, that I have a much better chance of making back to my parents. Though they lost my twin, they don't have to lose me. I just hope that I can get up the guts to make use of the weapons.
16th- Caleb McKinney D1M/killed by mutation
Janim also received a tent from a sponsor. She wasn't featured in this chapter, so this is just an FYI that she did get it.
Here is a slightly revised and more expensive sponsorship gift list.
Sword- 110
Spear- 88
Trident- 88
5 Knives-88
10 Knives- 165
Bow- 55
5 Arrows- 44
10 Arrows- 83
Axe- 83
Mace- 83
Burn medicine- 165
Cut medicine- 165
Canteen of water- 28
Jug of Water- 55
Small meal (1 sitting)- 28
Medium meal (3 sittings)- 83
Large meal (6 sittings)- 165
Thermal blanket- 44
Tent- 83
Canteen- 11
Electric coil or wire- 110
Rope- 66
Survival backpack (it could be a really good one or not, it's a risk)- 110
Iodine- 55
Bandages- 55
Night vision glasses- 110
Light sweatshirt- 33
If you have any questions about things you don't see on this list, pm me! I would love to talk to you too! If you want to discuss the story, pm me! New poll up on my profile!