A/N: The wifi is back up! *Angels sing*
Congradulations to (guess who?) DecidedlyDestiel for being my 400th reviewer! 400 sponsor points for you. You go Glen Coco.
Today's Spotlight Story is Fighting Fire With Fire by Lulubell2495. It's a Cato oneshot/Alternate ending to the first book. It's pretty short, so it's well worth the time to read.
Speaking of Lulubell2495, I've started a collab account with her as well, and we have an open SYOT. Our name is Haylyda, and all the rules are there, so if you're interested, it'll be there.
Isadora Fox (15) POV
District 5 female
My only real course of action for today is to find Jasper. I mean, I could probably deal with anyone from 7, 8, 11 or 12, but Jasper is the only one I'm sure won't kill me on sight. Granted, the pair from 8 don't seem too lethal, but people were saying that about the 14 year old girl from District 10 last year, and she ended up killing her ally, as well as a fully trained Career tribute. She could have won, too, if it weren't for the monstrous boy from District 4. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how Alicia killed him. I'm not complaining, but still. He was just too easily taken down for someone with five kills under his belt.
I take a quick inventory of my supplies, make sure my dagger is in the right spot on my belt and head off. I saw Jasper head in the direction of the mountain the last time I saw him, so I'm blindly going that way, hoping he didn't veer off and go somewhere new. Because if I walk all this way and don't find who I'm looking for? Please.
It's an excruciating process, and I couldn't imagine if I had to do this through the desert. The trees offer some shade, but it's as if the Gamemakers are purposely making this as difficult as it could be. The arena is humid and causes the fabric of my clothes to cling to me with sweat. I don't want to drink too much of my water in case I get lost and can't find a stream, but it's so hot out, my bottle is empty soon enough. The air is thick with mosquitoes, and I take careful precaution swatting them away; who knows if they're mutts?
Suddenly, I have a sickening thought. There was a cannon earlier... Was it Jasper's? It was hard enough when James died, and I barely said two words to him. Jasper is a person who I've helped in these games; and he helped me. By the loosest definition, he could be considered an ally of mine. And what would I do if he was dead? I have to find someone from District 7, 8, 11 or 12, and I don't think anyone else would be as helpful as Jasper.
Which is why I'm relieved at first when I see first a glint of blond hair, then the flash of a coal black T-Shirt. District 12's color. I see the figure through the trees, and I'm just about to call out to Jasper when a very female voice, too high to be his says "Come on, Jaclyn. God, why do you walk so slow?"
Lileth.
Fenton Henderson (17) POV
District 10 male
Do you ever get the feeling that you're being watched, even when you're clearly not? That's how I've been feeling all day, and by her abnormally fidgety foot, I can tell Elizabeth feels the same. We've been exchanging glances all day, and our heads snap in sinc whenever we hear a noise, but Ivy and Noah seem oblivious. Eventually, when it becomes too much, I suggest to Liz that we go for a walk. Ivy is too absorbed in sharpening her tomahawks and Noah is too involved in reading the medical plant book to notice that Elizabeth and I each grab a bag and some weapons and leave.
"We're going for a quick walk," Elizabeth says.
"Kay," Ivy says absently.
"Mmhmm," Noah murmers.
Once we're a safe distance away, I turn to face Liz.
"So you felt it too?" I ask her.
"F-felt what?" she asks, unconvincingly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're a terrible liar, Liz," I inform her. "You felt like you were being watched. Just like I did."
"Well, maybe..." She trails off.
"So it's a safe bet we're not going back to Noah and Ivy, right?" I ask.
"Definately not," Liz confirms. "If we're the only ones that felt it, we're the only ones in danger. Even if only one can come out, I wouldn't want Ivy or Noah to die because of our negligence."
"Then it's settled," I say. "We're on our own."
Jaclyn Hide (12) POV
District 8 female
Lileth promised to help me find Techa on the condition that I gave up all the information I could about Noah. Even though I knew a lot, she seemed satasfied by his alliance with a Elizabeth, Ivy and Fenton, as well as James and Felan before they died. I know it's wrong to sell out your district partner, but this was life and death, and if I had to choose between Noah and Techa, I'd choose Techa, easily. Not to mention, I did not need Lileth killing me.
We're trekking through the forest, and my feet are killing me. We have to have walked at least 4 miles so far today, and it's barely even noon.
"Come on, Jaclyn," Lileth says. "God, why do you have to walk so slow?"
"Well excuse me for not being able to cover as much ground as you," I say, sarcastically. "I'm like, a foot shorter than you."
"Then keep up," she says. "You know, I don't have to help you find your friend. Who's to say I don't just kill you?"
"Who's to say I don't kill you?" I counter.
"Your age," she says, ticking it off on one finger. "Your height, your weight, your training score. Need I go on?"
"I had a shot at killing a Career," I say, before I can stop myself. "I didn't do it then, but I wouldn't hesitate to kill a different one. You."
"I'm not a Career," she snaps. "And when did you have an opportunity to kill one? Was it Sapphirina, because I hardly think she counts."
"It was Mason," I say, impulsively. "You know, the guy from 2?"
"Jesus Christ," she blurts. "Why didn't you?"
"I couldn't," I whisper. "He was insane. He is insane. It would have been like killing a... a sociopathic toddler. I wouldn't have been able to live with the guilt."
"Jaclyn, there's a saying that's been popular among the outer districts for a while," Lileth says. "Clearly you haven't heard it."
"What would it be?" I ask.
"No decent person has ever won the games," she recites. "It was true 151 years ago, and it's true today. You have to let go of your morals if you want to make it home. I did."
"But I-" I start.
Lileth cuts me off with a palm to my mouth. I clamp my lips shut, and she releases me, grabbing a knife and gesturing for me to do the same. I clumsily grab my dagger, and we stand back to back. I don't hear or see anything, but Lileth is on edge, and who am I to spite her?
"I see you," she sing-songs. "Come out to pla-ay!"
There's someone else here? Someone who heard about Mason?
"I can see you, 5," Lileth barks. "Tell you what; if you come out now, we won't hurt you."
To prove her point, Lileth drops her knife, the takes the swords out of her belt and the arrows off her back.
Almost out of nowhere, the girl from District 5 steps out of the trees, her tell-tale blonde ringlets floating around her shoulders, and her blue-green eyes are glassed over with fear, but she's obviously trying to hold it together, whether it's for the cameras, the people watching, or even to make Lileth and I think she's stronger than she is. Whatever it is, it's not working.
"So, whatcha been up to?" Lileth asks, nonchalantly.
"I- what?" the girl stammers.
"How've you been liking the arena?" Lileth continues. Her tone of voice is so casual, she may as well be talking about a homework assignment, or a pair of shoes that a girl should not have worn with those pants. "It's been a bit dry for my taste."
"What are you getting at?" District 5 asks, frightened.
With that, Lileth snatches a knife from the ground and hurls it at the girl It narrowly misses, but she's shaken up.
"Answer my question, and answer it honestly," Lileth says. "What have you been up to?"
"I'm trying to find Jasper," 5 says. "Your district partner."
This piece of news seems to delight Lileth, and I have no idea why.
"Of course you are," she says, feigning enthusiasm. "Well, since I'm already helping one little one find another little one, why don't I help you find Jasper? It'll be fun, like a clown car."
The girl from 5 looks at me, panic evident on her face.
Just do it, I mouth. She nods.
I guess I should be happy I don't have to face Lileth alone, but you know what they say. Three's a crowd.
Timothy Porter (16) POV
District 4 male
Sapphirina's dead, and I can't deal, because, in all honesty, she was more of a strategy for me than an actual love interest. I mean, yes, she was really pretty, but she was also stupid enough to kill herself. And egotistic. And kind of obnoxious. But Jasmin, Star, and Lileth all have boyfriends.
I'm sure I'll miss her, though. She was the only girl I've ever met who has been as easy to talk to as she has. With her, I never had to think about what I said or did before I said or did it. Without Sapphirina, or even Lileth around to break the ice, I'm left alone with Ambrose, Jasmin and Star, and we're all walking on eggshells. Try as she may to be a good fighter, Sapphirina was good for little more than holding us together, and keeping us all from breaking under the pressure of the games. And even though she hasn't been gone long, I've only had one thought sine the hovercraft took her body.
Now, it's time for a new act.
I scour my brain for some idea, some new plan that might get me back home to my dad, and Alex. Alex is gonna be so pissed if I don't come home. I put my life in the line for his, and I don't think either of us wants it to be in vain.
It's while I'm thinking about this that the parachute comes down. It's marked with a 4M, so I walk over to it and pick it up. It's pretty small, and flexible too, and when I open it up, it's a light blue notebook with a pencil shoved in the spiral. I have absolutely no idea what this could possibly be used for, since we already have a bright purple one from a sponsor of Jasmin's.
In frustration, I throw the notebook as hard as I can, but it hits the side of the Cornucopia and bounces back to me, landing open by my foot. I look down, and there's writing on the first page, written in all capital letters in a sparkly blue gel pen.
"OUR MALE TRIBUTE IS ALEXANDER FELDE!" THINK BACK. -A.S.
Who the fuck is A.S.? But think back to when Alex's name was called...
I mentally retrace what I was doing at the reaping, but so much has happened since then, it's hard for me to remember much. I remember forgetting my shoes, skipping breakfast, talking with Alex, and some sort of... pain?
My cheek starts tingling, and it all comes back to me. The tingling was from a slap across the face. Someone slapped me across the face. Star slapped me across the face, because...
I put the moves on Star. It was part of the act, to seem like the overly confident, stereotypical District 4 guy. So that's what I have to go back to.
Even though blondes aren't my thing.
Amina Hambly (15) POV
District 11 female
"Biggest pet-peeve?" Ralix asks me. It's our new way to pass the time, asking random questions about each other.
"Prissy girly-girls," I say, wrinkling my nose in disgust. "Person closest to you?"
"Ryland," he says, not missing a beat. "Favorite food?"
"Chocolate," I say, grinning.
"Of course," he says, and smiles. "How could I have forgotten?"
"What do you want to do for the rest of the day?" I ask. "I really don't think we need the Gamemakers sending mutts or a 'natural disaster' on us."
Ralix kisses me on the cheek and murmers "We could pretend to-" he draws away, then raises his voice back to its normal tone. "Hunt for tributes."
I nod, smiling. I see what he did there. No way are we actually hunting tributes, but this might make us seem engaged in the games, like we're a pair with a plan. Even if we're not. Ralix grabs his scythe, and I make sure that my knives are in a decent position for me to grab, in case we actually do stumble across some tributes. Just because don't have much to go home to doesn't mean I don't want to go home.
Ralix takes my right hand in his left, since he's holding the scythe in his right. We start walking away from the desert, and towards the meadow where I expect there to be more tributes.
"Who do you think it was that died earlier?" I ask.
"A young one," Ralix says. "Or at least a weak one. Techa, Jaclyn. Maybe even Isadora..."
"Isadora," I repeat. "Which one's that?"
"District 5," he says. "Curly blonde hair, blue eyes."
"Really tall?" I ask, to be sure.
"No, you're thinking of Elizabeth, from 6," he corrects me. "Essie's a little shorter than you."
Suddenly, the image of a girl, perched on the climbing wall, grinning like there was no place she'd rather be occupies my mind. Her legs dangle off the edge of the wall, and her head is cocked, lips pursed, like she's scrutinizing me.
I'm working up the wall slowly, carefully. I want to make sure that I don't fall. The most embarrassing thing I can think of would be to fall and break my leg in front of the entire pool of tributes. Even a sprained ankle could mean death. A sprained ankle could mean a poor performance for the Gamemakers, which could lead to a bad training score, and no sponsors. I wouldn't want to drag Ralix down with me.
"Just put your right hand on the red piece," a petite blonde girl calls from the top of the wall. I had seen her climb up earlier, and I think she's been up there for a good hour.
I do what she says, and with my right hand on the red block, my entire route to the top is mapped out for me. It's a lot easier now. Within a minute, I'm to the top of the wall, and I take a seat next to the girl. We sit in silence for a few minutes.
"Decent view," I say, to break it. She only nods, and I take it as my cue to climb back down.
"Amina," Ralix says. "What's wrong?"
I snap out of it.
"Uh, nothing," I say. "I just... I know who you were talking about. Let's go."
Dylan Ross (41) POV
Rebel
We've been in the Capitol for four days, and the children are getting restless. Stella, Tessa, Irene, Kira, Owen and Nelson are proving pretty much useless. Since their loved one just died, none of them are in the mood for anything that required much analysis or training. Some of our "rebels" are just too young to be of any use, like Ralix's siblings, Jaclyn's sister, Ivy's youngest sister and the majority of Lileth's cousins. Others are simply too weak, like Amina's exboyfriend and Ivy's middle sister. But, of course, Alicia insists that we keep them all around, because she thinks they'll all be important somehow.
This really only leaves us with a few people that can actually help our cause. Ivy's older brother Rowan, Lileth's oldest cousins, Drake and Jake, Amina's brothers, Damon and Deval, Ivy's boyfriend Leaff and, surprisingly, Jaclyn's friend Abernella and Jasper's crush Adelaide. Abernella may be young, but she has spirit, and she's really quick on her feet, which makes sense, since she told me she steals for a rush. And even prissy, mayor's daughter Adelaide is a pretty quick thinker and comes up with a lot of good ideas.
This leaves us with an army of 23 children (with only 8 of them being at all relevant), Alicia and a handful of other victors, about a dozen Peacekeepers and myself. Alicia is being her usual optimistic self, but I have no idea how she can see the good in this. The only notable thing we've done so far is flashing the American flag after the interviews instead of the Capitol Seal, but nobody even noticed that.
Today is a training day, so we're basically training all those above the age of twelve as if they were going into the arena, only we focus soley on weapons and preparing the body, as there's not much of a need for survival skills with what we're planning. The "responsible rebellion leaders" take shifts in threes, so today's teachers are Alicia, me, and the Head Peacekeeper of District 7, Alana Wolf.
"Guys, listen up," I call. There are a few people flitting around, socializing or mourning. "It's another training day. Group one, starting at throwing knives with Alicia will be Adelaide, Abernella, Irene, Tessa, Kira and Vine. Group two, at guns with Alana is Damon, Deval, Drake, Jake and Rowan. Group three, agility and speed with me is Owen, Nelson, Mesh and Leaff. We'll rotate in two hours. If I didn't call your name, you're studying war history, with the exception of Ryland Levionne and Jennifer Thompson. Get to where you need to be."
I spend the next two hours teaching four teenage boys how to run. Needless to say, it was mind-bogglingly boring. Occasionally, I'll hear "Rowan, you're holding it wrong," or "Change your footing, Tessa," while the only advice I can give is to keep running. Why couldn't I have signed up to teach weapons? At least that would be entertaining, to say the least.
A/N: I've already written the death of a certain character who's creator hasn't been reviewing. The more you review, generally, the more inclined I'll be to keep your character alive. 😇
Alliances:
The Careers: Ambrose, Jasmin, Star, Tim
The A-Team: Elizabeth, Fenton
Born To Die: Ivy, Noah
Some Taylor Swift Song: Amina, Ralix
I Am Not Babysitting: Jaclyn, Essie, Lileth
Mason
Techa
Jasper
Questions!
1) What are your feelings on this weird Essie/Jaclyn/Lileth thing?
2) Do you ever get the feeling that you're being watched?
3) How are you feeling about the breakup of #TheRealest?
4) Favorite alliance name?
5) What are your thoughts on the rebellion so far?
6) DID YOU SEE MOCKINGJAY AND DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT FANGIRL/FANBOY?
-Make the day special!