A/N: HAHAHAHAH finally! The Games begin ^_^
After each of the tributes had so rudely gotten a tracker shoved underneath the skin on their forearms, they were lifted up into the arena from below. As each plate settled into place, the tributes looked around in utter shock.
Rayne was the first to notice the sound the warm breeze carried in its wake. She had an inkling as to what it was, but her eyes couldn't confirm it, because the arena was devoid of any light.
"Zindel?" Caenah cried out, unable to place where her husband was. A great rustling caused her freeze up with fear. They wouldn't release a monster before the Games even started, right? She thought as one hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
"It's alright. It's just trees." Zindel said closely to her left. His eyes looked around, but he couldn't find what he was looking for. There were no Cornucopia's.
"Hello Panem!" A booming voice said, startling all the tributes but one. The Games were about to begin. "Welcome to the 94th Hunger Games! We've got an entirely new arena this year; while you viewers can see clearly what's going on, it's pitch dark in the arena, so the tributes are to say blind. We've also got surprises in store, so let the Games begin!" There was a loud horn, indicating that it was now safe to leave the platforms.
No one moved, each afraid of the abstractions in their minds. What if there was a creature just feet away? What if that first step would send them plunging into the abyss, when solid ground was behind them?
Sylinyx was the only one who was unaffected by anything, even Velvelva, who lived in darkness, was startled by the noises of the trees and the Game Maker's announcement. She smiled at the sight of her competitors scared faces. The darkness was her element, she could see as clearly as she could in daylight. The Games will be synch. She thought as she studied everyone.
Zindel made the first move, grabbing his wife's hand and pulled her into the woods in a random direction.
Finding bravery now that someone had made a move, Vixen took off at an incredible speed by herself.
Itzal and Yaska reached Bayla at the same time and the trio took off in a direction they hadn't heard anyone venture yet.
Qwill ran into Bayla with a soft thud, scowling at how the darkness messed up his depth perception. He quickly pushed her into the ground, so they could blend in better with the darkness.
"Can you tell where Erlantz is?" He barely whispered into her ear.
Briseyu nodded, though she doubted he saw it. She took his arm, making his heart race, and pointed it at a dim figure.
"Stay low." He said, and then took off on quiet footsteps.
As he came to Erlantz, he put his hand over his mouth to stop any yells of surprise, and yanked him down.
Erlantz fought for a moment, but calmed down when he realized it was Qwill.
"How are we going to find Velvelva?" Erlantz asked the brown haired boy. He hasn't bothered asking about Briseyu, figuring that she would have been the other boy's first target.
"I'm right here." Velvelva startled them. He, too, was on his hands and knees. "Thanks for not leaving me, but how come the blood bath hasn't started yet? I figured the Careers would've been all over the Cornucopia by now."
"Later. Right now, we stay low and quiet until the Career pack leaves." Qwill voiced his plan, becoming antsy that the three of them were together, but Briseyu was all alone. He just hoped she could stay calm.
Sylinyx had watched as each of the groups found each other and took off, or in the case of one, cower, and thought. The Games had proven hugely in her favor, and she could kill everyone within a day's time, but the Gamemaker wouldn't like that, so he's set some sort of opposition in her way.
Moving on the air of caution, she decided to gather her allies. She didn't want to face a pack of Muttations by herself. She quickly found Hideyuki, Fumikazu, and Aeglaeca, giving a whispered word that indicated she was a friend to each in turn, so they wouldn't attack her, and they left in the direction of the traitorous Career Itzal and his love-smitten group.
"Keelan?" Slaysiah hissed, trying to be quiet and loud at the same time.
"Here." Keelan whispered into her ear, sending goosebumps across her body. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction Vixen went.
Kei had found Kai quickly, simply knowing where she was as if they had been holding hands the entire time. They looked around, searching for Bane's silhouette, and, after a couple minutes, found him.
As they ran up to him, they realized he was crying. Without a word, they grabbed his hands and pulled him in the direction the Careers went chasing after Itzal.
"Mockingjay?" Aquila braved a normal tone of voice.
"Here." She called from his left.
They jogged to meet each other, only to collide half way. Aquila's reflex's kept her from crashing into the ground by pulling her into him. Once he was sure she had her footing back, he released her and they took off in the last direction people had yet to go.
Rayne took the most courageous stance and yelled out her comrades names. "Kaze? Aliisza? Come and get me!" She shouted somewhat playfully, unfazed by the serious atmosphere.
"Way to tell everyone where we are." Kaze said as he ran up to her.
"I think it's an unspoken truce for now, until everyone at least figures out where the dang Cornucopia is. I mean, how do they expect us to survive or fight?"
"The Games are odd this year." Aliisza said as she came up.
Rayne and Kaze silently agreed.
"Let's go." Kaze said, leading them in the direction of Mockingjay and Aquila.
Seeing that everyone was now gone, Qwill grabbed Velvelva and Erlantz and led them to where Briseyu crouched.
"What do you think we should do?" She asked.
"Bri, you and Vel stay here. Me and Erlantz will go see if we can see anything." Qwill shortened their names. He and Erlantz quickly ran off in the direction that they heard the trees.