Chapter 25:

Night Two

Sasha Kolster, 16, District Three

For the big deal he made about staying quiet and not talking, one would have thought that Grey wouldn't snore. Yet here they are, Sasha kept awake despite her legs aching from a day of wandering around the arena, unable to fall asleep because he is too loud. She rolls over and scowls as the snores keep surrounding her, envious of Artem across from her that seems to be asleep no problem. Must be nice. Yet she knows if it was one of them snoring, Grey would have made some sort of comment already to get them to be quiet.

Yeah, as if she could just control on a whim if she snores or not.

At least with him asleep he can't keep nagging her about things. Sasha sighs quietly as she sits up, trying to push her jacket into something closer to resembling a pillow before laying back down. God, his nagging is starting to get to her…maybe it's just the exhaustion of pushing her body to physical limits it hasn't seen since before her stroke… Or maybe he's acting like her damn mother.

Her mother… Sasha blinks a few times in surprise at the way her eyes start stinging right away at the thought of her mother. It's been…how long since she last saw her? They haven't been apart this long since her stroke – hell, they never even went a single day without seeing each other. As annoyed as she got by her mother's constant nagging…she knows it was because she cares and wants the best for Sasha.

How badly she misses her right now.

She fights back a sniffle, covering her nose to minimize the sound. Last thing she wants right now is for Grey to wake up and scold her for crying – how dare she have feelings. Yet she can barely hold back her sobs anymore and she slowly gets up, doing her best to stay quiet and stopping every few seconds to make sure he's still snoring. She makes her way a short distance away from where they set up camp but still keeping them in sight as the tears start falling down her cheeks. She wraps her free arm around her waist, folding over herself as she gasps for air and tries to hold back her sobs, until she has to stop walking because she can't see anymore.

How sorry she is for the way she treated her mom all this time…she was only ever trying to help her… She was always by her side, pushing her to keep working on her physical therapy and to not just give up. Hell, she was even there to help her shower and do the most mundane tasks. Even when Sasha snapped at her, she was even more stubborn… And she actually misses that right now. She misses the overbearing way her mother watches over her. And the worst part is that there's a good chance she might never see her again…

Sasha should be doing everything she possibly can right now to get home to her family, but what is she doing right now? Following around someone who volunteered for this? Like hell he is going to let her win over him. Why the hell would he have volunteered in the first place? No, he came here to win clearly, and Sasha is just one of the 21 tributes between him and victory. It doesn't matter how nice he is or what he says, insisting he wants to keep the two of them safe. There's no way he really means it…how could he possibly mean it? He can't possibly mean it…

Sasha drops down to the ground, staring blankly at her allies as it all hits her. She's being a damn fool here. There was a reason she didn't want any allies and she had stuck to that all throughout the time in the Capitol. But all it took was Grey swooping in to save her to make her join him. Yes, she'd probably be dead right now if he hadn't done that…but that was his choice, not hers. She doesn't have to stick around with him… She shouldn't, right? But he did save her… No, that means nothing. He might have saved her before but she doubts he'll do that again. She doesn't exactly want to test that out.

And who knows if she'll have a chance like this again? Grey didn't sleep at all the first night and she's surprised he fell asleep tonight. He didn't want to let them out of his sight…he'll never let her go willingly. He's like…her mother but multiplied by ten. And she likes her actual mother way more than this random boy from Eight who she barely knows. Hell, she can barely remember his last name.

Yet she stays still for a while, staring over at her allies bathed in the red light of the moon, frozen in place by the fear of being on her own in this arena. There's still fifteen of them left. She didn't even make it to the halfway point before wanting to go on her own…who knows if she'll even make it to that point. But she'd much rather die counting on herself and knowing her own limitations than die because she foolishly put her trust in someone else.

But the safety in numbers…

But the higher numbers also mean they're more likely to get noticed.

But she has to fend for herself on her own…

But it will have to happen eventually if she wants to live.

But she doesn't have to go off on her own without any supplies. Her eyes go over to the bags sitting near where Grey still sleeps, along with that chilling weapon he got earlier. They have enough supplies that she can take stuff and still leave some for Artem. She feels bad leaving the boy with Grey, but she can't take him with her – she's not even sure he would go with her. She knows it would only be a matter of time until she started worrying about him and wanting to protect him, and she can't have that if she wants to live. It's just reality that he'll have to die if she is going to get home…as fucked up as that is to think about a fourteen year old dying for her to live.

But it's a fact she has to accept sooner than later.

Sasha uses her sleeve to brush away the tears and snot on her face and sniffles once more, trying to steel herself for what she has to do. Fear of being alone and not having anyone to protect her nearly stops her from doing it…but she has to do this. She has to finally be alone for the first time in years without anyone watching over her and nagging her to do this or do that. Alliances don't win the Games, only one tribute wins.

"I'm gonna do this, Mom," Sasha whispers, hoping her mother is watching and will hear her, or at least see it on a recap later on. Who knows what hour of the day it actually is outside of this arena. Her mother needs to know she's going to try her damn hardest. It's now or never.

She takes a deep breath and slowly stands up, before quietly making her way back over to her soon to be former allies. Her legs and side protest the whole time and she bites down on her lip to keep from whimpering at the pain. She's dealt with worse pain before, she can deal with this.

Slowly, she starts shifting around the items in the bags, stopping every few seconds to check that Grey and Artem are still asleep. She leaves them with some food and water, but she takes all of the first aid and bandages, knowing she needs them more than they do right now. Once all packed, she swings the bag on her shoulder and takes a look at the blow dart gun sitting next to Grey and hesitates for a few seconds. She knows she should take it and have a weapon…but that mutt gave it to him specifically. What if she takes it and something bad happens to her?

But what if she doesn't take it and needs it?

She isn't going to win without taking some risks…or without a weapon. She carefully reaches for the blow dart gun resting at his side and gently pulls it away from him, bracing herself for something to happen to her for taking it. Once she has it away from him, she takes a couple steps back and waits for any sign of trouble from either the Gamemakers or Grey…but nothing happens.

She looks down at the bone weapon in her hands, honestly surprised that she was able to take it without consequence. But she isn't going to stick around and question it. She takes a deep breath before heading away from her allies and out into the arena, a bit of fear in her of what might be waiting for her, and pain from her wound with each step.

Yet she keeps moving forward and doesn't glance back. She's on her own now.

Asha Kader, 18, District Nine

With each step she takes farther and farther from their camp, Asha doubts more and more her decision to do this. It had sounded so great at first, sending her out to go check out the closest building in the hopes of getting some supplies. After she couldn't get supplies at the bloodbath, then couldn't even protect Sissel when he went to use the bathroom, she needs to do this for him. She can do this for him…

Right?

Oh, she thought she could, but now that the building is nearly in front of her, she really is doubting it. He didn't say it, but she could see the judgment in his eyes… He thinks she's an awful and useless ally and is probably hoping that she dies off on this task. And he would probably be better off without her. She's going to try to prove herself to him but…can she?

She must.

If she could just…let Slash out, she could be a good ally. Hell, she could be the kind of tribute that the Capitol wants to support. But she's terrified that if she becomes Slash, she won't ever come back from it at this point. Despite Lelantos telling her to do whatever it takes to win and they'd help her deal with it after, she doesn't think they would be able to help her. And the thought of fully becoming Slash in this arena both scares and excites her.

No. She will win these Games as Asha or not at all. And to start, Asha is going to show Sissel that she can be a useful ally to have around. After that…well, she'll figure it out then.

She comes to a stop and squints her eyes at movement in the distance, trying to see what's happening by the light of the blood red moon. She rubs at the sleep out of her eyes and catches the door to the building opening and someone slip inside. Her heart starts racing as she stands there, starting to freeze into place once more. Just like the bloodbath, she feels herself wanting to run away from there instead of take on the small girl she saw going into the building. The building she wanted to go into. What will happen if she just pretends she didn't see her and leaves? She'll have to go back to Sissel empty handed, again being a useless ally…

Maybe Asha can just sneak in and keep an eye on the tribute. Yeah, getting information isn't a waste of her time. And she doesn't have a weapon so what is she supposed to do in a fight anyways?

Her feet start moving towards the building, carefully stepping over the broken stone to keep quiet. She can do this, she can prove herself. But once at the door, her hands shake as she reaches towards the handle, not really sure at all if she can do this. But she's screwed if she doesn't. The Gamemakers don't like quitters and that's exactly what she would be if she left.

Asha quietly opens the door and slowly peeks inside and is immediately overwhelmed by pink. Pink walls, pink floors, so much pink it reminds her of one of the rooms back at the brothel. The Valentine Room. Not one she frequented much, but every once in a while someone wanted it. And also like at the brothel, there's a whip in the center of the room.

A whip that the girl from Five has no damn right to take from Asha. That is her weapon.

"Asha, sweetheart, don't leave the door open all night," a velvety smooth voice says from the side of the room, followed by a slithering noise that makes Asha jump as a large pink dragon steps into her view. She blinks at Asha with glowing yellow eyes and almost seems to grin as she uses her head to beckon her in. "I have been waiting for you, my lovely champion."

"M-me?" Asha squeaks out as she steps in, the door slamming shut behind her.

"Yes, you," the dragon says, using her tail to push Asha further into the room and blocking her access to the door. "You and I are…similar," she says, the word starting with a hiss. "For I am Aemral, Dragon of Lust. So come on, Slash…do come out and play."

The dragon moves out of the way, showing the girl standing near the whip and watching her with her head tilted. A whip that belongs to her. No one else knows how to use a whip like her. And Slash does not like to share. People only get what she tells them they can have.

And she didn't give the girl permission.

"Touch that and you're dead," Slash tells her, stepping further into the room as Aemral follows at her side, letting out a deep sound almost like a laugh.

Margaery looks behind Slash and Slash turns for a moment, catching Dresden slipping out the door and leaving his ally behind, more focused on his own safety. "Hmm, what a coward," Slash says as she turns back to Margaery. It's her turn to tilt her head to the side as she studies her, waiting to see her move. "You must like pain if you thought you could take what's mine."

In a quick movement, Margaery makes to dart towards the whip, but Aemral sends a blast of fire between the girl and the pedestal, leaving a path wide open for Slash to run towards it. As soon as her hand is on the handle of it, everything seems in place in this hellish arena. This…this is what she is capable of doing. This is what she was meant to do.

She gives a test flick of the whip, smirking at the satisfying crack in the air. So rarely has she used a cat o' nine tails, only for her highest paying clients. But even then, it wasn't covered in blades at the end like this one. Seems only fitting to use it first on the girl who thought she could steal it from her.

"Let me get to her," Slash says confidently and Aemral stops her blast of fire, clearing the path to Margaery.

The younger girl stares up at her with glossy, terrified eyes. "Please don't kill me!" she pleads with her for a moment and when Slash loosely cracks her whip in a threat, Margaery's entire expression shifts, just before she tackles Slash. The two fall to the ground, Slash getting caught by surprise, and begin a scuffle for the whip she dropped.

It doesn't take long for Slash to get the upper hand and pin Margaery to the ground. She picks up the whip and runs her finger down one of the lengths of leather, watching as her sharp blade at the end easily cuts her fingertip.

"Kill her and claim your prize, Slash," Aemral whispers in her ear in a voice that has Slash envious of.

Part of her wants to do the opposite. Slash doesn't take orders from anyone, she's the one giving the orders. But the promise of the whip as a prize lets her overlook this one command. She raises her arm and grins down at Margaery, faltering for a moment when she doesn't see fear in her eyes. Oh, she will fear Slash.

"I can promise you, this is going to hurt."

Marian Lilley, 18, District Two

There were few activities in the training center that Marian didn't like. Sprinting was one of those things. She always liked to believe that she was more of an endurance runner. Unfortunately, this arena is not made for endurance runners.

"Abel, if you can't move faster, we're leaving you!" Marian calls back to the boy as she keeps her eyes fixed on the boy sprinting ahead of them, led into their path by mutts.

"Go on, then," Abel yells to her and Marian doesn't need to be told twice.

She pushes her legs to move fast, cursing as Tiv is able to pass her easily with her long legs. "Come on, darling, you got this," Tiv says with a wink before laughing as she focuses back on the tribute running from them and slowly losing his distance.

"I'm going, alright?" Marian tells her, a hint of anger in her voice that she quickly tries to dial back. She can't have Tiv turning on her, not yet.

"What's that?" Tiv asks suddenly, slowing her pace to point in the distance. It takes Marian a moment to see what caught her focus, but when she does, she feels a new fire in her to move.

"You get that one, I'll get him," Marian quickly tells her, pointing at the boy for Tiv to go after. Marian forces herself to run faster, filled with the satisfaction of knowing they were going to get two kills tonight while Rodrick sits around the camp whining to Kaz and Abel can't even keep pace with them.

The girls just have to do everything around here, huh?

The boy doesn't hear her approaching until it's much too late and he scrambles to his feet, just to immediately trip over a stone and faceplant. As Marian catches up to him, she almost finds herself wishing for more of a challenge. But all Samis can do is try to scramble away from her and pitifully throw a rock in her direction that she doesn't even have to sidestep to dodge, his aim is that poor.

"Please, don't, I-I can help-"

"What can you possibly do to help me?" Marian cuts him off as she slows her pace. She takes out a knife from her jacket and tosses it in the air, catching it by the handle easily and watching his eyes widen even further in fear. She lets out a short laugh and shakes her head as she approaches, watching him back into a large stone with nowhere to go. "Actually, I have an idea on how you can help me."

Samis blinks at her through tears in his eyes and his lip trembles as she stands there, waiting for her to say what he could possibly do to help her.

Boom!

The boy jumps at the sound of the cannon and Marian glances back over her shoulder for a moment. "Ah, that would be Tiv," Marian says, turning back to Samis. "Looks like she found someone to help us out too."

Before Samis can say anything else, she tackles him, driving her knife deep into his chest. It falls apart immediately, sending a squirt of blood at her as Samis gasps, before quickly falling still.

Boom!

Marian slaps the boy's cheek, making sure he's dead, before standing up with a smirk and stretching her arms above her head. All in a day's work – well, night's work. With the other cannon they heard, if they can keep up this pace she'll be out of here in no time at all. But that also means it's getting closer and closer to being time for her to eliminate the careers. Too many of them are still alive when they're nearly at the halfway point.

She looks around her, knowing she needs to go back to them soon, but finds herself hesitating when she realizes her running brought her not too far from one of the buildings. Surely they won't miss her for a few extra minutes…it would be foolish for her to not go in there and get one of the weapons. She needs every advantage over her allies she can get. She had wanted to test out her theory with Abel, but she can try that another day.

She can't let Kaz have all the fun with the fancy weapons.

Marian sets off at a jog to the building, a massive stone structure that at first she thinks is red from the moonlight, but soon realizes is that color naturally. She pauses in front of the doors for just a second to take a deep breath, before pushing open the double doors and walking in, trying to be confident with her theory. She's pretty sure she's right, but there's also a small chance she's about to get killed by a dragon. But no one wins the Games without taking a few risks.

"Who dares enter my temple?!"

Marian does her best not to freeze up or run out of there at the booming voice, but she definitely could use some new underwear right now. The source of the voice comes slowly stalking towards her, a shining red dragon with white belly scales, and glowing yellow eyes fixed on her. She forces herself to stand upright as he gets in her face, opening up his jaw to let her see the building fire that he could unleash on her. She can do this. If Kaz can get a weapon, why can't she? She's way more skilled than he will ever be. She will show them she can do this.

"Your next victor," Marian tells the dragon with as much confidence as she can muster when she just peed her pants a little bit. Oh, Jazmyn will laugh so hard when Marian tells her about this once she's back home. If she can survive this dragon.

It takes a few seconds for the dragon to shut his mouth and a deep laugh comes from him. "That is a bold claim to make, hmm?" he asks as he starts to slither around her, studying her as she can only stand there. "Tell me, Marian Lilley, why do you…deserve to be my champion?" The dragon steps back into the room, letting Marian take in his full size as he goes to stand behind the bone morningstar that is just sitting there, waiting for her to take it. "Not many would dare to face Kargorrien, the harbinger of wrath."

"Yet here I am, facing you," Marian tells the dragon as she puts her hands in her pockets to hide how they're shaking. She takes a few slow steps into the room, letting the dragon track every movement of hers. "I made a promise if I was allowed to live against one of your…sisters?"

"Bah, don't patronize me over that pathetic Naymia," Kargorrien spits out a bit of flame in his anger, freezing Marian back in place. He shakes his head as he fixes his look on Marian, "We both know who you made that promise to and she does not like when people don't follow through on their word."

Marian takes a deep breath, feeling like she's on the edge right now and could go either way: towards victory or death. She can't make the wrong move here or she won't be getting out alive. "Then let me have that morningstar and I'll show you exactly what I can do with it."

Iroha Kinoshita, 18, District Six

In just one night, Iroha got three steps closer to when it is time to leave Jenny. Thanks to whoever was hunting in the night, she's already nearly at the halfway point. From the look in Jenny's eyes ever since the cannons woke her up, she can tell her ally has been thinking the same.

Yet she can't bring herself to leave yet, not when potentially five careers are still alive. It's hard to imagine going off on her own just yet with that uncertainty. She knows she can survive on her own – it's how she got through life with Kayden – but in the arena, it's helpful to have someone else with her. If they run into someone, well, she just has to not be the slowest. She has survived hell before this, she'll survive this hell.

So she'll leave once the evening rolls around and she knows who died. Then she can just move on towards getting home to her children. No matter how nice Jenny seems to be, Iroha must keep reminding herself that she's going to die for her to get home to her children. Her babies need her. Who needs Jenny? A dead husband. She doesn't have family like Iroha. She hasn't fought her way through abuse to be here.

All in due time. With the faintest hints of daylight in the sky, it's time for them to start moving. And Jenny is impatient to get to the temple they were guided to. Iroha personally doesn't think it's a smart idea, but hey, if Jenny wants to get herself killed by a dragon while Iroha already has a weapon, so be it. Save her from her eventual betrayal.

Iroha fights back a yawn as she follows behind Jenny, watching as she slows her pace to be next to her. Iroha doesn't react to the move, but she recognizes the actions of a woman who knows not to let her back be turned to anyone. She's done the same thing to Jenny, trained to always watch for Kayden at her back. Who hurt this woman? No, it doesn't matter if she was hurt like Iroha. She doesn't have kids depending on her returning home to Six.

"Finally, the golden doors that dragon mentioned," Jenny lets out a relieved sigh as she points ahead, picking up her pace. "I don't know why I couldn't have gone in one of the other buildings we passed."

"Because a dragon didn't tell you to go in that one?" Iroha offers with a shrug. Seems like a good enough reason for her. Clearly the Gamemakers have control of the dragons and it would be foolish to go against them. But foolishness from others will help Iroha. Maybe she should have let her go in a different one.

Too late now.

She picks up her pace to keep up with Jenny as she briskly walks to the building. She puts her hand on the dagger tucked in her jacket and finds herself hesitating as they get closer. Despite their success at the first one, who's to say it will work out a second time? Can they trust what the Gamemakers told them? Probably not, yet Jenny is foolishly heading into the building.

Iroha thought the dragon she got her weapon from was pretty, but damn, the golden dragon staring down Jenny is gorgeous in a terrifying way. Jenny calmly steps towards the golden dragon as Iroha hovers near the door, keeping it open and ready to make a quick escape, with or without Jenny.

"I wondered when you would arrive, hmm," the dragon – Udhyl? Was that what the other one said? – says as she watches Jenny, resting her head on the floor next to the pedestal.

"You knew I – we – would come here?" Jenny asks and Iroha doesn't miss the slip of her thinking singular. Fine by her if Jenny is ready to go on her own, just as long as it's not with Iroha having a knife in her back.

"Hmm, yes…" Udhyl says slowly, still not moving from where she lounges on the floor. "We…hmm…talk with each other… Well, hmm, not all of us…"

"Right, so you know what I'm here for," Jenny tells the dragon, stopping halfway into the room and staring at the dart gun on the pedestal. "May I have the weapon?"

This question stirs Udhyl and the dragon slowly rises, shaking out her body from head to tail before staring down at Jenny. "Yes, hmm, Nemrinth gave you the idea that I would…hmm…give my blessing to you…" Udhyl says, her slow voice starting to get on Iroha's nerves. If the dragon is going to kill Jenny already, can't she hurry it up? "Yes hmm…after all, I am Udhyl…Dragon of Charity…"

Udhyl begins swishing her tail back and forth as she tilts her head side to side, studying Jenny and seemingly considering what she will do. Jenny, to her credit, stays still in the middle of the room, with nowhere to run or hide if the dragon decides to attack. Finally, Udhyl stops moving and lowers back to the ground. "Hmm…I think I will let you…" Before the dragon even finishes telling her that, Jenny springs into action, grabbing the weapon and quickly backing away from the mutt. Udhyl turns her head to where Iroha has been standing in the doorway, making her brace to start running. "Come inside, hmm…and take some food."

Udhyl turns and looks over at the wall where a small box sits, before turning back to Iroha expectantly. She stands there, contemplating her next move. She could get out of there without giving the dragon a chance to attack her. But she might end up turning down free food… What did the dragon say it was for? Charity? Well…seems in character to offer them food…

Iroha gets her answer by the rumble in her stomach and she quickly darts across the room, past Jenny jogging to get out of there and giving her a bewildered look. Iroha keeps her body turned so she can see the dragon as she opens the crate and sure enough, inside are bags of dried food and some cans. "Take…hmm…only what you need…" Udhyl whispers and starts to shut her eyes. Iroha starts loading up her bag and considers taking all of the food, but she stops at only a few items for both of them. Somehow, despite the dragon having her eyes shut, she suspects the dragon would know if Iroha was greedy.

"Thank you, Udhyl," Iroha calls to the dragon as she starts walking backwards to the door, clutching the bag to her chest protectively. The dragon peeks her eyes open to watch her, but once in the doorway, her eyes shut once more and Iroha turns around to race out the door.

Jenny slams the door shut behind her and they run down the stairs before stopping to look at each other. "Well that worked out well," Jenny says before she examines the dart gun in her hand and pops open the case, pulling out a large syringe. "There's seven."

"Seems to be a theme, the number seven," Iroha says and Jenny looks up at her with an eyebrow raised for a moment before locking the syringe back into place. She tosses a bag of nuts at Jenny, which she barely catches. "Have some breakfast, curtesy of a dragon."

Boom!

Iroha and Jenny both freeze at the cannon, and Iroha knows her face must be matching Jenny's surprise. "Someone is busy tonight," Iroha tells her, trying to keep her tone light as she knows she's one more step closer to the time of betraying Jenny.

"Or a group of people," Jenny points out and they both know which group she's referring to. "It's only dawn of the third day…yet we're already halfway there."

What's this? One last update in 2020 of Legacy? I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Anyways, got some eulogies:

15th - Margaery Fox [5], killed by Asha/Slash [9]: This was one of those deaths I had planned for a long time. I always knew Margaery was going to go for one of the weapons and Asha was going to take it for herself. Unfortunately Margaery got pushed to the side a bit by not being allies with a featured tribute, but she has certainly had an impact, as we're going to see with Asha/Slash. Thank you Shiro for sending her in! Rip Margaery.

14th - Dresden Kahlo [6], killed by Tiv [1]: Like with Margaery, Dresden fell to the side by his choice in ally. He really tried to gtfo there when Asha came in and if he was a featured tribute, his fate probably would have been different. Instead, he got driven into the path of careers on a mission by the Gamemakers. Thanks for sending him in, HELF! Rip Dresden.

13th - Samis McCree [3], killed by Marian [2]: I'm sure this death was expected since he was non-featured and on his own. It was just a matter of time before a featured tribute stumbled across him and got us one step closer to the end. After all, he was a loner non-featured tribute, so there unfortunately wasn't much I could do with him aside from this. Thanks for sending him Professor R.J. Lupin1! Rip Samis.

12th: You thought I would reveal this? Nah, we got a cliffhanger, baby!

So yes, we love a good cliffhanger death. Yes, you're going to see that death next chapter, I just wanted to have some ~dramatic flair~. So it's uh...been a hot minute, huh? Honestly I've just had poor motivation for both of my SYOTs lately and Legacy felt the brunt of it compared to Renegades. But do not fear, I'm going to finish this story. In fact, I need to just wrap this up so I'm going to focus on getting this story done and have Renegades on pause for a bit so I only have one SYOT to focus on.

That being said, things are about to move fast. Three/four deaths this chapter should be a good hint at that. I just know I can't do a lot of filler chapters and I really want to move forward with this, so lots of death it is! Hold onto your butts.

RQ #25: Predictions on who was the fourth cannon?

Hopefully I'll be back with the next chapter sooner than a few months from now. Don't worry, I've started working on it (have one POV done) and it's a death I've had in the works for a long time now so it should definitely come sooner rather than later. Thanks for sticking with this story. I still have fun stuff planned for this, so I'm looking forward to getting to those things!