The Twelfth Annual Hunger Games


Introduction

President Arturo Sombray, brother of the late Narciso Sombray, remained in his high up position of power. He also kept his sister-in-law, Lima Xabie-Sombray, as the Head Gamemaker, and Boliviana Rare returned for her 11th year as the one and only host of the Hunger Games. The Brutalian party tried to usurp President Arturo Sombray from his high up seat of power with many different frauds and scandals, but all of their attempts proved futile, as the public was not readily fine with electing another member of the Brutalian party. This was because Arturo had released that the now executed Cornelius Snow, Narciso's killer and a skilled assassin, was and had been working for the Brutalian party, primarily Guyardo Flastura, when he shot Narciso down. This revelation would insure that the Sombray's would remain in power for at least another year. In the aspect of tributes, three tributes scored 9s, a score that had rarely been achieved in past years. Most Games, the highest scores were 8s. There was also only two 4s, and nothing lower than that; most tributes scored 6s and 7s. It should be an exciting year. This abundance of more physical and stronger tributes would hopefully make the Games more interesting. There were two volunteers: the boy from 3, who saved his young cousin, and the girl from 10, who saved her younger sister. Here are the tributes:

District 1: Salandra Valour, 17 (8) 9-1 and Josef Melee, 16 (5) 32-1

District 2: Raleigh Morridos, 18 (9) 5-1 and Cliff Exer, 16 (8) 8-1

District 3: Tamara Gash, 16 (7) 15-1 and Silico Hamper, 15 (6) 24-1

District 4: Dana Cay, 14 (6) 24-1 and Isaac Torrbucket, 17 (7) 14-1

District 5: Olessia Vunzayck, 18 (9) 5-1 and Bolt Kieran, 16 (6) 23-1

District 6: Qua Nerro, 13 (4) 46-1 and Axel Nushys, 17 (9) 6-1

District 7: Poppy Lorenzo, 15 (6) 25-1 and Vincent Xandu, 16 (8) 10-1

District 8: Cyndra Luckey, 16 (4) 44-1 and Sermon Pike, 17 (6) 22-1

District 9: Leila Bosh, 15 (7) 16-1 and Zachary Pepper, 18 (6) 21-1

District 10: Wren Claysen, 14 (6) 22-1 and Lucas Carrivale, 16 (7) 15-1

District 11: Sally Claife, 16 (5) 30-1 and Bono Larkiss, 18 (8) 10-1

District 12: Alcotta Perez, 13 (6) 24-1 and Azarias Dean, 17 (8) 10-1

HGBA Odds: 20% Raleigh, 15% on Olessia and Axel, 10% on Cliff and Salandra, 5% on Bono, Azarias, and Vincent, 2% on Tamara and Isaac, 1% or less on Josef, Silico, Dana, Bolt, Qua, Poppy, Cyndra, Sermon, Leila, Zachary, Wren, Lucas, Sally, and Alcotta.


The Games

The tributes arose in a new type of arena. Plopped down in a place once called Utah, the arena was chock full of giant natural orange stone structures, with thousands of little caves and nooks and crannies for the weaker tributes to hide in. There was little water, and the few plants were scraggly, easy to see through bushes that bore tiny, shriveled fruits and had plenty of brambles and thorns. Several large packs of coyote mutts prowled the arena, mainly to the north, where a large crater took up most of the area. To the south, the scraggly bushes congregated to form a minefield of large brambles and thorns. To the east, large orange rock arches crested through the sky. To the west, the ground gradually declined, and the orange rock and clay was pockmarked with plenty of tiny crannies for hiding. At the very western edge of the arena, the ground suddenly declined sharply, falling into a dark abyss. The fall would be surprisingly short, and at the bottom of the abyss, a small river and a dozen ruthless bear mutts awaited anyone unlucky enough to fall to the bottom.

The Cornucopia sat on a small plateau, overlooking a similarly small canyon. The Cornucopia was full of everything, as usual, and food was there this time, to the relief of the tributes. The arena was purely beautiful, but soon blood would coat the orange rock.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The splendor filled arena awed many of the tributes, and several did not jump off of their platforms right away. The alliance from last year was partially mimicked, with both from 12, Alcotta and Azarias, aligning with another girl, this time Wren of District 10. This alliance was the first to reach the Cornucopia. Azarias, muscled from working in the mines, heaved a mace into his hands, and bashed in the head of an attacker as his allies ran with daggers and packs full of supplies, making the first of 7 bloodbath kills.

Dana Cay, District 4 Female; 24th, Killed by Azarias, Bloodbath

Dana's District partner, Isaac, was infuriated. He and Dana had allied with the strong tributes from 1 and 2 (Salandra, Raleigh, and Cliff) as well as with Josef from 1, out of pure pity. They had formed the first Career-like alliance, at least in the terms of who belonged in it. He tried to throw a spear at Azarias and his two smaller, running allies, but Azarias shoved Josef in front of him, and the spear sunk into Josef's chest. The boy fell still instantly, and Isaac's alliance members spotted the injustice.

Josef Melee, District 1 Male; 23rd, Killed by Isaac, Bloodbath

Isaac quickly ran, tearing the spear from Josef's still body as he sprinted to the north. Salandra gave chase to him, holding a spear of her own. Meanwhile, Raleigh picked up a belt of throwing knives and emptied two into the body of a small girl who'd been shocked into stillness by the beauty of the arena.

Qua Nerro, District 6 Female; 22nd, Killed by Raleigh, Bloodbath

Cliff, standing next to his District partner, hefted a sword. He charged Qua's ally, a thin boy from District 10. Cliff cleaved open the boy's head as he wept over his dead ally's bloodied form.

Lucas Carrivale, District 10 Male; 21st, Killed by Cliff, Bloodbath

Raleigh had found another victim, a smaller girl who had been cowering behind her pedestal, waiting for her two allies, Qua and Lucas, who now lay dead in pools of drying ruby red blood. Raleigh slashed open the girl's throat with a serrated dagger, grinning.

Cyndra Luckey, District 8 Female; 20th, Killed by Raleigh, Bloodbath

Meanwhile, Salandra had pushed Isaac back onto the Cornucopia plateau. Salandra heaved her spear, and it sliced through the air. Isaac tripped, and it ended up smacking into the abdomen of Bono. Bono's ally, Axel, looked down at his helpless friend, smiling sadly, before slashing open the boy's throat to end his suffering. Then Axel ran, avoiding a throwing knife from Raleigh.

Bono Larkiss, District 11 Male; 19th, Killed by Salandra and Axel, Bloodbath

Salandra leaped on top of Isaac and choked him with her bare hands, cursing his name, saying he was a cold hearted murder for killing Josef, who had a mental disorder. Salandra had taken the poor boy under her wing and was going to give him the best time in the arena that she could. She was not a mindless killer like the future District 1 females, mainly Careers, would be. She just happened to be a fit girl from 1, who was normal and had feelings that hadn't been warped by a lifetime at the Academy.

Isaac Torrbucket, District 4 Male; 18th, Killed by Salandra, Bloodbath

Day 2, a boy stumbled into the northern reaches of the arena. Coyote mutts, rabid and hungry, plagued him for two hours until they finally managed to tear away his daggers and pounce on his throat.

Bolt Kieran, District 5 Male; 17th, Killed by coyote mutts, Day 2

Day 3 was deathless. Day 4, two tributes were killed in the space of two minutes as the alliance of Sally, Sermon, and Zachary was discovered by Raleigh, Cliff, and Salandra. Raleigh pounced on top of Sally and slashed open her throat with a knife.

Sally Claife, District 11 Female; 16th, Killed by Raleigh, Day 4

Cliff smashed his sword into the back of Sermon, and a second cut to the chest silenced the boy's cries for mercy. Zachary managed to make it away with a wounded shoulder, courtesy of Salandra's spear.

Sermon Pike, District 8 Male; 15th, Killed by Cliff, Day 4

Days 5 and 6 were deathless. Day 7, a tribute died of dehydration, unable to find water as she wandered aimlessly in the western quadrant of the arena.

Poppy Lorenzo, District 7 Female; 14th, Dehydration, Day 7

Day 8 was deathless. Day 9, Raleigh's crew gave chase to Azarias, Wren, and Alcotta. Azarias lead them into a canyon, and he quickly began scaling the walls of it. It had been his plan, and he, Wren, and Alcotta had formulated it. But they had forgotten Raleigh's aptitude with throwing knives, so, as Alcotta and Azarias scrambled up the canyon wall, Wren lay at the bottom of the canyon, blood pumping out of two knives wounds in her back. She swiftly died as Alcotta and Azarias neared the top of the canyon.

Wren Claysen, District 10 Female; 13th, Killed by Raleigh, Day 9

Salandra, armed with her spear and a bow and arrows, fired an arrow at Alcotta. It hit her hand, and she tumbled, screaming for help, to the bottom. Salandra squeezed her eyes shut as she shoved her spear into a struggling Alcotta's chest, killing her.

Alcotta Perez, District 12 Female; 12th, Killed by Salandra, Day 9

Azarias, infuriated by the deaths of the two small girls he'd fought hard to protect, enacted their plan. He released a net holding several large boulders, and they tumbled into the canyon, pulverizing the bodies of Wren and Alcotta and smashing into Raleigh. Cliff and Salandra scrambled away, leaving Raleigh, both of her legs crushed beyond recognition, wheezing at the bottom of the canyon. Azarias slid down to the bottom and, wielding his mace, smashed her skull in.

Raleigh Morridos, District 2 Female; 11th, Killed by Azarias, Day 9

Day 10, Olessia, the girl from 5 who'd somehow scored a 9, showed off her immense skills when Vincent of 7 was ensnared in a basically invisible trap she'd set. She watched from the shadows as her trap did the killing for her, punching an awl through Vincent's throat.

Vincent Xandu, District 7 Male; 10th, Killed by Olessia, Day 10

Day 11 was deathless. Day 12, a previously injured boy died from infection in his wounded shoulder.

Zachary Pepper, District 9 Male; 9th, Killed by Salandra and infection, Day 12

That left the Top 8, many of who had been laying low in the little nooks and crannies of the arena. Salandra Valour from District 1, Cliff Exer from District 2, Tamara Gash from District 3, Silico Hamper from District 3, Olessia Vunzayck from District 5, Axel Nushys from District 6, Leila Bosh from District 9, and Azarias Dean from District 12.

Day 13, Salandra and Cliff stumbled upon the small burrow-like hideout of the tributes from District 3. Cliff cut off the boy's head with a neat hack of his blade after her wormed his way into the crevice.

Silico Hamper, District 3 Male; 8th, Killed by Cliff, Day 13

Salandra, due to her smaller frame, was able to pursue Tamara deeper into the crevice, although she could not bring her spear and had to resort to a serrated dagger Raleigh had used in the bloodbath. She cornered weaponless Tamara and shoved the dagger in the weeping girl's chest as she too cried, not liking all of this killing she was doing.

Tamara Gash, District 3 Female; 7th, Killed by Salandra, Day 13

Days 14 and 15 were deathless. Day 16, Leila and Axel, the two remaining tributes without kills, stumbled upon each other. Leila quickly surprised the boy, slashing open his stomach with her dagger. He retaliated as he swiftly died, lodging his sword in her right thigh before he bled out.

Axel Nushys, District 6 Male; 6th, Killed by Leila, Day 16

Later that day, Leila, disoriented by the pain and blood loss from her thigh, wandered into one of Olessia's traps, being killed almost immediately.

Leila Bosh, District 9 Female; 5th, Killed by Olessia, Day 16

Day 17, the final 4 were pushed together into the south of the arena, into the brambles and thorns. As Salandra and Cliff stumbled forward, Salandra spotted Olessia ducking away, a green vial in her hands. Salandra had seen Leila killed by the girl's trap, and was wary of her. She spotted the poison on the bush in front of Cliff just before his leg dragged across it. The fast acting poison quickly set into his bloodied leg, and the large boy fell face first, dead, in ten seconds.

Cliff Exer, District 2 Male; 4th, Killed by Olessia, Day 17

Salandra notched and arrow into her bow and shot an arrow into Olessia's shoulder. The girl tripped, falling face first into her vial, which exploded. Olessia was quickly killed by her own poison.

Olessia Vunzayck, District 5 Female; 3rd, Killed by Salandra and herself, Day 17

Azarias and Salandra met a dozen feet past the bodies of Cliff and Olessia. Salandra quickly shot two arrows at Azarias, which hit his feet. He had no idea what was happening until he fell onto the corpse of Olessia, and the poison entered his mouth. His eyes were open wide as he quickly died.

Azarias Dean, District 12 Male; 2nd, Killed by Salandra, Day 17

"Salandra Valour of District 1, you are the Victor of the 12th Hunger Games!" Boliviana announced cheerily. Salandra just buried her face in her hands and began to weep.


Aftermath

Salandra was a beloved Victor by her own District, who were happy to have a second Victor, but she really wasn't remembered much outside of her home District or Hunger Games fanatic circles. Even though she wasn't a Career, she pioneered the Career alliance model: Districts 1, 2, and 4. She championed and was headmaster for a short time of District 1's Academy. Her District adored her for her grace and humility, but many Districts took her hate for killing as weakness, not as caring like Mags. After all, Mags did not cry when she made her kills (Exception: Sail.) Salandra was quickly forgotten, and forgotten even more as District 1 produced many Career Victors who were better suited to be Mentors. She faded from the public eye and lived life as a recluse.

Salandra would live to the average age (in the Districts, at least) of 69. She would die seven months after the 64th Hunger Games. She would not marry and would adopt a daughter.

The payouts for her Victory were okay, as 10% bet on her.

Her Victory Tour was average, although District 12 was more than a little pissed with coming in 2nd for the, well, 2nd time in a row.

Fun Fact: There are two weird similarities between the 11th and 12th Games: the first is District 12 coming in 2nd both times. The other is that, in the 11th Games, the District 1 Female came in 24th (last) and the District 4 Female came in 1st (Victory). In the 12th Games, the roles were reversed, with the District 4 Female dying 24th and the District 1 Female becoming Victor.


Victor's News

Salandra moves into the Victor's Village of District 1, across the road from Guild's house.

Guild marries his fiancee, Timmia Jettsin.

Vissarion marries a girl named Janie Hiller.


List of Victors

1st: Kelan Thather, District 4 (1, 1 Male)

2nd: Dillon Tripp, District 9 (1, 1 Male)

3rd: Tugra Ertra, District 5 (1, 1 Female)

4th: Noor Tuskararus, District 2 (1, 1 Female)

5th: Ishania Patel, District 7 (1, 1 Female)

6th: Guild Tonneroy, District 1 (1, 1 Male)

7th: Chaplin Nastaro, District 3 (1, 1 Male)

8th: Irmentrude Marley, District 5 (2, 2 Female)

9th: Vissarion Chamantel, District 11 (1, 1 Male)

10th: Greason Trails, District 6 (1, 1 Male)

11th: Mags Flanagan, District 4 (2, 1 Female)

12th: Salandra Valour, District 1 (2, 1 Female)