XVII. NO GRAVE TO VISIT

DAY 2

TEMPEST TRINIDAD, DISTRICT 4 FEMALE (18)

Lux had relaxed somewhat around Merlot and Angelo, but yet had not lessened her frustrated stance around the other Careers, including Tempest herself.

"I just want to be trusted, y'know? I don't want to have to think about what's going on behind my back," Lux told Merlot at the Cornucopia while Hestia and Tempest were grabbing supplies. She was obviously directing this toward the other pair in a not-so-subtle way.

Merlot nodded, giving Tempest a painful look behind Lux's back (which Tempest found quite ironic, given Lux had just said she hadn't wanted to stress about "activities" without her knowing).

As Angelo had never supported leaving Lux out, and somehow Lux found this out, she'd relaxed around him too.

Tension was at a high, given there had been two deaths the Careers didn't know the cause of- the kid from 11 and another after the seal of Panem had shown that the Careers didn't know yet. Tempest was uneasy, because it was quite possible the deaths were caused by either outer district tributes who could be threats or the arena itself- in either case, it was only a matter of time before whatever it was caught up with them. Tempest herself was confident in her own abilities, but though she was smart enough not to underestimate anyone, it was hard to trust the abilities of the others in her pack.

And, as the Games were already down to fourteen people and Tempest knew the Careers would resort to backstabbing much sooner than she had expected, it was probably a good thing Lux didn't trust them anymore.

Then again, for the shark-Careers which Lux probably considered Tempest to be, it would only make the ultimate betrayals harder.

Tempest wasn't planning to flee anytime soon, but once the other Careers started getting edgier it made more and more sense to.

If interalliances would start to form, Tempest would notice and make her own behind the backs of figures like Merlot. Nero, while possessing wits like Tempest, could be too unpredictable, and with Angelo, while district loyalty was strongly encouraged and Tempest did find Angelo quite personable and much saner than the rest of the bunch, he just hadn't shown that he was at the level of the rest of the Careers- and Merlot was completely unreliable.

That left Lux and Hestia- but since the former was angry at her, Tempest supposed it would probably be best to ally with Hestia.

The District 2 girl was more brawn than brains, but was reliable, social, and had insecurities Tempest could prey on indiscreetly. Of course, Tempest felt bad doing so, but this was the Games.

She knew what she'd signed up for.

Interalliances, Tempest knew from years of eagerly anticipating her turn in the Games, were what killed and saved Careers. Being a part of the most powerful tributes in the Games was stressful given the eventual break off was approaching with every new day.

A crash sounded, maybe about a mile off, and Tempest startled up. The others had too, proving it hadn't been a figment of Tempest's imagination.

The fog blanketing the jungle was too thick to tell right from left, which was why the Careers had a significant advantage. They looked out for each other, literally. Not figuratively- Tempest was waiting for the attempted knife in the back, which she'd block of course. The silence of the jungle also gave even the slightest noise away within a two mile radius.

One would think with the advantages the Careers had, they'd have caught someone already. The outer district tributes were probably getting arrogant, and the Career districts probably already considered their tributes weak.

They needed to keep interest up, Tempest knew. While she didn't have the charm of Merlot, calculated kills were the way to draw the interest of the sponsors in. Which meant whoever who had just made the crash was in for trouble.

"What was that?" Merlot asked.

"Someone careless," Nero grinned.

"Get your knives, everyone," Hestia smirked. "We're going hunting."

AVVEN HERRO, DISTRICT 6 MALE (16)

The duo was doing too well.

Avven didn't want to come off as ungrateful, but what with both kids from District 6 getting away from the bloodbath unscratched and Avven managing to salvage the exact materials Audi had requested and he'd wanted was practically begging for something bad to come in and ruin their lucky streak.

It sucked, since growing up in a poorer family Avven never had everything, but he'd loved his life nonetheless. Days in the Trenches were his life now, and his family was supportive of everything he pursued. He hoped they weren't too worried about him.

Now that Avven had hit the arena, he had less now, considering he didn't even have his freedom anymore, but him and Audi were still alive. And they had an advantage, especially considering they had so much that Avven had salvaged.

Audi had spent a few hours the previous day not speaking at all, completely focused on building a drone out of the materials Avven had found in the bloodbath. It had definitely been odd, the silence. Especially given there had been no tributes for miles around.

Their makeshift camp was set in a small corner of the jungle that Avven hoped was hidden from the other tributes, and it very well might've because nobody had come upon the pair so far.

Audi had finished her drone and was using it as basically patrol, as the drone had a small camera attached to it. A small tablet screen showed everything the drone flew by, but the District 6 pair only checked it every few minutes. It didn't do well to be paranoid.

"Oh, shit," Audi cursed.

"What?"

She showed him the screen. The drone wasn't moving anymore, and Avven suspected it had crashed.

"I think it got caught in a tree," Audi rolled her eyes.

"So we lost it?"

"No, I think I know where it is. I was bringing it back anyways- it should only be a mile at most away."

Avven was on edge knowing what Audi might suggest, "Someone might try and kill you, though."

Audi grinned. "They wouldn't dare."

"That's a good attitude."

"Yeah, it is!" Audi argued. "I'm getting the drone."

Avven cursed himself- since he'd told Audi not to do anything, she was going after the drone. He admitted, begrudgingly, that he would've done the exact same thing.

District 6 was quite stubborn this year, he thought wryly, but with a sense of satisfaction.

Since the pair had stayed in their location for a few days, Avven supposed it was time to pack up and switch locations. He stooped down, beginning to collect their belongings.

Hearing a cough from behind him, Avven stood up, expecting to see Audi back with her drone.

Instead, he saw the sword-wielding girl from District 2. The other Careers filed in behind her, and Avven couldn't move for a second. Coming to his senses, Avven jolted, about to bolt, but the boy from 2 extended his faucheard, blocking Avven from running. "Where's your district partner?"

"And don't think about running," the boy from 1 grinned. His district partner bit her lip, looking guilty.

"It won't do you any good- and we'll kill your ally too," the girl from Four put in.

Audi came rushing back, her drone under her arm, "Avven, Careers coming," she said, her voice panicked.

Then she saw the pack, and paled even more.

"Sorry, District 6, we're already here," the boy from 1 simpered.

PERIWINKLE CALLOWAY, DISTRICT 12 FEMALE (17)

"Is it getting better?" Tristan asked, a look of concern on his face when Peri's fingers brushed Lyana's wound.

"I certainly hope so!" Peri chirped.

They'd gotten lucky.

Tristan's pack, containing bandages, had been enough to stifle the flow of blood- Peri hoped not only temporarily. They were doing just fine, making it by day by day.

Having run out of Capitol provided food, despite how much Peri and Tristan had tried to ration it, Peri and Tristan had to build snares and had snagged a weak rabbit.

Aspen and Euan had been dead for two days by now, the fact of which was still shocking to Peri. she supposed the reason she hadn't cried for them yet was, well, of the shock.

The bright District 7 pair could never smile again, or boost the group's spirit's.

It was heartbreaking, because Peri had known they were true friends.

And then there was Lyana.

Maybe not such a true friend.

Had Peri deluded herself in thinking that the district 8 girl was one?

Peri couldn't believe that Lyana had betrayed them. She had fully put her trust in the girl from District 8, and even one day in the arena had warped her. Lyana had been so sweet, especially around Aspen. Maybe that was what broke her, Peri thought, not being able to communicate with anyone. But she'd thought that the group had a sense of trust that would at least last a bit longer. Maybe until the end, even.

Peri wasn't necessarily upset with Lyana for trying to kill her, because she hadn't succeeded and now Lyana was dead- karma, basically, though Peri would never wish death on anyone. Lyana hadn't deserved what she'd gotten, if she'd run into the Careers, or even if she'd somehow had a peaceful night.

So that made Peri and Tristan the last of their alliance- and so quick, too. Peri had thought they'd last much longer, what with Aspen's intelligence, Euan's good-naturedness which would attract sponsors, and Lyana's calculating wits, yet sweetness would never influence them again.

Or try to backstab them, for the latter.

That would be a good thing.

In the mind of a psychopathic Career, or maybe even a vicious outer district tribute.

But Peri and Tristan, just being naturally optimistic, gentle people, could not fathom celebrating the death of an enemy, especially given that enemy used to be an ally.

But, of course, as this fact was obvious, nobody was willing to sponsor the kids from 12.

Of course, Peri always had hope. There couldn't be nobody who would sponsor them! They weren't long shots, Peri thought fiercely, because everyone had a chance.

Then again, she considered, following that line of thinking would tell her there was no such thing as an underdog.

But if the sponsors loved one, why weren't they getting any gifts?

It didn't matter, Peri decided.

She had Tristan and Tristan had her. They would make it to the end and prove everyone wrong.

It was the right thing to do.

As long as they didn't have to kill anyone, of course.

Peri couldn't imagine what the mental effects killing someone would have on her mind. They said the arena changed you, and she never wanted to know what that would mean.

A scream resounded through the forest, and Tristan bolted up next to Peri, while his district partner immediately started gathering their things to move.

It was time to start moving.

AUDELIA GLIDDEN, DISTRICT 6 FEMALE (16)

"I think we'll only kill one of you," the redheaded boy from 1 said, fingering the tip of his executioner's sword delicately. Audi wanted to laugh (what she really wanted to do, despite never being a particularly violent person, was take the sword and stab it through the boy's chest).

She should have never run off to get the drone, she should've brought Avven with her. Now they were both being dragged down because she'd run off at night for a stupid reason.

Or, only one of them.

District 6 was probably watching their televisions with bated breath- but they were probably more relaxed at this point, Audi thought. After all, according to the boy, she had a chance of making it.

As did Avven.

The boy from Two gave him an alarmed look, "Why don't we just kill both of them?" Audi herself was intrigued- they had the pair from 6 in their crosshairs, so why weren't both of them dead already?

Unless they planned to draw it out.

A shudder went through Audi, but she refocused herself on the Careers.

"Nero, that's too easy. Plus, the sponsors want more," the redhead said in a low undertone.

Something else, not just the boy from 1's words, seemed to register in Nero's brain, and he nodded.

"The only question," the boy continued, "Is who."

Audi and Avven didn't bother to make eye contact, and Audi's heart sped up. She didn't know who they were going to kill, but she sure as heck hoped it wasn't her. Then again, she hoped it wasn't Avven either. It wasn't cowardly to want your own safety, not even if your ally was a good friend. Audi just wanted to make it out alive, but she also wanted to kill all the Careers right then as an act of defiance.

Which was a really good way to get killed.

"Let's settle it with a race," the boy from Four suggested, "And we go after the slowest one."

Audi's heart nearly stopped. Avven was much, much faster than herself: he had to be, after all he'd made it out of the bloodbath. And his shoulders relaxed beside her too, showing her assumption was correct.

But out of the corner of her eye she noticed the girl from 2 whispering something to her district partner, who nodded and started talking to the others in hushed tones.

"We'll count down," the boy from 2 started, grinning, "So you can gather yourself before the race."

"Three, two… one."

Audi didn't dare to look back, fearing it would only spur the Careers on.

But she did anyway, and saw they were all after Avven as the boy let out a terrible scream that made Audi's heart wrench.

Of course. He was the bigger threat rather than a five foot girl who was practically predicted last. She stopped in her tracks as the boy from 1 caught Avven in the back with his sword and Audi's breath hitched.

She had to run, so Avven wouldn't die for nothing.

But wasn't that cowardly?

Audi had half a mind to yell at them to come after her and leave Avven alone.

But then the cannon sounded, and she ran, tears stinging in her eyes.

Above it all was the audible laughs of the Careers, getting fainter and fainter.

And then it sunk in that Audi had lost her only ally.

Alliances

Don't Wreck My Sanity: Deiondra, Arden

Probably Out Of The Woods Now: Peri, Tristan

Careers: Merlot, Lux, Hestia, Nero, Tempest, Angelo

How To Backstab: Demeter, Reyena

Lone Wolf: Audi

14th Place: Avven Herro, stabbed by Merlot Montague

Avven was a character lots of people liked. He was always on top of the polls, except for the "who should die in the bloodbath" one, which nobody voted for him. Just a sign of how popular he was, and he was just as popular with me. His humor was something I was nervous to portray, but I think being in a duo with Audi really brought the two of them out. Unfortunately, I never saw him as my victor. Unlike with my current victor (and a lot of finalists) there just wasn't a story for him in my mind after his victory, his road he could take when getting back to somewhat a normal life. I know I killed two popular characters in a row, and I'm probably going to get angry reviews, hahaha, but Avven was a genuinely good person that I really enjoyed writing most of all. How he would go out was always unclear to me until the interviews, when this scene truly blossomed. Everyone, I'm truly sorry he died so early (if you thought he had potential, you were right, and that's why the Careers took him out). Thank you so much to Tyquavis for submitting him!

A/N

And there we have Day II! I hoped you all enjoyed it- was Avven's death predictable? Anyways, not much more to say, but a huge thanks again to everyone who is reviewing and giving me encouragement on the server. See y'all next time!