This is only 4 POVs... I was going to include two more, but considering I spent a full month writing this, I figured it was about time to update. The chapters I had planned were a bit expendable; I'll summarize them at the end of the chapter.
District 6
Axel Woodleigh
The forest is quiet except for the hum of insects as I walk through it, alone. Hadley's dead. He's gone. And all for nothing, as I discovered last night - the satchels were filled with nothing but a bunch of useless items. At first, I was trying to discover a possible use for them. I had figured that the Gamemakers wouldn't put anything useless in the bags. After all, these were specifically chosen for Hadley and I.
But it finally dawned on me that it was a ploy. I realized the Capitol had gotten sick of these Hunger Games, and with the Final 8 lasting for several days, they just wanted more blood. The Gamemakers didn't want to give any of us supplies - they just want to bring us together to get some more deaths. Which they did.
We've now been launched into the Final 6, thanks to the cruelty of the Gamemakers and the deaths of both Tristana and Hadley - the two people I trusted most, and the two people I wanted to live with me. It messed me up a bit to see their faces in the sky last night. I expected Hadley, of course (there was a part of me hoping he had somehow survived, but that wasn't the case) but Tristana was a shock.
When Hadley had died, I had expected maybe she would take me under her wing. From the little bit I had seen, it looked like she was allied with the boy from District 7. I was a bit hesitant to ally with him, but I knew Tristana wouldn't harm me. But then she showed up as well. Not only did I use the boy I thought of as my brother, but the girl I thought of as a sister.
If all goes well, we'll only need two more deaths before the Hunger Games end. I'm hoping all of the gems belong to someone remaining, because then we can have a Victor and three survivors - as far as I know, that's the most living tributes ever in any Hunger Games. There have been a handful of pairs to emerge from the arena (most notably, Furr and Dakota Pollock), and I think there might have been a trio in the 150th Hunger Games (there's a conspiracy theory that the girl from Twelve and boy from Ten, who were supposedly killed in an explosion courtesy of the girl from Three, who later became the Victor, were accidentally brought up by the Capitol, who after realizing they were still alive, didn't want to admit their mistake and sent them home under false identities). There have never been four survivors - not even in conspiracy theories.
If all of the gems are still in play, the least amount of blood will be shed this year than any other. After nearly 250 years of the Hunger Games, four tributes will survive.
But that's just my hope. It's very likely that some gems are out of play - maybe the tribute was killed by a mutt, or their killer didn't know about gems. I do know that I still have my gem - the emerald is clutched tightly in my hand, as I've become too nervous to keep it in my pocket. I know that there's definitely a chance two will survive - maybe more, maybe less. But two is guaranteed, as long as I make it to the final four.
The words from the temple run on a loop in my mind - as soon as I reach the final four, I'm to go to the Cornucopia, where I'll be picked up via hovercraft. I gnaw on my lip nervously as I try to contemplate what would happen if I didn't get picked up. What if it's another trick by the Gamemakers? Like the feast? It's not ridiculous to assume they wouldn't try to trick us.
I can't think like that, though. If I don't think I have a chance, I'll just give up. I have to make it home. Not just for me anymore, but for Hadley and Tristana. To make sure they and their sacrifices aren't forgotten.
Before, I just relied on others. I would depend on Hadley for basically everything - decision-making, protection, food gathering, emotional support… but Hadley's gone now. And I'm by myself. Now, I must be independent. I must rely on myself to make it to the end. Not on others.
I hear a crash, and gasp. Spinning around, I see a huge figure looming behind me, a threatening sword hanging from his hand. It's not raised to attack, but I know he won't hesitate. The boy from District 2 wears a stoic expression as he stares down at me.
"P-please don't kill me," I mutter, my body numb. I'm weaponless, but how could I possibly beat this guy, even if I was armed with my darts?
"Sorry, kid," the guy says apologetically, raising his sword. "It's the Final 6 - I can't really spare anyone. I'll try to make it fast. I don't want to make you suffer."
"W-wait!" I exclaim before he brings down his sword. "I can help you!"
He looks skeptical, but doesn't bring down the sword.
"How?" he asks, raising his eyebrow.
"You're starving, right? I noticed the Cornucopia was empty while at the feast - and the satchels don't have food inside, so you can't be well-supplied. As far as I know, Careers aren't taught survival skills, so you probably aren't great at plant identification. I bet you've been living off sponsor gifts, but so late in the Games, prices must be racking up. I know how to get food - I'm great with plants! I can get you food!"
"Wait, the satchels didn't have food?" he asks.
"No. They had nothing of use. Just… coins and sandbags and stuff."
The District 2 boy grins at this piece of news.
"So… will you spare me? I'll be very useful!"
He looks me up and down for a second, and lowers his sword. "I guess," he sighs, tucking his sword back into his belt. He outstretches his left hand (I notice the right one is bandaged) and I tentatively shake it. I still expect a trick, but he seems genuine. "I'm Glorian Stafford. From District 2. Are you the boy from District 6?"
"Yeah. Axel Woodleigh."
"I don't know if you realized this, but… I think you're the only kid left who isn't eighteen," Glorian chuckles. I knit my eyebrows together in confusion.
"Really?" I ask. I didn't really focus on memorizing ages. The only ones I bothered to learn were my allies (and Tristana, of course). The others didn't seem like they'd be useful to know.
"Yeah. All of us Careers are eighteen, which leaves only the girl from District 3. And I remember her being eighteen."
"Huh," I say. "That's interesting." I honestly have no clue how to respond to Glorian's random observation. Luckily, he doesn't seem to notice my obvious discomfort.
"So… Do you know where we can get some food? I'm starving."
"Um… I think there's a berry bush in that direction. I found it last night, and I know for a fact that they're edible."
"Awesome. I know how to make a fire and I can hunt, so maybe we can catch a squirrel or two? We can build a shelter later for the night."
"Er… I'm not too great at building shelters," I admit.
"Neither am I," Glorian says, and to my surprise, laughs. "Maybe we should just find a cave." He actually seems fairly good-natured and nice. Maybe he isn't as stoic as I presumed? But yet, I can't grow as close to him as I did Hadley. I need to survive, otherwise Hadley's sacrifice will have been for nothing. I can't worry about anyone but myself.
District 1
Trajan Seth
The jungle is silent as I furiously attempt to strike a match. The match tip doesn't spark, as it's supposed to. I suppose it's my fault - I had stuck the box in my pocket overnight, and the rainstorm came quickly, soaking me to the bone. The water bled through the fabric of my clothes and soaked the box. They're not waterproof, so now they're not lighting.
I was sponsored the box of matches last night, after I realized with disgust that the satchel I had worked so hard to get was only filled with useless crap. I guess someone took pity on me and despite the prices being racked up, they bought me a small box of matches. And of course, I only got to use one before the rest were ruined.
Crouching over the dismal teepee of damp sticks, I strike the match hard against the rough side of the box. The pressure doesn't earn a spark, and instead, the match snaps in two. Groaning, I throw it to the ground and bury my head in my hands. Why can't these Games just be over with? It's day fourteen, and yet, six of us remain. Last year, the Games were done by the Final 12. They didn't even make it two weeks. Why are we still stuck in this arena?
To be quite honest, I don't really care whether I live or die. I just want this to be over. I'm by no means suicidal - I'll do what it takes to win - but I'd rather die than suffer in this miserable arena any longer.
The jungle is dark today, since the clouds in the sky blot out any sun. The gray clouds looming over my head, threatening a storm. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a thunderstorm tonight. I'm sure the Capitolians are getting as restless as I am, eager for a Victor about now. The Gamemakers will likely follow the pattern of the last few days by making us miserable, constantly trying to inspire deaths.
I hope it's not another acid rain storm. I shiver at the memory of the burning water shooting from the sky, poisoning my skin and driving me insane with pain. I wouldn't be happy with a second acid rainfall, especially since I don't have a decent shelter at the moment. I was trying to find a cave, but the caves are nowhere nearby. Instead, all I could fashion was a clumsily-made shelter of sticks. And they're gone now, since last night's rain washed it away.
As I stare at my disappointing campsite in disgust, I nearly don't hear the growl at my shoulder. But I do, and it causes me to freeze up. A second growl comes from behind me, and I nervously bite my lip, almost gnawing it bloody. Across from me, a third wolf comes stalking out of the bushes, growling while staring at me in anger.
I let out a yelp as I jump to my feet, swinging my sword, but that doesn't stop the wolf from leaping at me, taking a decent-sized chunk from my calf. I bellow in pain as I stumble forward, the jaws ripping flesh from my leg. I chop at the wolf with my weapon, but it barely does any damage. The wolf slinks back despite this, and I have a moment of reprieve before the two others jump in.
My calf is gushing blood, which seems to drive the wolves wild as they charge at me, snapping at my feet and knocking into me as they drive me away from the pathetic camp. I claw at the floor of vines, kicking at the approaching wolves with my free leg, but nothing I do seems to push them away.
My leg buckles and I collapse to the ground, whimpering in pain as the wolves catch up. I can feel one of them biting at my previous leg wound, and another charges at my face and begins ripping at my ear. I reach up and attempt to kill the wolf, furiously stabbing the beast atop me. However, my sword barely makes a cut in its skin and it continues gnawing at my ear until it fully yanks off the piece of cartilage and I feel a warm gush of blood pour down the side of my face. It takes a moment for the pain to set in, but when it does, it's immediate and blinding.
The wolf has my ear clutched in his jaws and he backs up far enough to begin chewing on it. No longer on top of me, I finally have a decent angle to attack. I lift my sword and leap at him, swinging the blade down into its neck. He whimpers in pain and my ears drops from his mouth blood begins gushing from his neck. I bring my sword back down again, and this time, I hear a snap as the metal breaks through bone and he is beheaded.
Renewed with more confidence now that I have managed to kill one, I stumble back to my feet, shaking the wolf off my calf. The third wolf decides this is a good time to step in and attack, and leaps at me, biting down on my left forearm. I cry out in pain at the teeth tear in, drawing sprays of blood. The second wolf returns to eating my injured calf, but I focus the wolf hanging from my arm. I begin chopping at him with my sword until he's hurt enough to release, dropping to the ground.
His coat is matted with blood, and he seems less hesitant to attack me. He begins backing up with his tail behind his legs, and deciding that he's not a threat, I return to the animal on my leg. I bring my sword down into her skull before she can even react, and her head splits completely open. She crumples to the ground, clearly dead.
With two wolves dead and the other hiding against a rock, posing no threat to me, I lower my weapon and stumble over to a nearby tree. The trunk forms a small alcove which I drag myself into, finally allowing myself to take in the pain. I rest my sword at my side, hoping I won't need it for a while, and begin inspecting my wounds - specifically, my mangled leg.
With all the wolves biting at it, I'm surprised it's not gone. Chunks of flesh are missing, but the muscle is mostly intact. The unfortunate issue with this wound is that it's fairly large, and without bandages or clean water, it's very susceptible to an infection. My arm has several deep puncture wounds that are oozing blood and are quite painful, but since it's my non-dominant arm, I'm less concerned with this. Finally, my ear - or I suppose, lack thereof. When I raise my hand gently to the side of my skull, it's sticky and wet. Once again, infection could be a major concern.
Groaning, I drop my head back against the tree, where it bangs painfully against the bark. For some reason, this slight pain is what sets me into a rage.
"Nice going!" I shout at the sky, forcing a laugh. "Setting wolves after me? Hilarious! Clever! Brilliant! I'm sure that brought quite a few chuckles! Irony… how wonderful! Are you trying to break me down? Mentally? Physically? Why? You strive for entertainment and death, and I bring that, don't I? Why are you trying to kill me? I've killed, like you wanted. I've fought, just like you wanted. But yet, you have no qualms about sending wolves to kill me! Just for the sake of irony!
"You know, this isn't funny! It's my fucking life, and you shouldn't try to end it just for a little humor. It's not fucking funny! It's not fair!"
At this point, I pull myself to my feet, despite the protests from my leg. Tears are streaming down my face as I seethe at the injustice.
"Why are you trying to kill me? I don't understand! I know I'm a terrible person, but that's what you want, isn't it? You love your villains, and that's what I am. So why don't you want me to live?"
I chuck a rock at the sky and it plummets a few yards away.
"This whole thing is stupid!" I shout, punching a tree. Immediately, I wince as pain spreads through my fist. I drop to the ground, massaging my knuckles. I can feel hot tears on my cheeks, which panics me. I'm a wolf - I shouldn't cry!
"You know what?" I shout in a choked voice. "I'm no wolf. I'm the hunter! I kill the wolves and I kill the sheep and I am in control. All of you are the sheep!"
I rest my forehead between my legs, trying to stifle my sobs. I almost don't hear the reassuring chime of the sponsor package floating down above my head. I look up in shock. How could I get a sponsor after my outburst? Not that I'm complaining… I reach up and snatch the package out of the sky, not even hesitating to tear it open.
Inside, is a shockingly decent array of items - it's so late in the Games, I didn't expect so many items. I've been granted with medicine, bandages, and even a small bottle of water. Breathing a sigh of relief, I drizzle some of the water over my leg, take a gulp, then wash the rest of my wounds. Next, I apply a bit of cream to each wound. I'm not exactly sure what it does, but it's clearly some kind of wound-healing thing. Finally, I wrap up each of my injuries, even my ear.
I take a painkiller quickly, and the pain immediately dulls. I breathe a sigh of relief, leaning back against the tree. I look through the rest of the items, trying to determine the purpose of things I haven't used yet. At the bottom, is a bloody chunk of meat. I turn up my nose in disgust as I lift it, baffled. What is this? Am I supposed to eat it?
I hear a whimper and my eyes widen with understanding as the injured wolf begins limping over. Nervously, I offer a handful of the meat to the wolf, who immediately laps it up from my hand. It approaches me with much more warmness in its gaze than was present before, and curls up with its head on my thigh. I watch in surprise.
I surprise even myself when I use the rest of my supplies to dress the wolf's wound. I suppose I'm not as unfortunate as I previous thought.
Like it or not, the hunter is back in the game.
District 2
Glorian Stafford
As we walk through the forest, I can still tell Axel is a bit wary of me. He makes sure to walk behind me, and his brown doe eyes are constantly shifting around nervously. It's understandable that he's so afraid of a Career, but I hope he warms up to me. I'm hoping that since we both have a chance of making it out of here alive, he'll eventually warm up to me.
He doesn't have a weapon - that much is evident, so I don't need to worry about him stabbing me in the back. Even if he did have a knife concealed in his sleeve, it would be unwise to fight me, even with the element of surprise. Chances are, he wouldn't' be able to muster up enough power to kill me before I turned and crushed him.
"Are these edible?" I ask, squatting down by a berry bush. Axel hesitantly kneels down next to me and inspects the leaves. They have arrow-head leaves and slight thorn at the base. Axel takes a moment to decide, and even takes a small nibble out of one of the berries. His face immediately scrunches up and he shakes his head furiously, throwing the berry to the ground. "Are you okay?" I ask in alarm, remembering that he had taken a bite of one of the berries.
"Yeah, I'm good," he says. "They're only toxic in large amounts, a small bit of juice won't hurt me. But don't eat them."
"Okay, good to know," I say, standing back up. I reach out a hand to help Axel to his feet, but he either ignores me or doesn't notice, because he gets up on his own. Ignoring this, I tuck my sword back into my belt. "Where should we go now?"
"I don't know," he shrugs. "I'm not great at tracking. I guess we should just continue that way," he suggests, pointing in the direction we were previously moving in.
We continue along, but before we can find another plant worth inspecting, I chop away a wall of vines and reveal a large canyon.
"Whoa," I murmur, staring across the canyon in awe. Immediately, I walk over to the edge to take in my surroundings. There's a broken rope bridge swaying somewhere to my left, but other than that, I see no conceivable means of crossing. "Have you seen this before?" I ask Axel as he joins me by the edge.
"Yeah. I was on the other side for a while." He squats down at the very edge of the cliff, staring down into the canyon. "How far down do you think it goes?"
"I don't know," I say, looking down over the cliff. The interior of the canyon is quite plain, with just lush plants lining the interior. The walls are quite steep, but don't slope directly downward. Nevertheless, I wouldn't want to risk a journey down.
"Do you think someone would survive a fall from this height?" Axel asks. I glance at him, and he's chewing his thumbnail as he looks out across the canyon. He must have a fear of heights.
"Probably not. It kind of depends -" I stop talking when I feel a small pair of hands push into my lower back with a surprising amount of force. I gasp as I teeter over the edge, barely able to comprehend that Axel, the twelve-year-old from District 6 has just tried to push me off a cliff. It strikes me with an anger I didn't know I'd have for this kid. Despite his efforts, I regain my balance before toppling off the edge. I spin around, drawing my sword and ready to give this kid a piece of my mind.
Axel stares at me in fear as he realizes his plan didn't work and I raise my sword - this time, he acts instinctively. He kicks my shin, shockingly hard, and enough to get me to keel over. Before I can respond, he grabs my shoulders and pushes me backwards. I grapple for him, trying to latch on to some part of his body. I don't know whether I want to take him down with me or somehow believe he'll keep me upright rather than me pulling him in, but I don't manage to grab on before I begin falling backwards.
I hit the first rock hard and all of the air is knocked out of me as my arm slams into the rock. It takes a moment for the pain to shoot in, but by the time it does, I'm hitting a second rock and bouncing through the air as I topple further down the cliff. It only takes a moment for my bones begin to crack, and then I'm getting tossed from side to side as I fly down the canyon side, hitting every rock and tree branch protruding from the side.
I get a quick glimpse of the lush canyon floor, still some ways away from me. There's a moment when I feel like time slows and I'm suddenly floating down, limbs flailing about as I head toward another rock headfirst. I suppose this is it, now. When I finally get to see Gonzalo again.
I just have the chance to breathe out, "Gonzalo," before my head slams against the rock and everything goes dark.
District 6
Axel Woodleigh
As Glorian tumbles down the hill, I back up from the edge, my hands twisted into a knot. My heart is pounding - did I seriously just kill him? My lower lip trembles as I rush back into the dense jungle, wanting to escape from the scene. I needed to kill him, didn't I? If I want to make it home? As soon as his cannon fires, I'll be in the Final Five and even closer to surviving, honoring Hadley and Tristana.
My hand grips the sleeves of my jacket as I stumble through the rainforest. One of my feet snags on a root and I go crashing to the ground. It's not painful, since the dirt is very soft, but I remain on the ground for a while. I killed someone… I reach my hands up and clap them over my ears, squeezing the sides of my head painfully tight to block out any sound. I don't want to hear the cannon fire. Not the cannon I caused.
I don't know how long I lie on the ground, but surely it's long enough for Glorian's cannon to finally fire. However, I don't remove my hands from my ears until I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. I gasp and jump up, knocking the hand away. I scamper background, looking for the person behind me.
The girl from District 3 watches me sympathetically, brushing a lock of black hair from her eyes.
"Sorry for scaring you," she says.
I gulp. I didn't want to kill Glorian - he seemed nice. So does she. But if I want to make it home, I have to. Only two more people need to die before I can escape the arena.
"Do you want to ally?" I ask. "I can help you."
As promised, the two other POVs I had planned:
One was going to be fairly short and just Vincent looking for Lennox.
The other was probably a bit more important, but it was going to be very long without much consequence to later chapters. Lennox was going to be captured by the tribe and almost killed, but would have received a sponsor gift at the last second. The gift would have been a bomb, and she'd use it to blow up the tribe.
- Lilah