Thank you so much to calebbeers21 for Cedric and Mystical Pine Forest for Cecily! I hope you like the way your tributes are written :)
Cedric Wolf, 18
District 2 Male
The trainers at the academy have just chosen my girlfriend, Angelica Winter, as the female tribute for District 2. I can't help but be proud of her – After all, she's only 17 and usually the girls that are chosen are 18! As soon as she receives her recognition, she rushes off the stage and runs into my arms. "Cedric! I did it!" I lock her into a tight embrace and whisper into her ear.
"I knew you could do it. After all, remember when we first met? I couldn't beat you in a swordfight. Now we're going to both be heading off into the same arena." We both laugh, happy to have this moment together. The aura is ruined by a rude eh-hem right next to us. Angelica and I turn to see the face of an 18-year old girl, Amanda Christiana, sneering down at us.
"Do you really think you're the best in our District, Angie?"
Angelica angrily frowns at Amanda and then sweetly smiles at her. "Yes, I do. I mean, the academy selected me, not you." This is one of the reasons why I like Angelica so much. She isn't afraid to stand up for herself. Amanda smirks at her and runs her finger up the crevice of her cheek.
"I don't think so. How about we settle this petty disagreement with a duel?" Angelica pushes Amanda's hand away from her face in disgust and nods at her.
"Sounds like a deal."
Before I could warn Angelica otherwise, they both head off towards one of the training rooms. I follow, wanting to give my girlfriend support. Angelica mutters something to me quietly under her breath. "Its fine, I've beaten her multiple times during practice. This is going to be nothing." Before I could interject, they had both gone to prepare for the fight. I have a bad feeling about this – Amanda is known for her cheating.
They emerge five minutes later, swords in hand. A trainer stands between them. He blows his whistle, and then quickly runs to the side as Amanda runs toward Angelica. She looks at me, smiles, and ducks down quickly as Amanda swings the sword at her head. No need to worry, though, the blades they have in the academy are all dull and are not capable of killing anyone. As Angelica continues to dodge each of Amanda's reckless attacks I study their weapons. Angelica's sword, although it looks shiny and sharp, has the District 2 insignia printed on it in red, which means the weapon is useless and is not capable of harm. Amanda's sword, however… Is lacking the sign. Which means…
Oh shit. Amanda's trying to kill her. I have to do something and quick! I run over to the Trainer and try to explain the situation to him. "Look…. Sword…. Regulations!" The trainer glances at me, confused, and then looks back when a small cry of pain is heard. I whip around and see Angelica with a small cut on her arm, looking furious.
"Since when were you allowed to fight with sharpened swords here? What happened to the rules we agreed to? We're not fighting to the death!" she screams. Amanda has her sword pointed at Angelica's chest, and I run forward, pinning her to the ground beside Angelica. I hear a strange sound next to me and watch as Angelica wheezes and coughs. What's wrong with her? Was the sword poisoned? How far would someone go just to enter the Games? In my moment of distraction Amanda puts her sword on my neck, breathing heavily.
"How does it feel, Cedric? Your girlfriend is as good as dead now. Shall I do the same for you?" I kick her stomach and grab her blade. Peacekeepers burst into the room and grab Amanda by her hair, and I watch calmly as she is forced into handcuffs.
"You know what Amanda? Next time I see you I'm going to kill you! Slowly and painfully!" Amanda doesn't respond and she's taken away. The Peacekeepers better let me be the one to kill her. She killed Angelica!
I kneel by the body of my love and hold her hand while she coughs out blood. Angelica… What would I do without you? What could I do?
I wake up with a jolt in Angelica's bed. I still can't believe she's dead. She was pretty much the only person who'd ever cared for me…
The mayor, Angelica's father, walks into the room with a stack of clothing in hand. He's been kind enough to lend me his daughter's room the week following her death, especially since he knew I would be leaving for the Capitol after that anyway. He knows as well as I do that I'll be moving into the Victor's Village soon, all alone. After all, my parents were both killed in some "accident" after Dad, a victor, spoke badly about the Capitol. Ever since then I've let people hire me as a bodyguard or an assassin (because people can't take matters into their own hands, I guess), all while still training at the Academy. When I was 14 I met Angelica for the first time at the Academy, and a year after that we got together. Now she's gone. How does it make me feel?
It merely makes me feel angry. How ironic. The mayor leaves the room, the clothing left on the floor. I sigh, stand up, and get dressed into a black hoodie and jeans. Simple. Who cares about clothing anyway? Honestly, I just can't wait to get into the arena and win these Games. I've trained all my life; how hard can it be?
Cecily Ellis, 18
District 2 Female
"What would happen if I don't make it to the stage first though?! Why would you ever wonder that? Of course I'm going to beat everyone else there!" My mother is currently pestering me with her doubts about me volunteering. Just because I wasn't chosen by the Academy doesn't mean I'm not strong! I just couldn't show up for the day of the main test because our neighborhood was blocked off by some Peacekeepers and no one was able to enter or leave the area. Instead that Angelica person was chosen – Oh well.
She's dead now anyway, so I might as well volunteer. I know that I'm strong enough to make it to the stage before everyone else. Arya, my little sister, is staring at me with her eyes wide open. I take this as a signal to start talking again.
"It won't even be hard. If that one dumb rebel hadn't blocked off our neighborhood I would have easily been chosen to be the Victor of the 150th Games. Wait. I guess I haven't quite won yet." I giggle slightly, and laugh louder when I see the proud look on my father's face. "But I'll be back in District 2, in the Victor's Village, in about three weeks. You can definitely count on that!" I smile brightly at Arya and she looks up at me with an awed expression. "When I win, the whole of Panem will be looking up to me, just like you do." Arya rolls her eyes a little and then continues to eat. Oh well.
"I know the way the male tribute from this district, Cedric, works. He just fights with everything and he always stands his ground, no matter what. You've got to be more intelligent than that, right?" Gaius, my younger brother walks down the stairs yawning. "Good morning Gaius!" I call out.
Gaius shakes his head and takes a seat next to Father and sighs. "Why can't you just shut up Cecily? Not everyone wants to hear you talk." I put my fork down on my plate and Gaius sighs again.
"You're just jealous that you're not the one who's going to become a Capitol legend. Everyone's going to love me, but you? You're just going to be the stereotypical grumpy teenager!" Gaius rolls his eyes and stands back up.
He pushes his chair in. "I'm going back to my room." He leaves, slamming the door behind him. Mother stands up and crosses her arms over her chest.
"Again, Cecily? Sometimes your brother is right. No!" she says as she sees me open my mouth. "Just go up and change. Make sure it's somewhat practical."
"Okay, okay, and okay. I'll be back in a little." I walk up the stairs and quietly close the door behind me. Everyone should know that I'm not going to ever stop talking though, not in a long shot.
I hold two dresses in front of me, trying to decide between the two. "Should I go for appearance or for flexibility?" I ask out loud to myself. "I need to make a good impression on the Capitol. Let's go for appearance." I select a sleek, black dress that nicely hugs all of my curves. That should rub off well on them. I put on a pair of black heels and then look at myself in the mirror. This won't do! After combing my brown, long, and wavy hair I feel that this will have to work. I need to get a good spot if I hope to reach the stage first.
The dining room is now empty, except for a sullen looking Gaius. "What are you doing?"
He shrugs. "They told me to wait for you. So I did." I nod and then motion at him to hurry along outside. Blushing slightly he follows me to the front door. Does Gaius find his own sister attractive? How cute.
Luckily for us we live near the Square. The area is nearly empty and so I excuse myself to go and check myself in. It's time for the fun to begin!
Cedric Wolf, 18
District 2 Male
I wonder who's going to volunteer for the females. That's all I can really think about as the strange feline-looking escort Kitanina recites all the rules of the Games. I guess it's nice she's our escort, I've heard from other Victors that she's a fun person. After watching the dull video of carnage for the 18th time, "Kitty" finally walks over to the reaping bowls. I know, and she knows, and everybody knows that reaping a name is unnecessary but it was a law to do so anyway. She plucks a name off the top of the pile and elegantly reads the name out loud. "Kimberly-"
"I volunteer!" I hear two girls call out. One voice sent a chill through my spine. Amanda. I hope she reaches the stage first, just so that I can torture her slowly, painfully… But no. The pretty girl trips Amanda about halfway to the stage, but I guess that would have been better anyway. I can get Amanda later. She runs up to the stage and raises her hand at the crowd.
"What's your name?" Kitty joyfully asks her, and she leans into the mic herself. "Cecily Ellis, from District Two!" The audience claps. Either Cecily is an incredible show-off or she just likes the sound of her own voice. Doesn't that make her a show-off? Kitty struts over to the male bowl, and before she even reads out the name I begin a mad dash to the stage.
"I volunteer as tribute!" Once I reach the stage I grab for the mic.
Kitty pulls it away. "Your name is…"
"Cedric Wolf," I call out, and the crowd once again cheers. Yeah, how did I even have any doubts earlier? Of course I can win these stupid Games! The crowd roars again as Cecily and I shake hands, and then Peacekeepers escort us into the Justice Building.
I already know no one is going to come. I have no family, no friends… No Angelica… Who would come and see me? The door opens, and I close my eyes expecting it just to be the escort who's going to call me to the train. Instead, it's the mayor.
"Hello Cedric," he says awkwardly as he plays with a locket in his hands. "I just… Wanted to give you a token. It's Angelica's. I thought you'd want a memory of her in the arena."
I nod at him. "Thank you." He leaves and I stare at the locket in my hands. I've seen Angelica wear this before. It's silver and has her name carved on it. I slip it into my pocket and wait.
Cecily Ellis, 18
District 2 Female
I sit in the Justice Building casually stroking my silver bangle. What is my family doing, taking so long? Did they give up on me? My heart rises as I see Fey, my best friend walk into the room with a few of my other friends. "Hi Cecily!" she calls out and runs in to hug me. "I know you can do it. Come home in one piece, okay?"
"What do you mean, Fey? Of course I'm going to win this! Why else would I volunteer?" The other girls in the back giggle and mumble something quietly. "I sure hope you're not talking about me. Are you complaining I'm talking too much again? Let's just say this – I don't care. Got it?" The girl nods and holds her head up innocently. Ugh, she's so annoying. At least I won't have to see her for a while.
The Peacekeepers arrive into the room to drag them out, but Fey breaks free from their grasp and walks out herself. I'm glad to have rubbed off on her in some aspect. Next, my family is pushed in as the door slams shut.
"Ceciliy!" Arya cries out and she reaches towards me, hoping for a hug? "I love you. You mean so much to me." I hug my sister back and giggle a little in her ear.
"I'll be back in just a few weeks, okay? So don't cry." Arya scowls at me and pulls away.
"I wasn't going to cry. Why would I ever do that?"
I laugh and so does Arya. My parents look at each other, look at me, then give me a tight hug. "Just remember your training, all right? Just remember your training…" my father repeatedly says in my ear.
"Don't worry, I won't forget. That would be a waste of money for nothing!" Father pulls away and gives me a pat on the back.
"I'm so proud of you, Cecily. I'm sure the Capitol is going to love you," Mother says, looking me in the eyes. "You're so gorgeous. How could they not?"
I smile warmly at her before replying. "Don't forget about my charming personality." I look around the room. "Hi Gaius!" I call to my brother who's lurking by the door. He looks at me and smiles.
"I'll see you later." He says emotionlessly, and I wave at them as the Peacekeepers arrive to push them out.
"Bye! I'll see you in a few weeks!" Then they're gone, and Kitty arrives. Must be time to leave for the train.
I'm sorry for the late update! Technically, I'm still on track on my mental updating schedule (at least once a week!) but it feels terrible to only update once a week... I'll try to write more but testing is approaching and I have, like, 5 essays to write (lol)... Last chapter I got 3 reviews, c'mon guys... You can do better than that! The more you review the more I might favor your tribute during the Games, so make sure you review!
I still need 8 more tributes, so if you haven't submitted yet PLEASE DO SO! The form is on the first chapter and it's also in my profile. I'd prefer not to make my own tributes for my own SYOT, so go ahead and submit! Cheers for you if their a bloodbath XD
I feel kind of bad because Cedric's POV was a lot more interesting with the whole Angelica thing, but I saw it on the form and I needed to write it out! I hope I managed to get it right...
1. Which tribute did you like better?
2. What are some ways I could maybe improve on my story?
Thank you!
~Riona (I tried)