Candella Cartwright, District Seven Female, 15 years old
I'm not running out of food, no, but I need food of more sustenance. I don't think living off of dried fruits and nuts is the best way to go - it certainly won't give me the most energy which is what I need. From what I can tell so far this year is going to be an active one and I don't want my downfall to me that I'm physically exhausted from a less than amazing diet. I'm going against Careers who'll have all the food they want. I need to make it work for me.
Climbing down trees are just as difficult as climbing up them and, a couple of times, I nearly slip and fall straight to the floor. I only hang on with dear life which makes me not have the potential to land on my head or neck. Food collecting is relatively easy - I see a few animals and kill them with a little more ease than I'd like to admit, but they're animals. They tried to run away and they were unable to. There's two reasons why I don't cook the meat straight away. The first is that I don't want to attract the unwanted attention to myself. Too many people have died in previous years because they've lit a fire and just led everyone straight to them - a lot of potential, and maybe deserving, victors have died because of this. The second reason is that, quite simply, I've got nothing to start a fire with and I don't want to be sat there trying to make a fire with two sticks. I'll be a sitting duck if I do that. I decide that I'll cook the meat tomorrow, trying to go to the furthest parts of the arena to avoid being caught.
As I walk back to my tree to retrieve my possessions, I notice a sleeping Laurel. I'm half tempted to kill here right here and right now. I can - she's sleeping. She wouldn't have a chance to react. I don't, purely because it'll wake up all the tributes around me and that'll mean the Careers will be more active, especially when they realise the kill isn't one of theirs.
Instead, I see her traps. She's got quite a few of them but none of them have been successful. It's still early in the night so they don't need to be at this very moment in time but you can tell she really wants to get a large amount of food, given the amount of traps. I pick up some sticks and rocks and throw some at the traps, making sure to dislodge them and sabotage them. Soon she goes from a good seven or eight traps that can catch something to a total of three. She hasn't stirred despite the noises of the traps closing, killing the sticks and stones, and I take it as my chance to leave. I don't know if she's in the same situation as me but, if she is, I know she'll begin to feel the effects soon enough and that'll be her downfall.
I mentally thank myself for sleeping on a fairly low branch tonight - it makes grabbing all of my supplies easier and means I'm not leaving my kills at the bottom of the tree for too long, stopping anyone from running and taking them, not that there's anyone else out tonight. I make the bold decision to move closer to the clearing with the Career's cabin in the centre - if I can hide in the trees and stay close, they won't know where I am and that way I'll be able to avoid them for as long as possible.
When I get to the clearing I look out, noticing that nobody is on watch tonight. That scares me a little, it means they're all talking about their next decisive action. I climb a tree that isn't on the edge of the clearing but it isn't too far in the forest, meaning I can be avoided easily if they don't pay the up most attention to the trees. I hide myself within the foliage and decide that tomorrow I'll leave the tree when it's safe and cook my food, returning at the dead of night.
Calloway Haldor, District Two Male, 18 years old
We all unanimously agree that Stellar's death hasn't effected us in the slightest. In fact, some can argue, we're in an even better position. She wasn't a liability, no, but Shelldon had told us that her mental state was becoming more and more questionable, especially after she killed the boy from Nine. Having a maniac in the alliance wouldn't be good for anyone and, really, whoever killed her just saved us doing the job later down the line.
We're still discussing it as the night continues, trying to discuss what to do next. As much as her death means little to us, we've lost a member of our alliance and that'll send out the message to the other tributes that we're beginning to fragment, that we're not as strong as we were on the first day.
"I don't think many tributes'll pin her death as our downfall," Buckingham says with a shrug, "Besides, it's not as if we were all planning on letting her live?"
She and Calamity exchange looks and my sister nods, "It was either she died today when she did or tomorrow when she went hunting with us two."
The other Careers nod - Buckingham and Calamity have proved that they're calculated Careers so if they were willing to take the risk of killing Stellar then, clearly, we have nothing to fear. Not that we were anyway but it reinforces the point.
"Should I go on watch?" Diamond asks as our questioning of Stellar's ability and jokes about her extent deeper into the night, "I'd feel a little safer if someone at least monitored the perimeter for tonight."
We nod, letting him go and do it if he really wants to. I can't help but notice how annoyed he looks - did he and Stellar have a plan of their own? I wouldn't be surprised if they were the star-crossed lovers and that the Games was driving a fork in their love. That and whatever killed Stellar.
"I think he needs to go next," Buckingham says after we're confident he can't hear us, "I think he'll turn on us, why else would he leave and look as if he's just been slapped in the face?"
Brock nods, agreeing, "He's become the largest liability to us now, we can't take the risk."
We all look outside, studying the silhouette left on the window. Careers turning against each other isn't an uncommon thing but usually it comes after some form of provoked aggression - something Diamond hasn't show any of. He's rather placid and that's what makes him dangerous.
"We'll decide who does it tomorrow," I say, looking around at everyone. Buckingham's exempt - killing a district partner isn't the best way to gain popularity at home and I'd rather spare her that fate.
Bobbin Taper, District Eight Female, 12 years old
We've stayed in the middle of the forest for the majority of the day since being chased by the Careers. We're not safe but we're not vulnerable. Besides, Delta's been reassuring Melvin and I periodically, so I think we'll be okay. The Games are getting tougher - two cannons went off today meaning that there's seventeen of us left. It's still a large number for the third day and it makes me scared that night hunting might become more and more common.
I must have a quivering lip or something because Delta looks over at me and smiles, "We'll be fine. We'll find a hiding place and stay there for as long as possible."
The answer satisfies me enough to watch the death sequence in peace. Everyone'll be doing the same - it's highly unlikely that someone'll sneak up on us. Saying that though, we thought we were somewhat safe at the lake...
The first face shown, as per District order, is Stellar from Four. It's a shock, seeing a Career dead on the second day especially because she was so determined during training and her interviews. Even Delta can't hide her shock.
"So one Career down... Seven to go," She says, leaning back on the log she's propped up against.
"Won't we need to be extra careful now?" Melvin asks, "Because won't they be more determined?"
Delta considers the answer before nodding, "More than likely."
The next face in the sky is the boy from Nine, Blake. It's weird to think that someone so cold can come from the same district as Laurel, possibly one of the kindest people I've met - besides Delta and Melvin, of course.
"Poor kid," is all Delta has to say about the matter and she shakes her head lightly.
The anthem ends and the arena becomes quiet once more, bar our breathing. We stay silent for a few prolonged minutes, letting it all sink in.
"What do we do now?" Melvin asks in a small voice, looking at me before looking back at Delta, "W-We're scared..."
Delta looks over at me and I nod shyly. I had heard people muttering that Melvin and I would be targets in the arena and now it's true. It's scary - the whole arena is scary.
Delta smiles softly at us, opening her arms to allow us to cuddle in to which we do so before hugging us tightly.
"We'll move away from the Careers," She says, rubbing circular patterns into our upper arms, "And we'll find us our own little place where we'll stay and go far. How does that sound?"
"Idyllic," Melvin says and I nod in agreement.
Maybe we will find our own little place. That'd be nice. It'd be comforting.
Alys Lofric, District Twelve Female, 16 years old
Dion and I end our alliance amicably. I wasn't looking for one in the first place and it's obvious he doesn't want to ally with anyone other than the girl from Eleven. The alliance benefited us both - he got needed supplies and he taught me a few things about medicinal plants that could help me in the arena. It was a beneficial pact, nothing more. We barely spoke once we exchanged the respective things - he stayed and ate and I went out and tested the knowledge he taught me.
"You can stay here, I don't plan on hanging around," I tell him, packing up my bag, leaving him eating a piece of cooked meat. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have - the longer I stay still the easier it is for the other tributes to get used to my tactics, establish patterns for my behaviour. If I move, it makes it harder for them.
He nods, clearly understanding it. "Thanks for the supplies."
I flash him a small smile, though I don't know if he can see it too well with the darkening sky and the dimming fire, "You're welcome."
We give each other a solitary nod before I take off into the woods. The eerie sounds of crickets creates an atmosphere that I've only seen in movies the few times I've been lucky enough to see on the TV. Something bad always happens after a tense atmosphere's been set and I wonder if it's the case for me.
I'm aiming to head to the dense forest. I don't want to ally with anyone and I don't think there'll be many people at that part of the forest. I trace along the outskirts of it, purposefully looking in. I don't need my mind playing tricks with me. I do this for quite a while until I hear rustling deep from within and, naturally, I move. I don't want to encounter whatever caused the rustle - even if it's the wind. I wouldn't put it past the Gamemakers to try and kill me with air.
As I walk I come across a sleeping Laurel. She's hidden quite well but not well enough. Maybe she was bagging on the Careers passing over her - they don't check things in as much detail as the rest of us do. I look at the knife in my hand. In one slice she can be dead - another tribute to add to the list of causalities and another step closer to freedom. I think my odds in the Games are going up, I'm not as petrified as I was before.
I look around, making sure nobody's going to sneak up on me, before I raise my knife. I play to strike her in the temple, killing her quickly. The first time I try to bring the knife down I can't - my hand's shaking too much. I don't want to kill, but how could I miss this opportunity? I want to win. I need sponsors. I'll get sponsors for killing - that's how it works, right?
I try again. I fail, hitting the trunk just above her. The noise makes her stir and I step back in caution. She seems pleasant enough but everyone knows that it can easily just be a front. I hide the knife close to my chest and wait. She begins to stretch and, without thinking, I begin to run.
Eulogies:
N/A
Tributes Remaining:
Diamond, District One
Buckingham, District One
Calloway, District Two
Calamity, District Two
Melvin, District Three
Delta, District Three
Shelldon, District Four
Tesla, District Five
Victoria, District Five
Candella, District Seven
Phantom, District Eight
Bobbin, District Eight
Laurel, District Nine
Dion, District Ten
Brock, District Eleven
Ellie, District Eleven
Alys, District Twelve
Alliances:
Diamond, Buckingham, Calloway, Calamity, Shelldon, Tesla & Brock
Melvin, Delta & Bobbin
Phantom & Ellie
Solo Tributes:
Victoria
Candella
Laurel
Dion
Alys
So that's Night Two done! No more deaths!
I've decided to add the standard death thing to each night, since I do plan on there being some night causalities - that and alliances will dissolve!
I'm sorry for the lateness on this chapter! I had intended to get this out sooner but I got distracted by RuPaul's Drag Race!
I also apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors in this chapter - I wanted to get this out asap for you guys! I'll go back and check later on.
As always, reviews make me happy~!
-Oli