A/N: Hey, I'm back! Hopefully you guys like where this story is headed, I'm trying not to follow the common mold of sorts too much, but still make it fell like a good ol' Hunger Games, if you know what I mean! Also, after this is completed (I'm shooting for 10k words) I am going to begin a SYOT, which I'll detail more in the ending note of the final chapter, so consider this an early warning of sorts!

The loud booming of a cannon woke me from my sleep. Funny, how the end of someone's day was the start of mine. That left eleven people in the arena. I sat up, taking in the surroundings. The sandy overhand I slept under had transformed into a rocky, snowy cave inside a cliff face a good hundred feet high. The desert had become a hilly expanse of blizzard and snow.

I stood up and stretched, noticing the low overhand was now a few feet higher, and checked my bag to make sure I still had everything. I pulled up my shirt and noticed how skinny I was getting. My arms were showing it too, with my usual thin layer of muscle near half the size it was before. I had to find something to eat, I thought. I unzipped my bag, pulling out the gunner's boots, which happened to be almost my size, and replaced my unfit shoes. I decided to wait out the wind and snow before I set out.

Less than an hour later, the harsh blizzard let up to light snowfall, and I packed up and set out. The travel was made tremendously easier with the boots, although they were a bit big on me. I wasn't quite sure where I was going, looking for food I guess. The light snowfall had picked up a bit more, but there wasn't anywhere to hide from it now, so I trudged on. In the distance, I saw something moving, and used the scope of my rifle to get a better look, not wanting to have a repeat experience from yesterday. The movement in question appeared to be a long, furry, snake-like creature wrapping itself around something. I zoomed in a bit more, hoping the fuzzy snake was edible, and planted a silenced round in its brain.

I shouldered my rifle and took off to my newfound prey, possibly lunch, and stopped when I saw the thing that it had been wrapped around. It appeared to be person. A big person. Although their hood was obscuring their head, it was obvious to me it was a boy. I stepped closer, as he laid face-first in the snow. No cannon blast, so whoever it was wasn't dead. I pulled my pistol out of its holster and held it on one hand, spear in the other. With the butt, I poked the snake—who was obviously dead—and then the boy, who shifted and groaned. I popped off the safety of my sidearm and stepped back a bit as he stood up, facing the other way, before violently turning around to face me. Standing before me was none other than Colin, however, he didn't look near as happy to see me as I was him. In his hand was a bloody knife accompanied by equally bloody wraps. Without hesitation, he swung it at me, and I barely jumped out of the way. He raised up, and I took my spear by both hands in an attempt to save myself. I threw my arms up, but his trunky build was more than enough to overpower me and throw me off balance. He reeled back swung with the butt of his knife, which collided cleanly with my head. I blacked out.

A/N: Short chapter, but hopefully the suspense will make up for it. As always, fell free to leave a comment, and next update will either be tomorrow or next weekend, depending on how free I am. Until then, I've been Pix, and I'll see you next chapter!