The next day they were immediately herded into the Tribute Tower so the prep teams could begin work on them. They waxed down Feral's body, making her feel awkward and hairless. They curled her hair, giving it a wavy look. They applied little makeup, only blush and mascara, so that when they were done she looked beautiful but still recognizable. Her prep team didn't say much to her. They were to busy getting her ready for her stylist.
When her stylist did come in he didn't say anything. Her prep team informed her that he had been born mute but that his name was Ollo. The prep team left them and for a moment he just stared at her in her paper gown. After a few minutes of awkwardness he headed out of the room and came back holding the most beautiful dress Feral had ever seen. It was tight and would go halfway to her knees before frilling out at the ends. It was patterned with leaves and their shadows and when Feral put it on she looked gorgeous. She was given a wreath to put around her head and one to wear around her wrist as well. She was to wear flat, black sandals that matching the shadows of the leaves on the dress.
"You know," Feral said as Ollo placed the wreath delicately on her head. "My little sister wants to be a stylist." Feral thought she saw a slight smile cross Ollo's face but if it was there at all it vanished as quickly as it came. He picked up her mother's necklace, which had been sitting on a nearby countertop, and slipped it around her neck. Two Peacekeepers came in and lead her out of her prep room and to a large hangar. Horses set up to pull the chariots stood patiently, awaiting for the signal to go. The Peacekeepers lead her to a chariot where two bay stallions stood impatiently pawing at the ground. Merchan already stood on the chariot in a suit patterned like hers with a matching wreath. He didn't even look at her when she arrived.
Feral hated waiting so she looked around instead. Some of the other tributes were already there. Spark and Chance waited on their chariot, talking and laughing like old friends. They were in tight, shiny golden outfits that emphasized their strong body shapes. Teck from District Three was there but the twelve year old who he'd be sharing his chariot with had yet to arrive. There were a few others as well, but the blind boy from District Six named Tinn caught her attention. Six was the transportation district, and his light blue suit was patterned to look like the sky. The blue matched the blue of his eyes, giving him a supernatural sort of appearance.
Remembering she was supposed to be a fox, Feral bounded over to him. She felt the eyes of the other tributes trained on her as she did so, surprised that she was going to talk to a tribute from another district. Even Spark and Chance had cut short their conversation to watch. Feral put a playfully-friendly-yet-clever smile on her face, remembering what Eve said. Tinn heard her approach and positioned his head in her general direction.
"Hi!" She said cheerfully, when she reached him. "I'm Feral, one of the tributes from District Seven."
"I'm Tinn…" He said tentatively. He was only thirteen and several inches shorter then her. He had messy brown hair that had been styled to look like the wind was blowing through it, even though it actually would be when he got on his chariot to ride through the Capitol. He held a black cane in his left hand which he must have used to get around without hitting anything. "From District Six…"
"I've heard such nice things about Six," She lied. She never really heard anything about the other Districts, but she was trying to make friends. A playful fox did need to have someone to be playful with, and he looked so lonely. "It's nice to meet you!" Feral took his right hand and guided it into her own, shaking it vigorously. "District Seven's nice, too, of course. We have trees that can grow hundreds of feet tall and so many song birds that you can't tell their individual melodies apart! I miss it already. What's Six like?"
"Well…" Tinn said, slowly warming up to her. "You can always hear the rush of the wind over the lakes… we have huge lakes back in Six. And you can always hear the clanking of tools as people are building the hovercrafts and trains. The air always smells like lake water and motor oil. It probably doesn't sound very attractive to you, like how forests and birds don't sound that attractive to me, but it's my home…"
"I understand," Feral nodded. "And I agree with you. Everyone has a soft spot for their homes, no matter where they are from. But see, the clever people… we use or homes to our advantage." She said that with the little I-know-something-you-don't grin that Eve had asked her to do on the train. The must have gone through ten different smiles until she memorized all of them and when she should use them. She could see Spark narrowing her eyes in her peripheral vision and the mad Tiff, who had arrived while they were talking, scratching her head in confusion. Jenn Kenneler, the female tribute from Six, walked over to them looking slightly protective.
"I see you're trying to intimidate us," Jenn said with a slight smile. "That is a beautiful dress by the way." Feral thought she found an edge of sarcasm hidden under the words. Jenn, on the other hand, was in a hideous dress that matched Tinn's suit and fell to her ankles. She wore four-inch heels, and looked like she was about to fall over. She wore a charm bracelet with hovercrafts and train cars on it. It's the only decent part of her outfit… Feral thought to herself.
"Thanks," Feral giggled, pretending she hadn't caught the sarcasm. During practice, Eve had specifically said that foxes were never aggressive, just playful and clever, like they had everything planned out and knew everything that was going to happen. She was to never look shocked or frustrated, just smugly happy. Out came the playful smile. "And I don't think a small, redheaded girl can be very intimidating, no matter what happens!" Jenn realized there wasn't any hostility in Feral's voice and laughed as well. They shook hands.
Feral glanced at the boy walking in the doorway and had to do a double-take. Rowan was soaking wet and in dark blue swim shorts. His right arm was wrapped in a fish net and held a tall, golden trident. He was extremely gorgeous. Tinn had wandered off, saying he needed some fresh air before the ride through the Capitol but Feral barely noticed him go.
"Aw, is foxy smitten?" Jenn asked with a grin. Feral realized she was staring.
"Um, no," Feral said, quickly regaining her composer and fox-like attitude. She grinned. "But it's pretty hard not to be." The girls laughed. Feral waved at Jenn before decided to bounce over to Rowan and say hello.
"Well, you're definitely pulling off the District Four look," She giggled when she got over there. He studied her with a slight smile, as if he hadn't decided how to react to her approach. After a few seconds he stepped towards her until he was only a few inches away. Feral felt her heart beating hard inside her chest and forced herself to keep her composure.
"Well, you don't look to bad yourself," He smiled. She knew instinctively that that was how his mentor had told him to play it. Flirtatious. But she had been told to play fox-like. And that was all it really was after all, a game, so she might as well play. He looked at her thoughtfully. "What's your name?"
"Feral," She replied.
"District Seven, I presume?" He asked and she nodded. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "You know… I grew up in the fishing district alongside the oceans. I've seen pretty things in my life… but nothing can compare to your beauty."
"Feral! There you are!" said Eve, racing up and grabbing her by the arm. "Stop prancing around and get on your chariot! It's about to start!" Eve shoved her onto her chariot and she tried to stand as far away from Merchan as humanly possible. "Now, remember, try and be fox-like. A clever grin, a sly glance… Anything." Feral nodded and Eve darted off to stand with the other mentors. Spark and Chance went out first, followed by District Two and so on.
When it was their turn, Feral was temporarily blinded by the flashing lights of the cameras. When she got her bearings together she forced on the clever I-have-it-all-planned-out smile and glanced from side to side slowly. She had to hold on tightly to the railing so she wouldn't fall off. She thought it was better if she didn't wave, it didn't seem like a very fox-like thing to do.
Merchan was obviously going for a different angle. He didn't even acknowledge the crowd or put on a face. He simple stared straight ahead, holding his chin up high and trying to look as muscular as possible. It wasn't that hard for him to pull off. When they reached the end of the twenty minute chariot ride, which Feral believed to be extremely boring and pointless, they had to listen to President Snow, with his ugly white beard and snake-like eyes, give a speech on the importance of the Hunger Games and how each of the tributes were making a sacrifice for the greater good. Feral had to keep herself from roller her eyes by putting on an especially foxy smile that, according to the big screens, would be broadcasted all over Panem. That's not nerve-racking at all… She muttered to herself.
When the speech was finished they passed through a set of large stone doors which closed behind them, hiding them from the crowd. They were inside the Tribute Tower, where they would be staying until the Games. As soon as the doors closed Feral let out a sigh but kept up her know-it-all grin. She still had to make the tributes think that it wasn't an act, although her face hurt.
"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" she asked Merchan daringly, pinching one of his cheeks. He stared daggers at her and she laughed nervously before gingerly hopping down from their chariot. She trotted over to the District Five chariot and smiled at a twelve year old tribute named Jess. "That was fun!" He just rolled his eyes and pushed past her. Oh, he's one of those people, She thought in her head watching him go.
"You're an idiot, you know," said a voice behind her. She turned to see the female tribute fro District Five, glaring at her with her hands on her hips. Feral looked at her questioningly. "You think its all just fun and games, don't you?"
"Well, it is the Hunger Games," Feral said with a slight smile.
"You're not going to win, you know," Hera said, stepping down from the chariot and narrowing her eyes. "You don't stand a chance. You think you're so clever and that you have it all planned out… but once we get into the arena… you'll be nothing." And with that Hera strutted off, leaving Feral to stand there in shock. District Five wouldn't be on her list of places she was eager to visit if she won the Games.
But perhaps Hera was right. She and the Careers had been training their entire lives to be in the Hunger Games. Feral cried whenever her father killed a squirrel for their supper. There was no way she could kill a person. "Oh, don't take her seriously," said Eve, padding up and placing her arm around her in a sort of this-isn't-a-real-hug sort of way.
She led her out of the room behind Merchan and they stepped into an elevator with the other tributes. The air was silent and tense. When they reached the District Seven floor, they got off the elevator and emerged in a beautiful room. The walls were made of polished marble and the white-leather couch had soft-looking black sheep fur draped across it. A black wide screen television sat on a dark wood table and a snack table covered in delicious food resided at the back off the room. Feral who felt like she was starving immediately made her way over to it with Eve while Becken and Merchan took seats in front of the TV.
"Hey, kid," Eve whispered, plopping a pumpkin shaped tart into her mouth. "You did well. Very fox-like, very convincing."
"Thanks," Feral nodded. Suddenly, the voice from the TV caught her attention.
"Well, it does seem like we have a very strange arrange of tributes this year," said a talk show host Feral didn't recognize. "Let's take a look at that, shall we?" Feral padded over to sit down on the coach. She listened intently to the words the announcer spoke and then began to wonder why she cared so much. "First we have Bree Wenthrow and Blade Artenn from District Two. They are two normal kids. And that's the point! They are from District Two! They aren't what the districts refer to as Careers, tributes who volunteer so they can get a chance at the fame and fortune that comes with the Hunger Games. It makes you wonder if these two have a bit more up their sleeves then you'd expect."
"They have a point," Feral nodded reasonably.
"Then there's Tinn Grener," The man continued. "A blind tribute from District Six. No way is that kid going to last past the first day. He won't even know which direction the Cornucopia is in, he won't know where the other tributes are. See, I don't think we should even let teenagers like this in the Reaping." The crowd cheered in agreement.
"Well, that's mean," Feral muttered, crossing her arms. "They should at least give him the benefit of the doubt!"
"Don't be ridiculous," Merchan growled. Feral blinked in surprise. That was the first time he had spoken to her. Ever. "You're the clever one, Feral. You know he's going to die in the blood bath." Feral had to admit to herself that he had a point. There would be no way that Tinn would survive. It was simply impossible.
"District Eight got a bit of misfortune this year," The host said. "With a female tribute who's just a bit… off. Tiff Quirr is just a few marbles short, but that doesn't mean she isn't going to be a threat in the arena. In fact, she might be more then the rest. Finally, we have the District Seven tribute, Feral Tarani."
"Oh boy," Feral muttered.
"She seems like a normal District Seven tribute," he said. "But is she… cursed?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Eve asked, sitting down next to her on the coach.
"It seems Feral isn't a complete stranger to the Hunger Games," he announced. "Her sister, Ivy Tarani, was killed in the Hunger Games when she was decapitated by Hiro Firr, the other tribute from District Seven. Then, a few years ago, her boyfriend Gavering Swell was picked in the Reaping as well. He made it down to the final eight and when they went back to interview his friends and family we got this video from Feral."
"Oh no…" Feral whispered. There she was on screen, trying to talk about Gavering with tears running down her cheeks. She was only thirteen. She had been so little, so young and fragile.
"He…" Young Feral said. "He's just such a great person. He… l-loves to go on picnics and just listen to the birds in the trees… and… his favorite color is yellow, like the daisies in the spring… I… I miss him so much!" She sobbed into her hands and the video cut off, but the picture of her sobbing remained in the upper right hand corner. A picture appeared in the left-hand corner of her in the ride through the Capitol on the chariots, smiling slyly.
"You could barely tell this is the same girl!" He exclaimed. "It seems that all those people she lost to the Hunger Games may have given her an edge. She will have learned from their mistakes and be determined not to repeat them. Or, rather, it's all an act, and on the inside Feral Tarani is still just a sad, lonely little girl looking for someone to play with. So who is Feral Tarani really?" The computer smashed the two pictures together, ending up with a rather disturbing picture of her smiling wickedly with tears streaming from her eyes. "I suppose we'll find out tomorrow, in the interview!" And with that the TV cut off.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" Eve asked, irritated.
"I didn't realize it was important," Feral replied.
"Are you kidding?" Eve exclaimed. "Do you know how we could have used this to our advantage? We could have presented you as an angry, spiteful girl with hidden rage against the Capitol."
"Yeah," Feral said with an eyebrow raised. "Um, I don't do very well with angry."
"But now you have to keep up your current tactic," Becken said. "Otherwise you'll seem like a liar and cheater, which of course it's good if you are lying to and cheating the other tributes, but not if you're lying to the Capitol." Eve nodded.
"I guess we'll just stick with our first angle…" she muttered. "Fox-like… but perhaps… a few adjustments are needed."
"Um…" Feral said awkwardly. "What do you mean adjustments?"
"I mean," She continued. "Foxes can be fiery, can't they? What's that old quote…? Foxes are wolves that send flowers? Yeah, that's it! You could have a little spunk under that hood of yours somewhere, couldn't you?"
"Err…" She muttered, rubbing her neck. "I guess."
"Good!" Eve beamed. "So remember, kid, spunk!" Eve stood and strode out of the room leaving Feral alone with Merchan and Becken. They sat there awkwardly until Feral couldn't stand it anymore. She rose to her feet and padded out of the room and to her own. She threw her clothes off and jumped in the shower, programming it for a warm rise only, since she had felt so sensitive since the waxing she had received from her prep team. When she stepped out she was instantly dried off by warm air. She slid on a silk shirt and matching pants and crawled into her soft, circular bed. She fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes.