The Stars
Title: Memory
Characters: Full cast, mentions of Syarnark
Word Count: 529
Warnings: Talking about the Games
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games and the inspiration for these characters comes from another series entirely.
Notes: Obviously happens sometime during the Games, more towards the beginning of them. And we get a new member, Kallisto! Kallisto is 12, not the youngest to ever join them, but younger than Pyro when he joined at 13. Syarnark was the youngest, joining at around 10 years old.
011: Memory
"Where's your family?"
"Family…?"
The child's quiet voice reached across the room, dark eyes staring straight ahead without focusing on anyone in particular. It was as if the others did not exist in his eyes at all.
"Do they know you're here?" Pyro urged.
The child - Cuan said it was a boy although it was hard to tell - fell utterly silent. No part of him gave away any hint of emotion, not his eyes, not his posture. He simply continued staring at the opposite wall, for all intents and purposes a life sized doll.
"Don't you remember them at all?"
The silent boy blinked once.
"Give it up," Sche deadpanned.
"The past doesn't matter," Matiy said simply, tilting her head to the side as if confused that Pyro wanted to inquire about it at all. "No one talks about it."
"Not many here have any memory of their families, unlike you," Penka pointed out.
Pyro frowned and crossed his arms, foot tapping incessantly at the ground. "Just because we don't talk about it doesn't mean it has no meaning. Besides, he's just a kid. And he came out of nowhere."
"So did you," Haakon shot back bitingly, glowering at the younger boy who returned the gesture with just as much animosity and heat. "And you were more of a brat. At least this kid's quiet."
"You should talk," Pyro snarled, lunging forward with the intent to give the man what he deserved until Cuan caught him by his arm, swinging him around and out of sight.
Their leader leveled the two with a cold, warning glare.
"This is Kallisto. He will serve as Syarnark's replacement," he informed them before turning around sharply to address the group. Setting aside his animosity towards Haakon, who had never taken to him ever since he joined, Pyro sat down on an upturned crate to listen.
"There is no need to question his aptitude. I have already done so. Sche, you will stay with him for the time being, and Matiy, you will work with Penka or Pyro, depending on the situation. Given Syarnark's absence, I will handle the technological aspect of our jobs."
Despite the tension lingering in the air, everyone unanimously nodded with a sharp, "Yes sir!"
Cuan released Pyro from his grip and stalked over to sit towards the middle of the loose circle assembled. Folding his hands together, he leaned forward pensively and closed his eyes for a moment.
"We will resume our activities when the Games end. Until then, you all will have limited contact with the rest of the group. Only stay with your partner and keep out of trouble. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention during this time."
Everyone except the newcomer lowered their heads for a brief moment, no doubt contemplating the underlying message behind the leader's words.
Whether or not their comrade would live - whether or not Syarnark would return - even for people like them it was something heavy and dark that they had to deal with. They couldn't just pretend like nothing had happened and resume life as normal.
"Five days after the Games end, meet up back here. Then we'll start."