I have been sort of bored, and when I'm bored I type away :P
The result of me being extremely bored and typing is lots of chapters, so here you go!
Here are a few rules for sponsoring Tributes:
For the first chapter, you can give the wolves the following items: small game (Rabbits, muskrat, squirrels, and small birds), flint, herbs for clotting blood, and small traps. This list will grow as the Game progresses.
Mentors can hold back gifts from sponsors, and I will PM you if they do.
Sometimes, sponsoring can push wolves deeper into trouble, so think long and hard about what you want to give!
You can only sponsor one wolf with one item per chapter.
Thank you to my two followers, MoonHawk88903 and WizardTeddyBear!
The Alphas lead them through the forest. Sylvia eyed the other tributes skeptically, an air of insecurity hanging around her like the cool morning mist. She was going to die. This realization hadn't been a hard one for her to face. It was so simple, black and white. I won't survive. So real-sounding. She sent a silent prayer to Lupus. Let me die quickly.
Her glossy black pelt gleamed in the dawnlight. No amount of trying to convince herself made her fate less obvious. She knew. It was a fact, though very blunt and cold. Fact. Cold, but fact.
She trailed at the back of the group. She was very comfortable with the Fact. Orphaned and alone. Yes, the Fact was almost good for her. Hmm.
She barely noticed as a pale silver wolf fell into step beside her. Her green eyes shone with mischief. "Hey," The silver wolf smiled. "Sylvia, right? I'm Delaney. You scored a ten, huh?"
Yes, yes she had. She just smiled shyly and ducked her head.
"Nice job!" The silver wolf grinned. "Not bad, for a Pack Eight wolf. You catch elk, right?"
"And skin their hides," Sylvia murmured, barely audible.
"Wow, you must be strong! Is that how you got your ten?"
Sylvia smiled a little more.
"Well, I'm a Pack Ten wolf. We catch cows, mainly." She made a face. "Stupid, stupid cows."
Sylvia looked away. She didn't want to be friends with a wolf that might have to kill her later!
Delaney looked around nervously, then dipped her head so it was by Sylvia's ear. "Do you want to form an alliance?"
Sylvia jolted, surprised. She met Delaney's eyes, ears perked in alarm. She broke out in a broad grin, eyes lit with satisfaction, and nodded, just once. Perhaps she wouldn't die.
Sarahi had her eyes glued to Laine. The ghost of a smile was placed on her lips, and she sped up to stand by him. A Career. Like her. Perfect. She looked him up and down. Strong, well-muscled shoulders. Glossy, well-groomed fur. Yes. She wanted him on her side. He could be useful. Very. And she could win if she used him. He would be a pawn in her own miniature game. She didn't want him against her, for starters. He was strong. A twelve! He had scored a twelve! Yes, he would be in her Pack.
But, without a doubt, she would be the alpha. She would kill him once she was done with him. She would break records and gain fame. Fortune. Very, very good. She didn't need to earn her keep being a StoneCutter, or a Digger. After these games-which she was sure would be bloody and brief-she would never need to lift a paw again. No. Never.
The thought made her smile. Hmm. Never. A very final, satisfying word. Never.
Leif looked around, eyes wide and wild, silver coat bristled. He made note of each inch of wood, each bit of grass, each potential water source. Yes. Good. Water.
Life saving. The difference, that small factor that decided life or death. Water was good. Water. Good.
Yes.
His eyes flicked to Delaney. His packmate. The only wolf he liked, the only friend he knew. Hmm. Yes. He knew she was scared. Scared. Good. He wouldn't have to kill her. She would manage to stumble into a Career trap. Scared wolves do have a tendency to mess up. Rash. Yes. Bad.
His paws fell confidently along the path. He was sure he would win. Clever. Yes. Good, very good. He smiled. Clever. It was a nice word, a word that slid smoothly off of his tongue. "Clever." He muttered. "Yes."
He stared at Adine. Stumbling. Shaky. Scared. Bad. No, she was not clever. No. "No." He murmured. No sympathy. No, he felt no sympathy for this small, stumbling creature. This scared pup. But he admired her. She had no confidence. Good. She knew her fate. He hated wolves that refused to admit their weaknesses. Stubborn. Bad. Yes.
One word floated around his thoughts. A small word, huge in meaning and importance. Win. Yes, win. That is what he would do. He had a very matter-of-fact way of thinking. Yes. Win. He would not fail. Ugh. Fail. Bad.
He smiled at the thought of winning. He would become a mentor. He would tell the pups his thoughts. Honest. Good. Yes. Win.
Adine whimpered softly, forcing back tears. No, she would not cry. She was not scared so much as worried. Worried, for her dear mother Aamu. How would Aamu survive, knowing that her only daughter was going to die? Her only daughter. A tear escaped, rolling down her cheek and splashing in the dry dust. "Aamu…"
But she had Kenith. Yes, Kenith would help her get past this. And Jannie would be there for her as well. Jannie, her loyal friend. The closest thing to a sister she had. Jannie would help her mother.
It comforted Adine a little, and she picked up her pace a bit.
Livadi strutted, head high, toward an Alpha. "How much longer?" She inquired, impatience flaring in her chest like a fire, burning through her, eating her up. She was ready to kill. A rare Career from the Ninth Pack, her father had trained her to fight since she was a pup. Since she could walk. Her muscles flexed. Her claws dug into the soft, muddy ground, twisting and tearing. Anticipation surged through her. Her lullabiess had been melodies about war victory and her bedtime stories consisted of tales about the violent God of the Hunt, Velke. She was made for this. This was in her blood.
"It is a two-day journey, Tribute. We have been walking for a day. Nonstop. We have a days' journey to go."
She growled softly to herself.
Patience, she could hear her father saying calmly. The true killer is patient, in silent wait for his prey.
Her father. He flicked her ear. He had wanted a son, a strong male to win a Game. To bring honor to his Pack and his father. She dug up more mud, its slippery coolness feeling soft and smooth under her claws. She snarled loudly. She would show him. Show him that she could be as good as a male. As good as a son. No, better. She wanted him to be proud of her more than anything. Yes, that was what she wanted, more than fame or fortune. Her father. She wanted to see the glow in his eye when she won, hear his joyful cheer when she came home, triumphant, to take him and Mother to the Inner Pack.
Yes, that was what she wanted.
She fell into step beside Jay. He reminded her of her father, in truth. The same dark fur. The same pale yellow eyes. The same haughty stature. The same deep, self-important tone. Yes, he was almost exactly the same.
And she liked that.
She touched his shoulder with her nose. He turned. "What?"
Yes, the same annoyed fire in his eyes, the look that meant that she couldn't possibly be more important than his thoughts, which she had clearly interrupted.
"Now, Jay," she began, importance lacing her tone. "I am going to give you an offer that I will only make once. You will either say yes or no. No begging later. No changing your mind,"
He looked vaguely interested.
"Now, you scored an eleven. A reasonably good score. You could be useful. Yes, very. So I will give you an offer that is not given lightly."
He stared at her, fascination blazing in his eyes.
"I want to know if you wish to join the Career pack."
He snorted. "No. I can make it fine without any of you pups tagging along behind me!" His pride would not allow him to say yes. So much like her father.
"Now, Jay, I will ask you once more. You would be an exceedingly valuable asset to this Pack. We do not offer to protect you, but ask humbly for you to protect us," She spun her words, sugarcoating them to appeal to Jay. She was good with words. With persuasion. Valuable in the Game, when searching for sponsors.
A small flicker of desire and pride in his eyes was slowly covered by a dull stubbornness. "No. I hope you pups can manage on your own."
She fell back, anger burning in her stomach like acid. She glared, temper boiling, as he sped away.
Thanks for reading! Next chapter is the Game, and as you can tell, it will be a very tough year. A lot of excellent Tributes! Sponsoring begins now, and I will place gifts in the next chapter!