Mykal Duncan, D7
"Slower, please. A little slower." Mykal was able to get around on her own, but the limp kept her behind the pace of her allies. She liked that Reyes, at least, slowed to keep with her, an arm around her own. She probably owed her life to him.
"We can't afford to slow down anymore." Snapped Maria, up ahead with Jansen. "Did you hear those cannons? Something huge went down tonight, and I don't want whatever it was finding us because we've moved too slowly. Reyes, help her if you need to." They kept walking.
"I can carry you for a little, if you need." He whispered to her as they tried to keep up. Mykal realized that without meaning to, she'd started to rely on Reyes to help her move already. She shook her head.
"No, if they won't wait up," she raised her voice so Maria and Jansen could hear her, "maybe it's time we split up." That froze them in their tracks. Jansen spun in place.
"We're only five says in, Mykal. There are still a ton of tributes left." She looked up, barely able to make out his face in the darkness when he was this close.
"You take Maria. I'll stay with Reyes. It was going to end up this way eventually." She stopped Jansen before he could answer, and, allowing Reyes to lift her, they left them in the woods.
"You think they'll be alright?" She asked as they hobbled together towards the beach. Walking on the sand was easier for her than the underbrush-covered ground of the forest. The only thing she worried about was being out in the open.
"They'll have to be. Only two can leave." Mykal suddenly felt horrible about leaving them behind. What if they ran across another group, and they didn't have the numbers to defend themselves? It'd be her fault.
"You tired?" asked Reyes. Mykal shook her head.
"We need to keep moving, find some form of shelter. We can't sleep out o the beach. It's too open."
"Deal." Reyes helped her towards the rock outcroppings, searching for some sort of small cave to sleep in. She was so thankful for him right now.
Ember Cunsen, D4
"You let them go?" He barked, slapping the girl from Nine across the face. She fell to the ground once more. "I don't care if they were your district. You fight with us, then they are the enemy!"
"Lay off, Ember." Said Peter behind him. Ember had had enough of him. He spun in place, and landed a punch right to the side of the guy's head. Peter fell to the ground, unconscious. It was his fault Nine had lived this long. Ember wished the kid from One had finished her off when he got the chance. Instead, Peter had kept her as a trained pet. And now Mayra was dead, and her killers had gotten away.
"I'm sick of you thinking you're the best one here. I'm the strongest!" He didn't care that he was yelling at someone who was out cold, he just needed to yell. The girl from his district ran to his side, examining the already bruised spot on his head.
"Are you crazy?" She screamed at him. "You could've killed him."
"It would have happened eventually. You know," he paused, looking at the other districts. "I think Two may be the weak link here, and a team is only as strong as their weakest link." He tensed to attack, and the girl saw. She changed positions, too.
"Stop!" interjected Ruben, jumping in front of Ember. "You're being an asshole, as usual. You need to stand down, Cunsen."
"Or what, Jackson, gonna try and fight me again? Didn't work out too well for you last time. And this time, I'm armed." He grinned as he pulled the sword from his belt. He already had his shield in hand.
"So am I." Ruben pulled a sword from its hilt on the ground, pointing it straight at Ember.
"You're defending them. They're Two. Not our district. You're weak, and stupid, Ruben."
"I know how to respect an alliance, Cunsen. And I know when a leader isn't fit for his role. Now stand down." Ember was about to swing when he heard a moan from the ground behind him. The girl from Nine!
"Tell you what, Jackson. I'll fight you just as soon as I finish with this traitor." He turned around, ready to plunge his sword into the girl, but something caught his attention.
Small capsule came flying over the horn of the cornucopia. He'd seen them before, in the pile of supplies. No one had known what they were, so they ignored them. Now, the capsules were alive, buzzing and shaking, and then a tick black smoke exploded from each one. Ember couldn't see a thing, but he was still able to feel the stabbing pain in his gut.
Damien Greyson, D9
Damien launched the last of the smoke bombs over the top of the horn and rushed into action. He pulled out his knife and cut the ropes holding Sloan. She was bleeding badly from her left shoulder, and she was barely conscious. He'd seen her let Galvin and Bren go last night, and he knew the Careers had seen it. She signed her death sentence last night, and the others from Nine wouldn't have helped her. He couldn't just let her die.
Damien heard the cannon. He hadn't expected to take out a career that easily, and one of the strongest at that. The others were frantic, wondering what was going on, but the smoke would clear soon and they'd see what Damien was trying to do. He did his best to get Sloan free as gently as possible, and he lifted her over his shoulder and ran as fast as he could from the base.
She passed out about halfway to the trees. He could hear shouting from the Careers as they realized that one of their leaders was dead and that Sloan was gone. He had to get as far as he could, and Sloan was starting to feel heavy on his. He stopped at one tree that had a small crawl space near the base of the trunk. He helped Sloan inside before climbing up into the trees. He'd taken a small bow and a sheath of arrows, along with a net from the cornucopia. He'd filled his bag with as much food and water as he could fit while the group of tributes attacked the careers. He wanted to help them, but he was looking out for his own best interest at that time. Right now, he just needed to stay calm and protect the girl sleeping beneath the tree.
Veris Sphene, D3
Fourteen. Fourteen cannons had gone off in the night. He'd been keeping watch while the rest of his district slept, and they were horrified when he filled them in in the morning.
"You should've woken us," said Tinkra. She didn't sound angry, just worried. "We could've been prepared incase whatever happened had been nearby.
"I think it was something to do with the Cornucopia. Where else could something that big go down?" said Veris. He couldn't imagine that many deaths occurring so close together unless the careers were behind it.
"You think the careers found fourteen tributes at the same time and killed them?" asked Alyssandra. Veris shook his head.
"I think they might have had a good night of hunting, and maybe someone thought they could ambush the base." Veris wanted more than anything to be able to see what happened in other parts of the arena, like what would happen when he watched the games back in Three. It would make it so much easier for all of them to know what had gone on.
"Fine. We're staying awake for the day, until they show the faces in the sky tonight. We'll be able to see who died, and it might give us an idea of what happened last night, okay?" Veris liked the idea, despite being tired. He'd be able to stay awake for another day.
Gemma Raynard, Gamemaker
Gemma added the newest names to the list of dead tributes. She was originally an arena designer, but since her job finished when the games began, she was now in charge of keeping tabs on tributes.
"Sir, it seems most of the tributes are resigned to staying hidden in the arena. Only the tributes from One, Two, and Four are seeking a fight." She called over to Head Gamemaker Wayland. He turned away from the screen he was watching to address the room.
"This was a big fight tonight. We'll watch the crowds, and see how they react to the tributes. When things start to cool, we'll intervene if the tributes have yet to move." It was his command, and everyone in the room went back to work.
The Fallen
Ember Cunsen, District Four. Speared by Damien during the smoke bombs.
Can you guys believe it's only five days in? I didn't really realize this. I'm gonna try and gradually slow things down, due to the careers being humbled a bit by the other tributes. Also, I leave for school in two days, just a warning for when the updates slow down as well. We have another Career gone, did you guys expect that? And from Damien! I may start referring to him as the ninja. His stealth may prove a huge advantage.
Do you think it was a good idea on Mykal's part to split from Maria and Jansen? What will Sloan do when she realizes her biggest enemy just saved her life? Dun dun dunnnnn!
Please Review! I'd love to reach 200 reviews before Chapter 70! hahaha 70 chapters, this is crazy! New poll up on my profile! Anything I missed? haha lemme know.
- Sarah