Three: Schlact
June 8th
Day One
Cornucopia
10:00
A mist surrounded Pluto obscuring much of his vision, a clear path to the centre of the cornucopia could not be seen. It appeared to but a large dark shape with smaller shadows surrounding it. The sky was inky black of night, despite it being the morning. A chill permeated everything. Pluto wrapped his worn cloak and tattered cloak around him, its colour a much more faded green to the typical vibrant shade District Five usually got, but then it was fitting everything else seemed cloaked in a shroud of darkness and rot.
The countdown began. The light from the ticking clock sliced through the mist. The boom of the announcer's voice breaks the eerie silence.
Pluto looked to the tributes around him, hoping that he would have placed next to one of his allies. To his right was the boy from Eleven and to his left was the girl from Ten. No luck there then. He tried to look past the Ten girl but could not make out what lay next to her. He could make it the shape large, muscular and tall figure, most likely one of the careers, form Two or Four.
He strained in eyes in an attempt to peer deeper into the mist hoping that would be able to make out one of his allies but the combination of the mist and the unnatural dark made this impossible.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
The gong sounded.
Pluto froze…
He looked to his left to see the Ten girl fleeing from the bloodbath. His eyes darted around to his right to the boy from Eleven running into the fray.
Allies. He has to find his allies. That is what they had agreed. To meet up and grab what they could before venturing into the arena. He stepped off his podium and began desperately looking around. How could he find them in the mist? How could they find him?
Pluto began running towards the centre. He soon found his feet sinking. Further steps forward required great effort. He looked down to see a dark sludge creeping up his leg. He was going to sink into the abyss here if he could pull himself out. One step at a time. One step at a time. Pull yourself out. Find your allies. Heaving himself out of the sludge pool Pluto sacred his surrounding one more. He could see numerous figures finding themselves struggling with the swampy pool much as he did. His gaze fixed on the career boy charing through the sludge pool. He couldn't hesitate for too long, despite the swamp pools slowing people down.
But where to go? Further forward or should he scout around the perimeter? Neither choice was without risk.
Forward. Perhaps the mist cleared nearer the centre.
The pools. He would have to tread carefully. He should look where it stepping. A quick look down revealed that would be of little use. The mist cloaked the ground, making it impossible to tell what was safe ground and what was not.
Pluto would just have to take the risk.
He continued to move forward at a swift but careful pace his eyes continuously darting around in search for his allies.
Tibor.
Could it be?
Tibor, who at least Pluto thought to be Tibor struggled, slowly sinking into the dark oblivion of the swamp.
Pluto rushed towards the tribute who believed Tibor, stopping just at the edge of the pool. A stroke of luck.
It was Tibor. He had found at least one of his allies.
"Grab my hand!"
Tibor latched onto Pluto's outstretched hands. Pulling with all his strength he managed to free Tibor from the grips of the black sludge.
Tibor gave a sigh of relief. "Have you seen any of the others?"
"No, I'm afraid I haven't, we must try and find the others" Pluto replied
"Shouldn't we try to grab something?" Tibor asked
"I'm n-n-not sure. It..It.. could be too risky. We're probably stragglers. Anyone else trying their luck got there already." Pluto said shakily. Pluto knew that they couldn't stay here. They had to continue moving. "C-come on, we must keep moving.
"Further forward? Around? Out?"
Pluto froze. Despite every instinct telling me to move. What decision was the right one? Which one would lead to them getting
A light. A flaming torch.
Pluto began to move towards it but then hesitated. He shouldn't just run towards the light simply because it was light.
"Pluto!" a familiar voice yelled coming in the same direction as the light.
Cassia.
He began to dash towards it
"We run towards the light!" Pluto shouted back at Tibor.
It was a risk. But the risk gave him some hope which was more than he could say for his other options.
As the light became brighter and Pluto could clearly see the figure that held it illuminated in its glow.
It was Cassia and next to her was Crinn
"I'm relieved to see you!" Pluto said panting between words.
"Ossovina and Rico have arranged to meet up with you just beyond the cornucopia they have a few supplies that we managed to grab. They sent us to find you, good to see that you're both in one piece" Cassia declared.
"You and others all managed to find each other. We close together around the ring?"
"I don't have time to explain now!" We must get out here and fast! The careers will be looking to pick off stragglers."
The four of them continued to navigate their way through the deadly network and inky black pools, swift but careful, as to fall into the crip of the murky abyss. Frequently, looking around to ensure that no one was following them and that no one was laying in wait to spring an ambush. The eyes were needed everywhere, for danger could lurk around every corner. As their journey on Pluto's thoughts turned reunited with his other two allies - Ossovina and Rico.
Cannons began to sound a sign that fighting the Cornucopia had begun to subside.
What if one of them was for Ossovina or Rico?
Pluto had managed to find Tibor and they later met up with Crinn and Cassia. Surely they would find Ossovina and Rico.
A light. A flaming torch.
It had to be Ossovina and Rico. Pluto signalled to the others, to head towards it,
"We must be careful, it could be a trap!" Crinn hissed
"But last time... When. … when I was with Tibor, that's how I found you" Pluto rebutted, beginning to approach the light.
"You got lucky, we should avoid it. Get off this wretch swampland and hope this damned mist ends with it," Crinn said.
Pluto stopped and turned round. "What if is them… a-a-and, and they're injured. They might need our help."
"We should at least investigate, with caution. If we get one with danger we withdraw," Cassia suggested.
"You two can together then, I'll stay and look after Tibor."
"Agreed," said Cassia.
"Agreed," Pluto repeated.
So they began their your towards the light, the sights of Crinn and Tibor swiftly disappearing the in the mist. The light drew closer, it was walking towards them as they walked towards it. It has to be Rico and Ossovina, perhaps they thought they recognized him. But then came rattling. A rattling with a decidedly sinister edge. Maybe Crinn was right. It was a trap but they got too close to turn back now, it would only give their would-be attack a great opportunity to attack them from behind.
The only path had been forward.
As the light came into clear view, its true form hideous was revealed. A twisted form - a body of partially revealed bone and hanging bloody flesh. Around laying various silver and golden trinkets mixed in with bits of broken bone. In place of its head was a blazing plume of frame. The source of the light that they had seen burning through the mists and the darkness. It held a rusted knife caked in dried blood. Crinn had been right the light was the source of danger but what they had uncovered was far more sinister than the Career's trap.
Pluto now knew that turning back and running was now the only choice.
"Run!". Pluto grabbed onto Cassia's arm.
The two then turned away and bolted back in the direction of where they had left Crinn and Tibor, not taking the care usual caution that they had previously. Pluto then felt a splash, then the grip of a cold black ichor surrounding his feet He had wandered into one of the pools, and worst of all he had led Cassia into one of them as well. He looked back to see if the creatures had pursued them and hoped that the light he would be faint and obscured.
There it was. Not faint. But blazing either, there was at least some solace to be taken in that. But it was clear enough to let him know that it was closing in.
They had to get out. They had to move.
Trying to back and go around was too risky. They would spend precious seconds going back towards the creature rather than away from it.
Forward. They had to push forward and resist the grasp of the inky abyss.
"We must push forward," Cassia said
"But we don't how deep. How long this pool goes on for"
"But we can't go back and around. It's getting closer with each second. We have to go forward and get away."
Pluto began to push forward. He could feel the ichor creeping further and further up his legs with each step. He reached out to hold on to Cassia for reassurance. Hopefully, they would help pull each other out rather than drag each other down. Pluto could feel the sludge creeping up to his waist now.
But then after a few more steps. He could feel the ichor retreating back down. They were going to make it. With further steps, the pool got shallower and shallower and soon he was relieved to find himself touching solid ground once more. A quick look back revealed that the light was but a faint flickering in the mists once more.
Pluto looked around.
Crinn and Tibor. He couldn't see them. Where had they gone
"Crinn!" "Tibor!" He called out
No response.
"What if one of those things attacks them?" Cassia said
"They're not…. They're not. There were no cannons," replied Pluto.
Cassia could be right thought. One of the creatures could have attacked them, scattering them from their waiting spot. His alliance was broken and scattered, with each trying to find others. Tibor and Crinn are still alive, Pluto reminded himself. But Ossovina and Rico, he not either of seen them. Nor had Cassia. Nor Crinn or Tibor. They had to be alive. They simply must be. But what should he do now?
"We should try and fin Crinn and Tibor. They must've been a reason why would've ran." Cassia suggested.
"But how we can't…"
"We can't trust the light. It could be one of those things. Calling out their names could attract the Careers to us."
"We must be able to do something."
A cannon.
"That can't be for" Pluto muttered. "Crinn! Tibor!" he yelled recklessly into their air.
Then a figure emerged from the mists. It drew closer and closer. Soon it came fully into view. It was Crinn.
"Stop yelling that. You'll draw the careers to us," Crinn said sharply.
"Where's. Where's Tibor?" Pluto asked his voice quivering
"You heard the cannon. He's gone."
"H-How?" Pluto stammered
"It was one. One of-
"The creatures," Cassia said cutting Crinn off. "The ones with fire in place of a head."
Crinn nodded. "I tried to but it was no use," she said. "We must continue, get out of this place," she added.
"We're just supposed to carry on like nothing happened?" Cassia exclaimed
"YES!" Crinn hissed. "The Games don't allow us such privileges as mourning."
"But we. Tibor was our ally," Cassia said
Crinn rolled her eyes. "Pluto. Should we make a move? After all, we've still got Rico and Ossovina to find"
Pluto was pulling at the treads of his worn faded green cloak. He paused for a moment unsure of what to say. "I don't. I don't know," he said finally.
"Well since I'm the only one cable to making component decisions around here I say we move," Crinn said before marching off.
Releasing that they did not have any more say in the matter Pluto and Cassia followed behind her.
—
June 8th
Day One
The Swamplands
12:30
The journey proved to be long. It seemed that the swamps and mists had no end. Pluto had been keeping an eye out for the signs of Rico and Ossoniva. He hadn't imagined that Crinn had been putting much effort into it. Crinn marched a good few meters in front of him and Cassia, she moved forward with a cold determination.
"How much do you trust Crinn?" Cassia asked
"She's our ally," Pluto replied
"Yes, I know that but. It's just that the business with Tibor"
"What about it?"
"I don't know. But something about it just seemed off. Though I can't place my finger exactly on it."
"You saying that they left Tibor to die?" Pluto hissed through his whispers.
"Perhaps. Perhaps it's nothing. Perhaps it's something worse"
"Crinn wouldn't betray us. Why would she?"
"Well, you know what Cosmo said about how alliances always end?"
"But not yet. Not just at the Games' beginning?" But Pluto couldn't help but shake the thought that Cassia may be right. He did not want her to be but the possibility remained in Pluto's mind. "Even so once we find Ossovina and Rico, they'll be four of us against her."
That's only if neither Ossovina nor Rico wasn't in league with Crinn. But Crinn hadn't betrayed them. She couldn't have.
"Are we keeping up?" Crinn shouted back.
"W-w-w're doing is best but it's just that we haven't had a chance to rest at all," Pluto said.
"We're not resting until we get out of these damned swamps."
"Whaif these damned swamps are the arena?" Cassia asked.
"I'm not prepared to accept that yet, so we keep moving," Crinn replied
The mist gradually grew thinner. Perhaps a sign that the swamp did have an end. The sky could now be seen, no longer shrouded in fog though the was a bleak and grey sight. No sunlight could penetrate the clouds that cloaked the sky. The ground then became more clear too, and no longer did the mist seem to cling to it. The network of pools became more visible, revealing that the did indeed have an end.
"See I told you. We're at the edge of the damned swamps now!" Crinn said.
The three of them emerged from the swamps. Their new surroundings come to view revealed a barren open stretch of land. The ground was littered with bones.
—
June 8th
Day One
The Bonefields
14:00
"We can't stay here too long. It is dangerous. We too in the open." Crinn said
"But we need to rest," Cassia replied
"We've had a good rest"
"Rico and Ossovina. We should wait a bit longer. They may find us." Pluto replied.
Though Pluto wasn't even sure if Ossovina and Rico were looking for them, they were even close. They could have run in a completely different direction to them. The mists had made night impossible to see anyone clearly without being right in front of or next to them. Then there was also the possibility that had run other together intentionally and decided to face the Games together and forget about the rest of the alliance. Then of course there possibility that they weren't even alive but Pluto dared not to entertain that possibility too much. Not until the night that would be confronted with the grim truth.
"They could be dead! They could be on the end of the arena!" Crinn shouted
"You should keep quiet," Cassia said
Crinn grimaced.
Pluto did not need his allies fighting between themselves. But he dared not do anything, he probably won't be right anyway and if he did get it right he would stumble and trip other words too much making it look like he might have just gotten it wrong.
He did want to stay here much longer but was probably the best chance Ossovina and Rico had of finding them Pluto was unsure if they preferred these fields to the swamps. The swamps the mists and the deadly pools of black sludge. Worst of it the creatures, the torcheads create to make you fear the light when surrounded by darkness. The bonefields weren't much better sitting amongst the dead, completely out in the open making it easy to join them. But at least he had lost anyone to the bonefields. Not yet.
Two figures appeared on the horizon. Could it be Rico and Ossovina? As they got closer it was soon revealed that was not the case. The obscuring mists of the swamp did all one to cling onto hope for a little bit longer. It was undoubtedly their pair fo from Eleven. They did not seem hostile and there was no doubt that they had seen us.
Crinn immediately jumped up brandishing her knife.
"I don't believe that there's any need for that," Cassia said.
"It could be a trick," Crinn said
"If they wanted to attack they would have done so already," Cassia replied.
"We should see what they want from us?" Pluto offered.
"Fine" Crinn hissed lowering her knifer to side, keeping a firm grip on it. But if I get one whiff of danger then I will-"
"Understood"
The pair from Eleven approached with their hands held up indicating that they mean no harm.
"What do you want?" Crinn hissed
"A trading of supplies?" The boy said
"A what?" Crinn growled
"I believe I was quite clear. We trade some of our supplies."
"Why?" Cassia asked
"From one outer district alliance to another," The Eleven girl said
"We saw that you managed to grab a bag of supplies from the Cornucopia. And we were wondering if the bag lacked anything that you would like to trade for" The boy continued. "Do only have one knife between the three of you? We have quite the ambience of them. Though we are quite short on food."
"I'll check," said Cassia. Cassia rummaged through the bag. "We could spare some of these crackers. Would that suffice?"
"Yes, it would" The boy from Eleven replied.
Cassia gave the Elevens the crackers and they exchange the knives.
"One, One more thing. Have you seen Rico and Ossovina?" Pluto asked. "The boy from Ten and the girl From Eight"
"I'm afraid I have not" The boy answered.
The Elevens took their leaved head back t from the direction they had come.
Pluto was not the only kind soul in the games, that was something that he could take solace in. He hoped that would make it far. For this place seemed darkness and the darkest soul to thrive and Pluto hoped that would not be the case. As hoped for the Eleven's success he was also hoping for his own.
June 9th
Day Two
The Bonefields
14:00
They had spent the day in the Bonefields against Crinn's wishes but they had survived the night. The night's death toll had revealed that Ossovina and Rico were very much still alive. Pluto recounted who died to remind himself that they still had a chance at finding them. The boy from four, the girl from three, Tibor, the boy from seven, both of the nines, Lois Rico's district partner and both of the Twelves.
But no Ossovina and Rico. They were still alive.
Just as Pluto had finished telling himself that. Ossovina and Rico came into view on the horizon.