Quora Liebniz, District Two (18)
Cassius proved the Academy worked. Now I was going to prove that it didn't just make survivors, it made Victors. Cassius killed five Tributes in his Games. I had my sights set on twenty-three, but I expected to take around twelve. If they weren't tough enough to keep themselves alive, it wasn't on my head. I was best equipped to survive and prove my worth. That's what the Games were for: to weed out the ones who aren't worth keeping.
I stood in the tube listening to some last-minute advice from Cassius. For a Victor, he wasn't very confident.
"I know you're here to win, but don't take any unnecessary risks. Start with the smaller Tributes and let the larger ones get worn down for a while. Don't try to defend everything in the Cornucopia. Supplies don't last forever and the others will run out eventually. Focus on finding them later," he said. I nodded impatiently.
"Yeah, yeah. I got this," I said. He smiled at me as the glass closed around me.
"I know," he said. The tube rose and I got my first look at the Arena. Yellow grass covered the ground. A few tall, thin trees dotted the landscape. There was a pond in the distance. Otherwise, the ground was flat. It was perfect.
The second the gong went off I sprinted into the Cornucopia. I grabbed the bow and started shooting. I started with the ones who were running away- it would save me the effort of running them down later. I took down four of them and turned my attention to the others in the Bloodbath. The girl from Three, the one who was dynamite with a sword, was stuffing cans into a backpack.
Let the larger ones get worn down for a while, I remembered Cassius saying. I nocked an arrow and sent it into the back of her head. Cassius taught me everything I needed to survive, and I respected him. But these were my Games, and surviving wasn't enough. I'd do this my way. I saw my District partner running toward the pond. I aimed an arrow at him, then let my bow drop. He hadn't trained in the Academy. I'd take him out when I had to, but it was bad form to kill your partner. Maybe one of the others would take care of it for me.
It wasn't long before the cannons started sounding. They went off, one after another, until all twelve had sounded. Two of those weren't mine, but ten was already a record. I had to admit the Arena was part of it. Arrows go a long way, and there was nowhere to hide here. Of course, I'd have to keep up the good work if I wanted my record to stand. Two is becoming quite the powerhouse.
I set my bow down and looked at my supplies. I'd heeded Cassius and focused on the others, so quite a few supplies were gone, mostly water bottles. I still had three, and that would be enough as long as I controlled the pond. I picked up a canteen and slung it around my waist. There was a hat lying in the back of the Cornucopia. It seemed silly at first, but the sun was hot and as soon as I put it on I appreciated the shade. I buckled on a fanny pack- this was no time for fashion- and filled it with dried meat and fruit. I tucked a bottle of iodine in, shouldered my bow, strapped the quiver on, and started hunting.