Night One
Amira Fieldington D11F 17
It hasn't really been very sunny the whole time we've been in the arena, but I can tell it's almost nighttime but not quite; how the sun is setting, I can tell it's about 5-6 pm. This is about when I'd be leaving the fields back home after work, sometimes later during harvest, but that's a whole different beast. As I am walking, I take a cracker out of my pack to settle my stomach; I know I don't have to be too conservative since I've already collected some berries that I recognize and have been snacking on; I just want to get some more distance before I settle down for the night and make myself a meal.
I also have some matches I don't dare to use, a water bottle, grain bars, and my knife. I find myself in a tall patch of grass between some trees. This is an excellent place to settle down, and I want to stay here until the anthem plays tonight so I can see who's still alive and who isn't; I want to try to gauge who I need to look for still. There are the obvious threats, the careers, and some outliers that scored well, and they shouldn't be overlooked. I think back to the cornucopia and the struggle to get this pack; the kid from 3 wouldn't let go of the pack, I could've let go, but I wasn't sure if I could rely on the arena for food. I didn't want to kill him, so I hit him with the handle. I don't know if he lived; when I was leaving, I saw him getting the best of one of the careers, so here's to hoping he was successful.
I wait for about an hour; I see these weird insects flying around, so I want to get some distance. As I start walking, I look up and can tell the time is around 7:30 when I get distracted by a deafening sound. What in the world is that? I don't know what the game makers are up to, but I hope it's temporary because this sound is horrible.
Bugg Li D3F 14
I don't know why Pascal didn't run when he had the chance. I told him going to the middle was a bad idea, but he wanted his wire. I just don't know why he stayed for more. After running for a while and wiping my eyes, I found myself near a large bulk of trees. I look around for water, but I don't know where to look; maybe a little further down? Some of the leaves are damp, so I presume it's from water. I try to follow the leaves until it runs dry; where did the stream go? I'll keep looking; it's almost dark, so if I don't find it soon, I might just bunker down and try again in the morning.
Wiress told us that water is vital in the games, so I probably need to find some before tomorrow's end. I decide that a bush near a large tree is ideal for the night until I hear some rustling near me. I know it's some leaves, but I'm not quite sure where it's coming from. I hit the ground so hard I almost chipped my teeth; I pulled some dead leaves over me while I lay on my belly. I leave space for my eye to see something, at least. The footsteps are getting closer and closer until this loud gong starts ringing. The sound is so loud I can't tell if the footsteps are still near or not. I don't dare to move, but I see something odd: the small girl from 6, maybe? She was standoffish during training, but while the gong went off, I saw her wearing glasses and walking with a purpose. I wonder where she is going, so I stand up, knowing that the gongs will mask the sound and try to follow her. I know this isn't the smartest thing, but maybe she has something figured out. I follow her for about 10 seconds until the gongs stop and stop in my tracks. The gongs went off for about 45 seconds, maybe a minute but not long.
As I make my way behind a tree see her stop at a tree and run her hands up and down the trunk for a second until something bizarre happens; the tree opens up as a compartment. She pulls a medium size backpack out of the tree! I see this and start quietly making my way away from her, but I just gained invaluable information! The trees are usually open, or the sounds mean we can find goodies all over the arena! The glasses must help you look somehow. I'm not sure, but I think that's the twist in these games. Regardless I know more than others must. This gives me an advantage; maybe I'm not entirely out of these games after all!
Barbara Peren D6F 16
I don't know if I'm the luckiest or unluckiest tribute in these stupid games. I make it to the cornucopia and grab and bag, but of course, someone is grabbing the bag at the same time. Then, the girl let go of the bag, so I get to run away and get some distance without harm.
The only thing in the pack I grabbed was a water bottle, a coil of small wire, and some sunglasses, but no food. I happened to be wearing the sunglasses while walking, which allowed me to see something leading me to a secret compartment in a tree, only for the backpack I found in there to have another pair of glasses and some more wire! What do I have to do to find some food in these packs? What the heck am I supposed to do with two pairs of glasses? What a joke. Also, what's up with all these wires? I guess I could make traps or something, but it seems awfully specific for 2 random backpacks. Ugh, these damn games are annoying, all a tease. After combining my two packs, which didn't take long, I ditched the other backpack under some leaves; I didn't care to carry two bags. Still, I'm not going to leave it in the open, then the others would know I've been here.
As I get ready to leave, I hear the anthem begin, and I stop to look; I want to see at least who's still here after the first day. The first to show up is the boy from 3, which means all from 1 and 2 made it, no surprise. Next is Capricorn. So all from 4 and 5 made it. Following him is the boy from 10, the boy from 11, and finally, the girl from 12. Not a lot dead after the first day, but Capricorn hits me harder than I think it should; sure, we weren't Allies, but he was from home and so innocent. It just shows that no one is spared from the horrors of these stupid games, including me. Ugh.
Tyr Zahnft Shah D2M 18
The others returned right before the anthem played and after the gongs went off. I didn't talk much with Brielle. There wasn't much to talk about. We both just fiddled with our weapons and kept an eye out. We don't discuss the kill during the bloodbath, I know there was hesitation from both of us, but I presume for different reasons. I hesitated because the kid was so small, and he was practically begging, but I had to kill him. In the games, it's often either you kill or be killed, and I can't be perceived as weak. We all watch the anthem in silence when Brielle asks, "did you guys get the boy from 6?" " no, we heard the cannon but couldn't find anyone," Dylan responds quickly.
I suppose some outlier is making some kills, which isn't surprising, but the outlier crop didn't seem too deadly this year. We quickly get down to who's on watch first, and I volunteer. There are no objections; I want some alone time before tomorrow; I know I have to go hunt, so if I want some peace and quiet, now is the time to do so. Everyone is starting to get in their sleeping positions. Everyone is seemingly fast asleep besides Dylan, who keeps tossing and turning. While everyone sleeps, I think of Aria, my fiancé, the love of my life. If I can outlast the rest, we finally get the life we deserve. I know it's a tough hill to climb, but if I keep a level head, I can do it; I can go home and try to live my happily ever after.
Morning of Day 2
Aspen Evergreen D7M 16
I thought about staying and running to the cornucopia. Still, the voice told me It was a bad idea, so I ultimately decided against it. I haven't been doing much; I've been trying to find a good tree to climb because I figured it's safe enough, and I like the trees. I haven't gotten much sleep, but that's ok. I've just been going back and forth with the voice, trying to figure out what my next course of action should be. Should I try to find somewhere to go? Probably but the trees make me feel like I'm home again. I figured it was ok to stay up here until the sun rises. I close my eyes and rest until I hear some weird chittering noises. I look up and see this bird looking at me. We have these in 7, but the voice tells me it's not friendly, but what can a little bird do? They like me back home. I go to jump from one branch to another, and a sound all too familiar to me, a crunch… I can see the branch start to break, and I instinctively try to grab onto the trunk; I try to pull myself up until I hear the screech, it's the bird, and I can see its eyes start to glow until I am pecked on my hands, I can't hold on any longer. Looks like the birds are dangerous; I guess the voice wins this time.
Aspen Evergreen D7M 16 19th Place, Fell to his death.
Brielle Storm D1F 18
I'm the first one up, and I know this because the sun is barely rising. It looks like Dylan fell asleep on his watch, whatever. I'm up now, but he's gotta be careful; he's my backup plan, and I can't have him dying because he is reckless. He is leaving us defenseless. I doubt anyone would attack the career pack on day two but still. The sun is starting to rise, and I am up and watching when the gongs start going off again. Everyone is jerked awake near me, and Dylan rises with a panicked look. Everyone is looking around to see if they can pinpoint the noise. I couldn't see where it was coming from until I realized something; we never realized what the sunglasses were for. I hurry inside the cornucopia and put them on.
The gongs were ending, but I saw it as waves in the air, going in a specific direction."The glasses are helpful when the gongs are going off," I tell the others. "Next time they go off, we put them on and go hunting; I'm sure the other tributes have figured it out by now as well," Kendall says. "I'm not waiting until then, let's eat something, and four of us should leave soon, I don't care what four as long as I am one of them," Bellona says. "I'll stand guard," I say. This gets a scoff from Concord, but I don't care. I know a blowup will happen, and I don't want to be in the middle. They started to leave, and they decided to go Dylan and me behind this time. That's fine. It gives me time to think and to try to set him straight. If not, he can get himself and others killed.
Aspen- Aspen was cool to write and was an interesting tribute, I felt bad that I couldn't do his character as much justice as I would've liked to. Thanks for the submission!
Hey Y'all, school is starting again hence the late delay, the games are underway, and the next couple of chapters should be deadly, so keep an eye out for those. Thanks! Until Next Time.