Thanks to CrocodileReader431, Skeekiest, Tales from the Cluttered Desk, ladyqueerfoot, AstralKnight98, Cori Anna, Dani H. Danvers, owlthewriter, n3b, critixu, owlthewriter, Audmirable, & Very New To This for the reviews!
If anyone is looking for new SYOTs to submit to or follow, two of this story's readers just started their own! Check out critixu's Midnight Terror - The 63rd Annual Hunger Games & Paradigm of Writing's Tales of Flesh and Fortune on FFN! Also, with day one coming to a close, let's recap where everyone is:
North Island/Sweet Island: Teagan (D5), Diesel (D6), Fest (D7), & Darley (D9)
Middle Isle/Cornucopia: Elegance (D1), Casanova (D1), Amaya (D2), Pietyr (D2), Maddie (D4), & Nicola (D4)
Southern Island/Sour Island: Tilly (D11), Calen (D11), Ophelia (D12), & Ash (D12)
Enjoy!
Chapter XXI Rock and a Hard Place
Day 1 of the 59th Hunger Games
Ophelia had always been an explorer at heart. So despite the ten cannons, the soul crushing anxiety, and overwhelming sense of being a rat trapped in a cage, she was actually enjoying her jaunt around the southern island.
The rotted woods paled in comparison to lush forests just outside District 12's incapacitated electric fence, but being surrounded by trees certainly felt familiar. Even the mist that hung over everything reminded her of the dust from the mines. She wasn't dumb enough to trick herself into thinking this was 12, but at least the terrain wasn't alien like it was crossing the sandbar surrounded by miles and miles of unfathomably deep ocean.
And encountering whatever made the spine tingling screech from the northern island...
Of course, life wasn't perfect. She had run immediately from the Cornucopia which meant she had no bag and no supplies. Foraging wasn't going well either. The island appeared to be utterly dead. Ophelia hadn't even seen or heard any insects about. But worst of all she hadn't found a water source.
She had dealt with hunger and thirst plenty of times back in District 12. She could endure a little longer.
She kept moving, unsure of where and when to stop. She had seen District 11 crossing the sandbar but they must have gone the other way. And she had ventured to the shore line and peeked her head out, but hadn't seen the Careers or anyone else crossing over. It didn't seem like anyone was following her.
But where to set up camp? After a day of moving Ophelia was tired to the bone. Her first instinct had been to climb a tree and settle into the base of the branches, curl up, and fall asleep. She'd done it plenty of times back in 12 when she wanted to be away from people. But most of the tree branches weren't thick enough to support her weight, nor covered enough that people walking by wouldn't see her.
Briefly she had tried climbing the volcano mountain side, only to find her rock climbing skills were subpar and she kept falling on her butt. After a fourth try where she almost landed badly on her arm, risking breaking it, she decided that was enough and angrily kicked the mountain side, declared volcanos "stupid", and moved on.
As the hours passed, Ophelia's early confidence began to falter. She needed help. She had no where to hide, no food to eat, no water, no weapons, and as the sun began to set, the dark forest became creepier, shadows of it's dead branches looking like fingers reaching towards her. It was a horrible thought, but Ophelia reminded herself that she had always gone alone and she'd stick with it.
Who could she count on? Mom and dad? Dad was shorter than her and didn't do much except grunt and work the mines. Mom was off in her own world. They both left her to her own devices at five years old and occasionally seemed surprised District 12 hadn't taken her and spit her back out. Would anyone in District 12 help her? Not a chance. And she doubted the Capitol would send her much. She bet Caesar was talking bad about her every chance he got, but Ophelia brighten up remembering how she'd insulted him.
'Good times.' She thought in spite of her situation.
She kept moving until the forest began to recede and soon she was standing before a new area. To her great relief, there was water in front of her, small streams and little ponds of it, crystal clear and gleaming like silver. To her annoyance, the water didn't seem natural, and was surrounded by large piles of tiny white pebbles and jagged black rocks.
She leaned in closer, sniffing the water. It smelled off too and as her head rested next to the water she could hear it… fizzing? She retreated back to the trees and ripped off a dead branch before returning. She stuck the branch in the water, let it sit, and pulled it out. The branch seemed fine.
Unwilling to be intimidated by a stupid puddle, Ophelia slid her fingers into the water. They went in quick and were pulled out fast, just in case. Her fingers were fine and the water was lukewarm. She put her hand back in, holding it there for longer, and removed it. Nothing.
Satisfied, she cupped up some of the water in her hand and took a sip. She immediately spat it back out, coughing.
"Ewww!" She choked out. The water tasted like sugar! The water had a sort of crispiness to it, something that was biting at her tongue even as she spat it back it. It was the worst water she'd ever tasted. But, after a few seconds, the taste left her mouth and her tastebuds went back to normal.
She felt fine. In fact, she felt… a little boosted?
She tried another sip. This one went down a little easier. The sugary taste was actually kind of pleasant. And it felt hydrating. She kept drinking, hoping it wouldn't come back to bite her with a bad case of the runs.
Absentmindedly, she grabbed one of the white pebbles. She held it up to her face, her nose suddenly filled with the smell of mint. A childish whim came over her and she tossed the pebble across the area, watching it fly through the sky and land in a river.
For a moment, Ophelia thought a hovercraft was bombing the arena.
The water where the pebble landed suddenly started fizzing loudly, followed quickly by an explosion. Ophelia screamed and ran away as the water flew upwards, steaming hot. It splattered across the black rocky ground, sizzling and evaporating. Some of it touched other white pebbles and those exploded as well, causing a chain reaction.
Ophelia ducked back into the trees, keeping her head low as the bombs continued. Eventually it ran out of steam and the fizzing stopped, leaving behind steam.
She looked up, surprised by the reaction. What the hell was this fizzy water? Was she going to explode?!
"AAAAAH!" Ophelia screamed, before throwing her hands over her mouth. 'Don't scream in the Hunger Games you idiot!' she thought. She took a breath and remembered that the water only exploded when those white, mint smelling pebbles touched it. As long as she didn't eat any, she'd be fine!
Ophelia was a mischievous child at heart, and like all mischievous children, as soon as the danger passed, she was gripped by one feeling only: she wanted to do it again.
She grabbed another white pebble and tossed it into a water source that water farther. It flew over the jagged black rocks, landed, and started the whole process again. A loud fizzing noise and then "BOOM!" explosion! She giggled at the sight and did it again, and again.
'Very interesting.' She thought. She wasn't quite sure how she could use this, but it was nice to know it existed. Carefully she grabbed a few more minty smelling pebbles and slipped them into her pocket. She was about to start traversing the rocky outcropping when a chime above her distracted her.
To her absolute shock, someone had sent her a sponsor gift.
It landed in front of her and Ophelia ripped the container open, practically tearing it off its hinges. Inside was a water bottle, full of fresh water. There was something engraved on the bottle too: a notice of who had sponsored her.
PHIPPS ACADEMY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLING EXCELLENCE
Ophelia laughed. A bunch of snot nosed, baby Capitol children apparently liked her. Their parents must have given them money as a lark or something. Ophelia would take that. She gave the sky a devilish smile.
"One more time?" She asked.
She took a pebble from her pocket and threw it at the water, causing one final, boiling hot explosion. At least she was entertaining someone.
And she bet Caesar was furious about that. That made her laugh.
The world was passing in fits and bursts for Ash. He'd stumble through the black barked trees, sometimes hurling his broken body forward and even crawling, only to have to lie down and close his eyes. He'd rest and then awaken and then repeat.
Everything hurt and his fever was rising. His whole body was covered in sweat, mixing with the blood and dirt and producing a putrid smell. The fever terrified him as much as his broken body did. Fevers were signs of sickness, sickness lead to death, and he'd already experienced that once in his life. He remembered his mom, dying in her own bed when he was only eight, the bedsheets soaked and her body as hot as an oven despite the harsh chill of winter. She'd tried to be brave for Ash and his siblings but broke down crying near the end.
Ash was cracking too. Th memories of the Bloodbath were coming back like an angry cascade as the fever melted the walls he had built in his mind.
The blood, the screams. First Greta, then Oscar and Sierra. The boy from 1 had been smiling as he cut down 10, it was just a fun game to him, their terror his reward for a job well done.
And then Seph.
Ash had pushed him. The twelve year old was scared and Ash pushed him to the Careers. He hadn't meant to! It was an accident! But they killed Seph anyways. He had given his ally to them.
Ash had killed Seph.
He collapsed again, leaning against a tree as tears welled up in his eyes. His body shook and he began to cry, heavy sobs and moans escaping his lips. The tears fell, cutting through the dried blood on his face and turned red as they dripped down his cheeks and stained his clothes and the dark ground below.
Since his mom's death, Ash had been responsible for caring for his younger siblings. Levi was almost Seph's age too. And yet, in that moment, Ash abandoned Seph to be…
He keeled over and vomited, gagging as the contents of breakfast were hurled up. Bloody tears, snot, and bile dripped from his face as Ash broke down. What was the point of this? He was dying, his body rotting from the inside. He was a murderer too. Everyone watching probably thought he was a monster.
What did his dad think of him? Did he think he raised a monster?
Ash curled up and kept crying, wanting to die.
Sunset was falling upon the arena when Tilly and Calen finally came to a stop. Not because of exhaustion but because of a most peculiar, out of place structure in their way.
"Looks cozy." Tilly commented.
"Looks like a trap." Calen countered.
Nestled next the volcanic cliff face was a small, warmly colored home. A few windows dotted the walls of it though curtains were drawn but the unmistakable site of a fireplace roaring to life could be seen through them. That and the chimney with smoke, which drifted up lazily into the misty cover on the tree line.
What stood out was what the structure was made off. Large, thick brown walls made up the building, and the roof slatting looked haphazardly put together, like the roof might literally slide off the thing. The crease where the walls met were held together with some sort of white mold and colorful patterns decorated the roof. An odd sight.
After a beat, Tilly recognized it. "Oh! It's one of those candy things that Capitolites build in the winter! I saw it on one of the Victory Tour coverages. It's a gingerbread house!"
"Hell is that?" Calen asked.
"It's like candy." Tilly ventured, not entirely sure herself. "Like, you're supposed to be able to eat the house."
"And what? Capitolites live in it once a year?"
"No, Calen." Tilly lectured. "Their's are tiny. You put them on the counter and decorate your home."
"Seems dumb."
"Can you please not be rude to the Capitol?" Tilly pleaded through gritted teeth.
Calen made no such assurances. "I think we should ignore it."
"And I think we look inside." Tilly countered.
"Why?"
"Because it's strange, Calen. Maybe there's something valuable in there. Now come on."
Tilly lead on, leaving Calen to follow behind begrudgingly. They approached carefully, wary of traps, but the ground was the same as what they'd been trodding along before. Tilly approached the front and only door in and pushed it open, the smell of gingerbread wafting out from the inside.
The interior was quaint and fairly spartan. A queen size bed was tucked into one corner, a cabinet in another, a square table with two chairs in the center of it all, and a fireplace was built into the back wall. It was a cozy spot for two, though cramped for anymore.
"At least it doesn't reek of sour air in here." Calen conceded. He approached one of the interior walls and, with a great deal of confidence, stuck his tongue out and licked it. "Huh… not bad." He commented, enjoying the newfound taste of gingerbread.
Tilly was also enjoying the house, letting out a nervous breath she hadn't quite realized she was holding in. She sat down on the bed, the mattress as soft as marshmallows. She sunk right in and the squishy mattress enveloped her waist. Tilly looked around, feeling at ease in such a domestic place. She could just imagine Greenie and Barren wrestling on the ground, Phillip sitting at the table doing homework. Even her dad slumped in one of the corners, as long as he didn't bother anybody.
And… maybe even Teo. Him and his fiancé. Maybe, just maybe, she could forgive her older brother, just to have one more perfect moment.
She wondered how everyone was doing back in 11. There hadn't been a moment in Tilly's life where she was without them for so long. She hoped Teo was a good child minder.
Calen burst her daydream, huffing as he looked in the corner cabinet. "It's just candy in here!" He said. "Do people really eat this much sugar?"
Tilly didn't reply, closing her eyes and letting the soft bed and memories of family soothe her mind. Calen, taking note of that, had to pull her out again. "We can't stay here, Tilly." He told her. "This place is like a flame for a moth."
"I know that." Tilly said, eyes still closed. "But, a few more minutes ok?"
Calen subsided. "Fine. I don't want to smell the stink outside anyways."
He stood by, letting Tilly have her comfortable moment of silence, punctuated by the crackle of the fire. After a few minutes, Tilly knew it was a time. With a heavy sigh, she tried to stand up, only to find she'd sunken so far into the bed she was having trouble rising.
"Little help?" She asked.
Calen, with a bit of a struggle, managed to get her out of the bed and back on her feet. They moved on, the bed returning to it's original plump, beguiling shape.
They moved outside, snorting as the sour odor reentered their nostrils. "We need somewhere safe to rest." Calen announced.
"Good idea. Where?" Tilly asked. "This is the only place we've found that can be considered shelter.
"How about in the volcano?"
Tilly gave him a look. "Are you crazy?"
"Not inside it, I mean along the cliff side. Or something. And that way we have the high ground too."
"What does that matter?"
"Because the high ground is good." Calen said.
Tilly waited for him to elaborate. When he didn't, she looked at him, questioning. "Why?"
Calen hadn't a clue, but everyone commenting on the Hunger Games said the high ground was good for fights. "Because it is. So, lets get up there." He told her, annoyance in his voice.
It was classic Calen, Tilly decided. Sweet moments like what happened in the house gave way easily to his sourpuss attitude. "I can't climb without nets or ropes." Tilly told him.
"I'll climb and find a way to get you up."
"Your finger is broken." Tilly said.
"I can manage." Calen grunted.
Calen strutted off behind the house while Tilly followed. The side of the volcano was directly behind it and Calen began his ascent. "Let's just keep searching for something." Tilly said.
"It'll just take a minute, calm down, Tilly." Calen told her, gripping the rock and hoisting himself up. He grunted, ignoring the pain in his finger as he grappled with the cliff side and began climbing – poorly. He made it a several feet and then slid down, barely catching himself with his feet before hitting hitting the ground.
"Calen…" Tilly warned, like a mother warning toddler who had their hand too close to something hot.
The expected "stop bothering me, mom" toned answer came back quick. "I'm fine!" Calen grunted, trying again. The second time produced similar results. While working in the fields of District 11 involved a fair bit of climbing, no one had experience with rock climbing. Calen was finding it a difficult challenge, but his pride kept him going.
He went again. And then again, each time both Tilly and Calen's nerves fraying. On the fifth attempt he fell and slammed into the ground, crying out in pain. Tilly ran to look after him but before she reached him, Calen was back on his feet and trying to climb again.
"Calen! Stop that right now!" She demanded, putting her foot down. "Stop climbing, now! We will walk and find somewhere else!"
"Would you shut up!" Calen finally screamed.
Tilly stumbled back like she'd been slapped. "Calen-"
"I'm sick of you're parenting! I'm older than you, ok, Tilly? Damn it, what the hell is the matter with you? Why are you always so freaking bossy and demanding?! Is this really what your siblings have to put up with everyday because screw that, I'd run away too! I am not your child! You're not my mom! So would you stop acting like it all the damn time!"
It was an all time rant for Calen, his head throbbing with annoyance, fear, and pain from his broken hand and broken dignity. Tilly stood silent, mouth open in shock. Silence followed and after a few moment, Calen realized what he'd done.
"Tilly… I didn't mean that. I'm serious. I'm really, really serious. I'm sorry. Please…"
"Just, don't, ok?" Tilly replied. She was biting his lip so hard Calen was afraid there would be blood.
"No I need to… I'm sorry, Tilly. I really am. I didn't mean any of that."
"You did." Tilly said. She was barely able to choke it out, breaking. In that moment, she looked as young as she was, the weight of the world on her shoulders.
"Tilly, don't be like that."
"Let's go." Tilly said.
"Tilly, stop! Seriously, stop acting like that! I'm sorry!"
She walked off, not giving the delightful gingerbread house another look. Guilt took Calen as he followed along, at a lose for words.
Weakness was not something you should in the fields of 11. Peacekeepers watched every move, ready to beat that down. Sympathy for others, kindness in any form, it had no place there. Yet Calen needed Tilly.
It felt like tearing down a mountain, but Calen was committed.
"Tilly, my hand is hurting."
She didn't stop.
"Can you please check it for me?"
"You're fine."
"No, I'm not. I lied. It really hurts. Can… can you please help?"
"You said you don't need my help."
It was the ultimate parent guilty trip tactic. Calen swallowed his pride, still trying to put himself in Tilly's shoes. His sister told him to be softer after all. "I lied. I do. I can't do this without you Tilly. I told you that in the Training Center and I meant it then and I mean it now."
Without looking at him, Tilly turned and beckoned for him to sit down. They went to their knees and Tilly began to redo the bandage. She worked in awkward silence, Calen unsure what to say next. Tilly, upon finishing the bandage, took the lead.
"I can't do this alone, Calen." Tilly whispered.
"Neither can I." He told her. "I'm really sorry."
Tilly nodded, accepting the apology. "You're right. We need to find shelter for the night."
She took off walking. Calen followed behind, full of regrets.
"See? Told you we'd fit!"
"It's kind of tight."
"Snug is the word you're looking for, the sixty-niners are snug!"
While Darley laughed, Diesel stuck his head up through the tree branches, poking out and looking at the twilight sky. "Are you serious, guys?" He demanded. "I am killing it with these naughty jokes! That's at least worth a loaf of bread!"
Silence was the reply, as to be expected. The Tributes wouldn't hear from the Capitol directly until there was a Victor or the Gamemakers called a Feast. All wasn't hopeless though as Darley had his backpack and was willing to share. The bag had a bottle of water, a container of chicken wings, a bottle of sunscreen, an extra pair of pink socks, sunglasses, and a compass. The pair were currently sharing a water bottle, along with their chicken wing dinner in their new hiding spot.
"But seriously," Diesel said, coming down out of the branches while using his 'adult' voice for when he was serious. "I think the trees are a good hiding spot. We're high up, the leaves are thick, and the island is so big that what are the odds that the Careers check this tree in particular? Our odds can't be that bad!"
Darley thought was wasn't entirely accurate. The islands actually seemed small to him. But he could tell Diesel was trying to be positive and the pair's cheerleader. Darley had played that role with Wolf. Maybe Dallis had been that too, but with her gone, Diesel felt a need to step up.
"Do you want to talk about Dallis?" Darley asked suddenly.
Diesel shook his head vigorously, adjusting his position in the tree branches. "Nah… thanks, but I'm good. What I would like to talk about is the sponsor 'sitch. I thought people liked me! This is starting to feel very rude!"
Darley laughed, in part to put Diesel at ease, but mostly for how predictable the boy from 6 was turning out to be. Mask the pain with humor. A boy who had lived on Darley's apartment floor had parents who were rough with him and did the same. Darley wouldn't be surprised if Diesel had a similar situation. He recalled Diesel hadn't said much about his parents in his interview, a tell tale sign of trouble at home.
"They're probably waiting to hear some of the gossip Dallis promised them." Darley offered.
"Huh… well, they're going to have to dive into the water themselves and get that mutt to swallow them if they wanna know." Diesel muttered, anger in his tone. He realized his façade had slipped and was quick to adjust. "That snake's probably got indigestion cuz of all her yapping." He joked, though his heart clearly wasn't in it.
"Do you know what she was going to say?" Darley asked.
"Yeah but… that isn't me, you know?"
"Why not?"
"Because… you know." Diesel said, gesturing as though it was obvious. Darley remained silent, giving him a patient look. Diesel cracked easily.
"Ok, so… I'm not from some rich rich family, right?" Diesel began. "But my brother, Colorado, married into one. Suddenly, every single Chase is crawling out of the walls to cash in. It was a mess and there was drama and bad blood, yada had. And in the middle of all that, this cheap ass gossip rag is printing stuff about us. It sucked, and a lot of it wasn't true. It just bummed everyone out, you know? So, yeah, gossip isn't for me."
Darley took a moment to absorb that, letting his true thoughts become hidden. "You're a really good guy." He finally said. "Guess that's why you save me."
"Thanks." Diesel said. "Don't know if that's winning me the Hunger Games, but is a nice consolation prize."
They chatted a little more about lives. Darley talked about his siblings, his mom, and his life back in 9 before it all when bad. Diesel talked about his brother and friends, an ex who dumped him the day before the Reaping, and carefully avoided any talk about his parents. Darley took it all in, nibbling on a chicken wing and considering his new ally.
He was very surprised that Diesel came back and saved him. If it'd been Darley, he probably would have hid and waited to see what kind of mutt emerged from the cave, just to get an edge. Diesel was cute though, a little worn down and haunted behind the eyes, but he could crack jokes and be charming. That always had an attraction. Wolf never had charisma.
Ahh… poor Wolf. Darley was grateful his ally came to his rescue. It pained him to let Wolf go but hey, he served his purpose. Either Wolf was dying in the Bloodbath or would have died later protecting Darley. That was always the plan. Too bad it had cost Darley an actual weapon. The most cutting thing about Diesel seemed to be his jokes.
Still, it was better than nothing. He'd have to think how he could use Diesel to his advantage. He seemed dead set on not talking about whatever juicy secrets Dallis had uncovered. Vaguely he recalled the Careers screaming about something in the Training Center, something involving Maddie, and Dallis at the center of it. Everyone did hear that Amaya apparently cheated her way into the Games by sabotaging a competitor. But that didn't seem like it'd interest the Capitol. They'd probably love that little factoid and give her the gifts instead of him.
Darley was also disappointed by the arena. So far there didn't seem to be anything he could poison anyone with. He recalled his mom telling him that too much sugar caused problems for your health, but it would take years to develop. What the hell? He told the Gamemakers that he'd give them a show, why would they make this so hard for him?
There was nothing to be done though. He'd just have to sit back and wait for a moment. For now, Diesel was at least fun company.
The sun dipped below the horizon and night fell upon the arena. Most of the Tributes expected something fantastical in the night sky but the heavens looked perfectly normal. The moon was full and large above them and hundreds of thousands of stars shined brightly down upon them, undisturbed by the earthly concerns of the Tributes.
Below the stars, the waters surrounding the three isles and sandbar occasionally lit up. Bioluminescence shined colors of the rainbow when the waves crashed into each other at certain angles, occasionally lighting up the now dark waters of the night. So far, there had been no sightings of the mutt beneath them.
As was custom, the anthem started playing an hour after dusk, signaling the beginning of the list of the Fallen, the in arena counter for which Tributes had died. The anthem played for a full ten seconds all while the seal of the Capitol was projected into the sky for all to see. Then, the names and faces started flashing.
They went in order by District. To the regret of the non Careers, it skipped over Districts 1 and 2 and started with 3. Hypatia was first, eyes sorrowful and somewhat pleading. Web followed, eyes full of life and projecting a hopeful confidence that wasn't meant to last.
District 4 was skipped and it was onto District 5 with little Seph flashing on screen. He looked even younger in his photo. Dallis was next, giving the camera a daring look, a challenge for the audience even in death. Wolf from 7 flashed next, his dark eyes matching his darker features, a Tribute who's hard life had shaped a hard man.
District 8 had lost both its Tributes. Blakely was first, her face plain and refusing to show any emotion for the Capitol. Raveni followed, nerves clear on his face but also a silent strength behind his eyes. Greta from 9 next, her small features and eyes still radiating a strength that she wished Panem to remember her by.
District 10 was last. Sierra's image flashed first, nerves apparent on her face and hair ragged. Oscar was the last of the Fallen, big brown eyes shining from the camera flash. His face vanished as the anthem played on as the Capitol seal returned. Superimposed over it was a reminder for the Tributes.
FOURTEEN TRIBUTES REMAIN
The anthem cut out abruptly and the natural sounds of the arena returned as the remaining Tributes processed the dead. The Careers didn't take the time. Instead, they waited another hour, giving the Tributes more time to settle in for the night and think themselves safe. When an hour was up, they dressed and armed themselves and made their way to the ramp down to the northern island.
This time, Cas took the lead. He lowered his night vision goggles before turning them on, a high pitched whir sounding as they came to life. Five other Careers followed suit, and the Pack – dressed in their respective armors, armed with their weapons, and equipped with their goggles – stood at the ready. Cas gave the Pack a nod and a command.
"Let's go hunting."
The Fallen:
15. Dallis Casterri (D6) – Killed by Gummy Wyrm Mutt, Devoured
16. Raveni Algernan (D8) – Killed by Casanova Rothschild (D1), Chakram, Bled Out
17. Hypatia Diaz (D3) – Killed by Pietyr Kalashnikev (D2), Saber, Bled Out
18. Webster "Web" Osborn (D3) – Killed by Nicola Forebay (D4), Short Sword, Stab to Heart
19. Blakely Katz (D8) – Killed by Amaya Alyec (D2), Knife, Throat Cut
20. Wolfram "Wolf" Fray (D7) – Killed by Nicola Forebay (D4), Short Sword, Stab to Throat
21. Joseph "Seph" Aglais (D5) – Killed by Pietyr Kalashnikev (D2), Saber, Decapitated
22. Sierra Barrett (D10) – Killed by Casanova Rothschild (D1), Chakram, Throat Cut
23. Oscar Cabrera (D10) – Killed by Casanova Rothschild (D1), Chakram, Chest Sliced
24. Greta Doe-Liebert (D9) – Killed by Elegance Jacobs (D1), Pole Axe, Stab to Chest
Obituaries:
Greta: Ugh, she was just so nice and normal and didn't deserve that! Unfortunately, she had a little bit of an "Olivia lite" vibe to her, but where Olivia had strong allies, Greta wrangled "the misfits" and didn't properly communicate realistic Bloodbath goals. A tragic end for them all and her poor parents.
Oscar: Goat boy! I love his relationship with his dad and I always thought he shined in his sections. I needed a high Bloodbath count and his head was on the chopping block unfortunately. RIP dude. Hopefully your dad will swindle the Capitol out of a lot of money as revenge
Sierra: A Tribute I don't think I developed well - as is what happens to a few Tributes every SYOT. She was also hurt as she had the unenviable task of following Hayley Butcher. She had good scenes with Oscar though and her desire to be free and live her own life while not wanting to leave her loved ones behind is a feeling I think most of us can relate with.
Seph: I've written many a brutal SYOT death and this one ranks up there. Everything about Seph was heartbreaking. The poor guy had such a hard go of it the entire Games. But, like we see in canon with Peeta and his brothers, siblings aren't always there to help. They had Seph's back in 5, until it really counted. I think something like this was common and probably happened every Reaping. RIP Seph
Wolf: I really liked him and thought his backstory was cool and I'm always a fan of Tributes whose lives show a unique aspect of District life. He had a hard life and that made him a hard man. Hopefully he can get some peace now and his family will be ok. Being led astray by a pretty boy happens to us all.
Blakely: A cool character that was unfortunately out foxed by another gang member. I was a little hesitant to take her, but I think she played well and would unfortunately be a norm for many kids in 3, 5, and 8. It's sad she couldn't get a happy ending and hopefully Wren will be ok.
Web: A very brave guy who I think people could relate to despite his high intellect and verbose vocabulary. We all want people to love us and have great friends. Web may not have been able to rise in the Hunger Games (he was VERY much unsuited for this arena), but he saved his brother and lived life on his own terms. That takes a lot of bravery.
Hypatia: I went back and forth on this one. I really hate killing off characters like Hypatia, especially since her background could have led to some fun side stories and plot points. Still, I think she shined through despite being a loner. I enjoyed writing her and her interactions (or failure to interact) with Web were good moments that I think highlight how hard it is to make connections in life and death situations. You'll be missed.
Raveni: I freaking loved his backstory and world building. I'm a sucker for making up some good lore. He may not have been the loudest of the Tributes but he stayed true to himself, his values, and he got to call the Capitol cruel to its' face. Oh… and his shawl for the Victor is still around…
Dallis: God she was fantastic! Every section she was in lit up and she did what she loved: stirred the pot. I debated who I wanted to get killed by the gummy wyrm, and in the end, who better to be killed by a big mouth than Dallis? RIP girl, you were one of my top 5 Tributes this year and I miss you.
Up Next: The start of Night 1