Leo Fabrizio- District Six male (18)
New day, new me. Another challenge was about to start and I was going to be normal about this one. Once I saw the challenge field I knew it would be easier than I expected. It was cleared of everything except a large ring of mud bordered with flags and a tangle of ropes in the middle. I wasn't sure about the ropes, but the dirt circle implied a combat challenge. I was competitive, but I wasn't about to bodyslam Lana to get some pizza or something.
"Good morning, Tributes!" Isabella chirped. "Any guesses what's going on today?"
"Bareknuckle brawling!" Shep suggested.
"Not exactly, but not too far off," Isabella said. "Today's challenge is called "The Octopus". It will reveal both physical fitness and tribal politics. Behind me we have a mud arena ringed with flags- one for each Tribute. The Tributes will begin the challenge harnessed together in the center of the ring. When the challenge begins, each Tribute will attempt to reach their own flag, pulling against all the other Tributes. Yes, we know octopuses have eight legs and there are six of you. We're not calling it that."
Val snickered beside me.
"It's 'hexapus'," Yarow whispered primly. I was mostly thinking about the logistics of the challenge. Pretty much everything was going to depend on who was next to whom, which I assumed was randomly generated, except Val and Octavia might have been put on opposite ends to prevent collusion.
"First contestant to grab their flag earns immunity and reward," Isabella continued. "Today's reward is a reservation for two at our pop-up gourmet restaurant headed by esteemed celebrity chef Ricky Flame, who's making more than enough for a take-home bag. Technically it's a reservation for three, since I'll be attending alongside you- as a prize, and definitely not because I wanted the food. Worth playing for?"
Most of us cheered, while Val wolf-whistled. Isabella gave a saucy wink.
Yarrow Venus- District Three female (17)
It wasn't going to be my challenge. I was between Leo and Shep and my flag was on the opposite side of the ring from Shep's and two spots to the right of Leo's. That didn't mean I couldn't have any effect, though. Since I wasn't going to be focusing my effort on getting to my own flag, the decision was who I was choosing to throw that weight behind. Before Isabella called the start of the challenge, I'd figured it out. Shep was a bigger threat to everyone else than Leo. If Shep won, I didn't see any real chance Leo would be the next target. If Leo won, there was a solid chance the others would go for Shep and not me- better odds than the alternative, at least. Better than nothing.
Octavia Jacobs- District Two female (18)
The alliance conferred in snatches in the seconds before Isabella called the start.
"Everyone? Not Yarrow," I said. Various allies nodded or agreed.
"Yeah, figured," Yarrow said.
"The challenge begins… now!"
I'd known it was inevitable I'd get muddy. I was almost relieved when the immediate pulling in every direction knocked me off my feet. It wasn't even necessarily a bad thing, since I became a much bigger drag on whoever was pulling that hard. From my position sliding in the mud, my arms stuck deep into it to increase my resistance, I was able to start forming my strategy. Val was to my right with Lana between us. His flag was to the left of Shep's. If I took a diagonal approach, I could bring him close to his flag and not inadvertently bring Shep closer to his, Shep being the strongest one here. That would keep the immunity within my closest circle and leave a threat out in the cold. And I'd even get the prize, since Val would take me anyway.
Lana Mason- District Six female (17)
Once in elementary school I read a book of fairy tales from around the world. One of them was from West Africa and it was about Anansi the spider. He loved food and was always looking for parties he could go to and eat at. When he heard there were three parties happening on the same day, he tied three ropes around his waist and gave them to three friends, telling them all to pull the rope when the party started so he would know to come eat. Then all three parties started at once. Each friend pulled the rope, pulling him in three different ways at once. He was a big fat guy since he loved eating so much, and all that pulling was so strong that it squished all the fat from his waist down below the ropes, and that's why spiders have big butts. Anyway, I understood how he felt now.
Leo Fabrizio- District Six male (18)
It was like a warzone. Yarrow and Shep were almost side-by-side, pulling toward his flag, having seemingly made an alliance out of necessity or pragmatism. Octavia had sacrificed herself as a roadblock and was kneeling in the mud with her limbs shoved into it to slow Yarrow and Shep from getting any farther. Lana seemed like she was just trying not to get bowled over. She wasn't even facing her own flag. She was the least muddy of us, so she had that going for her, at least. The rest of us were in various stages of muddiness from "flecked" (Shep) to "spattered" (Octavia, Yarrow). The tides turned for a moment, with Val gaining ground toward his flag, and Yarrow threw herself down to slow him. She and Octavia looked at each other with mutual respect on their hands and knees. It wasn't just a war. It was a proxy war.
Shep Howard- District Ten male (18)
With Yarrow providing backup I was able to pause and catch my breath. At the moment we were a bit behind, but anything could happen. I'd noticed throughout the challenges that you could never quite count on your allies. Of course they were going to put themselves first at the end of the day. It was nice to be in an alliance. It was even nicer to have immunity. So anyone could go rogue at any moment. I couldn't imagine that anyone would possibly get near their flag without taking their shot.
Yarrow made a psst noise at me. I gathered her meaning and moved forward just as she relaxed her stance, reducing the resistance. It opened us up to the risk that the others would notice and yank the opposite way right when she did, but risk was part of the game.
Val Vella- District Two male (18)
"Some big moves from Val and Octavia, pulling toward Val's flag! This could be it!"
Isabella's cheering gave me a wave of motivation. Also, being really tired gave me a wave of motivation. The challenge couldn't have been going for even five minutes, but I was sore. It was also just lovely that I tasted mud whenever I breathed. It did look like we were on our way, though. Octavia was crawling clockwise around the middle of the ring, keeping herself as an anchor but moving that anchor point closer to my flag. Yarrow was working to counterbalance her but Shep's flag was less fortunately placed- it was on the other side of Yarrow and past Leo, who was angling for his own flag and messing up her trajectory. Then Lana decided to go with us (or maybe just hadn't known which way that was until now with all of the mud and confusion) and tipped the scales. The three of us slowly but consistently pulled toward my flag, with me and Lana walking and Octavia crawling. Yarrow and Shep gave a last push as we neared it, but they just didn't have the weight.
"Val wins immunity and reward!"
Leo Fabrizio- District Six male (18)
On the bright side, the challenge was kind of so fun and chaotic I forgot to get carried away. Sure, I was hoping to get to my flag, but it was fun just being part of it. Bummer Val and Octavia got the fancy restaurant reward, though. I didn't want to be rude, but it was just that they were already rich. They could do things like that anytime.
"Congratulations!" Isabella said to Val as she clicked the immunity necklace into place on him, careful to not get muddy. "Who's the lucky guest?"
"Can I keep the immunity but give the prize to someone else? Like I pick two people to go?" Val asked.
"You don't want it?" Isabella asked.
"Pssht." Val gave a dismissive puff of air. "Rich people are weird."
"And I thought we were friends," Isabella said jokingly. "Official protocol is I can permit anything dramatic or spectacular, and I judge this to be so. So, who are the two lucky guests?"
"Gimme Shep and Leo." I heard my own name perked up in surprise. Octavia scrunched her nose just a little but then nodded in concession. "They probably never got to go to a fancy restaurant like this. Gimme the take-home bag, though."
"Hey, thanks!" Shep said. His grin stood out sharp against his dar
k brown face.
"Yeah, thanks!" I said. See, this is why you don't assume. Sometimes people are pretty cool.
This time I let chaos guide the story and randomly generated a name to win. Fittingly, it was Val. Since he hates rich people and ostentatious displays of wealth, he shared the bounty, though he is sad to miss out on Isabella's company. But maybe it will get him support... Or maybe not, since there isn't much space left for allies when only six people are left. Get in those votes and we'll see who's flung their last mud