Hunger Games 1x1 (laravenel)

[Aura]

@laravenel


His mind was racing what felt like hundreds of miles per hour... if minds could run of course. What an odd phrase. Luka gave his head a slight shake to clear the wandering thoughts from his head. Now, was not the time to lose focus. He had gotten this far with a laser-like precision with each and every decision dedicated to bringing him to this exact moment. Every moment had been dedicated to making sure that he could get out of this arena alive and now he couldn't afford to lose focus.


He shuffled off into the tube and he felt a flush of excitement run up his spine as his feet touched the inside of the tube and he heard the vaguely metallic swishing noise of the tube sealing. What sort of wonders were waiting for him in the Cornucopia? He wished that he knew already because it would help him immensely. He would be overjoyed if there was a whip there but he couldn't use it right away if it was there. Whips were a useful weapon but they weren't exactly a quick weapon and the Bloodbath was about speed. Luka knew that he needed to dispatch his enemies swiftly while in the Cornucopia. He could use the whip later when he had a little more time to enjoy himself, but the Bloodbath wasn't called such because people were afforded the luxury of taking their time to think things over. One mistake (such as grabbing the wrong weapon or item) could cost anyone their life and Luka came to the conclusion that a sword or some blade would be ideal. Any injury no matter how small he could get on any of his enemies had the potential to become infected. Cuts and abrasions were far more helpful to him in the long run than bruises and welts.


The platform he was standing on gave a hesitant lurch before he felt it begin to rise. He was sure his styling team was waving enthusiastically or sobbing but he didn't glance back at them. He was too busy eagerly looking at the growing crack of sunlight filtering in through the top of his tube. He hadn't intended to but Luka raised his arm to shield him from the growing light. Just before he had adjusted to the light he removed his hand from his face. What a mistake that was, he internally grimaced. His face had remained composed in his stony mask so he wondered if shielding his eyes briefly had communicated weakness like he believed it did. Impressions were everything and he wanted everyone to believe that he was an emotionless killing machine. It would help with donations if his resolve never wavered.


5... 4... 3... the voice above boomed. He saw something glittering amongst the spoils. There it was. He funneled his attention towards whatever blade that was. Would that be the first blade whose blood-lust would be sated? His body felt electrically charged as he waited for the countdown to end.


2... 1 - Let the 53rd Hunger Games Begin! Every muscle had been so tense in those long seconds that it almost felt like a relief when he finally leaped forward off of the platform. He watched as a few quicker individuals raced past him but instead of feeling despair he felt anticipation. Let them get to the Cornucopia. He would be arriving within seconds of them. His opponents needed a fighting chance as fighting was his best chance.


Luka grabbed hold of the gleaming blade he had been watching since on the platform and his fingers managed to curl upon it as he heard the swish of air behind him through the mad din of fighting surrounding him. He growled and whirled back countering the tribute's blow and knocking him to the ground. With a savage growling noise he thrust the blade into the tribute's neck before lunging forward towards another one catching him in his lower back. The tribute screamed in agony and fell off of the blade in a spray of blood and sand.


He ignored the fallen tribute beside him as he set his eyes upon another one. The wound on the tribute's back was shallow despite how profusely the young girl was bleeding. It was maybe even a wound that the girl might have survived had she not been in the Hunger Games. But Luka didn't care. He would be wasting time if he cared about finishing them off because this was the time where they were all here. He was more concerned with wounding than killing... because wounds had just as much potential to kill.


His eyes settled on another tribute already in flight and he hurried after the tribute chasing him across the sands for just one moment before he realized that the tribute was faster. Instead he raised his blade and flung it through the air. It whistled noisily but missed its target and sunk into the sands. Luka made note of what the tribute looked like and vowed to himself that he would find that tribute and finish what he started.


He came back to the Cornucopia with the brunt of the battling done and his nerves still on fire from the rush of adrenaline. Someone had finished off the girl since he had left and the male tribute from eleven that he had killed remained face-down on the ground where he had left him.


Cannon-noise roared above him and he counted each one of them quietly. Nine. Two of which had been his kills. Only fourteen people left to kill before he would be crowned the victor. Luka approached the Cornucopia now that most of the tributes had gotten their supplies and fled grinning as he checked out his spoils. The other Careers he was supposed to be aligned with had fled.


But where was the water? He turned each object over once more before frantically combing through everything again. No food... no water. Only a countless array of blades and weaponry. He grinned as he found a whip in the weapons cache before adding it to the weapons that he would carry. He couldn't stay here at the Cornucopia in the middle of a desert if the Cornucopia had no food or water. He would just have to move and hope to find something. He cast his light eyes off towards the distance where he could see a distant line of trees. He was sure that he could find water if he made it that far.


((Sorry for the mini-novel, there was just a lot to cover.))

 

[laravenel]

Minah scanned her surroundings as soon as the tube came to a halt. She heaved a mental groan of desperation as all that unfolded in front of her were miles and miles of sand. A tribute from District 7 could have hoped for much more. Of course, she was left with the short end of the stick, Minah thought with a tinge of annoyance. There’s not a lot of hiding involved in open desert and camouflage was the one thing she had focused on at the Training Centre. The countdown had begun and she looked at the rest of the tributes, wracking her brains trying to figure out a plan of action. She needed to survive but more than that, she needed to get away from them. She wasn’t a killer and that’s where they were all headed. The initial Bloodbath that eliminates the slow, weak and honestly the non-Careers who never stood a chance. The life she had known as a lumberjill was about nature and hard work. They were simple, honest men scrapping together whatever remains of a life the Capitol had allowed. She had vowed to herself that she would never kill. And here she was right smack in the middle of well... killing.


Let the 53rd Hunger Games Begin!


Minah ran as fast as she could but to the other side of the entrancing Cornucopia. The appeal of it resonated with the bags of food, artillery and survival items as she edged closer. She wondered if that’s what drove everyone to the bloodbath. To risk it all knowing there is that odd chance you might get away with something to ensure you live for the next bit. Her momentary trance snapped as she heard the first bloodshed. She did not turn her back but grabbed the first thing she could lay her hands on and dashed on forward, dodging a knife every so often. The Careers were ferocious. There is no point in fighting because she knew did not stand a chance against all of them at once. She had to hold out until they turned on each other. They wouldn't last in the woods. And that is exactly what unfolded in front of her as she kept running. Now that’s more like it, she muttered. Her heart raced to a point where she felt like she was exploding as the Cannon shots began to sound...

 

[Aura]

He may have gotten lost at one point. Luka had been walking all day and yet the distant shimmery line of trees seemed to be just as far as it had been when he had left the Cornucopia. He whirled around expecting to see the Cornucopia right behind him but a massive wall of sand appeared before him and the Cornucopia had seemingly vanished. He had to be getting close to the trees... he wasn't quite sure what he would do when he was in the forest portion of the arena but it didn't matter to him. By then he surely would have met another tribute and the odds were that they would have food or water... the tributes must have raided the Cornucopia of food and water, there was no way that the game-makers wouldn't have included any in the arena.


He thought he could hear footsteps wading through the sand and he unwrapped the whip he had tied around his waist with surprising speed. His eyes darted through the swirling sands and he licked his lips scrutinizing every detail of his surroundings. He could still hear the footprints though he couldn't see anyone... it was too soon for the game-makers to be playing any games with the contestants... he was almost sure of that though the people of the Capitol would probably eat up the idea of the highest-rated tribute falling so quickly into the game. Luka couldn't even imagine the shame that dying this early would bring his family.


But all of these thoughts were eliminated when he made out a hazy figure amongst the sands. He crouched low to the ground trying to keep his own footsteps quiet as he approached the figure. With a swift movement he flicked his whip grabbing the tribute's hand and launching her backwards. The girl sprawled out on the ground and she spasmed briefly trying to pull herself back to her feet and get her hand out of the whip's hold. Luka smiled grimly as he pulled a knife out from one of his pockets and the girl's scream of terror abruptly faded into the boom of a cannon. Only thirteen tributes left.


He checked her over thoroughly and quickly before the body could be pulled from the arena. No water. No food. She had been useless to him. He was beginning to feel thirsty and he tried to convince himself that he was only feeling thirsty because he knew he didn't have any water. It was a pure psychological thirst... he couldn't physically be thirsty. If he was physically thirsty then there was the possibility that he could die of dehydration.


-


Sometime in the night a cannon had gone off. It startled him into awakeness and for one long moment he thought it had been him because he had let himself go to sleep. For one long moment he was too chilled about how easily it could have been considering he had curled up in the middle of the open desert before he pulled himself back up to his feet. Dawn was about to break and he needed to find water today. At any cost. He had to be getting near the forest by now... only twelve more people to die.


He shook the sleepiness and exhaustion from his limbs as he continued to power forward towards the trees. His legs were shaking slightly. He was physically thirsty. It was nearly twenty-four hours since his last drink. He probably only had another twenty-four hours left. He might be able to last longer, but he really didn't want to take that chance. He swallowed heavily ignoring the dryness in his throat.


He wondered how the other tributes were doing. Aside from the district 9 girl that he had killed yesterday he hadn't seen anyone else. It was like they had vanished into the sands.

 

[laravenel]

Dizziness finally caught up to her as she stuttered to the entrance of the woods. She was far too drained to think clearly although she wondered how the game makers had designed the arena. The golden sands sparkled in the distance and the trees seemed rich and full signifying the presence of water somewhere. Question is, where? Being from the poorer districts had given her one advantage though. She had to go hours and sometimes days without sustenance. She had taught herself to live on the meagre leftovers that would often be at the mercy of some lucky civilian who felt generous that day. Life on this arena was not any different. It was almost a mockery of the life she had always lived and she overflowed with hate at the thought of it. No, she reminded herself that she needed to conserve every ounce of energy. She could not afford to waste it on the injustices of this so called glorified empire of Panem.


Mina took a deep breath and panted her way to the base of a willow tree. She had gone the extra mile to take a detour around the desert and enter the woods from a different direction. Almost all the tributes had made a run directly from the Cornucopia to the first sight of the trees. Paranoia crept up to her as she wondered if her fellow tribute, Birk had thought of the same thing. He had showed no interest in teaming up with her. He decided his brute strength and skills with an axe was more than enough to get by on his own. If anything, he saw Mina as a weakness.


Her body was running on reserves as she tried to remember how long it had been since she had been running from the Cornucopia. At least a day. She grabbed the bag and almost ripped it open, shaking out its contents. A cup, few food bars and a slingshot. Nothing that would last her very long. Suddenly the Panem music played lighting up a screen in the sky. Mina rested her head against the bark and watched the list of dead tributes flash on the screen. Twelve more...she thought silently.


--


Mina shook awake grabbing the slingshot. Her head pounded from the exhaustion and uncomfortable nap. Early morning light crept through the branches of the overbearing trees. She got up to her feet only to rest her hands on the bark of the willow tree for balance. She needed water or all this would be in vain. There is no way she can scour the area without running into other tributes and she definitely could not stay. Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink, where was that from? She thought almost delusional. Thirst burned the insides of her throat and she wanted to just...give in and sleep...


Something clicked in the corner of her brain as her eyes widened in happiness. Of Course! ITS A WILLOW. She touched the ground and it was wet...WATER! She almost yelled and dragged herself letting the wet ground lead her.

 

[Aura]

The trees wavered and flickered in the distance mockingly. How had he not reached them yet? Luka bit his lip as he watched the trees swell ominously. He thought that they were behaving like this because of the heat and not because they were some mocking mirage. It was horrible for him to consider but... what if the arena was all desert and the trees were just always on the horizon and just out of reach. He shook his head, that was horrible thought but likely untrue. He had to believe that there were trees in the distance. Why would the Cornucopia not have any water if the whole arena was desert? The Capitol would be setting themselves up for the shortest games yet if that absurd idea was true.


He watched the trees sway wildly in the rising heat before he wiped away the sweat from his forehead. Scratch what he had said about maybe surviving into tomorrow, he would be lucky to survive through the night if the sweltering heat didn't abate. He hoped that it was cooler in those trees... from what he could see in the distance it looked as if the trees were their own separate climate. He honestly doubted that it could continue to be this offensive hot when he was behind the mocking line of trees. He knew that he would kill any person he came across but if he wasn't in the games right now he knew that he would have killed anyone for just a mouthful of sweet water.


He staggered forward awkwardly and fell to one knee before picking himself up. He had been walking through the heat ever since he got into the games. It didn't matter that normally he wouldn't have been so dehydrated by this point because the sweltering heat was working numbers on him. There was no chance in the matter any more, he would be dead soon if he didn't find water.


Then suddenly he realized that the trees no longer seemed stationary. That wasn't to say that they were moving or anything but for the first time since he had spotted them they actually seemed to be getting closer. Luka blinked in disbelief though his feet didn't stop trudging forward out of the sand... he honestly thought that if someone came up and beheaded him that his body would continue walking towards the trees for several seconds, that's how automated his steps felt. The trees continued to creep forward and growing larger. His heart soared with relief... that didn't mean that he was going to stumble upon a pool but at least he would escape some of the heat by slipping under the shade of the trees and if there were trees there was water. He had next to no survival skills but he knew at least that much.


-


He had managed to find his way into the forest portion of the arena though he couldn't find the water he hoped he would find in a puddle, pond, stream, or even on a leaf. It took him four hours after entering the forest for his vision to go blurry suddenly and his left leg suddenly seemed to seize up and stop moving. He lumbered awkwardly for just a moment before he fell face-down onto the forest soil his eyes rolling back into his head as he fell. He fell just about at five that night from dehydration... though the cannon did not sound.

 

[laravenel]

Hands trembling from the flow of the stream, she lay down at the banks letting the water wash over her. The sweat, the grime and the burning thirst. Everything was clearer now. She heard the birds, the wind and the beautiful noise of water sloshing beside her. All her sense were on full alert. She had made sure the area was clear before delving in although the call of water almost blinded her into submission for just a drop. It was past midday by the time she had finally located the stream. The trees were helpful but it was a mission. A mission that almost killed her. Every step had been torture but the end was worth it. She wondered where everyone was and why they hadn’t found this place yet. She breathed deeply drinking lazily from the sides of her mouth whenever the tide of water rose high enough.


Suddenly, she heard a creak in the woods. Distant chattering. Well that was short-lived, she thought as she got up. She quickly stuffed the food bars into her pants and filled the plastic bag with as much water. Slinging it over her shoulder, she took cover under one of the bent trees, camouflaging neatly into the green shrubbery surrounding it.


Careers. Three of them had banded together wielding weapons. Of course two of them were from District 2 or 3. She couldn’t quite remember but weapons were their thing. She watched them discreetly, hoping they would carry on with their hunt. But the Careers set up camp uphill where the stream began. She instinctively took a step back, accidentally agitating a bird’s nest. A flock of birds chirped and flew out alerting the Careers. Her hands flew over her mouth and she closed her eyes for a split second almost wanting to hit herself for the bonehead move.


“What was that? Go check that out.” One of them ordered authoritatively. As they edged closer, Mina knew there was nothing to do but run. Oh boy, she muttered and took off.


“IT’S A TRIBUTE. GET HER!” the girl yelled brandishing a sword. Her fellow tribute pulled an arrow out of his quiver and aimed his bow at the moving blur. Mina ran in a zigzag pattern throwing off the boy’s aim. An arrow whizzed past her shoulder scraping a piece of her suit with it. I guess I know what his best skill is, she thought as she got down and rolled over for the next bit.


It seemed like hours had passed but the boy relentlessly chased her and she could swear she heard him laugh like a cat chasing a mouse. Her legs began cramping up but she edged on. When she thought she had finally lost him, she slowed down only to stumble over a log. She crashed headfirst into the pile of dead leaves and twigs. Immediately turning on her back, she wiped her face off and looked around. What the hell was that?


She walked over cautiously. It wasn’t a log...it was a Career. She bent over and rolled him on his back. He had passed out from dehydration. Stone faced, she pondered what to do. This one looked like he was on his own. Was this breaking her vow? He only had a little while before dehydration would end him. Would that be on her? Now that she had a chance to help him. He’s a Career, he would kill me, she thought sternly. The eternal struggle was shaving away precious minutes and she had to make a decision now. Sighing, she drew a cup of water and pressed it to his pale, chapped lips, ready to pay the price for her weakness.

 

[Aura]

Luka seemed to awaken almost instantly as he was fed the water carefully but in reality though his bright blue eyes immediately snapped open it took him a long time to focus and figure out what was happening. The first coherent thought that he managed to form as he swallowed the water greedily was the exaltation of finding water. Water! He leaned forward into the flow of water instinctually as if he thought that the water would vanish.


The second thought was of the tribute feeding him the water. The second he realized that he wasn't alone a shiver climbed up his spine and he felt his body moving before he was even aware of it. He brought one of his hands to clamp down on the girl's wrist harshly and in one fluid movement he used the weight of his body to throw himself over her pinning her to the ground underneath him. Luka had plucked a knife from his pocket and it hung waveringly just at the girl's throat. If he hadn't been so dehydrated and weak he would have been faster at doing all of this and because he was not at his peak he had enough time to hesitate. He had killed heartlessly so he knew that he wasn't hesitating because he was afraid to kill.


Luka snarled and flung the blade aside before pulling himself off of the girl. He shouldn't have hesitated, he shouldn't have had time to think because he knew now that he wasn't going to kill her. She had saved his life and that had steadied his hand when the blade had been touching her throat. He couldn't kill her when she was responsible for his life in this moment. What would the people in District 2 think of him if he killed her? He had come to the Games to help win back the honour lost when his father had left to fight against the Capitol.


"My name's Luka." he grunted pulling himself up to his feet. He briefly considered thanking her for saving his life but he decided that he couldn't do that right now. He figured that not stabbing her in the throat showed his gratitude anyways, "District 2."


He reached out his hand towards her meaning to pull her to her feet but he reconsidered and reached for his knife lying beside her, "I guess we're allies now?" he asked her reluctantly. She didn't appear to have too much going for her as he could have killed her with minimal effort but he owed her a debt and besides... she had found water and that was worth keeping anyone around.

 

[laravenel]

This is it, Mina thought as she felt the full weight of the boy over her. With the knife threatening to slice her at any second, she knew she couldn't play weak anymore. She was the daughter of a lumberjack. All those years of hauling wood, cutting and carving had paid off for this very moment. Mina knew she fooled people into thinking she was a dainty villager but in fact she was strong. She could get away from this boy albeit not without injuring herself but that was her only chance to live.


Just as a she was about to haul her energy into a massive upthrust and kick him, he withdrew. Mina looked at him, a mixed emotion of confusion and shock writ largely across her face. The Capitol citizens must have cast her off. She broke all the training rules that her mentor had spent days drilling into her. She showed weakness, she showed emotion and now here she was staring blatantly at an opponent whom she had to at some point kill if she ever dreamt of making it out alive. Something about all of this was comical...


She pulled herself up still eyeing him suspiciously. Clapping her hands to get rid of the soil, she watched him grab the knife he had flung when he stopped himself from ending her. What was his end game? She was sure he had something up his sleeve. No Career ever showed mercy. Cautious as ever she waited for him to say something and he did much to her surprise. Allies eh





"Mina, District 7. And if that keeps me alive till the end, allies it is." she said dryly. Maybe this wasn't a bad idea. She had watched him train. He was definitely a killer and as far she was concerned, he can do all the dirty work. And if they make it, well she would worry about that when it comes to it.

 

[Aura]

He smiled slightly but he wondered if it looked genuine at all especially given how he wasn't quite sure if it was. He wasn't quite sure if he regretted naming her as an ally yet... he had imagined his allies would be tough careers and not some girl from... district seven she said so she was probably a girl who had spent a lot of time among trees. He brushed the excess dirt from his knife and regarded it critically before tucking it back into the pocket where he kept it hidden. He supposed that was one of the more useful districts, she could probably tell him which berries were okay to eat. It could have been worse... she could have been from twelve or something.


"What are your skills?" he asked in a flat voice. He was trying to keep the disdain he had for the other districts out of his voice. Sure, she wasn't a trained killer like him and the other Careers but she wasn't completely useless to him and she HAD saved his life. He couldn't write her off and call her dead-weight just because she wasn't from one of the better and wealthier districts. He felt a flush of guiltiness wash through him, he hadn't paid any attention to Mina when they had been training... she hadn't been on his radar so he honestly had no idea what sort of skills she possessed. Hopefully she would indulge him and hopefully she would ask him in return, he wanted to feel better about only just noticing her presence in the Games.


"We should find shelter." he added quickly as if it were an after-thought to his previous question. He wouldn't mind knowing what he had to work with but not at the cost of their lives. If there were other Careers lurking in the woods he was going to find them and not the other way around. He was fairly confident in his ability to handle any tributes that the might encounter but it was an unnecessary risk when he was still so shakey and weak.

 

[laravenel]

"Yeah we should, I just lost a band of three Careers who were keen on having my head." she said grabbing her bag. She watched him stumble and rolled her eyes. Oh great I get the weak one.


She paused for a second wondering what to do. Finally, not really caring too much about whether he would refuse or not, she offered her arm for him to lean on. She noticed despite the weakness, how strong and chiseled he looked. Maybe if this was a different world, he would not be so bad to be around. Maybe they could even be friends. Quickly, she shooed such thoughts away from her mind and tried to focus on the current matter. The Hunger Games did not allow for idling. It had already been a couple of days and she was anticipating the Gamemakers to be unleashing all their "obstacle courses" soon. Soon, other tributes won't be their worst problem. They began heading in the opposite direction of the stream.


"Once you're in top shape, we can discuss gaining territory over the stream." she said looking at him knowingly. "Oh and for the record, my skill is survival. How about you?"

 

[Aura]

He immediately wanted to reject her offer of health but his shaking legs protested too much to really consider that option. Luka grimaced as he leaned on her arm, how weak was he coming off? He wasn't even worried about the people of the Capitol as much as even her... he was a Career, he was trained to kill and yet... here he was at his weakest. He could barely stagger along though he was beginning to feel the effects of the water kicking in. Once they reached this stream she had talked about then he would return to full strength.


He laughed slightly at her question though there was nothing inherently funny about it. She was asking about his strengths when he was demonstrating a general lack of skill, "Believe it or not when I'm this dehydrated but fighting. I've taken out three of the eleven dead tributes actually, more than a quarter of the dead tributes." he added as if he was proud of his accomplishment.


He let her lead him for a while leaning on her as heavily as he dared given that he was taller and larger than she was. Little by little he could feel the small dose of water working through his body and gradually he pulled his weight off of her and began to walk unsupported with more of his previous confidence. He was almost a little reluctant to walk on his own... there was something oddly soothing about leaning on Mina for support, something comforting, reassuring, about it.


"Three Careers? That's not too bad. There's two of us so as long as we plan it through right we can take them down. I know how they think and I can give you a few of my best tips and you can teach me what you know and maybe add a little stealth to my arsenal," he smiled glancing at her, "I think we can make a great team." he said as they approached the stream that she had been leading them too. Luka involuntarily groaned with relief before collapsing to his knees by the stream. He began to scoop handfuls of water into his mouth and onto his face, he wasn't even aware in his joy of drinking more water that he was actually laughing. The simplest things sometimes.

 

[laravenel]

Mina watched Luka drown himself in the pleasure of the stream as she had when she first stumbled upon it. They had made a roundabout and ended up on the opposite end of the stream. The shelter and shadows of the leaves and the thick branches of the what looked like age old trees hid them pretty well from the Careers who had set up camp. It was only a matter of time before they decide to cross the stream and start searching for more opponents to terminate but now this was peaceful and they had to get better equipped if they were to take them down.


She felt something click between them when they walked with him leaning on her. She wondered if it was all in her head. Perhaps the stories her mother used to croon to her during their hungry nights had come crawling now that she was actually alone with a guy who looked the way Luka did. She wanted to know his story, partially to remind herself of the horror that a Career tribute is and partially to sympathize...to connect, maybe find out something that wasn't painted over with this deathly facade and propaganda of the Capitol.


He turned back to look at her and Mina quickly snapped back from her little reverie. She suddenly realized she hadn't eaten in almost two days. The food bars had been squished to mush in her pockets and she pulled them out. Handing one over to Luka, she squatted beside him and began munching on one herself. Oh man, even this crap was better than the scraps she had to survive with at District 7. She craved the small fruit and berries her father used to sneak from the trees he was working on. It was illegal to use anything but the rations provided but that was their little secret. After a few moments of silence, she opened her mouth to ask him something when suddenly a siren sounded and the clouds turned to dark purple. Gamemakers have begun their gunfire.





They jumped to their feet and Mina saw Luka's hand go over his whips. She only had a stupid slingshot. They heard loud screams in the distance from the woods. The ground beneath them began to slightly move and shake. They peeked through the trees with their hearts in their mouths confused and frightened. You can fight away tributes but what are you supposed to do about the land... They saw one of the Careers at the camp sinking. Mina's eyes widened in horror.


"ITS QUICKSAND." she screamed nudging Luka. Everywhere around them the mud and soil had began transforming. It was almost mesmerizing. It definitely took some skill to make it look natural. Her hands shook and she took a step ready to run...but where? The desert would be even worse. Suddenly she looked at the trees.


"Here's your first lesson in survival. Start climbing." She said grabbing onto the first branch.

 

[Aura]

Luka was grateful for the food bar that Mina offered and he opened and scarfed it back hastily. He could practically feel the happiness radiating from his stomach from the dual offer of both food and water. She really was spoiling him, he would have to repay her. He hated not knowing why she was doing this, no other tribute would have stopped and given him both their food and water. Every other tribute in the arena probably would have just stepped over his body if they had found it or done something to put him out of his misery. But not her. He considered her as he ate and he decided that he couldn't figure her out. Was she just being nice? It made no sense to him but it made him want to make it up to her.


The skies turned purple and a siren shrieked into the evening. Nobody had died since the middle of the night and nobody had gone during the day. He wasn't surprised that they were resorting to this so quickly. It must have been a slow day. He jumped to his feet and settled his hands over his whips. Here was where he would hopefully repay some of his debt to her as he heard the screams from a distance.


But he wasn't expecting the threat that the Gamemakers had in store for them. The ground began shaking and his eyes caught sight of a Career running towards them before he began sinking. Quicksand. The thought formed just a second before Mina said it and she nudged him.


"Here's your first lesson in survival. Start climbing." Mina told him and she grabbed onto one of the lowest branches. She said she was from district seven so this was probably child's play for her. He watched her climb up into the tree before disappearing into its foliage before he heard shouting.


"HELP!" the voice roared as the tribute sprinted towards him. He was moving quite quickly despite how there was obvious resistance to each step. Luka squinted and recognized her. She was his district partner, Scout McKey. Their mentor had arranged for them to be allies before the Games began though they had been separated. She was also a Career. There was rarely a year where both of the District 2 tributes weren't.


Luka grabbed hold of one of the bottom branches and hoisted himself up using the tree. He hung on the branch for a second before he maneuvered himself so that he was hanging down from the branch from his legs. His hands were outstretched waiting for Scout if she made it this far.


And she did barely. Their fingertips brushed as she reached the base of the tree and she shrieked in apparent pain as she managed to fight her way out of it just far enough so that he could seize hold of one of her hands. He pulled on her arm and the branch creaked ominously. He thought about letting go of Scout's hand but he held on. They were from the same district, he felt a sense of loyalty to her. He thought that they could have been friends outside of the Games and he thought that he was a good friend.


Her other reaching hand found his and she clung to him desperately clawing her way up him. They remained where they were awkwardly until the quicksand finally gave way and Scout managed to free herself and climb up to join him on the branch using him and the trunk to leverage herself out. The branch protested under their combined weight and Scout climbed up to join Mina. His foot lifted off of the branch just as it fell to be swallowed up by the quicksand.


"Mina meet Scout, my district partner, Scout meet Mina, district seven."


Scout's vivid blue eyes narrowed slightly at the introduction but she didn't say anything. The cannon thumped three times.


"Nine more to die if my count is right." she said, "Only seven people we would have to take down together if we don't... well, count seven here." she said glancing at Luka with a sickly sweet smile.


"She's my ally. Lay a finger on her and you're done. I saved your life from the quicksand so I don't owe you anything, Scout." he warned.

 

[laravenel]

Mina rolled her eyes at the District 2 girl. Pretty, most likely an expert with weapons and trained fighter like Luka. Only difference is she was well... A girl. The way she looked at Mina made her feel like she spat venom from jealousy and maliciousness made up for the lack of strength she would have had if she was a boy. A part of her really wanted to face Blue Eyes just to see the expression on her face when Mina showed how strong she was. But Luka's tone was curt and Blue Eyes definitely valued her life more than killing Mina.


The dark clouds made her nervous. Perched on a branch holding on for dear life next to the very people whom either she had to kill or who would kill her definitely reeked of stinking irony. Yet despite the direness of the situation, she found herself thinking about whether Luka and Blue Eyes had a thing going on. The way Blue Eyes looked at Luka, there was definitely something there.


After what seemed like an hour, the clouds began dissipating to reveal the night sky. No stars, just a pitch black sheet encompassing the void that was her life along with everyone else who were pawns in these death games.


"We are about as safe as we can be for now. Probably should get some sleep while we can." She said stifling a yawn.


"I'll take the first watch." Luka offered. The girls looked at him and Mina drifted off hoping she would still be alive when she woke up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Aura]

He had offered to take first watch and thankfully neither of the girls protested against this as he wasn't willing to negotiate. He was taking first watch. He felt too wired and awake after rescuing Scout and she seemed exhausted after narrowly escaping death. Even now he wondered why he had done it. He didn't feel good about saving Scout and her obvious animosity towards Mina actually made him feel nervous. He was telling himself that he wanted to stay awake because his nerves were charged with adrenaline... but he was actually a little afraid of taking Scout in. He knew what she was like... she was just like him and the other Careers. Mina had saved his life and demonstrated her goodness but Scout was very capable of slitting their throats and slipping off into the darkness.


"I can't sleep." Scout whispered as she slung herself onto a near branch after a long stretch of silence. For a while he thought that she had fallen asleep but that would have been too good to be true. He grunted in confirmation though his eyes remained focussed on the ground. It looked solid and safe enough but...


"I just don't feel safe." she added, "I don't like sleeping beside people I don't trust. Do we even know this girl? How can you trust her?" Scout asked. She hooked one of her arms around one of his and he tried not to laugh. The whole situation was a little ridiculous. Here he was thinking of how he couldn't trust Scout and here she was trying to get close to him while make him doubt Mina.


"Listen, Scout. If you have a problem with Mina you should just leave... because I trust her with my life." he said in a low tone. How could that not have been true considering she had already proved herself capable of handling his life?


Scout's blue eyes seemed to flash dark with something though that could have been a trick in the darkness, "We're supposed to be partners Luka. She's only going to slow us down, she doesn't have the training that we do." she paused for a moment before accurately guessing, "Do you owe her your life or something?"


"Does it matter?"


"Well, it matters to me." she said softly. Her fingers entwined with his own.


"I don't. I don't owe her anything, I thought I could keep her around because she's got some good survival skills. I had her lead me straight to water." he said slowly. The words felt sour and bitter on his tongue and Scout's grip on his hand felt tight as if she had clamped down as hard as she could on his hand. He hoped that Mina wasn't awake or listening because he was testing Scout.


"Brilliant. You remember where the water is right?"


"Of course." he nodded. That at least was the truth.


"Then I guess you don't need her anymore after all." Scout said and her hand slipped away from his. She stood up and the next moment seemed to stretch out into eternity though it couldn't have been much longer than a second or two. Scout rose to a crouched position and immediately produced a knife from one of her pockets. She swung to where Mina was sleeping with a surprising ease but Luka rose to his feet behind her balancing on a limb shakily as he uncoiled his whip. Scout lowered her blade but she was stopped as something sharp wrapped itself around her wrist and flung her backwards.


Luka hadn't anticipated that she would fall off the limb so when Scout fell he did too. His legs were tangled in the whip but he ignored that as he fished into a pouch for his own knife. Scout snarled clawing at the whip wrapped around her arm and when she freed herself from it he could see the thin bleeding lines where it had bit into her flesh. She had enough time to do this and grab her knife off of the ground before Luka's knife struck her. He was an ace with throwing knives.


Scout sunk to the ground gasping and shrieking and Luka approached her after winding his whip back into a neat coil. He had fallen a fair distance and he could definitely feel it now. His leg felt stiff but his left arm felt like it was on fire, his arm hung at a strange angle, and he didn't know if he could move his arm because of the agonizing pain... he glanced at his arm as he approached Scout stiffly. It was his shoulder. He had dislocated it.


But that could wait for just a moment. He approached Scout who was making a number of unholy and strange noises as she writhed in pain.


"I warned you." he said and with his good arm he took the knife and slit her throat the way she had tried to do to Mina. A cannon boomed. Eight left... or seven. Should he count Mina as well as himself? He didn't know anymore... seven.


He heard movement in the tree and he felt both relieved and guilty. The scuffle had woken Mina up and he felt bad for that but he couldn't hope to climb this tree unless his shoulder was popped back into place and he probably needed help to make sure that he didn't wind up completely wrecking his shoulder. How much of that scene had she heard he wondered as he pickpocketed Scout's body. Two knives, a bottle of water, and five energy bars. Two and a half when they were split. Not great, but it was better than nothing.

 

[laravenel]

Mina shook awake to a girl's screams. She rubbed her eyes and got into a defensive position only to see Luka and Scout fall to a ground with a giant thud. What the hell.


Grabbing onto the trunk, she began climbing down cautiously unsure as to what was going on. That was a solid fall guaranteed to break something. If she didn't know any better, she would guess them both dead.


A few feet above the ground, she was able to see clearly. Blue Eyes was loud. She watched Luka wobble towards her, murmur something and slit her throat. Mina swallowed. He killed his partner... His hand was over his arm and he looked like he was in pain. A canon shot sounded confirming Scout's death. Seizing the opportunity, she climbed down on the opposite, scurried to grab a log and face him. He looked surprised.


"What happened Luka?" She demanded holding the log steadily. He could still take her down easy but he just stood there. She was scared but somehow felt reassured. The Capitol must be having quite the show. Calmly, he explained the part of the action she had missed in her sleep. She found herself lowering the log, eyes wide finding it hard to believe that he chose to save her life over Scout's. She stared at him stupidly unsure what to do. Maybe chucking away the log trying to fight the very person who just saved her might be the first step.


"Why?" she asked softly looking over the cold body of Scout. The hovercraft would be there soon to pick it up. The quicksand phase was over. They had to move. Yet all she could think about was why he did it.

 

[Aura]

(Sorry it took me years to respond D


"Why?" she asked and he could see the genuine disbelief in her eyes. He looked down at the ground and he distantly noted that it didn't look any different than it had when the quicksand had gone through. Why did he think that? Now he just felt sickened by the thought that it could change that easily.


He laughed as he thought through her question. A large part of him seemed to shout out at him that he had had no reason or that he had done it because he owed her. But he refrained from saying either of those things because he was beginning to see the truth. He shrugged and looked up at the hovercraft coming in to take Scout's body... he was avoiding her eyes without thinking about it. The Capitol was probably at the edge of their seats waiting for his explanation. He had just slit the throat of the girl from his own District AND who was supposed to be his ally.


"I don't know... I just keep going to back to when you saved me. I just keep picturing the fact that you saw a Career like me dying and you actually stopped and you actually helped me. You saved me... but I didn't do it just because I feel like I owe you for that. I did it because you didn't see another Tribute, you saw someone to help. I don't know but I think a girl with that much strength and integrity should survive over someone like Scout. I think someone like you deserves to win the Games even." he said. His words even surprised himself. So that was the truth... he had apparently discounted his own life with that decision. And the weird part was that he didn't feel anything over this revelation. He must have known it the second she had revived him.


"The real question here is why did you save someone like me? I'm a Career, haven't you heard that we're the bad guys?" he said though he forced the faint smile onto his face.

 

[laravenel]

Mina could not believe her ears. Is this really happening? Luka had just turned the tables around and taken her by surprise. So he did care about her. He has been looking out for her ever since they met and all that paranoia that she had built up just vanished. She didn't care if she was being naive but she chose to believe him. Now it was her turn to explain her actions. It would put her in a vulnerable position but for some reason she wanted him to know.


"I can't believe you did this for me. I'm...I swore never to kill anyone in the Games... I can't take a life and seeing you dying there. That would have been on me if I did not do anything to help you. I can't explain it, it makes no sense I know. The sole purpose of all this is to kill everyone and come out as the winner." she trailed off watching the expression on his face mold into something she couldn't figure out. Is that happiness? Relief? Suspicion?


"...I don't know what it is about you Luka. I really don't. I just know there's something I feel for you that I've experienced in my life." she said heaving a long sigh.

 

[Aura]

He looked down at his hands after hearing her explanation. It didn't make any sense to him but he also thought he knew what she was talking about. He could at least put his strange feelings for her into words because of what he knew about her... he liked her kind nature. He couldn't believe it but he actually liked her declaration that she wouldn't kill anyone in the games.


He cleared his throat, "I never imagined that I would like someone like..." he trailed off unsure of where he was going with that start but after a slight pause he felt he should pick up the conversation again, "You probably know that I'm from district 2, right?" he asked though he didn't wait for her to answer, "Not many people are starving there but... this will sound terrible but I almost wish that more of us went hungry, hear me out okay?


"If you look at people from district 12, for example, you can see a real community there. People help each other out and everyone knows each other and everyone wants the best for their neighbours and friends. There's no community in district 2. There's no well-wishers or kind people looking out for you. None of us are friends with each other unless it's convenient for us to be friends. When my father-" he paused to consider his words. It was no secret that his father had left because he wanted to overthrow the capitol... but he couldn't say that with the capitol watching, "-vanished, everyone abandoned my family. My family and I were shamed. We were the family that caused her father to run." he lied adapting the story to be appropriate for the viewers. His family had endured worse. District 2 was close to the capitol and didn't handle traitors well.


"We were mocked and harassed for months and finally I couldn't take it anymore. I ignored them and began training for the games. I wanted to win so I could win back the honour that my family lost when he left. Nobody would bother us if I was a victor."


Luka sighed, "Before the Games I thought that hatred was the only motivation in the World. I had never met anyone so kind to me... even my own family eagerly pushed me to train and into the Games when they found out I was training. They wanted me to live only if I won the Games. I've never been treated nicely. Like I was another human being.


"I've never met anyone like you." he said finally and mustering up all of his courage he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.