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The anticipation lingers in the air, enough for some to tremble with fear and for others to shudder with suspense. Excitement. Confidence that they have what it takes to win. Twenty four tributes are positioned around in a circle, all of them equidistant from the metallic cornucopia up ahead. They all stand on a flat, open stretch of dirt, surrounded by a jungle of broad-leafs and thick shrubbery. Sixty seconds left until the beginning of the game. Tributes eye out the hollow structure, one which is abundant in whatever is needed to survive in this harsh landscape. Forty seconds. It feels like their hearts are leaping into their throats; although many have trained tirelessly for this day, others are simply not built to withstand such relentless bloodshed.
Twenty seconds, and it feels like the tributes have been standing there forever. It's an exhausting wait, yet some wish that the horn will never sound. Ten seconds left until their lives will change forever. It feels like one of those moments where
The Final Countdown ought to start playing by now but silence feels static within the air, save for the haunting howl of the cool breeze.
As the tributes stand on the podiums, the horn sounds.
Rory is the first to run away from the Cornucopia. He isn't quite sure where he is supposed to be running nor what items he should pick up, and so he picks up anything he can find, desperate to not leave empty handed.
Cass has always been better suited for a life of healing rather than killing, and so it feels almost foreign to him when he grabs a handful of throwing knives before delving further into the Cornucopia for any more useful supplies.
On the other hand, William is wary. He knows how ruthless some people here can be (not that he isn't, but he also likes to think that he is tactful) and so he isn't willing to risk his gorgeous hair for this. And so, he grabs a backpack before retreating into the woods.
Tommy, Evelyn, Holland, Memphis, Joey, Elijah, Max, Dutch and Odessa all have the same idea. Is it even worth the risk? It seems like the Cornucopia is nothing more than a trap. Like moths to a light, they're expected to all dash towards it in the hope of picking up useful supplies, but that also increases their risk of being killed by tenfold. They all choose to scatter as they flee into the woods.
Eddie, Emery and Beau wordlessly decide to work together to get as many supplies as possible. It seems smart in the moment - safety in numbers would keep them alive for longer, but how long before one of them betrays another?
Whilst Blake manages to grab a jar of fishing bait, Marlowe is the one to get the fishing gear. It seems that one without the other will be useless, but they know that they must make do with what they've got. Worst case, Marlowe can find something else to use as bait. Worst case, Blake has just managed to find herself a lunchtime snack.
Nearby, Aspen is seen snatching a bottle of alcohol and a rag. It may be useful in many ways; light it up as a molotov cocktail, use it as a means of disinfectant or, if push comes to shove, Aspen knows that she can at least drink herself into a drunken stupor. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but sometimes drowning your sorrows in alcohol can help you realize that your life is fleeting...
Speaking of molotov cocktails, Kaleo
too has found himself a bottle of alcohol and a rag. He wastes no time putting it to good use, lighting the rag before throwing it at Brad the dog. Brad ignites with fire, the desperate shrills for help lasting only a couple of seconds before he is reduced to a fat, wrinkly heap on the floor. Kaleo flees, knowing that Brad could never have made it anyway. This was survival of the fittest!
Seb and Squirrel have been best friends since the day Squirrel was born, but not even their loyalty can last within this game. They begin to fight to their death, Freddie quick to join in because he cannot stand the thought of being left out of anything. Squirrel has little legs and little mercy, and as Seb turns to run away, Squirrel turns to Freddie.
❝ Oh, fuck this! ❞ Freddie cries out as he turns to run away, but Freddie's sprint is no match for Squirrel's little legs, and the hound kills him swiftly.
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The blood is on his paws. Squirrel has killed his first man. He wants to whimper with sorrow but he knows that he needs to persevere for this is how the game is meant to be played. Squirrel's bottom jaw trembles as he tracks his way through the overgrown woods, searching around desperately for some firewood. At least it could keep him from freezing to death on the first night.
❝ Is this all right? ❞ Holland whispers softly, carefully, as sympathetic eyes peer over towards Max. Upon running away, it wasn't long before the both of them bumped into each other. Since then, they haven't left each other's sides. Max exhales deeply, watching as Holland tends to the wounds which run down her shins. She chews down on her lip, fighting back the tears as she swiftly nods her head.
❝ How did you manage to do this anyways? ❞ Holland decides to ask. Max chooses to shake her head slowly, a single tear slowly running down her cheek.
❝ I'm so stupid. ❞
❝ You're not stupid... ❞
❝ But I am! ❞ Max exclaims in a soft cry.
❝ I tripped over a log and then fell down a hill. Everything hurts. ❞ Holland sits back and sighs, but chooses to say nothing. Well, that is a pretty stupid way for her to hurt herself.
Her brothers have found each other among the madness at some point, choosing to maintain a truce between each other. Cass has a good heart; he could never bring harm upon his brother. But, as for Beau, the first thing which crosses his mind is,
❛ Like hell am I playin' niceties with him! ❜ This is inevitable, though, and Cass probably should've seen it coming. He should've known by now that his brother is an absolute asshole.
❝ Here, you look thirsty. ❞ Beau mumbles, handing over a drink of water, the cap untwisted for Cass to take. Cass cracks a smile, uttering a gentle thanks, before he downs the drink. Their father used to say that it was better
not to save your water in a survival situation as it was easier to get dehydrated that way. But, regardless of what Cass could've done, nothing can prepared him for what is to come next.
He begins to feel a deep burning sensation in his gut, suddenly hunching over to splutter and grasp at his stomach.
❝ Sorry that it has to be this way, Cass. ❞ Beau shrugs, Cass staring up with wide, scared eyes before collapsing. He isn't sure what hurts more: the pain of the poison destroying his body or this horrendous betrayal from his own brother. The last thing he ever sees is Beau standing up and walking away from him. Not even an apology or a goodbye.
Aspen makes a wooden spear. She hopes that this will be used more than the alcohol that she obtained from the Cornucopia. After all, despite her somewhat pessimistic view towards this game, she does genuinely hope that she wins. But, like she learned growing up in Northern Alaska, she had to have enough food and drink to stay alive for long enough to defend herself. And so, after she makes her spear, she begins to walk to the river to go spearfishing.
Eddie and Elijah have always had a rocky relationship. Some people could say that they are best friends but, then again, they did have a falling out a couple of years back over a girl who then stole Elijah's wallet. Eddie does not forgive and forget, and he still seethes after his loss that night. Eyes peer through the trees at where Elijah is, trying to chop down up some wood for a fire. The sound he makes is loud enough for Eddie to creep closer and steal the majority of Elijah's supplies.
❛ Have fun with your slow and inevitable death. ❜ Eddie wants to chuckle to himself as he escapes.
Odessa is
angry. Does she look like the type of person to want to play these stupid games? She trudges through the woods, scowl across her features - she sure hopes that one of her sponsors sends her down some coffee, else she is bound to suffer from some sort of caffeine withdrawal. There's a sound of snapping twigs, Odessa freezing quickly before she spots Seb step out in front of her, eyes wide and naive.
❝ Oop! ❞ Seb squeaks before turning to run away but it is to no avail.
Odessa picks up a stone before throwing it, the stone hitting Seb's head with a loud
whack! before he falls to the ground. She nears the fallen man, picking up the stone again before bringing it down onto the back of his skull. Again, and again, and again.
She deserves a coffee after
that kill.
Emery, Tommy, Dutch and Joey have chosen to stick together which is useful because none of them have any idea what they are currently doing. Eddie and Beau had left Emery with few supplies, and so eventually the group decides that raiding William's camp whilst he is out hunting is the best port of call. After all, William has hogged a shit tonne of the supplies; that bastard!
Memphis collects fruit from a tree. He supposes that he wants to channel some inner hippie shit within him, find some peace until this all blows over. Maybe he can stay in hiding until he wins the game by default - this doesn't have to be a game of murder but a game of hide and seek.
Alfie has done something stupid again, and Evelyn is left to
fix his problems as usual. They sit together, Evelyn rolling her eyes as Alfie sobs to himself. He's managed to lose one and a half fingers by mistaking a grenade for an apple.
❝ If you manage to win the entire game after this dumb feat, I will actually kill you. ❞ Evelyn grumbles, Alfie pausing his tears for a moment to shoot her a confused look.
Rory tries to sleep through the entire day, as does Blake. A sensible coping mechanism to avoid all responsibilities.
In the distance, Marlowe spots some smoke rising up in the distance. She
could investigate, but she doesn't feel prepared to do so. After all, some fishing gear will not be a useful weapon in murdering somebody. And so, she plops down and calls it a day.
On the other side of the forest, Kaleo sits on a log until something flutters through the trees down towards him. He gasps as he leaps up, reaching out and grabbing the parcel. He rips it open to find medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.
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4 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.
Brad
District 5
Freddie
District 4
Cass
District 12
Seb
District 5
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The sun settles for the night time, the first few hours of darkness that the tributes must face in this treacherous game. A parcel flutters down in front of Emery, the gentle woman gasping softly before reaching out and unwrapping it.
❛ Handle with care. ❜ The note writes, Emery inspecting it before looking at the explosive that has been gifted to her by an unknown sponsor. Nearby, Blake also receives an explosive, and Marlowe receives fresh food.
❝ Begone! Begone, you silly little girls! ❞ Beau's booming voice barks at Max, Joey and Aspen as they trot closer to his fire.
❝ Beau, we are literally related to you! ❞ Joey exclaims with exasperation, Max shaking her head sadly. Aspen isn't even a Van Doren and yet she realizes that she must make do with any opportunity presented to her. Beau growls with annoyance; so much for wanting to live the life of a hermit.
❝ Leave before I kill you all! ❞ He pointed sharply, the three girls sighing before fleeing.
In the distance, Squirrel screams for help...
Nearby, it is
Tommy who has to protect his fire from Memphis, Evelyn and Holland. Like hell is he going to share his hard work with these three. What did they expect? All four of them to sit around the fire and sing happy campfire songs? Nice try!
❝ Aw, fuck off! I made this fire by myself so I'mma enjoy it by myself! ❞ Tommy explains gruffly before picking up a machete and holding it up in warning. The other three are quick to leave.
Elijah starts a fire. It's a chilly night and he hopes that the fire does not attract any attention. He just hopes that there is nobody nearby watching him...
Dutch is
also starting a fire, which is a miracle in itself as he is a dog. Sometimes, secrets are meant to stay secrets. He will never tell us how he managed to start a fire, but he enjoys the warmth it provides him.
Kaleo sighs softly. After an eventful day, he decides to fall asleep, hiding among some shrubbery. He just hopes that he isn't much of a snorer.
On one side of the woods, Odessa and Rory are together, sat nearby one another on the ground. They tell stories to one another for what seems like hours, laughing and smiling to one another. On the other side of the woods, William and Eddie do the same thing.
Several people flinch at the sound of an explosion in the distance. Alfie did not learn from the first time to keep away from the explosives.
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