For all the begging he'd done, Cedar had felt strangely intimidated by the pomp of it all. Lavishly dressed peoply, speaking of things he couldn't quite grasp. An axe, that he could grasp. An axe and a block of wood that needed splitting. Only when he'd set foot into the Tribute Facility did Cedar realize that the next time he'd be touching an axe would be to kill someone.
He wrangled with his conscience, fought hard to remember that he'd done this for those who wouldn't be able to defend themselves like he would.
Only problem? He had not yet figured out whether he wanted to fight to live or die for those who deserved it more.
With the tribute parade over and the tree bark that had clung to his skin discarded, Cedar made his way back up to his floor. The Tower was horribly crowded once those festivities had concluded. All tributes presented, wheeled back and forth on those devilish chariots, and now all the sponsors were back to see the tributes from up close. "Uh, could I pass, perhaps?" Cedar spoke, deep voice rumbling in his chest as he tried to reach the elevators.
