Oct 5, 2014
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No Sound But The Wind | Solo | THG
Characters Involved → Jane Colt & Darcy Dancolt Location → District 4 Timeframe → Flashback Word Count → 610
“We can never go home We no longer have one I'll help you carry the load I'll carry you in my arms The kiss of the snow The crescent moon above us Our blood is cold And we're alone But I'm alone with you“
Jane had already gotten far too familiar with bruises constantly sprinkling her little brother‘s body, a black eye or a cut in his lip usually completed his appearance. Daily occurrences. And this was probably the worst about it; knowing that every day she would come home from fishing and gathering fruits he would have a new mark caused by their father‘s actions. It was what made coming home so difficult as she always feared the worst, cursing herself for not having the means to just run away with him, having to come back to this place each and every day since otherwise there was no way to survive.
Their father hadn‘t always been like this. He used to be a good man once, giving love so freely, his laughter deep and low. A laughter Darcy never had the chance to hear. Just like the lullabies their mother used to sing for her. And there were times Jane felt guilty, not wanting to have these memories as well since she didn‘t feel like deserving them when they couldn‘t be shared with him.
Entering the small house she put the basket of fish onto the kitchen table, listening carefully as she tried to locate the man who seemed to have gone out though, judging by the silence that consumed the place. Maybe today would be different. Maybe things would change. And almost hopefully the teenage girl rushed up the stairs to her brother‘s room, yet he was nowhere to be found. Not even in his usual hiding spots. “Darcy?“ she called out, the silence she had previously been thankful about suddenly numbed her senses as she kept searching for the younger boy.
A sob broke the silence, shattering her hopes within a second as she hurried towards the direction it had come from, finding the hunched frame of her brother laying on her bed. “Darcy ...“ she breathed, approaching him with slow steps, scared to see the damage the old man had done this time. Her was so small, still a toddler, and Jane - not much older - didn‘t know what else to do but what she always did. She was getting the bandaged and ointments she despised due to the many times she had to use them, cupped his face gently as she pulled him into a sitting position, remaining quiet, speechless, because no words could express the pain she was feeling right now. No gesture could show him just how sorry she was.
It was that day - when she saw him, his eyes reddened due to the many hours he had cried - that changed her, that made her realize that she couldn‘t dwell on her childhood. She had to grow up, fast and strong, in order to protect him. Because he was her responsibility. She had insisted on keeping him, hadn‘t really let him out of her arms ever since, but no sympathetic embrace would prevent him from harm, no comforting words would take his pain. She had to grow up, determined to fight his tormentor once she was powerful enough to face him. Because the only family she had left was the boy in her arms, that kept sobbing as he clung to her desperately. She would be strong for the both of them.
“Help me to carry the fire We will keep it alight together Help me carry the fire It will light our way forever“
Inseperable | Solo
A bunch of white lilies. A black dress. A big, slouchy black hat that hid the tears. Brunette hair lurking from underneat the hat. A gold pendant in her hands. A trembling silouhette in the late sun. Dark dirt that slowly started to set itself into place. A thombstone. Maya Andreyev, victor of the 74th Hunger Games.
Valentina slowly sagged to her knees. The ground already felt cold, even if it was only late summer, the gravel piercing into her skin, leaving ugly marks. Carefully, she laid out the flowers - she could not hold herself back from sobbing, quiet cries cutting through the evening air. To the pendant, she clasped. She had wanted to bring it here, bury it where it belonged, with it's owners beautiful body; felt like she had no right to keep it as it had been her dearest possession and she had never met Mr and Mrs Andreyev. But now it felt wrong to get it dirty, to leave it behind while she knew that it didn't really belong to her body but her soul. And her soul would come home with her. Her spirit would wait for her in their garden. She would lay on Valentina's side of the bed when she got home, giggling and scootching over for her She would eye her taking a pill with a pained expression. She would be beside her when she woke up screaming. Maya was still there. She had promised.
Her scent still lingered in the house; it seemed as if the bedsheets were still warmed up, the kitchen smelled of her delicious food, the bathroom was filled with flower-scented oils. Valentina saw her in the flowers that grew in their garden. In the citrus tree. She could still feel her being around, in the rocking chair on their porch, watching her when she drew, snuggling to her side when she tried to fall asleep. She was in the tunes they used to listen to together, she lived on in the rays of sunshine that hit her nose when she stepped out into the warmth of it. Maya was still there with her. Every day. Every night. In everything good she saw about her life and her surroundings.
Maya's words still echoed in Valentina's ears. I am here. Nothing bad is happening. Lingering on her mind, encouraging her every day. You need to promise me that none of us will go into that arena on their own free will because that just means they have broken us. To wake up every morning. Nothing can separate us. To pull up the covers and let the sun into their house. Nothing can hurt us. She was the reason for her being still, the reason she was alive. You have to have faith. She was telling her to go on, to get up every morning. Thank you for everything, Val. To go out and get something to eat and to show herself. People grow along with the flowers and trees they plant She inspired her to live. To survive. You have to survive. You have to promise that you survive. That you will get old and grey, that you will take care of our garden and plant a tree. She told her to go out into the garden and plant a tree, and care for the flowers and plant lily seeds all over the spaces that hadn't been filled yet. Val, I love you! They had given each other a promise. Maya had promised that she would do anything to come back to her and she had not failed her. And so, Valntina wouldn't either.
Valentina took in the dog. She cleaned him up and named him and put out food and water for him, but she let him roam around the district and come back when he pleased to. When she snuggled him, she saw the picture she had drawn of him and Maya and she drew on, putting herself next to them both. She drew herself for the first time; she took days to do it - and she put up sketches, the pictures that she had of Maya. And she laid out a dress of hers on her side of the bed that she would snuggle to at night, inhaling the scent that still stuck to it. Valentina wasn't afraid of forgetting. She could never forget Maya. She was still the better half of her, completing her being.
The pendant had it's place in the drawer on the nightstand on Maya's side of the bed. Valentina never opened it up. On her own side, she kept her pills. She consumed many of them these days; without them, she would not have withstood the pain that was inevitable despite everything. But Valentina lived. She was drugged, but she lived, and she would not die of free will, not by the hands of the capitol. She would die being a woman who would not bow down to them. She would die the woman Maya had made her. She would keep her promise. The victor didn't know for how long she would be able to keep that promise; eventually the pain would come to an end. And she would be reunited with the only person she could ever truly love.
Down With The Capitol | Valentina & Amanda | Convo
Location: The Capitol - Viewing Area
Time Frame: Right after Maya died
Word Count: 1516
Valentina was on the floor, trembling, out of her mind. Her mind was clouded. She wanted to die along with Maya right there, in this spot, on the floor of the capitol's property. Maya's soft voice was echoing in her head. Telling herself she was a murderer, her voice whispering along with the birds. And the cannon. "Maya... come back to me, please come back to me..." The cannonsound overpowered everything in her head, everything but one thing. Hate. The capitol. The capitol had brought this upon them, they had taken Maya away from her; they had made her hurt and see no escape but death. They had taken Valentina's voice and had shaped it into harming the one person she loved. Another pained cry escaped her before she looked up, her eyes full of hate and frustration, looking for some kind of escape herself.
Amanda was worried for Nathan, he was in a state of shock but at least when he spoke to her to get tea, it made her feel better. He was at least able to talk, and he was stable if not a bit shaky. Amanda hadn't dared to move so far away from him, despite the fact that Valentina had already stood up and began pacing, after all, only three tributes were alive, Andreyev, Mourriland, Leung. It was quite the show though, not even careers had a chance. Her thought stopped when Valentina had started talking, almost as if she was high again, but she wasn't.... Amanda knew that, she saw it in her pain.. and in the screens... what had happened... the victor of the 74th Hunger Games lay dead. With a soft sigh she stood up, patted Nathan and went to move, to support Valentina. "Valentina..." she whispered walking towards her, still a few feet away.
Valentina barely noticed the woman beside her. The pain overpowered her. She wanted to clasp her hands to her ears as if it would help blend out the sound of the cannon or the view of Maya laying in the grass, not moving. "Come back to me ... stand up ... " Her voice was rough, senseless. A mantra. She had fought so well. She had made it so far, she had shown strength and bravery and her death was a crime. A cruel crime to not only the two lovers but also all of Panem. It was the moment Valentina hadn't dared to imagine ever coming, even when she had laid beside the glass tube after Maya had been elevated into the arena. She had always had hope. And now it was all vanished. She would never be happy again. Not after what they had done to the most important person in Valentina's life. They were murderers. The playmakers, the guards, the president. They dealt pain to so many people. They were responsible. Quickly, the Brunette was on her feet and had grabbed a fork that laid around on the glass coffee table her tea stood on aswell - and was about to charge for a nearby guard.
Amanda had two different thoughts, the first was /a fork? seriously?/ but that thought died out as quick as it did when luckily with her strength or at least the sudden adrenaline surge made her grip for the arms of the girl, locking it. It wan't the easiest position, a normal friend would have hugged the attacker and tackle it down, but with a practice movement, she was able to wrap her arms around her shoulders. "Stop it, stop it - Valentina listen to me." her voice said, quiet, but fast, also nervous to what she would do. "Don't." her voice held warning, but she knew it might not be enough, as the other woman struggled, some guards went nearer unsure, the other people went farther back, scared to get into the midst of things. Amanda silently shook her head 'no' from the back, the peacekeepers should keep their place, at least... for now. "Put it down, Valentina."
Valentina was screaming, struggling when Amanda grasped her arm and held her back. Both of them were experienced in situations like this - if from the games or other situations. She hit her arms against hers, causing the other to losen her grip, but she was too fast, too strong to let go of the victor. "Let me go! They are responsible, they did this to us! They killed her! They took her from me!" Her voice was full of rage, and she didn't care that the gathered members of the capitol could hear her. She needed to take revenge, she had to, she had to revenge what they had done to Maya. But Amanda wouldn't let go of her. And her voice became weaker, transforming into a cry again. "Let me go, Amanda, let me go ..." She sobbed. "They killed her, the capitol killed her ..." The echoes in her head as loud as ever, she felt her body sag a bit.
Amanda shook her head internally. The other mentor's were beginning to whisper "A lesbian? The druggie was a lesbian...?" || "Scandalous" || "That was why she wasn't high..."|| "Disgraceful"|| and more left the mouths of other mentors. Amanda could only give them an icy glare as she continued to grip the girl, the girl was strong, the emotions making her move better, but the emotions made her clumsy as well, the only way that she was able to hold her better was her grip and her stance. "Shhh," she whispered "they aren't the enemy..." she soothed, and in a way that was the truth, there was one real enemy. Amanda doubted that some guards did not have kids who were reaped too, "everyone is a victim but one." she continued. "Don't do this Valentina, she wouldn't want that." Amanda of course didn't know much about the younger mentor's thoughts and the relationship between her and the 74th victor. But in a case of any loved one, no one would want to make the other suffer, even in death. "She loved you didn't she?" Amanda started to speak trying to see if she could hit that right dialogue. "She was the reason you were better right? That you didn't get high?" she continued. "Would you let that go to waste Valentina? Just because she is gone would you throw away everything?" it might have been a little harsh, but it was the truth.
Valentina didn't hear any of the comments the other mentors gave, and she didn't understand the words Amanda muttered to her. All she heard was Maya's voice and the cannon sound. Her movements slowed down as she stopped fighting against the other mentor's grip and let herself sink back down to the floor as she dropped the fork. It had been a shitty weapon, but the Brunette could have ripped the guard's throat out. And they would have killed her. Publicly shot her, most likely. Realization hit her. She had promised Maya something. Maya had kept her part. Now she had to keep hers. Again, bitter tears streamed down her cheeks as she helf herself, barely able to understand the other victor's words. She loved you, didn't she? It brought up a set of sobs, as Valentina buried her face in her hands. It was an answer, more clear than any words could have been. They had loved each other, but they had realized too late. They had been a team. Inseperable. "She is my reason to live." Valentina slowly spoke, slurring her words, feeling as if she was far away in her thoughts. It was all she said. No explanations. No more words. She still spoke of Maya in a present form. She was still there. She had to be. She had promised. The Brunette lifted her gaze and looked at Amanda, every bit of her trembling, her face in salty trails. "Can you bring me up to my room, Amanda." Valentina had no idea how to make it through without the other girl by her side. She had no idea how to survive the night. She knew that she had to be alone now, away from all the gazes and the judgement though. Alone with her pain.
Amanda sighed, she took one last look at the form of Nathan who nodded at her for her to take her leave. She would be back though, the games were not finished, she could watch it in Valentina's room, to keep an eye out for her as well. She would make her sleep until she needed to leave. With a small nod she helped the other girl up, "Come on then." and with that she carried her even in just walking, as she knew Valentina had already a burden on her own shoulders. As she helped the girl up towards her room, Amanda had to mentally shake her head... she would probably retire soon. Yes after this game she would. She would have a good plan, then she would leave. Everyone had lost someone that day... even she felt it too.
The End... or is it? || Solo (2/2)
Location: District 7 (Settlement and Forest) and somewhere… far away, a happy place…
Time Frame: Home from the 75th Hunger Games
Word Count: 1846 (counted only new words)
NOTE: This is an alternate ending ,a happier ending to the end of the Hunger Games, for the real other ending, read this.
NOTE: The first section of this was copied from the other solo, please move towards the next section (after the bar) to continue.
If he had been wasting his life, no body could blame him. Even his mom had finished shouting at him but rather went with him to the forest to sit down on the branch. It was what they had always done as mother and son before. He was always a momma’s boy. His mother with raven black hair and dazzling golden eyes, or at least that is what it seemed to him. His mother who’s collection of things no other women of District 7 had, kept all in a secret place, his mother who had sarcastic wit, and an unsure life behind her past. A mother who was there for him. Who climbed trees with him when she was sick. Who let him lay down her head on her lap no matter what age he is.
His father had not yet given up on him, he was a survivor a traveller, but even he had his moments when he would sit at the base of the tree waiting for him to come down and go back to the Victor’s village to rest. It was him who would still teach him, talking to him as if his son was in a coma. Somehow, his parent’s words touched him in his head, making him want to try and wake up from this nightmare that he himself had trapped his own thoughts.
Something broke in his that day in the arena. Not just his bones, not just his heart, but he had also lost his mind. The faces of death he had seen, which he had seen a lot, from his own Games and now what meant more to him during the Quarter Quell… everyday in the morning he would be up, before sunrise and stay in the forest… he would swim in the lake, and would have let himself forever stay there if it wasn’t for his sister as well.
Lelia… now 15 …. now almost an adult and in a few years safe from the reaping, if ever Lelia was in, he was sure he would volunteer for her as well… although now…he was ashamed to see her, that much he had felt… if his mother and father’s words were not enough, Lelia’s face was too much. He loved his sister, and yet he cannot make himself lose the thought of Emma. He would want a better life for his sister, not to see him like that, broken beyond repair from the games… but he was spent, there was nothing he could do.
If not, them, Alistair would be there, the little bundle of dog that was old now, mom and father had always said that little Alistair was magical, that now he was probably fifteen years old or more, older than any dog they have known, and still as young and happy as he was so many years ago.
Jonathan felt that he had love everywhere, even from Old Wynnette and Ogren… even from the Eissicks that had tried, even from the village people who still cared for him. Nothing happened though, and slowly the villagers had mourned him, understood him to an extent. He was a happy boy, they knew, the troublesome boy… some of the older women who liked him as a boy had even cried, hoping to see the smiling face that appeared every time, hoping to see the helpful hand that he once was. He did not budge.
Almost had passed, he did not know what happened to Nathan, or maybe he did, but he felt as if he didn’t see him. His parents had not forgotten him, they still let him go around, but they mourned, and even then, even if he felt them sometimes, he could not see them anymore, the only time he would do anything other than nothing would be for Lelia, but even so it would be a heartbreak for him, a violent feeling in his gut. The only time when he was at peace was when he was alone of Alistair was with him, Alistair who was going to be 19 soon… older, definitely older than any dog.
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There was a time that he thought he would forever be haunted by the dreams and nightmares, and he was. One day though it suddenly ended, and he did not anymore feel the need to bask in his loneliness and in his despair. This day happened after two more years, Lelia was 17 now, the same age as him when he was reaped.
Unfortunately, the younger sister... was reaped as well.
He volunteered, he did. They did not allow him though, as the Hunger Games were still the same, and it was not a victor's reaping. He couldn't do anything but feel pain... and anger.
After a few months of solitude, he had become better, happier being able to live a good enough life in the Victors Village and strong enough to go the forest where sometimes he would stay on the branches and talk to Emma, sometimes, he believed that she talked back to him. It made sense... Him and Nathan were on good terms, the past had been finished and there was nothing he could do but move on. That was what Emma would want, that was what his friends would have wanted, his family too.
The horror though that gnawed at him that her sister was to be gone made him realize that he had enough. He would not lose a sister to such a game, and around him, people actually agreed, some were skeptic, and of course some thought of him as a fool, another rebellion? Wasn't that the reason this happened in the first place? But for some reason, many were there for him and helped him up. It was not enough though he needed more.
He found help from a pretty lady who was travelling on foot in his District, it wasn't as if District 7 was strict on that sort of thing, but Panem was, it was not easy to just go around Districts at your own liking, but here she was. Jonathan realized that this was the mentor of Tribute two, the one who had kissed him at the 75th Victor Party, the one who left after saying "thank you". For some reason she was there when murmurs began to spread, a rebellion, a thought, a chance of hope and to Jonathan, she seemed to be trustworthy enough, and he had seen how she was towards others... maybe it could happen.
She had said that many were angry at the games, that it was possible that the games once again would get not just any children, but anyone at all, add people at will, despite the age, or ruin promises of peace, many were tired, and many wanted to fight, even in her old District. To Jonathan it might have been a trap, to get him to say yes and get locked up. For some reason though, the same blue eyes looked at him, and he could feel Emma say go on.
He always felt Emma... especially now, now that he had embraced her death and thought to fight for it rather than wallow. It didn't take long... that a small revolution has started. With the woman's help he was able to get a few peacekeepers who were also tired and scared, he was able to get some people in power to lead. Of course, he was just a symbol, he was just a player in the game, but it was the thought that counted.
Nathan didn't want to join him at that point, the fact that he had lost two siblings made Jonathan think that his friend had given up, but maybe that didn' thave to be the case. Jonathan had to move higher, and make better decisions. He had to try his best to do this all - for Emma, for their friends, the people he met, the people he saw died during all those games. At least he could try.
Overthrowing the Capitol was not easy, despite every and all possible solutions, it turned out to be a long ending war. He had to be on his toes as mercenaries, bandits and everything else that can be mixed have been placed in the blurred lines of justice. There was slaughter and mass murder everywhere. Such as it had to be for a revolution.
But he was not alone. He had Nathan, he was able to prove it to him that he could. He had District 7 behind him, especially District 6, some of District 8, District 3, District 11, District 12.... and most importantly a few on District two that was able to tip the scales of balance in their favour.
It was hard, and they had to change places, be fast, cut off the Capitol slowly, have peacekeepers exchanged, it would have been impossible or at least improbable if they did not have District 2, but they did, at least it made a good difference. They were able to cut off the grain, the livestock, the coal, the lumber, the textiles and technology from the Capitol, rather than pour all amenities to them, it came to his side.
Jonathan was able to build a power that could greatly help the tides, he would be stronger, he would be able to still bring hope to the people. Especially now that the Hunger Games have been too disliked, too dangerous....
It was a long and grueling war, it took years because it was a slow revolution, it was slow - bit it was steady, he wasn't the only one who was the symbol now, there were more symbols that were with him, Victors of the hunger games, the younger ones, the older ones, the children and the people. They had all build a symbol of hope for themselves. That they could survive without him.
--------------------------------
He did now know when it happened. Or how, but he knew he was floating, somewhere... where was Amanda? She should have been there waking him up so they could plan. Nathan as well, with Valentina too - he was able to get them and so much more. Jonathan moved outside of his room, a better looking one, as they had all tried to move somewhere, some other island that the Capitol had now yet known, it was their place of planning - their place of creation. Their place of freedom.
He looked outside and saw that everything was silent, everything was... peaceful. He went downstairs, his family was there. As usual since he was a young boy, he did his rituals - he loved his family, and will continue to love them. Outside he saw the Eissick family, tending to their own business.
He continued on, he wanted to know how they were in their new settlement, a settlement that they had all contributed to. His was relatively surprised to see Amanda. "Hey, you didn't call me?" she smiled, he had to smile too, she was still pretty, albeit older. "Don't be silly you've been dreaming again." she said pinching his cheek, she always did that, insufferable woman. "Honestly, how many times do I have to tell you that we've won?" he shook his head, unsure but still he was smiling, he trusted the woman, after all those years of rebellion.
"Anyway, the other's are ready for you, so just do what you need to do, I'd be here... making tea, painting, boring stuff, I do wish I had to do things again." he laughed at that, suddenly a foggy memory in his brain came. "You should have taken the Capitol head position," he spoke "You would have done well." she shook his head in reply. "Silly boy, just shoo away now. We can talk more later." she smiled, walking along the area.
He smirked in return and shook his head. Walking ... somewhere he wasn't sure. In a way... he saw a puppy, it looked just like Alistair... but for some reason he couldn't believe it was him, since for one, Alistair was sleeping in his bedroom just a while ago. He followed the puppy anyway, Running throughout the island with him on the puppy's heels. He continued running, the images blurry in his eyes even if he could see the puppy clearly. He was able to see people he was familiar with, and even if it seemed surreal, his mind was giving him bridges that they were truly real.
He saw Cambria and Jason together in a gazebo by the forest, Rachel and Nathan were by the base of a tree, Maya and Valentina were by the rocks near the lake - even the dreaded Jane and her brother Darcy were on the top of the waterfall. He could see some other people he could not fully remember, Jennifer, from District two, arguing with someone his mind said was David,- he could see other people too, most from his childhood games. He couldn't understand why, but he thought it was right to go to them.
He could see that this forest was haven of sorts, for some reason, despite him wanting to say that this wasn't real that they were all dead, he couldn't this mind told him that it was real, it was. Suddenly he felt a poke behind him, he turned around. "Tag... you're it." said a smirking girl with light brown hazel eyes and brown hair. She was smiling at him he smiled back, remembering. "Emmie." he touched her cheek and she noticed an orange ring in his hand... and she touched his hand as well, a blue one on hers. Behind her, she could see William, a bit blurry, she couldn't remember his face that much, but he was there, wiping his forehead. "We ready Jona?" he spoke.
He was flabbergasted, "For what?"... Amanda appeared, it seemed as if she was just by the tree, wasn't that weird? But still it felt like it made sense. "We're going to start again you know?" she laughed, she was always happy, despite their closeness and him knowing her deepest secrets. He turned to look back at Emma, he just couldn't help but smile.
Emma held his hand, the feeling of her fingers wrapped into his own, they fit perfectly, probably since because they were young, their hands were always linked together. "Come on, we've got lots of catching up to do." she said walking towards a Crayple tree and ready to climb it. Without a second thought, he climbed up to it as well. At the top of the tree he looked down, they were happy, all of them, he could see it. His face was wretched away from there though, when at the top of the crayple tree, Emma touched his face, and with a smile, he gave in and kissed her, feeling as if it was the true peace he sought. A kiss with the girl he had been friends with, in love with, in a promise with. A kiss made in a new life, with old and new friends, on top of the crayple tree in the start of a growing sunrise.
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Whatever happened to the rebellion.... however long it must have been, or if it still was moving. The first symbol of it all had been a hope, and with him, as he knew that they were winning, even if slow. He believed what his mind told him, that they were happy, they were free.
Morning Sun || Solo
Characters Involved → Nathaniel Eissink Location → District Seven Timeframe → After coming home Wordcount → 800
Coming home was not the bliss he had expected it to be. It only reminded him of Emma. Everything did. His mother's dimples. His father's hair. The whole house was filled with memories that included his sister and brother, and Nathan had had the same problem when William had died. But now it was worse. He had been twelve when William had died, and his growing mind had been easier to sort out and repair, but now?
Everything was broken. Once he got off the train and saw his parents, the facade dropped and everything came rushing out. The people could just watch and offer their words. And they might have helped, had Nathan been in a condition to listen to them, but at that moment everything had hurt and it wasn't going to end soon. Even looking in the own mirror was painful.
Now he was sitting in one of the giant trees that were the signature of District Seven, and Nathan put his hand on the bark, the rough surface bringing him back to reality. Had Emma had a nice death? He wondered if she had been happy, mentioning him and marrying Jonathan. Everyone's death, Rachel's, Cambria's, Jason's, Emma's, they had all been shown on their television, from all possible angles. Nathan had always walked out of the room, their deaths printed onto his mind. He would remember for the rest of his life, he realised. Would it better to end the rest of his life, then?
Nathan looked down, his feet dangling a long way above the ground, and for a second he thought how easy it would be to just... push himself off of the tree. To be reunited with his brother and sister. He smiled grimly, but he knew he could never do it. William would never forgive him for ending his life prematurely, nor would Emma. Not to mention he would be leaving his parents alone. Could he do that? Nathan looked at the ground again and shook his head. No. He couldn't.
He would keep on battling, mentoring and living his life like he had, and find solace in the people that had survived the games. They were all broken tools, things that wouldn't be as useful as they had been, and people would look at them, and remember how they once had been new and shiny, but now irreparable. That was what the Capitol had wanted. They had wanted to show that even the strongest weren't indestructible, and they had done their job, showing that even those that had survived the reaping, were the most broken of all. Their eyes hollow and sunken, not holding any information or emotion. Still, he would carry on, and make sure that more people from District Seven made it home.
Jonathan wouldn't be able to mentor anymore, but Nathan would have to try. He had burnt all of his liquor like Emma had done whenever she caught him in a drunken stupor, the bottles something he would never be able to fall back on. There was also no blonde to fall back on this time, but he preferred not to think about it. When the time for the Victory Tour came, he would go to her family and tell everything that was great about her, but for now he would have a half year to do what he wanted.
He would maybe move into his own victor's house, like he had always meant to do, but didn't have the guts to. It was always much cosier in Emma's where his parents were, the smell of his father's cooking filling the air and his mother's fires. Maybe he would take the time to spend more time in all the parts of his District, helping where he could. He had been doing so before, but now he felt it would be a good distraction.
Still, as he sat there, breathing in the cold morning air and watching the orange rays of the sun filter through the leaves, he cried. He cried for hours, until it was noon and he had no tears anymore. He was still a broken tool, and this time there was no Emma to repair him. No Cambria to offer him advice. No Rachel to cup his face. No Jason to make him laugh. Nobody was there, expect for Jonathan, who was just as broken. Nathan carved Emma's name into the tree, before putting a basket of fruit and nut cakes by it, hopping down the branches so he could go home. His parents were just as broken, and now it was just him to console them, and them to console him. Once down, he took a steadying breath and looked at the sun, squinting at the bright light.
I'll miss you. All of you.
The End... or is it? || Solo (1/2)
Location: District 7 (Settlement and Forest) and somewhere... far away, a happy place...
Time Frame: Home from the 75th Hunger Games
Word Count: 1942
If he had been wasting his life, no body could blame him. Even his mom had finished shouting at him but rather went with him to the forest to sit down on the branch. It was what they had always done as mother and son before. He was always a momma's boy. His mother with raven black hair and dazzling golden eyes, or at least that is what it seemed to him. His mother who's collection of things no other women of District 7 had, kept all in a secret place, his mother who had sarcastic wit, and an unsure life behind her past. A mother who was there for him. Who climbed trees with him when she was sick. Who let him lay down her head on her lap no matter what age he is.
His father had not yet given up on him, he was a survivor a traveller, but even he had his moments when he would sit at the base of the tree waiting for him to come down and go back to the Victor's village to rest. It was him who would still teach him, talking to him as if his son was in a coma. Somehow, his parent's words touched him in his head, making him want to try and wake up from this nightmare that he himself had trapped his own thoughts.
Something broke in his that day in the arena. Not just his bones, not just his heart, but he had also lost his mind. The faces of death he had seen, which he had seen a lot, from his own Games and now what meant more to him during the Quarter Quell... everyday in the morning he would be up, before sunrise and stay in the forest... he would swim in the lake, and would have let himself forever stay there if it wasn't for his sister as well.
Lelia... now 15 .... now almost an adult and in a few years safe from the reaping, if ever Lelia was in, he was sure he would volunteer for her as well... although now...he was ashamed to see her, that much he had felt... if his mother and father's words were not enough, Lelia's face was too much. He loved his sister, and yet he cannot make himself lose the thought of Emma. He would want a better life for his sister, not to see him like that, broken beyond repair from the games... but he was spent, there was nothing he could do.
If not, them, Alistair would be there, the little bundle of dog that was old now, mom and father had always said that little Alistair was magical, that now he was probably fifteen years old or more, older than any dog they have known, and still as young and happy as he was so many years ago.
Jonathan felt that he had love everywhere, even from Old Wynnette and Ogren... even from the Eissicks that had tried, even from the village people who still cared for him. Nothing happened though, and slowly the villagers had mourned him, understood him to an extent. He was a happy boy, they knew, the troublesome boy... some of the older women who liked him as a boy had even cried, hoping to see the smiling face that appeared every time, hoping to see the helpful hand that he once was. He did not budge.
Almost had passed, he did not know what happened to Nathan, or maybe he did, but he felt as if he didn't see him. His parents had not forgotten him, they still let him go around, but they mourned, and even then, even if he felt them sometimes, he could not see them anymore, the only time he would do anything other than nothing would be for Lelia, but even so it would be a heartbreak for him, a violent feeling in his gut. The only time when he was at peace was when he was alone of Alistair was with him, Alistair who was going to be 19 soon... older, definitely older than any dog.
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One special day though, he finally woke up from his bed and felt different, there were tarts by his bedside, something that he had always probably ate but never realized, there was a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top. It steamed and he felt the heat make him happy and alive. He took a drink, laughing when he tasted it's sweetness and flinching whet it burnt his tongue. He decided to take a proper bath that day, his beard was irritating, his hair was so long and he reeked already. He cleaned himself up and took a shower, reveling in the good feeling it gave him, the cool water making him feel refreshed.
He wore his favorite shirt and pants, perfect for another day of going out and facing the world, finally facing the world. With a steady breath and a hope of new life he jogged down and was met with his father and mom, mom was still beautiful, her eyes were golden and clear, her hair blacker than anything, and her skin as soft and smooth to the eyes. He kissed her on the cheek, and gave her a long hug, she hugged in return, crying, telling him he was finally back. that he was finally free. He smiled at her and turned to father, who stood there still the same after all those years, strong, wise and secure, and the hug that the two men shared were priceless, the strength of which made him laugh and choke out a breath, his old man was still as strong as if he was ten years younger. He was given a pat on the back, and told to come back home soon, and not to irritate those old women any more. He laughed with that and went outside.
The sun was bright, and the heat was quite searing, but he was used to it, squinting, he jogged towards the settlement, happy to actually see the life once again, he saw Old Wynnette having troubles with her goats and chickens and he was instantly there to help her, silly goat. He smiled, getting all dirty and eating everything... he ran after the goat who had already had a fast sprint away from him, deep in the forest. He laughed, he wasn't tired, it was like running again in the trees. He turned back though when he saw Nathan calling him, just like Nathan getting lost again, and so he left the goat, he could get that goat again and he was sure that the goat would go back home anyways. Old Wynnette was a lover of animals.
Jogging through the forest he saw Nathan, working with Ogren in the forest chopping wood. Helping out on lumber as District seven was. He was glad, because he knew Nathan had been broken too... Nathan waved at him, and he waved back, shouting he had to find a goat. Nathan laughed and wished him the best of luck. Jonathan smiled back at him, turning around, but not before noticing a yellowish tint on the tree Nathan was chopping, probably the sunrise making it hard for the lumberers to look up once again.
Shaking his head he continued on but by the time he got the clearing, he then he saw the goat had actually went back to Old Wynnette just like he thought, he was about to go back home, he felt he was missing something, then he felt a tug on his shirt, "Jona?" a small voice asked. There he turned around and smiled a big smile, now he remembered what he forgot "Lelia!" he exclaimed, lifting up the girl and hugging her, she hugged him back happy to finally see him brighter. "Jona, Jona, Alistair is running away again! I can't catch him." the girl said, with a bright smile, Jonathan placed Lelia on his shoulders, running towards the middle of the forest again to find their dog.
It wasn't long when he saw Alistair by the lake, a shiny blue lake with gold thi--- fishes moving around. He let Lelia down and patted the dog, he was already too old. Definitely. But he was still here. He whispered to the dog "Good boy, you're still here huh? I'm back!" he laughed--- giving a sideways look at the water, the water rippled and he looked at it, he saw a boy, a happy boy with pudgy cheeks and bright blue eyes. and little gold thingies lower below. Before he could think of anything else, Jonathan heard a sound, and as he looked back, something poked him.
"Tag! You're it!" before he could even work around it he could only see a skirt climbing up the very leafy tree. "Oh you're gonna get it!" he laughed, he took a look back at Lelia, she smiled at him, continuing to pat Alistair as he stood up as well. He nodded and went up the tree, climbing it's branches, he was still so clumsy, reaching out to touch the purple juicy fruits rather than the branches.
By the time he was at the topmost branch, the sun finally it it's last stage of rising, Jonathan had sat down, mesmerized. He felt warm inside, happy, content... he had to get back down though, he needed to help mom with proper breakfast, but before he could go down, something appeared in front of him, two light brown hazel eyes met his blue ones, her wavy brown hair falling down from her possum position, her cheeks were big and she was actually a little bit dirty... she spoke...
"Let's play!" he laughed and said alright, looking down the base of the tree to make sure Lelia was good, she was still there, sitting down on the base of the tree, petting Alistair.and then they climbed up the tree, he took a moment and saw Nathan and Ogren, the yellowish tint still there, he saw Old Wynnette and the goats, he saw his house, and from the window, he saw his parents looking down somewhere hugging each other tightly, pure love....
The girl called him again, out of his reverie - there was something she wanted to show him. He said yes again and climbed some more. The girl finally stopped and held his hand. "Hey" the little girl said her eyes a bit unsure, bright, and all in all shy.
"Let's get married?" she asked. For some reason, he didn't know why... but the only thing Jonathan remembered, was that he hear a little boy's "Yes!" and the last thing he saw, was that when the girl reached her hand down to help him up, she had a blue ring, too big for her on her hand, and when he reached up, his hand had a similar orange ring that went with it.
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Somewhere else, a dog lay down on the floor, unmoving and at peace. While a young man was covered in a sheet from the bed. Mom and Father was beside him. Hugging tightly crying, his younger sister sat down on the bed beside him, softly crying in the arms of Old Wynnette... from outside Ogren the lumberjack was readying the casket.... asking for two, a boys and a dogs. Nathan... Nathan was somewhere there... he didn't see him but he knew he was there...
They were best friends. They were family.
The End || Jonathan and Cambria || Convo
Location: Quarter Quell Arena
Time Frame: 75th Hunger Games
Word Count: 1583
Cambria didn't know how much longer she could hold on, and she wasn't sure how much longer she wanted to. Jason is dead, Jason is dead, Jason is dead. She leaned against the tree that they had decided to rest again, sobbing so hard that her entire body was wracked with violent shaking. Or maybe the shaking was caused by the cuts and puncture wounds she'd gotten from the monkey muttations. Either way, as she held Jason's body close to hers, whimpering his name over and over again like a broken prayer, she couldn't think of one good reason why she should try and make it out of the arena alive.
Jonathan didn't move away from her... Emma he kept there as long as he could on top of the trees. In the distance, he could see a hovercraft waiting. How long or how far he's going to go with it he wasn't sure. He wanted to still stay. Although he knew he couldn't - the light blue sky was signifying the start of a new day... but for him it was the end of his childhood, his life. The hovercraft still looming far away was telling him to move. He looked at Emma and he wanted to find peace there as well, but even he could feel her presence telling him to move his ass and continue. With one last touch of her dirty cheeks, he whispered I love you once again. He thought to bring the ring with him... but decided that she would get back to District 7 anyway, properly. With that, he started climbing down... fresh tears falling on his face.
Cambria couldn't bring herself to leave Jason. She knew that he would have wanted her to go, to try to win, but what was the point? What more did she have to live for? She pushed herself to survive for him, promised that she'd try, but she didn't want to live in a world without him. She'd never see him smile again, never hear the way he murmured her name right before they both fell asleep. She'd never be able to look at his bright blue eyes, feel his lips brush against her skin. Cupping his jaw with one hand, she used her other hand to brush away the damp hair clinging to his forehead. He looked peaceful -- and even in death, she knew he was the most beautiful person that she'd ever laid her eyes on. "Jason, no. This is just a dream We're going to be okay, I promise. We'll --" she sobbed, cradling him closer to her, rocking back and forth as she tried to stop her tears. "We're okay. I love you, just -- it's okay. This isn't real. Come back to me."
Jonathan thought of washing himself, there is still the spile, and the tree they were in was bound to have water. If he was to live his next life... he could at least have that water to start anew. Water meant purity after all, it might even cleanse a big part of him. Looking up the tree, he couldn't see her anymore, what he was was a little girl sitting on the branch and a boy standing on the lower branch. He could see them talking, playing.... he shook his head. Are there still any survivors now? He didn't know, or maybe the arena just wanted to play with his head, that it's all done and they just want to watch him suffer, that's when he heard the tears, someone else was still alive. Walking towards the back of the tree, she saw them, them... Emma and Nathan's friends. The one they were supposed to ally with if ever they saw each other... "Cambria?"
Cambria started, her head whipping around at the sound of a voice calling her name. Her hand reached toward her dagger belt, but she remembered that she had used them all while she was fighting the muttations. She reached up to wipe at her stinging eyes, hoping to clear her blurred vision to she could determine who was standing on the other side of the tree. "Jona...?" He looked tired and dirty, and just as heartbroken as she was feeling. Her gut told her that the expression on his face could only mean one thing, but she refused to let herself believe that Emma was dead. She shook her head vehemently, tears coursing down her cheeks as she continued to hold onto Jason. "No," she choked out, with another shake of her head. "Where's Em? Emma? She should be with you! Jona, where is she?" The pain that she felt from wounds that decorated her body was nothing compared to the pain that was engulfing her heart.
Jonathan whimpered. Like a puppy kicked... /she should be with you Jona, where is she?/ those words would haunt him forever. Echoing in his mind, asleep or awake. /she should be with you... she should be with you/. He fingered the ring he had on... his anklet burned. "I... she..." He was angry at himself... he had nothing more... with a raging shout he punched the tree and cried. Again and again he punched the tree as long as he could, and when he was spent, he slid down, sagging. "She's gone..." he whispered to the tree. "It's all my fault." he whispered again. "My fault." He didn't know what to feel, the Eissicks and Artechez had a good relationship together. Where Jonathan was somewhat like the middle guy who was just someone there.. he didn't know what to say but with an aching look at Cambria and a body that was on the floor he whispered. "Is... is Jason... sleeping?" it was stupid but even he couldn't take that pain, they've both lost someone they loved.
Cambria could hear the anguish in the whimper that spilled from Jonathan's lips. Had she not been in so much agony herself, she would have have felt guilty, but she was crushed under an avalanche of her own grief. She's gone. My fault. She wanted to be angry. She wanted to ask him why. Was it really his fault? Or did he just feel guilty that he couldn't save her? But she was tired, so tired, and she was starting to get light-headed. Deep down, she knew that she couldn't have been angry at him anyway, not when he'd already volunteered in place for Nathan. He wasn't the one who drew their names from the Reaping Ball. None of this is our fault, she wanted to say, but she all she could do was cry. "No...he's," she bit down on her tongue, her body starting to shake again from the force of her sobbing. "H-he's dead, Jona. I-I couldn't save him."
Jonathan 's head went up. The sound that came from Cambria was too hard to bear, they were in the same position, the same hurt, the same tone of voice, the same grief. "I tried... we couldn't save them..." he said as he slowly, staggered towards where Cambria was, he could feel the hovercraft now on top of their heads... he looked up... and he choked a sob at seeing Emma's body being carried at such an apathetic nature. "Emma..." he whispered... a second passed and he looked at Cambria, then Jason... pain painted his face. With all the strength he had left he spoke. "I don't want to win... Cambria." he took the dagger he took his pouchful of berries, not opening them yet, but ready. "You can... still live."
Cambria parted her mouth to tell him that it was okay, that this was all going to end soon because she couldn't hold on anymore, but all that came out was a shallow exhale. She tilted her head up, watching as the hovercraft carried away the body of her best friend, tears streaming down her face. Her vision blurred again and she slumped against the tree, her hold on Jason's body weakening. Let this end, let me go home. Make it stop hurting. Jason, Jason, Jason. The wind kicked up the leaves around them and Cambria coughed, her mouth overflowing with the coppery taste of blood. She tried to lift her arm to wipe away the blood that was trickling out the side of her lips, but her body was not obeying her mind's commands. It was getting cold, why was it getting cold? The sun was rising now, filtering through the forest canopy. The sun should be warm. "Jona..." Her voice was a hoarse whisper and she smiled at him weakly. She wanted to tell him to that she had no reason to live, that she was dying anyway, but she was too tired. She just wanted to sleep. Why was he still talking?
Jonathan stared at the two bodies on the ground. His friends... it's funny how the last two pairs were both married, bonded in such a way that probably no one else cound understand. Together as District mates, mentors and tributes. He knelt down beside her, wanting to talk to her. That he would do this for her, so she could live. "Here, Cambria here -" he was already opening the pouch of berries, when a cannon sounded. With shaking hands dropping his pouch, purple, green and blue berries falling, Jonathan's face turned in shame and shock. She stopped breathing... but she was just looking at him. They, he - she......then everything turned black.