Events: I was gifted a few things from an anonymous person! Too bad it wasn’t, you know, WEAPONS LIKE I NEEDED. Also, I left my alliance because they were being little bitches and shit. I mean, I threw the books out the window to save us, but Jasper has such a nerd boner for the damn things he had to go after the MAMMOTH that took them back. I mean, whatever. I also battled a peacock. That was cool, I guess. Found out it wasn’t a Pyramid like TRACKER FRICKEN THOUGHT IT WAS. WAY TO GO MAN. Then I went into a hut and fucking got sent off the ground. I had to crash land the damn thing near the manor where I found some teas. One made my sleepy and another made me feel great as fuck. I made some healing tea and some blister tea. Hopefully the latter brews in time to FUCK SCYLLA THE FUCK UP. Since, you know, she wants to kill me. Oops.
Injuries: A peck wound on my side, a minor concussion, some scratches here and there.
Alliances: LOL
Items: Peaches, baked goods, a backpack, some stones, some Epsom salt, some tea.
Weapons: Hatchet, quills, blister bottle.
Location: Manor Library
Nourishment: half a peach, half a baked good, some water.
I Wanna See Your Peacock (Cock, Cock, Cock...) || Oneshot || Kindle and the Cock
Kindle picked himself up, brushing his jeans off.
“When I said I wanted a cock,” He said. “I didn’t mean like this.”
He picked up a few stones from the rocky ground and pocketed them. He pulled his pack off and pulled out a peach, splitting it in half and eating part of it. Next, Kindle made sure there was still a little salt left in his pocket from when he had a slingshot. He wasn’t sure how he was going to deal with a hypnotizing giant peacock, but he could use his imagination.
Lastly, Kindle pulled his over shirt off and wrapped it around his left arm, keeping his dominant one bare. He pulled his pack back on and began climbing again, knowing he had the bird’s full attention.
“Fucking birds. Why did it have to be birds?”
As he got closer he could hear the bird get restless. Kindle was clearly too close to something that the bird was guarding. He tried his best not to look at the feathers or its eyes, his own trained to the floor and watching the bird’s feet.
The peacock stretched out and tried pecking at Kindle who jumped back to avoided it’s beak.
“You want to peck, you son of a bitch? What, you’re hungry? How about this?” He asked.
Kindle pulled out the half of fruit he saved, waving it around and watching the shadow of the bird’s head follow the fruit. It tried reaching for the peach but Kindle pulled it back.
“Not so fast, fucker. Come and get it.” He said.
The bird made a funny sound before stepping closer. Kindle took another step back, making the bird work for its small meal. Finally, it grew impatient, lunging at Kindle’s hand. He brought his left arm up as the bird latched on. Even with the cover of his shirt it still really fucking hurt.
“Ah!” he shouted, throwing the fruit down.
He dug into his pocket and shoved the Epsom salt into the peacocks eyes, making it screech and jump back. It shook its head around, trying to get the salt out of its eyes. Kindle still wouldn’t look at it, trusting its shadows and feet. He went into his other pocket and pulled out the rocks he picked up.
He tossed one away from him, making the peacock to think he was moving. He tossed another the other way to confuse it further. The peacock lifted its feathers and began shimmering its feathers, but Kindle kept his eyes trained to the ground. He threw a final rock away from him and when the bird turned its head, Kindle charged forward. He put his covered arm up again as he pulled out his hatchet. When he collided with the peacock he blindly began hacking away at it’s feathers, making it screech more and try to peck at his face. He kept his arm up to take the blows, feeling his shirt tear more.
So much for a decent over shirt. He thought.
When he deemed the feathers damaged enough he risked a look and saw them badly mangled, enough to wear the bird could barely lift them anymore. That didn’t stop it from attacked though. Kindle’s lowered guard earned him a peck in his side.
He shouted in pain, jumping back before it could do too much damage.
“Fucking birds,” He spat. “You’re better on a fucking plate!”
He jumped at the bird, hatchet raised, and brought it down onto its neck. It wasn’t sharp enough to cut right through, so he kept chopping. He yelled the entire time, bringing cutting at its neck until the bird’s head was severed off and it’s neck was mangled and disgusting.
As an added bonus, Kindle kicked the fucking bird down the hill like it did to him.
He leaned over himself to catch his breath before assessing the damage from battle.
As he scouted through his newfound supplies, Kindle kept rubbing at his leg. He didn’t really notice until he’d reached for it a few times. He rolled his jeans up and saw the few cuts on his leg from the siren for red and puffy, the gashes themselves a tad green in color.
“Shit.” He whispered.
The murky water must have had some kind of bacteria or algae in it. Kindle noticed Buggie scratching at his leg as well, but Jasper seemed to be doing fine. It made Kindle think that the horsetail helped him.
“Is there still leftover of that plant left? The horsetail?” He asked Jasper
Jasper noticed the wounds on his allies, digging into his bag for the plant. While he broke it apart and turned it into a paste, Kindle pulled his top shirt off and examined the shirtsleeves. Taking his hatchet, he cut them off along with about an inch off the bottom of the shirt. He pulled it back on and tore the shirtsleeves into three sections each. He tore the bottom of his shirt in half and set part aside. Using a little of one of his bottles of water, he dampened the other part of the cloth.
Kindle held his breath and he rubbed his scratches and cleaned the greenish scabbing off. It stung, but he was sure it would hurt much more if he left it to fester. As he cleaned his wounds, Jasper knelt down next to him, ready with the paste. Kindle took a bit of it and pressed it into each of his three scratches, hissing at the stinging sensation. He took one of his sectioned sleeves and tide each part to another scratch, covering them as best he could.
When he was finished he looked at Buggie who was sitting on the other side of the tower.
“Let’s go, Flounder,” Kindle said. “It’s your turn.”
Buggie glared at Kindle, standing and making his way over. Kindle dampened the other part of the cloth he set aside and began cleaning out Buggie’s scratches.
“Ow!” He snapped. “Could you be a little gentler?”
“Quit your bitching and stand still!” Kindle snapped back.
He took the remainder of the paste and pushed it into Buggie’s scratches, tying them off with his other shirt sleeve sections.
With everyone’s wounds attended to, Jasper picked up his bag.
“As much as I appreciate you potentially saving us earlier, I think we need to go get those books back. They’re valuable, even if a mammoth is guarding them.” Jasper said.
“So what are you suggesting? Killing the mammoth and taking them back? That could very well not be the only one.” Kindle said.
Buggie nodded at Jasper. “I agree with you, we should get them back.”
Of course you agree with him. Kindle thought. He was so tired of being treated like some child just because he was the youngest out of all of them.
“Well then, I guess it’s settled. Let’s get going before it goes too far, shall we?” Jasper suggested.
Buggie picked up his things and followed after Jasper.
“You guys go on ahead, I’m going to stay and keep watch of the tower. In case anyone else tries taking it over, you know? Besides, there isn’t much me and my measly hatchet can do against an animal that size.” Kindle said.
The two older tributes looked at each other and nodded.
“Alright then,” Jasper said. “We’ll be back as soon as we can. Be safe.”
“No problem,” Kindle said. “Oh hey, take these. Breakfast on me.”
He threw two of his peaches at Buggie and Jasper who caught them with no problem. They thanked him and headed down to go after the mammoth.
Kindle looked around before sighing. He bet they thought he was scared to take on the beast with them, but really he just needed time. Time to do what he needed to do.
He took his newly acquired pack and put all his fruit and baked goods as well as his other supplies into it. He put his hatchet through a belt loop and his slingshot in another belt loop, filling one of his pockets with Epsom salt. He gave the others a five minute head start before throwing his pack over his shoulders and climbing down the tower. The area was quiet and it put an unsettling feeling in Kindle’s stomach. He had to do this, though. How long before his allies became his enemies? He’s surprised neither tried to kill him in their sleep.
He took a deep breath and shook his nerves out, heading farther east into the woods.
Kindle woke to faint vibrations in the floor. His eyes fluttered open and he shot upright at the loud sound of…was that an elephant? He peered out the window and saw not an elephant, but a fucking Mammoth.
“Are you…Are you fucking me right now?” He said aloud.
His allies, the lovebirds, began to stir as the stomping continued.
“You guys aren’t going to believe me, but there’s a damn wooly mammoth wearing glasses stomping its merry way towards this tower.” He said.
“Very funny, kid.” Buggie said in an irritated tone.
Kindle turned and glared at him.
“One, don’t call me kid again or I’ll kick you in the nuts. Two, look.” He snapped.
The three men peered out the same window, Jasper and Buggie’s eyes bulging out of their faces.
“That’s…” Jasper began.
“A wooly mammoth with glasses.” Buggie finished.
“And then God gifted them sight.” Kindle mumbled sarcastically. “Not to sound pessimistic, but how the hell are we supposed to beat that thing?”
The older boys looked around the tower for anything useful, panicking slightly when nothing seemed up to par. Kindle kept staring at the mammoth, finally noticing a few books bouncing around on its back. Books…
“Jasper where are those books you took from the library?” Kindle asked.
“What? They’re in my bag, why do you ask?” Jasper asked.
Kindle wasted no time, lunging at the royal’s bag and pulling out the stack of books. It was probably a long shot, but what else did they have to lose?
“What are you doing we could use those!” Buggie shouted.
“Yeah? I’m getting the sneaking suspicion these books were on borrowed time and we’re overdue.” Kindle said.
He acted quick, dumping his belongings out of his black parachute and trying the books to it. He hovered them out the window and dropped them, watching them drift to the grassy floor just before the mammoth arrived.
It looked from them to the books in front of it then back at them.
“Oh God please just let this work.” Kindle whispered.
The mammoth looked as if it was contemplating something before wrapping its trunk around the stack of books and slowly turning around to stomp away.
Kindle, Jasper, and Buggie deflated in relief, sliding to the floor again.
“All this stress is gonna give me premature grey hair and that shit ain’t cute.” Kindle said.
He pulled his locket out and opened it out, taking one of his pills. His stash was slowly depleting and he wasn’t sure what would happen if he ran out before he was either dead or out of the arena. He was about to down some of his cold soup when a thump sounded above him on the window sill.
He looked up and saw a parachute sitting on the sill, a note addressed to him.
Notable Events: Ate a breakfast Darwin sent me before traipsing around in the snow. I came across Zemira in the trees and hunted her down like a dog. It was a little awkward when a pack of wolves descended but I managed to get away unscathed. I made my way back to the Cornucopia, watching the fallen and enjoying another gift from my sponsor. I realised we have twelve tributes left, eleven before a victor is crowned.
I heard the familiar beeping just as I was spreading out my sleeping bag, dropping the net to the ground beside it I went to the mouth of the Cornucopia with my trident at the ready. I wasn’t taking any chances with the tributes lurking in the dark; I couldn’t afford to become complacent. I was alone in the arena, with no friends or allies to speak of. I could only rely on myself and I had already promised a dead man that I’d win this for him.
Was it only yesterday that I’d looked down into his cold unseeing eyes? It felt like a lifetime away and I hated that I missed his company. I’d been alone for so long that I didn’t think it would hurt like this. I should be fine to simply carry on with the memory but I found that there was a crack in my heart that I couldn’t fill. I missed him. I missed the comfort he offered. But I’d cried all of my tears yesterday, I had to be strong.
I spotted the parachute, picking it up and retreating into the safety of the Cornucopia. I unscrewed the lid, lifting out the thermos to open the lid and breathe in the scent of seafood chowder. It was home. I sat cross legged on the sleeping bag, sipping the chowder and breaking off bread to dip inside the cup. It was surprising how something so simple could make me feel better. Darwin was proud of me and with every parachute I knew he was growing confident in my abilities; he had picked someone who could walk away with the crown. He was providing me with every gift he could to ensure my success and I’d never be able to thank him enough.
As I ate the anthem started to play, I shifted to get a better vantage point, lining up the sky as I watched the faces and names play out over the darkness. I saw the faces of tributes who meant very little to me, watching them butchered by tributes I’d seen only in passing. Twelve were left. We were half way, it made me feel a little less intimidated knowing that alliances were fracturing with each death. I finished the soup, leaving half of the bread to eat tomorrow before crawling into the sleeping bag. I could see the snow falling outside and I burrowed even further into the warmth with my head resting on the pack. Tomorrow was a new day, a day in which I’d need to find an enemy and dispatch them just like I had with Zemira. The end was in sight.
I was busying myself with collecting Zemira’s things, shoving them inside my pack and looping my net across my shoulders when the first grumblings began. Shouldering my pack and gripping my trident in my fingers, I turned ever so slowly to the pack of wolves that had suddenly made their presence known. Drool dripped from teeth bared in my direction, their growling clueing me into the dangers of the arena I hadn’t contemplated before.
I took a tentative step back from Zemira’s body, her blood already cooling on the snow as the wolves continued their advance. The scent of death must have flushed them out from their hiding place. I needed to get out of here but I knew better than to turn tail and run. They were predators, they enjoyed the chase and I needed to be careful not to give it to them. I continued slowly backing away from the body, watching as two wolves descended on the body to rip and nip at her flesh. I’d done the hard work for them and I hoped they would be thankful enough to let me live.
The three remaining wolves circled around the body, protecting their meal from me as I held my free hand up as I continued my retreat. “Don’t worry, she’s all yours.” It was almost like they had waited for my signal that I wasn’t going to contend their catch, the five of them descended on the body ripping her limb from limb as they enjoyed their meal and gave me the opportunity to slip away relatively unscathed.
The sun was just starting to dip into the horizon and I knew I needed to find shelter before the frigid temperatures returned. The Cornucopia had been my safe haven last night and it would serve as my shelter again tonight. I trudged through the snow, heading back the way I had come to the golden horn. The arena was silent again, the cannons of the morning silencing as tributes hunkered down for the night. My shoulder protested with each movement and I could feel my muscles cramping as cold settled in. But still I pushed on, finally seeing the Cornucopia standing out in the last light of the day. I held my trident at the ready as I slipped inside, finding it empty I dropped my pack to unroll my sleeping bag. It was going to be another cold night but I could sleep peacefully knowing there was one last tribute out there.
The Dawn is Breaking | Arena Oneshot | Early Morning
I was dreaming about the beach again. Of a Viking Ship that came to shore, I’d been craning for a better look at the returning warrior when I the faint beeping of a parachute dragged me out of sleep. It was still relatively dark out, early enough that I could be confident that other tributes were still holed up someplace trying to keep warm. As I sat up my shoulder protested, it ached but as I pulled my jacket away to look at the healing wound. I lifted my arm, testing the movement and finding that despite the ache I had full movement. Whatever Darwin had sent me last night had been a life saver. I crawled to the opening of the Cornucopia, plucking the parachute from the snow as I glanced out at the arena. Fresh snow coated the ground and I couldn’t help the shiver that ran down my back. “Couldn’t have been a tropical arena, no. We have to have snow.” I muttered to myself, making my way back into the darkness to see what bounty my sponsor had sent me this time.
I snuggled back into the sleeping bag, needing the warmth as I peeled open the new gift. The note was what drew my attention first, biting my lip as the words of my sponsor stared up at me. “Keep Moving.” It was his advice and I knew he was giving me the means to do so. Sitting on top was a wicked looking knife, with a curved blade that I held up to inspect. It was a pretty impressive gift, but it was the bevy of food that lay beneath that made my mouth water. I pulled the canteen out first, bringing it to my lips for a long sip. The cool water was a welcome relief but I capped the canteen to concentrate on the breakfast Darwin had provided me. I picked over the breakfast, eating as I contemplated my next move. I couldn’t logically stay at the Cornucopia for the rest of the day. I needed to keep moving before I was a sitting duck. I could come back to my little home later, but right now I needed to start playing the game.
With breakfast devoured, I pulled out the medicated spray. Pulling my jacket apart to spray across the wound again, I didn’t know if it was going to help any further but I needed all the help I could get. With my wound treated, I allowed myself another sip of water before capping the canteen and placing it inside the first pack with the medicated spray. I rolled the sleeping bag up next, stuffing it inside before securing the ties and slipping the pack across my back. The dagger was next, stuffing it in my boot I reached for the net. I stroked one of the knots, thanking Darwin and Castor silently for the piece of home that I was taking with me. Throwing it over my shoulder I finally gripped the trident in my right hand, squaring my shoulders as I trudged into the early morning light. My breath puffed in front of me as I headed towards the tree line. It was time to show them that I wasn’t defeated; I was sick of hiding.
