Reflection to Come {Katelyn & Iona}

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

District 11 Female Tribute 73rd Hunger Games

Iona Holbrook my silence is my self defense, and also my greatest weapon.    Static rambles from the obnoxiously vast screen upon Eleven’s floor. When physical training was paused from, mental studying occurred in its slumber. The chaotic schedule is draining, but not an aspect Iona is displeased of. If odds were to be in her favor she cannot waste a single breath, just as Kirito instructed. Not to mention pondering is absent among the cluttered to-do list. Until recently, as the days lengthening the Gong’s ring lessens every minute. Even during the most distracting of lessons, fear is beginning to rattle greater within Iona’s chest. Drastic attention must be provided to each vital teaching, while negativity coos to embody her entirely. Startled eyes stare, without a blink, on the crisp projection of past Games. With the terrifying performances illustrating her future once more, she’s doubtful any amount of practice will qualify her for such. Her gaze settles on the Blonde Victor from home for a brief intermission. How was she able to overcome all that she did? Even as life threatened to dwindle from her existence, her Axe strived onward. She provided hope to a District starved from such, and carved the path for others to do the exact same. If Iona were to pathetically crumble within the Arena, she would be achieving the unjust to so many. Quiet steps carry Iona from her newly formed family. Death is uncanny, but disappointment does not have to be left upon her grave. She travels as though dispatching towards her room, peaks back, and swipes for the elevator. Physical training must not halt from the Brunette’s scrawny muscles. She must be capable of sparring even Harbinger before the countdown breaches her spine. For the first time emptiness welcomes her into the Training Center. Lights flicker on, though a storm doesn’t ignite in effect. Finally she can test herself without worry of judgmental views from upcoming opponents. The handle to an Axe greets Iona’s palms. Might as well attempt to follow suit behind the breathtaking Mentors aiding her. The weapon weighs heavily on her arms, but she remains persistent. A comfortable hold is sought for and forced, with desperate determination. She must fight. She cannot fail the Victors. She will at least battle for her continuation. The Axe swings towards the Dummy that had devoured her earlier. And though strength has not miraculously joined her, she does leave a minor mark from her action. On and on her unknown frustration non-gracefully brutalizes her target.

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

It was difficult to locate Iona.

The girl moved so quietly and spoke so little it was hard for Katelyn to get inside her head. On the other hand though, being that stealthy could potentially be a strength in the area; make it easier to hide from the other tributes, avoid confrontation or sneak attack the unwary. Eventually, Katelyn found her in the training center, hacking or rather attempting to hack away at a practice dummy with an axe. Katelyn felt a jolt of guilt. Was Iona attempting to emulate her? Harbinger was known for the glaive. Kirito had used a sword and a knife when not throwing projectiles.

Katelyn, Katelyn had used an axe at the start and the end of the games. Well, at least, what she had thought was an axe. Heck, Katelyn hadn’t known that it was called an ice pick until she was watching the recap video to her own games. The training center didn’t have any of those anyway. It had been a specialized weapon for the arena, much like many of the weapons from the sixty-fourth. Axes were the closest thing to it. She watched Iona in silence for a few moments and wrestled with herself over what to say. How to help.

The past few years she had tried to steer eleven’s tributes towards the survival stations, not really wanting them to take up combat. But then, if she had helped Iain with combat, maybe Kirito wouldn’t have had to bury him. Katelyn blew out a sigh and approached the weapon rack. The tributes from eleven were going to need every advantage they could get at that point, as much as it left a bad taste in her mouth.

“Weapons like that work better with chopping motions.” She said quietly. “Slashes will cut and nick a mutt or a tribute, but the real damage comes from a hard chop." Katelyn picked up a hatchet and tested the weight on it. She hadn’t touched a weapon since her victory tour. Hadn’t wanted to. “Swing hard and keep it steady.” The blade swung at the dummy’s leg and then she back in the snow and Daphne Riot was losing her balance.

Katelyn grimaced at the deep gash on the dummy and swung that hatchet at the ground because - Something had tapped her knee and the swing ends Dillon Hartman; the girl from three crawling around frantically in the reddening slush.

“Your best bet will be to go for limbs. If your opponent can’t hold their weapon, they can’t hurt you.” Unless they’ve duct taped a knife to their stump of course. “If you go for the torso, it’s trickier because you can’t sever anything. You can still do damage though.”-the bladed side of the pick skated across Margaret’s chest one final time and the girl sank to her knees from the blood loss. Katelyn loosened her grip on the handle and let it sink down until the head was resting on her closed fist.

“Be prepared for anything. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to grab one of these in the bloodbath; there’s not even a guarantee that there will be axes at all. Sometimes the gamemakers take certain weapons out of the rotation.”She stared at Iona tiredly and tried to think about what had kept her going in the arena. “Avoid fights if you can, but when you can’t, remember that your strongest weapon is here," she said, pointing at Iona’s head. Katelyn sighed and glanced at the weapon in her hand. It felt wrong, but she ignored it.

“I haven’t seen that much of you Iona. How have you been holding up?”

"My friends still stand behind me.
We stuck together through all we lost.
Even when your worst surrounds me,
you'll never get the best of us."

table coding (c) ghosty

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

District 11 Female Tribute 73rd Hunger Games

Iona Holbrook my silence is my self defense, and also my greatest weapon.    No attacks counteract to Iona’s. The lifeless object simply absorbs her, more or less fail, strikes. Yet it’s exterior would still survive if it held a breath. And if it had power to reflect, it would be Iona losing her inhale. She continues onward despite her feeble attempts, until the subtle patter of another snaps her attention. Combat immediately halts, the Axe heftily collapses to dangle at her side, and deep brown eyes flutter to the company. Katelyn stands powerfully, in the diluted Training Center, just as she always appears within Iona’s eyes. It was her, and Kirito, and Harbinger, and Weaver, that Iona was down here for. It is all of them that she desires to not disappoint. But her lips merge even greater together from the lack of isolation. Being trained by the Victors these past days had expanded her more then within her entire timid life. What would happen if it were discovered that she’s still a hopeless case though? Or perhaps Iona doesn’t understand why they haven’t assumed that from the beginning. But a lesson proceeds, and a petite grin forms upon her cheeks in response. Even with the sight of a dummy with mere minor wounds, Katelyn believes she can be taught. She listens intensely to the proper movements with an Axe; hard chops, steady, no slashes. Maybe a lighter weapon, requiring less strength, would be more of her speed. Though with any weapon being a vital necessity, she’s determined to at least have a comfortable approach to the Axe. Go for the limbs. Every word is stored within Iona’s memory. The torso can erupt critical damage, but it’s escape from combat she’s seeking. Limbs. Her own Axe aims for the Dummy’s shoulder; only to find a trapped carve she’s unable to break it from. A couple of unsuccessful tugs are given, until she settles for focusing on Katelyn’s critical suggestions again. Any weapon can be acquired. For Iona’s sake, hopefully she stumbles upon one she can control. Avoid fights; don’t have to tell her twice. And apparently the strongest weapon is smarts. The last piece leaves her baffled. Intelligence was certainly something she possessed, while her lack of muscles demands that it’s not enough. It’s a skill that’s drastic for victory, though to her it will not overpower the rest in the long haul. How was she holding up? With the evident death breaching close, not too badly. A shrug jolts her shoulders. Lips part in a desperate movement to communicate. Her mouth seals again. A nod consumes her head for a brief moment. She returns to the attempt of freeing the Axe from the Dummy once more. The blade parts from the inanimate object, and Iona collapses to her bottom from the sudden release. The axe clatters against the tile. The chance of a miracle vanishes from existence. The Brunette stares blankly to her ultimate demise. “I’m going to die.” The truth leeks from a monotone, unaffected, extremely hushed, whisper.

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

Katelyn could tell that the axe was probably not the best choice of weapon for Iona. Her form wasn’t half bad, but she just didn’t have the strength or the speed for it. The blade kept getting stuck in the dummy, and if that happened in the arena, it would be a lot worse. In all honestly, the small brunette needed a knife; or something to throw. The large blades and blunts could become more of a liability. Iona shrugged at her, tried to say something but focused on the axe instead, wrenching it free and losing her grip as the bladed weapon clattered to the floor. Iona stared at it and then glanced at Katelyn before finally saying something, albeit almost inaudibly.

“I’m going to die.”

Katelyn’s heart sunk. Could one of the female tributes be more optimistic for once? But then,she thought to herself, who could blame the girl? She probably thought she was second rate next to a victor’s relative. Less important. Now if Iona had brought that up, Katelyn would have refuted it, but halfheartedly. Of course, Harbinger would fight more for his family. Kirito had done the same. It was to be expected. On the other hand, Iona’s lack of confidence could stem from her less than stellar practice sessions, or general intimidation from the other tributes. Katelyn bit her bottom lip as she put the axes back on the rack.

“Hey, now. It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” She reprimanded in a kind tone. “Don’t give up before you’ve even entered the arena. As long as you still have breath in your lungs, you can win. You’re not dead until you actually are, so don’t think like that.” Putting her hands on her hips, she took a deep breath and looked at Iona.  “A few years ago, I thought I was going to die too. I was wrong. You've still got a chance ya know.” Dead wrong, and the irony of the phrase was not lost on her.

Day in and day out, she had been proven wrong. Her alliance had taken the wealth at the cost of Velocity. Despite nearly dying from the abuse her arms and neck had suffered, she had soldiered on. The tiger mutt had fallen before her. The she escaped the feast unscathed. Had gotten Lexi away from the boys for all the good it had done. Chaske had been dropped with her life hanging on by a thread. She had done the same the following day with Margaret.  And over the last few years she had learned that there was never a good reason for giving up.

Living in a world of dead men walking or not.

"My friends still stand behind me.
We stuck together through all we lost.
Even when your worst surrounds me,
you'll never get the best of us."

table coding (c) ghosty