Day One [Finished]

[Tori]

Anastasia Estrange:

I ran towards the base of the mountains with Ismene directly behind me, following my trail. She had been behind me for the last 15 minutes. She had good endurance, I'll give her that. Barely anyone could keep up with me for that long. Although, she is a career. As I neared it, I thought I saw movement in the bushes. I gripped my weapon tighter and neared, slowing down. I tried to quitely move around to the other side of the bush, but snow crunched under my steps, alreting however layed there.

Rocko slighty looked out the side of the bush, obviously concerned and not able to control himself. At the sight of Rocko's face, I couldn't control the anger bubbling inside me. "Rocko, you idiot!" I screamed, not caring who heard. He had left Ismene and I. He had let me kill someone. He was a wimp. "Do you know what you did? Why did you run? What is wrong with you?" A hand on my shoulder made me shut up. I shrugged off Ismene and walked a way a little bit.

I thought I heard Rocko crying, but I didn't check. I shouldn't have yelled. Only about an hour into the games, and look what I was turning into. I glanced down at the blood on my weapon. On my hands, on my clothes from trying to help him. I was a monster. I was already screaming at my teammates, and I was losing control. I had to get us to shelter before I lost it.

I turned back to Ismene and Rocko. "I'm sorry." I said. "Rocko, please, we need to go." And with that I turned and headed up the climable part of the mountain. I didn't want to stay at the base, in the path of other tributes. No, they'd have to climb up to get us. I heard Ismene help Rocko, and hoped they followed me. I'll think of everything later.

[Innocent]

Ismene held out her hand to Rocko. "C'mon lets go." She said sounding a bit sad. Quietly she fallowed Anastasia and walked beside Rocko. "Rocko look, were all in this together until we get to the final three. We watch out for each other alright?" Ismene said sounding reassuring although in her head she was already worrying about the mental stability of her allys. Anastasia had lost her temper and Rocko seemed to be a bit off.

It didn't matter. She had promised to protect them and be loyal until the final three. The games hadn't turned her into a liar. At least not yet. Ismene finished the walk to the mountain in relative silence.
She looked up the side of the mountain. "Some where up there is shelter." Ismene said more to her self then the others. "Once we get up there we really need to sort out selfs out.."

[Tori]

I heard Ismene and Rocko talking behind me, but I paid them little attention; we'd be okay for now. My feet made crunching noises are they found their way through the inches of snow that lay around me.

The girl's face from the cornucopia fashed through my mind. I couldn't completely comprehend it. It didn't seem real, it had all happened so fast. Within a matter of minutes. Matter of seconds. I could still feel the spots on my face where my tears had fallen, despite the cold. What district had she been from? However, now was not the time to think about it.

I looked behind me to check on Rocko and Ismene. I wondered how long we had been walking. My legs were just beginning to ache. With my stamina, I hated to imagine how tired Ismene and Rocko were. It looks like we won't find any amazing shelter tonight. "We should make shelter here!" I yelled behindme, setting my backpack down next to a tree, and setting my myself next to it. I waited for them to catch up so we could decide our next plan of action.

[Marisa]

Throwing myself to the ground, I rolled near a bush. Really?! I thought to myself. REALLY?! Way to be a man, Rocko! I wasn't quite sure what had come over me, but I vowed to never let it happen again. I know I was scared, and I just wanted to get out but I really let down my allies. I knew I would probably let my emotions take over again at some point, but maybe I can work on controling it. I have to make myself block out the things that get me upset it I expected to survive in the Games.

My survival in the games was the least of my worries as I heard an angry run approach me. Camoflauge would have helped at this point. Then again, what do I use to paint myself white? Thankfully it was Anastasia's shrieks I heard next.

"Rocko you idiot!" Anastasia had blood on her clothes already. What the heck could have happened after I ran past her?

I studied Anastasia as her shrills continued to ring in the air. Not only was she bloodied up, but there were no open wounds on her and she seemed perfectly strong still; It was not her blood. I never saw Anastasia as a killer-actually I never saw any of us as killers even in the Hunger Games-but something must have happened.

The smell of the blood mixed with the look that Anastasia had on her face brought a burning sensation to my nostrils. Anastasia seemed to be distraught far beyond me just leaving her behind. I felt my eyes burn as exhaustion, realization, and guilt sunk in.

Anastasia walked away before I could say anything or apologize for running off. I hadn't meant any harm, something just happened. Ismene lead me down a path as we followed Anastasia. "Rocko look, we're all in this together until we get to the final three. We watch out for each other, alright?"

I nodded in reply. A response just didn't come to my lips; I wanted to save it for both of my allies, not just the one. Allies. That's what we were, right? Why was I being so selfish then? If I didn't get my act straight, I'd have to fight these games on my own. And that's just not something I can do. Or, I can't do it yet.

Ismene and I walked behind Anastasia for a good two hours, at lease. My legs began to ache about an hour ago, but I took it as pusishment for my stupid actions. Either way, I need to build up my stamina. Ismene and I walked in a comfortable silence as we followed Anastasia. I smiled to myself as I realized that I actually felt comfortable around my allies. Usually I don't feel comfortable around new people, just ask Jango, so this is a good sign.

Finally we stopped and Anastasia suggested making a shelter by a tree. The sun was in the middle of the sky now, it was probably about 3:00 in the afternoon at this point, so we still had time to look for caves. But, we all seemed pretty exhausted though from the run here to the three hour hike we just took.

Ismene walked over to Anastasia and they began to mumble about something. Anastasia still seemed extremely distraught and almost tramatized. I picked up one of her backpacks and began to rifle through it. Amoung many helpful things, I came upon a tent and pulled it out.

Anastasia and Ismene sat quietly as I put the tent together. "Listen you guys, I'm really sorry about today. I know an apology can't make up for anything and that the Cornucopia is the stupidest place to choke up, but I guess that's just what happened. I didn't mean to screw you guys over and I don't think I can even ever forgive myself for being so self. I'm really sorry." I didn't even look up at them as I said this, I was worried about how they would react. They probably want to kick me out of the alliance now that they've seen how my emotions can take over.

[Tori]

Ismene came straight towards me when she arrived. Her face wore a look of concern. I nodded at her saying,"I'm fine." She sat next to my and we all started to go through what we had taken at the cornucopia.

Along with my two backpacks, I had collected a lot more than I expected. A sweatshirt, a blanket, antipyrectis, dried fruit, a tomato, a compass, flint, and a hammer. Rocko had found a tent in one of my bags and started to set it up. I looked over to see what Ismene had, and showed her what I had gotten.

"Listen you guys, I'm really sorry about today. I know an apology can't make up for anything and that the Cornucopia is the stupidest place to choke up, but I guess that's just what happened. I didn't mean to screw you guys over and I don't think I can even ever forgive myself for being so selffish. I'm really sorry." Rocko's voice was honest, and cut the comfortable silence that had been there moments ago.

Ismene spoke first, with her simple honesty. "I'm sorry as well. I wasn't myself today." I stood slowly. Noticing my weapon on the ground I finally put a name to the bloody thing. Machete. I looked at my hands and clothes. Day one, and they were already stained. I bit lip, distracting myself. "I'm going to go was off.." I couldn't bring myself to say the word, blood. "I'm going to go clean up." I smiled at my allies, and turned away before I lost my cool.

Ismene and Rocko seemed to be wispering, but I concentrated on the task at hand. I took chunks of snow, and started rubbing it on my arms, taking off the caked blood. It was too cold already and I couldn't risk getting my clothes wet, so I refrained from using snow to clean my jacket.

When I returned, Rocko had set up the tent, and he and Ismene were debating on what to do next. I sat down next to them, pulling my blanket around me, and not really listening to their words. Just trying to find peace in what I had done.

[Innocent]

Ismene was relived when the decision was made to make camp. She would never show it but she was utterly exhausted. It was too hard to breath in the cold and walking through snow is harder then it looks but she refrained from lying down and relaxing as they made camp. There were things she had to sort out with her allys. She decided to talk to Anastasia first but before she could speak she was assured that Anastasia was 'fine' she wasn't quite sure what constituted fine in the arena but as they settled down and inspected their items every thing started to fall into place. Finally Rocko spoke.

"Listen you guys, I'm really sorry about today. I know an apology can't make up for anything and that the Cornucopia is the stupidest place to choke up, but I guess that's just what happened. I didn't mean to screw you guys over and I don't think I can even ever forgive myself for being so selfish. I'm really sorry." Rocko said with out looking at them. It seemed sincere and Ismene trusted him. After Anastasia excused herself to go wash Ismene talked with Rocko for a bit. They discussed the games, Ideas, opinions and most importantly who would take the first watch that night. In her opinion it was apparent who should, Ismene felt she should take watch because the others obviously had a harder day but she was in an alliance and it really wasn't up to her.

Ismene walked off a little bit and sat down, if she was going to keep herself sane she would have to do something. Back at home she had kept a journal but there was no paper here. She would just have to remember to write it down when she got back home and so she started her journal. Sketching each word in her mind until her feelings, hopes and fears were all recorded and locked away some where in her brain. When she was finished she returned to her allys and smiled. Something about their presence made her happy, their flaws reminded her that every one here was human, something that is easy for forget in the arena. She would have to remember to add that to her mental journal...

[Tori]

By the time I returned, Rocko had made shelter using the supplies from our backpacks. A blanket was now tied to two trees and lay only about a foot above the ground. It was a clever move. Ismene's bedroll, and Rocko's blanket lay underneath the temporary shelter. The small height of the blanket would allow us to keep as much heat in the tiny place as possible.

It was extremely dark, and I knew we needed light. Ismene returned from doing god knows what a little ways away. Ater debating a little while, we decided to risk lighting a fire. Recalling what I had learned from my stations, I gathered up supplies, while Ismene and Rocko portioned our food.

I dug in the snow for what felt like at least 10 minutes until I reached the ground. I used the sticks I had gathered, and set them up in a tepee shape. The girl's bag I had taken had contained a magnfiying glass. It would have been useful if itwas still light out. While doing this, I had let the flatest piece of wood I could find soak in the snow. Taking one of the hard sticks I was using to help with the fire I began rubbing it against the now sot wood.

I held the wood between my legs, and tried to keep the friction between the two pieces going, always making sure it was close to the fire. Noise interrupted all of us doing our jobs. The anthem had begun playing. I continued rubbing the pieces of wood together while it played, trying not to think about the girl I had killed.

The faces started to appear in the sky. The District One male was first. One career already down. District Four male. I reconized the next face. She was my kill. District Six female. Rocko inhaled sharply. His district partner was dead. And I had killed her. A fire sparked, and started catching. I couldn't help by wonder imy anger pushing my arm to move at incredible speeds had anything to do with it. I blew on the flame, adding leaves, and sticks as the District Seven male's ace stayed high in the sky. District Eight female. That had been the girl Rocko wasleaning over when I first saw him. I glanced his way. Surely, he didn't kill her.

I looked away, I didn't want to see anymore. I pulled my extra sweatshirt out of my packpack and threw it on over my jacket. It would be a cold night. "Anastasia." Rocko breathed in a monotone voice. I followed his gaze to the sky. Jayson Calloway. My district partner. I bit my lip. I hadn't really known him, but he had been my last piece of home. Besides my token, of course. My hand flew to my neck automatically and latched on to my necklace.

The last face was a blur and I can't remember who it was. After, Ismene offered to take the first watch. "I call second." I said, not wanting to miss out on anything. I locked eyes with Ismene, and tried to convey that she should wake me if anything at all happened. She seemed to understand, because she nodded her head.

Rocko passed out our portions of food not leaving any for the morning. "We'll find food tomorrow." I assure everyone, including myself. We needed it, but if we didn't eat everything tonight, we wouldn't have energy for tomorrow. I asked Ismene if I could use her bedroll while she took watch. She agreed, and I removed my sweatshirt, handing it to her for her to wear. Rocko was already preparing to crawl under the shelter he had made. I saw him playing her the bracelet around his wrist.

I nodded to Ismene and she took er watch position, while I crawled under the blanket and into the bedroll. I elt a little bad because Rocko only had a blanket, and I was still cold in the bedroll. He laid down next to me, regardless, with his blanket.

"Does it mean a lot to you? That token I mean. You play with it a lot." He told me a little about home, and I listened. I was a bit jealous. From there it was silent, and I turned over and fell asleep, hoping Ismene wouldn't have cause to wake me up except formy turn to watch.

((OOC: Sorry or the powerplay, I was trying to wrap day on up in one summary. Once you two post I'll end day one, and I think I'm starting a day two post in a moment for us to roleplay with later.))

[Innocent]

Ismene reluctlently walked away from their camp and the fire, it was against human nature to leave a warm place in the middle of the night but she had volunteered for first watch and she would do her job. She lowered her self down against a snow bank so she could see the camp and still be some what concealed. The wind stung her face and the cold had sunk through her cloths but there was little she could do about it. Finally about an hour later she got up, she had to find something to keep her occupied and her mind off the cold or she was going to go insane.

Ismene walked to her pack and brought out the wire, she broke a bit off and started picking dirt out from under her nails and suddenly had an idea. She picked up her pickaxe, walked over to the nearest tree and gingerly pried off a peace of bark about the size of a book being careful not to make a sound. She turned it over so the soft side was up and used the wire she begain to carve a message, she would put it in her backpack and if she died another tribute would find it. She hunched over it as she wrote, this message was from her heart and it was not for the games viewers. It was for her fellow tributes.

The message took quite some time to carve because she made sure to write as elegantly as her frozen hands would allow, by the time she was done and had placed it back in her pack her watch had likely been over for quite some time, the sun would be up in a few hours so she walked over to to the shelter to wake Anastasia for her watch. She whispered Anastasia's name a few times but she didn't wake up. Finally Ismene just placed her cold hand on the side of her face which by comparison was fairly warm. It did the trick, and as soon as she had given Anastasia back her sweat shirt Ismene happily pulled her self into the warmth of the shelter and settled into a light sleep as she awaited the next day.

[Marisa]

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