Together, we're stronger [Moss, Luke, Aurora]

[Sage]

Had someone told me a week ago that I would be standing here in the training center in the Capitol, I would have smacked them and called them insane but now that I'm here, the whole thing has finally sunk in. I am going into the hunger games and I am most likely going to die. Because I am from district eleven, the odds of me winning are slim to none but you never know, last year, the girl from 10, Saffron, won her games. It was a quarter quell that she won and the twist was that only 12-14 year olds were reaped. The girl and the boy from my district made it pretty far so maybe I have a chance. I doubt it though. I'm not really a fighter, I'm more of a runner. Thank ripred for pain killers, my escort introduced them to me when we got here and since then, I haven't had a single headache. I wonder what it is that's in this medicine that keeps the headaches away for so long, the remedies from home are only ever mediocre at best but these, these are truly amazing.

My eyes wander around the gym, looking at the competition, the twenty-three other people who stand in my way from going home. Do you really want to go home after taking the lives of twenty-three other kids? I ask myself, sighing. I don't honestly know if I would want to go home after going through this, preferably, I'd rather die. My eyes land on the weapons stations, I might as well at least try to learn about how to use some weapons before going into the arena, that way I'll at least kind of know what I'm doing. Touching the moss necklace hanging around my neck, I make my way over to the swords station and find a small sword that seems to fit right in my hands. The instructor shows me how to stand and swing it properly before I attempt to attack a dummy. I manage to do a bit of damage but not enough to kill. It's not good enough, I'd be dead before I had the chance to do anymore damage, especially if I was facing a career. They've been training their entire lives, I'll only get three days to train. I swing again and this time manage to lodge the sword into the dummies gut, not a fatal wound but definitely a painful wound. The trainer gives me an approving smile before I put the sword back on the rack and wander away, towards a survival skill.

I don't like fire, in fact, ever since my dad was killed in one, I've been terrified of it. Nonetheless, I know that fire could be my savior, especially in purifying water. I'll just have to suck it up and get over it, maybe I'll even learn how to not set everything around me on fire. The instructor teaches me how to safely build a small campfire and before I know it, I've got a small inferno beneath my hands. Gazing into the flickering flames, my initial reaction is fear but after a few moments, my heart rate slows and I take a deep breath, calming myself. Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, do not be afraid. I repeat the words over and over to myself before stamping out the flames and killing all remnants of the fire. What shall I do next? My eyes scan the gym, searching for my next training station when I notice two other tributes, the girl from ten and the boy from eight. I'm going to need allies in the arena, even though I really don't want to get too attached to them, they are the ones I will rely on but then, and this makes my stomach drop, I will have to either watch them die or have them watch me die. Pushing the thoughts to the back of my mind, I approach them, trying to appear confidant. "Hello" I say once I'm within earshot of both of them.

Word count 715
Tags Moss, Ani, Luke, Anatra, Aurora, Reasons
OOC let's make this alliance happen^^

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[Anatra]

Together, we're stronger Luke Davis - District Eight - Eighteen The rooms is relatively lit, and the sound of practice swords clashing, bows firing and the fickle hands of tributes working at fires or string. I walk through the main entrance and get introduced quickly by one of the instructors. "Right this way, Eight." Eight rhymes with hate, and I hate being called eight. I follow the name-caller until she shows me a quick map on a table of all the stations. The choice overwhelms me, yet I know that going to my favorite one wouldn't be very practical. But to be fair, I have never held a real weapon. Only pretend wooden ones that are easily hidden. I squint my eyes, gazing around. Archery doesn't sound like my cup of tea either, nor does survival - I will leave that for when I am tired. That way I'll be on top form for the Games themselves. It is all a game, really. Pick your class, pick your stats. Fight. Win or lose. Live or die. I walk my way over to the spear section. I can feel eyes one me, I know it. I grip the spear and the instructor opposite me gets ready to fight a lowly District Eight male. He's so wrong. My grip tightens and suddenly I swerve my way into slashing with the spear. He was prepared, but wasn't expecting me to be as strong as I am, it knocks him back a bit while I have time to hit again with the other side of the spear - the blunter side (though both are blunt for practice purposes). It hits him in the side of the chest and he speaks; "Very good." He goes for me now, only lightly just to test my defense. It isn't so good as I've never had a practice partner, ever. I block, but it is lazy. Only a simple reaction, not a real defense. I work at it with him for a little while. "Alright, take a break - head to another station, Eight." Stop it with that name, I am not a number. My minds speaks, but only to myself. I walk from the station and quickly a girl from District Eleven calls to me and a girl nearby to me. "Hello." She says. "Hey." I have a strange reluctance to my voice, though anybody could tell I'm forcing myself to talk to people right now. I want to make friends rather than enemies, but I don't want to have to watch my friends die.

[Hael [prev. reasons]]

A U R O R A V I L L E L A
B A R E L Y H O L D I N G O N

I'm just going to straight out tell you how much I don't want to be here. I don't want to be, preparing for my death or others. I don't want to hold these weapons in my hand and think how I won't survive. I don't want to think about how many people I will have to kill. I don't want to win, but I don't want to lose without putting up a fight. I don't want to be here.

But yet, here I am, holding a bow in my hand in the Training Center. People do things that could save their lives and take their opponents. How am I ever going to survive against people who have trained their whole lives while I only have three days. I guess most people in the lower districts are in the same position as me. I try to hold the bow steady as I grab the arrow and pull back the string. I miss my target greatly, my cheeks flushing a pink hue. I'm decent with a dagger and a sword but I need to work with a range weapon if I'm going to live longer than the blood bath.

I shoot many more arrows, slowly getting closer to my target. I decide to take a break from that and head to another station. On the way there I collide with the boy from District eight and the girl from District eleven. Not literally collide but you know what I mean.

"Hello," I say after each of them have said hello. "Are you ready to die?" I ask, folding my arms over my chest. Not meaning to be hostile but we all know truth rings to it.

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[Sage]

"Hi" the boy from eight says. I have to say, he's kind of cute but I can't think about boys now, not when I have a family to get home to. I smile before the girl from ten walks over to us. "Hello" she says. "Are you ready to die?" Her bluntness surprises me. I look at her, cocking my head to the side. I like this girl already, she's blunt and doesn't beat around the bush. I'm not ready to die but I don't think anyone is ever really ready to die. "Nope, you?" I ask, grinning at her. "Moss District eleven" I say, extending my hand to both of them. Perhaps, I can make some allies before going off to my death. It would improve my chance of returning to Colin, Briar, Lark and Aspen.

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[Anatra]

Together, we're stronger Luke Davis - District Eight - Eighteen "Are you ready to die?" I look a little surprised, but then again I could have expected as much in the Games. Her swiftness when getting to the point goes unquestioned when Moss says "Nope, you?". The pair grows on me already, I didn't expect making friends to be so easy. "Moss, District Eleven." A nice name. I catch a glimpse of her necklace with the small glass bowl of moss within. I wonder who gave her that. "Luke, District Eight." I speak, my voice perhaps sounding a little out of place among the girls. I think quickly back to the other girl's question; "Are you ready to die?" She folded her arms as she said it. I slip my hands into my pockets. At first glance you would expect somebody with my physique to be at the unarmed station, or somewhere among the careers who are typically louder than the rest - laughing at other tributes as well. I can't match up to the introduction that the girl made. I think I am ready to die, I haven't gave it much thought. I don't seem to be taking to the Games as fearfully as the rest of those I've seen. Of course I'm scared and nervous, and the rest of it. I just don't have the drive that pushes me to failure right now. I'm psyched. Ready to go. I can't be too arrogant though. Arrogance gets people killed. "Nah, not yet. Five more minutes." I smile at them.

[Hael [prev. reasons]]

A U R O R A V I L L E L A
B A R E L Y H O L D I N G O N

I don't stick out my hand for them to shake, I'd mess up if I did. So instead I introduce myself without the physical contact. "Aurora District 10." I question why we say our districts when we all know who is from what district. We all watched each other get chosen for death through the screen. I never replayed my reaping on TV. I don't want to see how horrid I looked on TV, my reaction, my family's reaction.

I chuckle lightly at their responses to my question. "Nope, you?" and "Nah, not yet. Five more minutes." I wonder how they would respond if I told them that I was ready to die. Unstable, most likely. Come to think of it, that isn't far from the truth. Or a failure. I don't want to be seen as a failure. I will fight but won't tell them how ready I am to go to hell.

I look at Moss, and then at Luke. I could see those two getting together falling in love - I grin smugly at the thought. Then they are in love - my grin grows. And then one or both of them die - I wince. Avoiding the obvious, I could really see them together. If only we were in an alliance, then they wouldn't have to kill each other and I could play the matchmaker - my grin makes a reappearance.

"You're not in alliance yet, are you?" I ask both of them. It feels like asking someone you like if they like you back. You could get rejected and that hurts, but you get over it eventually. And if they do like you back, well, it could turn into something great. Not that I would know much about that or anything. My hard is to cold to like anyone.

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[Sage]

I look at the two tributes standing before me; Luke and Aurora. Maybe, they'll be my allies. Aurora refuses my outstretched hand but I let it slide, I can tell she's a fighter, just this little bit of interaction I've had with her, I can tell already. She'd be a good ally but a very bad enemy, not an enemy I intend to make. I see her grin as she looks between Luke and me and I feel a slight blush creep over my cheeks. I also see her wince slightly, what was that for? I look over at Luke, my cheeks warm. Was Aurora...? no, I can't think of him like that, nope, nope, nope. This is a fight to the death, falling in love with someone I'd only just met would only lead to hurt, that was all it could lead to. I had watched the past games, watched as people had fallen in love and then died, either together or in the others arms.

"You're not in alliance yet, are you?" Aurora asks, snapping me out of my daze. I blink and shake my head. I wasn't in an alliance, I didn't know about Luke though. Maybe he was in an alliance, trying to get information out of us. The idea that he could do that to the two of us hurts, what is he doing to me? Stop it Moss, now. I scold myself mentally. "I'm not, what about you Luke?" I reply, looking at the district eight boy.

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[Anatra]

Together, we're stronger Luke Davis - District Eight - Eighteen Aurora's glances between me and Moss make an easy challenge to figure out. She must think... Hmm. I don't know what she is thinking, but whatever it is she will likely not tell me. She seems like a striking person, who makes bold choices - though it's far too early to decide that about somebody. That would be bold of me. When I look at Aurora, the boldness is clear. Folded arms, quick introduction. But when I look at Moss, I see somebody who may be more vulnerable. It's different when you're older, it's a different kind of vulnerable. Right now though, she seems too gentle for the Games. She needs people to protect her. An alliance. Alliance. The word rings in my ears. I hadn't even thought of it. How could I be so stupid? I will need allies if I want to live. That's just it, survival. Using others? I don't like the thought of it at all. Except it won't be using if we know we will end the Game in checkmate. We would be resisting, and seeing what happens. Surviving together through this hell, because nobody else is there to support us. It would be easier for those at home see a strong group defy those who want to kill them. I like the sound of it now that I've talked myself into it. "I'm not, what about you Luke?" The question is posed and I answer immediately. "Me neither. That makes three of us, right?" I need to confirm. If we are going to be allies, this has to work. There can't be any second chances. I feel I can trust these two - of course with the obvious uncertainties that come with the Games; Desertion, back-stabbing. It all could happen, but I wouldn't do it and I don't think these two would either. Again, too early to decide.

[Hael [prev. reasons]]

A U R O R A V I L L E L A
B A R E L Y H O L D I N G O N

"That makes three of us, right?"
"No," I reply simply, "no it doesn't. Because," I pause for drama's sake, "I believe we have an alliance." And a pair of lovebirds, I add in my head. These two are getting together; I won't have it any other way. "Unless one of you object, but I'm guessing that won't happen, seeing how we all need each other to survive." It's a quick guess, I admit, but I think I may be right. Not many - if any - people make it on by themselves.

I gain confidence from knowing these people - who I have got along with so well - will be allies. We'll work together; we'll be stronger that way. "Tell me a little bit about yourself but don't tell me your life story. We don't have time for that and I don't have that long of a attention span." I hate to be so controlling (ha, not really) but we do need things to get done here. We only have three days of training and I'm itching for some target practice. Plus I need to start piecing together a plan from the ideas boiling inside my brain, just to give them a little push. From the looks of it, they'll get along just fine. I hate standing around idle (like I'm doing right now) and why not get in on some of the excitement?

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[Sage]

"Me neither. That makes three of us, right?" I nod before Aurora speaks. "No, no it doesn't. Because" the girl pauses before continuing. "I believe we have an alliance." She says, I smile, my eyes lighting up. "Unless one of you object, but I'm guessing that won't happen, seeing how we all need each other to survive." she has a point, we need each other to survive. I nod, smiling at them both, my cheeks flaming even brighter red when I look at Luke. Aurora has a plan, I feel it in my gut. Somehow I know she's planning a way to get Luke and I together. No, I can't fall in love, I can't, I have to think about my siblings.

"Tell me a little bit about yourself but don't tell me your life story. We don't have time for that and I don't have that long of a attention span." Her request brings a chuckle out of my lips. Tell her about me huh? Alright, but can I trust her? I probably shouldn't tell her my strengths or weaknesses yet because I only just met her but maybe a little bit about my family? It's not like she'll ever meet them. "I have a twin brother and three younger siblings named Briar, Lark and Aspen. They mean the world to me." I say softly. I will do anything to return home, even though the idea of having to kill these two makes my heart hurt more than I thought it was possible to. If one of us does win, I don't know what we'd do. I only just met these two but already, I don't want either of them to die, I don't want anything to happen to either of them. "Why don't we talk and train at the same time?" I suggest, looking at them for approval.

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[Anatra]

Together, we're stronger Luke Davis - District Eight - Eighteen "I believe we have an alliance." The words bring about the only happiness I've had since the Reaping. I catch myself oblivious to something however. I didn't notice it earlier, but Moss if blushing. I don't make it obvious I know, because that's the worst thing to find out when you're blushing. "Tell me a little bit about yourself but don't tell me your life story. We don't have time for that and I don't have that long of a attention span." I smile at her again. I like her style, she's straight to the point. About me? I don't really have much. She doesn't want a life story, so she probably just wants basics... I guess I could try? "I have a twin brother and three younger siblings named Briar, Lark and Aspen. They mean the world to me." I've always wanted a younger brother or sister. The fact that they mean the world to her confirms why I wanted one - because I've always wanted to feel like I could be there to protect somebody. Maybe you still can, before the end. Or maybe, I should stop pushing for something like that. It shouldn't happen on my terms, anyway. But she is beautif- My thoughts collide together and I find myself answering after Moss. "I'm an only child, though I wish I wasn't. I've always wanted a little brother or sister, though." I pause a little thinking of anything else to say. "If I wasn't here, I'd be working in the factories in Eight. I... wish I had more to say." I feel a little embarrassed because of that. It was a poor attempt at getting to know people, but I really don't have much. Well, didn't have much. It's all gone now.

[Hael [prev. reasons]]

A U R O R A V I L L E L A
B A R E L Y H O L D I N G O N

I'm relieved that these two people aren't like some people I know, and they didn’t go on and on about their life. Arrogant, weak values, horrible character; those people I just can’t stand, although I did just describe myself in five words, didn’t I? I heard somewhere that the things you hate about others are often in you; in this case it must be true. But on to the most important things; training and Luke and Moss, mostly training, though.

I listen to what they have to say, they aren’t so bad. They have stories of their own, actual lives, unlike me. Training and talking at the same time? Yeah, I can handle that. But I’ll keep my trap shut until they are done talking. “Great,” I say as I force a smile. Talking about siblings reminds me of my own but I push away the thoughts and memories before the sadness follows. I don’t bother to tell them about myself, I’m really not so interesting. If they want to learn a thing a two about me, fine, they can ask. It’s a waste of time so I won’t encourage it. “What training station to you guys want to head to?” I ask as I look around. I look back at Moss and Luke, wondering if my last thought will about those two. That or the family that is my own, or all the crimes I committed, the people I slaughtered.

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[Sage]

If there's a prize for rotten judgement
I guess I've already won that
no man is worth the aggravation
that's ancient history been there, done that

I look up at Luke, I've only just met him but I can tell there's something there. No Moss, no, this is the games, you can't afford to fall in love I shake my head, feeling a blush creep over my cheeks. He's an only child but he wishes he had siblings. Maybe if he wins, my siblings will adopt him No I can't afford to think like that. I have to focus on going home. My eyes land on Aurora and she speaks, not having told us anything really about herself or her family. "What training station to you guys want to head to?” Training might help me focus my thoughts before I do something stupid like continue looking at him. Pull yourself together girl I scold myself.

"How are you guys at swords?" I ask, my voice soft. I want to feel the cold steel in my hands again, the way it feels so natural resting in my palm even though it really shouldn't. It shouldn't feel so right in my hands because if it feels right, it's likely that I will use it to kill people. I don't want to kill anyone but I don't think, in a few days, I'll have much of a choice. I look to Luke, trying to hide the blush that's creeping over my cheeks. Why did I have to meet him in the games where the only possible outcome for one or both of us is death? I wonder, glancing at Aurora who I have a feeling is going to try and match make us. I wait for their answers.

No chance, no way I won't say it no, no
you swoon you sigh why deny it unh oh,
it's too cliché I won't say I'm in love

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[Anatra]

Together, we're stronger Luke Davis - District Eight - Eighteen "What training station to you guys want to head to?” I'm actually decent with strength and spears. There is little need to train on something I know that I have already done. "How are you guys at swords?" Spears aren't the same as swords. Swords are heavier, less balance. "Not great, it's a good place to start." I say to her. I don't want to brag, even though I did just tell the truth. Bragging. A trait of the careers. Nothing I could ever do right now would be worth a brag unless it didn't involve killing people. I have no fear killing another in self defense. It is the reason I don't like. Self defense isn't a good substitute for pointless murder. People call it the coward's way out, and I prefer it because it means I remain sane. I remain me. "What about you Aurora?" I ask her.

[Hael [prev. reasons]]

IT'S DARK INSIDE

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A U R O R A V I L L E L A
DISTRICT10 | SIXTEEN | FEMALE

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I take a blade for myself, staring at its beauty. The steel is cold against my fingertips. "I'm decent with a blade," I tell Moss and Luke. Maybe even better than decent, but I can't be to sure. Modesty is something I'm reaching for.

"And you, Moss?" I ask, lifting my head to glance at my allies. Hopefully someone is good with a low-ranged weapon, it would be better not to fight with just swords. I grasp where my hands are supposed to be, steadying myself with the right stance. I slice the air with the blade before sliding it back into the hilt. I remember cutting of our farm animals heads to help dad with butchering, my eye twitches. At least we got food out of it though.

Maybe I will be able to survive in this arena with the little skills and practice I have. I could never do it without Moss and Luke though. I turn around to face them, my lips twitching into a smirk. What if they made long eye contact while I had my back towards them? My smirk turns smug at the thought. What is they were about to kiss? It’s very unlikely, but the thought makes my face split into a grin anyway.

[sorry for the really, really low muse]

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