When Opposites Meet (Puppy)

[Arrows]

Xander Chastmen

11 years old

District 2

THUD! A loud band rings through the training center as the dull end of my sword slams against the forehead of one of my fellow careers. He then slams into the wall as he stumbles backwards then falls to the floor. He moans and groans then through his hands I can see his blood flowing from the new gash I gave him and I grin. He should have known he was going to loose to me I am the best in the age group as sword fighting. I glance over at my father who is training us and he gives my the look which says clearly, finish him. I nod then walk over to the moaning career, I stand above him shaking my head. How pathetic he can't get back up after a hit, he will never win the Hunger Games like I will. Then with all my strength I kick him straight in the back of his head causing him to go unconscious within seconds of the impact. My Dad claps then announces, "I believe we have a winner, nice work Xander." My fellow careers who were watching cheer and clap for me since I completely destroyed my opponent. "That is all for today's training you are all dismissed." I grunt in disapproval I hate having to leave training, I mean I will need as much as I can get to win the games.

After changing into cleaner non-blood stained clothes I walk with my fellow careers out of the gym. "What a shocker Xander beets Roland." Vicky says as she walks up beside me. I laugh and shrug "In my opinion he shouldn't even be a career anymore, he has made absolutely no progress." Vicky rolls her eyes and laughs "Not all of us can be as gifted as you are Xander." I laugh at her comment then before veering away from the group say "Well you should at least try." As I walk into the main district square I see the families of our fallen tributes obtaining the coffins from the Capitol. Pathetic dying in the Hunger Games, I shake my head then keep walking. When I enter the Hunger Games I know I won't end up with my face in the sky like those two.

I exit the square then walk down to a nearby stream where I sit upon a small boulder. I look at myself in the reflection in the water. I don't have a single scratch on me, now that is the sign of a good career. I then look up at the sky and put a hand up to block the Sun's intense rays. However, the Sun does feel really good so I lay down on the surface of the rock taking in all of the Sun's warming rays.

[pup]

SHY AUBERGINE


AGE 12

Shy had been doing what he did every time he was in the career center. He hid and just watched. The coach didn't even bother to look for him this time because apparently he figured out it was hopeless trying to find Shy. Shy had seen the 11 year-old Xander beat up another kid. He was just plain bloodthirsty in Shy's opinion. Why does he like beating people up? He thought to himself. When he was seven he could see through the capital's brainwashing. You would think an eleven year old could, or even a 17 year old like Hannah McEwen or the pine dude should have seen through it. They were cousins and they attacked each other. Shy shook his head as he walked carefully out of the career center quietly. This time he managed to avoid getting teased by Vicky about hating the hunger games.

Well, Shy hoped that Vicky would stop after last week when Shy got so angry at him he threw a knife at Vicky, pinning his shirt to a wall. Shy had always been good with knives. Throwing it without hurting Vicky was easy enough. It was tempting to throw it at his heart though. That's what the Capitol wants. Shy thought. I don't want to do what the Capitol wants. Even though his whole family does it, Shy thinks they're idiots.

After walking through the district square, narrowly avoiding a few other kids from the training center, he walked to where he went to relax sometimes. A long, soft stream. They didn't have much of nature in district two so this was where he went a lot. When he got there he noticed the bloodthirsty boy there. From what Shy had learned from watching him was to not cross his path. He started to turn around, and then he stepped on a twig...


Tag: Arrows

[Arrows]

Xander Chastmen

11 years old

D 2

    The sky is so clear and blue today it fills my body with warmth and happiness. I sigh peacefully as I listen to the tranquil flow of the river and the lovely songs of the birds. It is days like this one that make me question what I have done with my life. I mean I have all but thrown away this portion of my life and replaced it with a feral blood thirsty career; who only finds beauty within violence. I twirl my thumbs around each other while listening to the nature around me. In a way its disturbing to hear since it is so different from the sounds of children being beaten unconscious. Then another part of my entity grows annoyed at myself for wasting time I could be training or watching past Hunger Games to just lay down in the sunlight.

As I continue to listen to the songs of the birds I find myself whistling a tune of my own, the anthem of Panem. Why this choice? Well its the only music I know from watching the Hunger Games and hearing it play along with the recaps of deaths. It is actually quite sad, I enjoy music very much but my intense life style leaves no room or acceptance for it. However, I wouldn't change my life at all I am rather happy training day and night for the games. The countless images of fellow careers I have beaten flow through my mind. I grin twistedly at the thought of the light in their eyes vanishing just briefly as they faint by my own hands.

    Suddenly though I am catapulted back to reality at the sound of a twig snapping. By its distinct sound, it sounded as if someone was trying to leave the area. Before even opening my eyes or sitting up I state loudly, "It is pointless trying to leave now, I know you are there." Now my eyes glide open like those of a snake about to hunt for its prey. I sit up and turn my head in the direction of the snapped twig. Standing there is Shy a fellow career boy about a year older than me. However, he shouldn't even be called a career, he just hides during training, how pathetic. I will admit that he is good with knives but nothing more since all I ever see him do besides that is hide and watch the rest of us train.

    "Why are you in such a rush to leave Shy?" I ask him as I jump down from the boulder. My eyes watch his face closely looking for any signs of fear. I am the snake and I have my eyes locked on this boy with evil precision. I don't want to hurt him too bad, but I do want to toy around with him and see what reactions he produces. I grin as I reveal a small switch blade from my pocket and begin opening and closing it. The blade was a gift from my dad for my birthday last year and now I take it everywhere so that I can always be armed. It's called readiness and it can save your life in the arena if you are suddenly attacked. I find myself now walking in circles around him vying him to say something anything, what emotion will he produce?

[pup]

Stupid twig. Shy thought. Now the eleven year old was back from a daydream or another. But Shy didn't think he was in reality just yet. Shy believed that once someone actually saw that the Hunger Games is just plain stupid they would be in reality. "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Xander asks Shy. Shy noticed the evil smile and the small pocket knife out. This kid and Shy's father were almost exactly alike in Shy's opinion. Except for the fact that Isidorus, Shy's father, doesn't use a knife when he wants to beat up Shy. A few days ago when he was in the Labyrinth he was having an awful time and was glad to get out of the stupid fake arena his family has for each year.

Well, if there was one thing Shy learned from his father it was: If someone wants to see your emotion don't show them any. It did appear that Xander was looking to find emotion. Shy turned around to face Xander with a cool face. There was a small knife in Shy's pocket because he knew that because he lived in District two and he got teased a lot, the teasing often went to far. Meaning that sometimes the people who tease Shy sometimes bring swords.

Shy looked the monster straight in the eye cooley and said, "Sorry if I don't want to remain to get a taste of your hospitality." Shy said innocently. It wasn't even going to help get away from Xander, Shy knew, but it was fun to just say that. In Shy's opinion, Xander and all the other careers and everyone else in district two are sheep being herded by the Capitol. Shy didn't want to be a sheep.

[Arrows]

Xander Chastmen

11 years old

D 1

My eyes don't leave Shy, they stay locked on him unwavering. Then he finally speaks up and I am actually quite impressed. He shows no emotion as he tells me he would rather not stay for my hospitality, the kid maybe wimpy but his words are smart. However, what catches me is how well he controls his emotions by not letting them show. Being able to control your emotions seems to have become a lost art in the ways of being a career these days and only a few have mastered it. Even I being as good as a career as I am find myself breaking out in emotional fits now and then. I grin slyly for I truly am impressed by Shy, he is starting to prove his worth. However, I only said starting he is still the same little kid who hides during training like a weakling.

I laugh and roll my eyes at the thought of this boy being an Aubergine. They are well known around here in District 2 for being a family filled with amazing careers. Yet here Shy is the weak link of their entire family, I can hardly begin to imagine the disgrace his family feel towards him. I mean its completely insane to think an Aubergine of all families could be as pathetic as this boy is. I decide to finally put my switch blade away figuring I won't be stabbing him today. Then my grin turns evil and my eyes glint as I think of an awfully cruel and painful question to ask him. This will be the real test of his worth, if he can withstand emotion's waves after this than he has gained my respect.

I crack my knuckles then my neck as I stop walking in circles as I stop directly in front of him. I run a hand through my slick blonde hair to make me appear more relaxed and menacing. "So Shy, I have one simple question for you. What does your family think about you? I mean the way you act when it comes to career training, how you always hide away. Are the disgraced and disappointed in you, or do they choose to ignore your existence? Or on the rare chance do they accept you for who you are?" As the last words of venom leave my lips I return to my vicious smile as I stand looking deeply at Shy. This truly will be the test that proves if he indeed has mastered the art of no emotion. If he has then I really will respect him, but only to a degree of course.

[pup]

Shy Aubergine



District 2

Xander almost laughed out loud, but instead raised his eyebrows slightly in amusement as Xander said, "So Shy, I have one simple question for you. What does your family think about you? I mean the way you act when it comes to career training, how you always hide away. Are the disgraced and disappointed in you, or do they choose to ignore your existence? Or on the rare chance do they accept you for who you are?" Shy had answered this question many times. It was easy to answer.

"Yes. They are disappointed in me," Shy began, "But I don't care." He actually didn't. His father Isidorus was a jerk, his cousins were all obsessed with the Hunger Games, and all his Aunts and Uncles scorned him, and he didn't care the slightest bit. Why should I be herded like the rest of them? He thought angrily, not letting it show on his face.

Xander is a sheep, his father is a sheep, all his cousins are just sheep!!!! That was what he thought. They only like the Hunger Games because one person does which sets off a chain reaction causing everyone to like it just so they can be 'cool'. Shy thought. Well, Shy doesn't care if he's cool or not.

Arrows

[Arrows]

Xander Chastmen

11 years old

D 1

I am officially impressed, Shy had yet again shown no emotion. Then even above that he had answered the question with ease. Almost as if it was a small gnat flying too close to his face and he simply swatted it away. In a way I was envious of Shy's mastered skill of emotion. Although I didn't want to admit there is a lot I could learn from Shy, maybe even more than just career training. I nod approvingly as Shy finishes answering the question then I decide to clap for him.

"To be honest Shy, I thought you were weak and pointless. However, I have changed my opinion about you, instead I do believe you are in fact quite strong. Yet not in the way of most careers, but in the way of intelligence and mastering emotion. It is as if you are the Dark Horse of the careers and I can honestly say I am impressed." I am surprised I am actually able to say these words so truthfully. I would never have imagined these words going to Shy Aubergine.

As I wait to see what he has to say to my sudden speech of approval I walk over to the stream. I look at the reflection of myself in the water. I am just as I always have been a short blonde blood thirsty career. Yet in a way I am starting to second guess my choices in life. However, I quickly outcast those guesses. I am a career through and through, I have spent my whole life so far training for the games. I know that one day I will be in the Hunger Games and I am determined that I will win.

[pup]

"...Dark Horse of the careers and I can honestly say I'm impressed." Shy heard from Xander. Shy stared at him. That was unlikely to hear from anyone in district two from Shy's perspective, especially Xander Chastmen. Shy raised his eyebrows further, part in annoyance. He didn't want Xander's approval. He didn't want anyone from this world's approval. In an obvious sarcastic voice Shy said, "Thank you. The thing I wanted the whole life is to be accepted by the bloodthirsty eleven year old!"

Shy wanted Xander to hear the sarcasm. Maybe the way to get through to people a change them from Sheep into human beings was to get them angry? Maybe, Shy thought, If I can get him angry at me enough I can maybe find away to shift his anger at the idiotic Hunger Games. Shy kept his face composed as he watched Xander walk down to the river and look into it.

Shy wondered what he was thinking and carefully slipped his hand into his pocket where a small knife rested. It was just in case Xander was thinking about skinning Shy alive. Shy had no idea. The movement to his pocket speed regular and he just rested his hand in there, not holding the knife yet.


Tag: Arrows

[Arrows]

Xander Chastmen

11 years old

D 2

"Thank you. The thing I wanted the whole life is to be accepted by the bloodthirsty eleven year old!" Shy says to me in a very sarcastic and annoyed voice. I snort in annoyance, who does he think he is pretending to be all high and mighty. As if he is higher than anyone else. I bet there are kids in District 12 that could destroy him within seconds of him entering an arena and they will keep on destroying him until he learns his place. Whatever respect I had for him has burnt away at this point as my stomach twists in anger at the little nuisance. Even though I am small to I'm not nearly as little of a threat as he is. Rage boils inside of me as I crack my knuckles, yet here he is lecturing me talking down to me! Of all people within district 2 he believes he can talk this way to me. Well then he has another thing coming, and I hope he gets it through his thick skull that I am not a person he wants as his enemy.

"Who do you think you are exactly? Walking and talking around here as if you are higher than everyone else. Well I hate to spoil your parade but you aren't so it would be advantageous of you to stop acting like you are." I laugh for a second then finish my statement, "However, its just a suggestion. I do hope you listen to it though." I find it very difficult not to unleash my fury on Shy with my fists. However, I know that beating him up right now would do me absolutely no good in the long run. So I control my rage to just words and I think I got my point across to him rather well.

I stand watching him with my hands shoved into my pockets and a scowl furrowed upon my face. I huff and puff unintentionally as I look at him. He really is small just like me, except I did something about it. I made myself stronger I used my size to my advantage until I was the best I could become. I keep growing stronger ever day with a higher chance to win the games in my future. And what did this runt of a career do about his size? Nothing except act as if he was President Snow walking through a crowd of district 12 citizens. Well he isn't President Snow and I'm not a district 12 citizen so he had better put himself in line soon or else it is not going to end well here.

pup hope this is how you tag xD