Two's 67th Hunger Games [Victor: Adria!]

[SunnyJustice]

[Sure! Let's timeskip to morning. ^^]

Maple had appreciated Leo's company -- sitting in silence for the rest of the night helped to calm her anger. Another cannon had fired, but unfortunately, they would have to wait until tonight to find out the identity of the fallen. Maple highly suspected it was Bauxite; the District One boy had not yet returned. Since both he and his partner had died from their rebellious actions, that was punishment enough. Maple decided that all grudges were off against them for the time being.
However, that didn't mean what they did was correct. Maple -- and the rest of her loyal allies -- would still fight with honor against Adria Caraway. Soon enough, District Seven would find out Maple did not approve of the mutiny within her ranks.
"Maple?" asked Clair, peeking her head out of her tent. The sun was slowly rising to the east, casting long shadows over the softly-lit camp. Though it was the early morning, the temperature was already warm and humid; perfect conditions for residents of Districts Two. Maple was strong enough to resist cold temperatures, but she still preferred warmth. All the best for fighting in.
"Yes?" said the Career leader patiently, no longer using that scolding tone.
"I'm really excited!" Clair squealed, scrambling out of the tent and falling on her face in the sand before picking herself right back up. "I had a dream about food -- and we're running out of it -- so I want to go find some with you! Shh, before Theo wakes up -- I want to surprise him."
Maple nodded. "Later, Leo," she told her partner, patting the boy affectionately on the head. He was easily half a foot shorter than she was, making him all the more charming in that District Two boy way. Holding her spear in her right hand, she rose to her feet.
"Let's go."

"Disgrace you to detention!" Apricot was still roaring, smashing various objects around the Admissions Office. In a last resort, Acacia had locked her sister in there, since it would not end well if she broke free. Still, there were several dents in the door, the floor was ruined with foot-shaped burn marks, and the ceiling seemed to have been scorched with some kind of infernal flame.
"Son of three disgraces!"

Out in the jungle, Clair was literally leaping from tree to tree. Maple was slightly concerned for her; she only had one eye, and her depth perception was probably quite limited.
"Don't give me that look," giggled Clair. "I know what I'm- aaah!"
Maple was ready -- and she rushed forward, catching her ally as she fell.
"Hey," giggled Clair, "thanks! And at least I got this!"
She held up a papaya.
Maple squinted at it. Somehow her intuition was telling her this was a bad sign.
"What, old lady Maple?"
"Nothing."

[anathema]

xxx"Don't give me that look. I know—aaah!"
xxxAdria jolted awake at the sound of voices and silently peered through the gaps in the undergrowth she had fallen asleep in. She quickly stood up, brandishing her favored knife before retreating through the jungle. You're most likely last non-Career, she told herself, and now, they're after you.
xxxSomething was wrong, though—no matter how much she ran, it seemed that the voices were only getting closer and closer to her. Adria stopped, resting against the trunk of a tree and catching her breath. She then continued to sprint through the rainforest, desperate to break out of the green labyrinth. She couldn't even hear the ocean anymore.
xxxShe turned around and slowed her pace, as she didn't hear the conversation anymore. It was strangely silent. Adria noticed that there was a minuscule clearing up ahead, and decided to go explore it—perhaps there were fruit trees.
xxxWhen she reached it, she froze. About ten yards in front of her, Maple Adamson and Clair Grant were walking together in silence. Adria quickly retreated, slithering through the trees. Should she attack? She wasn't sure. But something told her that it was a good idea, for things were slowly becoming bleak. Perhaps this was her last chance.
xxxShe came up beside them, still hidden within the thickly-wooded undergrowth. She continued to walk side-by-side with them until the next clearing emerged—a grove filled with banana, papaya, and kiwi trees. Adria broke ranks with them, sprinting toward the other side of the clearing so that it would look like she had come from the other direction. She then stepped out into the open, staring them down in quietude.

[SunnyJustice]

"... So I threw my sword at my brother's knife-throwing target, right?" Clair was giggling as she spilled her life story to Maple. "Oh, you should have seen how deep it stabbed -- went right through the wall! I thought my mother would have killed me for it, but she just got me my own target!"
Maple nodded with an attentive "hm" every few words. She had picked several kiwis, but no more papayas, and definitely no bananas. Something about the papayas gave Maple a bad feeling, while Clair was always ranting about how she hated bananas.
"My mother's the mayor, y'know. Oh, and she says she knows your mother, Gingko Adamson. They're great friends. Is that your mom?"
"Yes," Maple responded. The bag was now filled with fruit.
"That's really cool! Apparently she and my mom attended a conference a few years ago, and they had a formal spar afterwards, 'cause they're Careers, everyone knows that. President Solara had to break it up, because they fought for two hours and none could get the upper hand! Say, I heard the President's last name is Adamson, too, which is really cool too. I think we have enough fruit. Wanna go back?"
"Yes," replied Maple simply. Clair was so enthusiastic, it reminded her of her own little brother. Olive. The poor kid tried to be a formal little gentleman, but really, he was just a boy.
"Let's go, then-"
"Quiet," Maple suddenly interjected in a low voice. She set down the backpack and drew closer to Clair, holding her spear in a defensive position. Clair stifled an excited giggle and brandished her rapier, an excited grin on her face as she looked around, facing out at the jungle.
Maple suddenly straightened up, looking less defensive and more formally postured. Clair spun to look at her ally. Respectfully, Maple nodded at Adria, who had just emerged from the opposite side of the jungle clearing. Faint morning light shone through the parting in the canopy, illuminating the girl's face enough to reveal her identity. Clair faced her too, with a smile and a wave.
"Hi, Miss Caraway!" said Clair cheerfully, waving her sword around as her single hazel eye glittered in excitement and anticipation.
"After you," Maple told Adria calmly, gesturing for the District Seven girl to make the first move in attack. Clair raised an eyebrow, but shrugged and kept grinning at her opponent.

[anathema]

xxxAdria nodded back, but more briefly and shyly. She sorted her karambit into her utility sash and drew another knife, her eyes glistening with nervousness and slight anticipation. She breathed out slowly, taking a step forward with the blade of her weapon facing downward.
xxx"Hello," she replied apprehensively to Clair. "And thank you." She acknowledged Maple's kindness with a faint smile, grazing her teeth over her bottom lip. The air between the two opposing forces became eerily quiet for a moment, and Adria simply stood there, scrutinizing her competition in complete silence.
xxxSuddenly, she hurled the knife forward, blade glinting in the mid-morning sunlight as it grazed between the two Careers and landed in the brush. This had been Adria's attempt to cause Clair and Maple to scatter separate ways. She followed up by drawing two knives and flicking both in the directions of Clair and Maple, already arming herself in case her knives did not strike her targets.
xxxAdria pressed against the opposing force, taking a few steps forward and waiting for their response to her attack. She could feel her heart beating in her chest, blood roaring in her ears. The daylight brightened her features and sun blazed against her exposed skin. Her breathing slowed as she calmly anticipated the attack from her respectful enemies.

[SunnyJustice]

Clair grinned, about to compliment Adria on her good manners, when a knife came sailing their way. Maple dodged to the right, well out of the path of the blade -- but Clair's depth perception was severely skewed due to only having one eye. She misjudged the distance fatally, and also veered to her right side, almost directly into the blade's path. The knife sailed past her, missing by a margin of less than an inch.
Calmly, Maple was rising to her feet, but Clair could only stare in wide-eyed shock as the District Seven girl prepared to throw again.
"Clair!" Maple warned sternly, but had to hit the ground to dodge another knife.
Clair reacted too late -- there was no time to dodge. Instead she brought her sword blade up, in an attempt to block the knife from reaching her.
Unfortunately, rapiers were not made for parrying.
The blade pierced through her ribcage -- missing her heart, but not quite -- and though it was cold, it burned as if it embodied all the fire of hell. The sunlit glade faded to crimson and black, and in an instant there was nothing but pain and darkness. The girl's mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound escaped her throat as she hit the ground wordlessly, curling onto her side like a wounded child.
Truly, what else was she?

Maple was still calm, but increasingly displeased as she rose to her feet. "This ends now," she dictated, glancing from her fatally-wounded ally to her waiting opponent. Without hesitation, the Career charged, making it very clear she intended to impale Adria with her spear unless she retreated immediately. However, Maple would pursue her no further if she left in a prompt manner.
There was no time to waste.

[anathema]

xxxAdria's calm expression was quickly replaced with fear as the knife struck Clair's ribcage. She stopped immediately, stowing her knives away and preparing to tend to the wounded District Four girl when Maple said, "This ends now." Her eyes widened with horror as she backed up from the fallen tribute and Maple Adamson began to charge at her. What did she mean? Had the pact been nullified? What had she done wrong?
xxxAdria was frozen as Maple raised her spear, having the intention to drive it through her chest. She continued to back up, quickening her pace, until finally dodging by sidestepping to the right. "Wait," she begged, putting her hands out and inching her way closer to Clair Grant's body. "I don't know what I've done wrong. But your ally—she's hurt. Very hurt. It was wrong of me to attack her when she wasn't anticipating it. I don't care if you kill me after this, but let me help you return her to your camp. I have no intentions of attacking, I promise."
xxxYou've really done it this time, Adria. Maple definitely won't allow you to do this. You've probably broken the pact five-hundred times by just saying what you've just said, she thought disdainfully. Say goodbye to District Seven. You'll never see your family again for this.

--

xxx"Ambrose."
xxxAlexander tugged at his sleeping cousin's jacket sleeve, staring down at him expectantly. He then began to nudge Ambrose, desperate to wake him up. "Ambrose... you have to wake up... this is important..." He whispered, biting his lip anxiously. What if Ambrose missed it? He couldn't. It was far too significant.
xxx"Hey, Alex..." Ambrose murmured sleepily. "How's Adria? Is there something wrong?"
xxx"That's why I'm waking you up," Alexander replied, lip trembling. "She got into a fight with two Careers, and... and then, she threw a knife into the District Four girl's chest..."
xxx"Clair Grant?" Ambrose inquired. Alexander nodded before continuing.
xxx"And now, Maple's really, really mad..."
xxx"What happened? Did she break the pact?"
xxx"I don't know!" Alexander burst out, tears flowing freely from his eyes. "She's gonna die, Ambrose! What do we do?"
xxx"I'm sorry, Alex. There isn't much we can do."
xxxAlexander continued to cry profusely, burying his head in his hands. "I don't want to go through his again, Ambrose. I've lost Aster and Adonis... and now, now it's Adria."
xxx"I know, I know," Ambrose reassured the boy. "And it'll be me next year. That is simply the way of the games."
xxx"Why did we agree to do this?" Alexander whispered. "What was the point?"
xxx"I'd ask Adonis and Adria if they were here." Ambrose shook his head. "We'll never know now."
xxx"Then we... we should stop this. One of them's dead... the other's... you know..."
xxx"We cannot. We must honor the choices they made."
xxx"I don't want to die. I don't want to have to do this."
xxx"Perhaps I can train you, then. I'm leaving next year—but we still have plenty of time. And maybe, you'll be a victor someday."
xxx"You really think so?"
xxx"Of course."

[SunnyJustice]

Maple stopped in time, withdrawing her weapon before attempting to strike again. She listened patiently to what Adria had to say. Though wounding Clair was not a violation of the treaty, for the fight in its entirety was honorable, Maple was still aggrieved at the pitiful state of her teammate. The horror in Adria's eyes was sincere and Maple had reason to believe she feared some kind of pact-termination -- yet this was not the case. Observing the District Seven girl carefully, the Career slowly lowered her spear to her side.
"It's fine," she grunted, unhappy but not vengeful. Maple made no further move to attack; the fight was over, and she had done her purpose in disarming Adria -- though technically Adria had disarmed herself due to her own will. This served to solidify Maple's belief that the Caraways would adhere to their treaty. The Career girl knelt beside her ally and, very carefully, gathered the small girl in her arms.
Maple shook her head when Adria offered her assistance. It was a generous suggestion, but one that was likely to result in an extreme amount of conflict. Maple predicted a severe backlash; Adria was probably better off staying away for a while, until the team calmed down. "Thank you," she said, and the "but, no thank you" was unspoken but implied.
"Go," she spoke in a commanding voice. Not unfriendly nor rude, but not happy; the consequences were bleak if Adria neglected this advice. "Far away."
She dipped her head briskly, showing that her intentions were pure. Some of Maple's allies would be out for Adria's blood after this. Maple would have no choice but to send them after the District Seven girl. To keep the treaty, she could instruct them to fight honorably -- but she could not stop them from fighting altogether. They would be angry; it was best if Adria ran fast and far, keeping a good distance from the Careers. Only time would calm them down -- and they would be more likely to be respectful, not vicious.
"Farewell," was her brief parting clause before Maple ran off -- leaving the backpack of food behind. It was not her priority at the moment, and it would sustain Adria, so her fight against her alliance would be more fair. She hoped the Caraway girl would understand.
When they were a good distance from Adria, alone in the jungle, Maple put Clair down in the grass. It was quiet here. The small girl resumed her previous position, curled up in a fetal position on her side. Maple knelt beside her ally, placing one hand on her shoulder, and the other on her head.
Clair opened her one hazel eye and regarded her leader fearfully. When she spoke, her voice was soft and quiet, which worried Maple -- Clair was often loud and assertive in speech. And worst of all, the talkative little girl only spoke a single audible word. "No."
Maple squinted, as if silently demanding clarification. Clair made a move to say something, but no coherent words followed -- though Maple read her lips and recognized a familiar name, namely "Theodore". She was sure she understood now.
Maple took her ally back into her arms, and this time she took no shortcuts; she simply tore a straight path through the jungle, heading directly to the beach. As soon as her feet hit the sand, she kicked off her sandals and broke into a sprint. Clair was clinging to her desperately, letting out intermittent whimpers that spurred her to run faster. All that was on her mind was hurry, hurry, hurry.
Upon arriving at camp, Maple set Clair down in the sand just outside the outcrop. The District Two girl did not make further noise as she promptly walked across camp, leaning close to the opening of Theodore's tent. She prayed he would understand and she wouldn't have to give him 'the talk'. There wasn't time for that. Taking a deep breath, Maple spoke simply yet solemnly:
"Clair needs you."

[anathema]

xxxAdria watched Maple carefully as she picked up Clair and politely dismissed her efforts to make it up to her and the wounded District Four tribute. It was evident that Clair was terrible state, and that her death was nearing—yet very slowly. Adria began to believe that she was stalling Maple, and that she was prolonging Clair’s suffering, and as Maple firmly instructed her to leave, Adria could dip her head a few times as if she were under some sort of spell. She watched as the Career promptly exited the clearing with her wounded ally in her arms, leaving behind a rucksack containing various fruits.
xxxShe hesitantly placed her own backpack on the ground, in which was nearly empty. It only contained a canteen without any water remaining, a small bottle of iodine, and a few wrappers. She removed the flask and the water-purifying solution, placing it in the bag of fruit. Adria slung it over her shoulder, and began to run far away—just as Maple had told her to.
xxxShe knew that they were after her now. There was no possible way that she would be able to evade them much longer. The Careers would be most definitely furious with her, for she had basically killed one of the most important members of their team.
xxxBut if she hadn’t, it would have been her.
xxxAdria continued to run, stumbling through the undergrowth and climbing over rocks. She was incredibly exhausted, but she felt as if the Careers were right behind her, hot on her trail and ready to strike, and although they weren’t after her right now, it was bound to happen in time.
xxxShe eventually reached the beach—but on the other side of the arena. She threw her backpack into the sand, running straight toward the ocean and collapsing on the shoreline. She lay there on her back, allowing the waves to roll in, engulf her, and then retreat back to the sea. Adria closed her eyes, breathing rapidly, and trying to forget everything that had happened.
xxxYet she couldn’t.
xxxAfter lying on the wet sand for what felt like ages, she finally returned to her rucksack and ate a few kiwis. She then filled up her canteen with salt water, purifying it with a few drops of iodine. After drinking half of the the canteen, she sat there, watching the horizon and breathing in the salty air.

[TheFae]

Naomi
16
Location: Dreamland
Tagged: Ed and The Living

"Do you think you can be on my welcoming committee when I join Lecture Hall?" She asked, knowing she wasn't going to win. There was no point to go back to District 3. There was her family, but they were slowly spiraling out of control. She didn't want to live anymore. She wanted to be with Ed. He seemed like no other boy in her district.
"I've got to get going, handsome, but I really want to see you soon." She smiled with a wink. She then leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, lingering a moment too long. She then leaned back and waved as he slowly disappeared into nothing.
It was the sound of the cannon that woke her up, not the roars of Clair, Maple, and Adria. Naomi turned over to see Maple holding a very injured Clair.
"Clair!" Naomi shouted, immediately up and by her friend's side. Tears were stinging her eyes, but she wasn't going to let them fall.
"Where's Theo?" Naomi asked, looking around for him. Her friend needed help, and the only one who could do it was Theo.
"Don't worry, sis! I'm going to find him, and then your suffering will be over!" She cried as she ran around looking for Theo.

Cedric
18
Location: Beach
Tagged: No One

Cedric smiled with the boom of Bauxite's cannon, and he then looked to the sky for the smoke of a fire. His next destination was the Career camp. He was going to kill himself a tribute, and he already had one picked out.
Naomi.

[+30mg]

theo suddenly felt a spike of emotion piercing him through the chest from the inside. it was as if a part of him was lost, it was as if all seemed to spiral into that one feeling that managed to burst out from his body. he truly felt something gone from his environment, gone from his reach...
clair.
clair.
clair.
theo turned his head back, expecting to see clair, only to be called by maple who was now approaching him with a distinct look in her eyes. theo could see that diverse pattern in her eyes, and this only sparked his alarm and wariness. what was happening? his own eyes soon became fixated in sadness itself, with the appearance of tears slowly flooding his eyes.
"Clair needs you."
theo only ran past the district two girl, wiping the dripping tears with his arms, gritting his teeth as he watched the sand becoming thinner and thinner as he walked further, there, he could see her, lying on the rough ground with crimson colouring her body. his pace slowed down before he completely descended to his knees, next to the wounded clair.
"no... clair..." the first two words that came out of theodore was filled with the disappointment towards himself, the hurt and pain that he had casted to himself... he didn't give clair the attention she needed... he didn't gave him the love she needed.
and her time was near.
"i-i'm sorry... i'm sorry..." the boy uttered, his body shivering with sorrow and grief as he watched his true beloved dreamt and dwelled in the memories of the past, her single eye shining amidst the guilt that theodore was exuding. he was truly sorry.
regretting his actions.
regretting all that seemed to put clair into her finality.
he would do anything to alter reality.
he would replace his life for clair's weakening one.
he would do anything to stop this...
but, they're out of time...
"i'm sorry clair... i'm sorry..."
the very first time he would declare his love towards clair...
was when her life was put to the final test...
and the guilt that was overflowing, may be the last thing that reminded theo of clair.
for that, he cannot forgive himself.