- Tribute 31
Max couldn't stop his teeth from chattering as she huddled in a damp heap in a crude den nestled underneath an ancient oak tree. She wrapped her tails around her in an effort to keep warm, but the damp black fur felt even worse than she'd thought. Her blue eyes struggled to focus on something other than than the killing rain falling just outside. She took back everything she had said about the games being staged. Every last word. The pain that she was feeling could not be recreated by anything the Capitall might cook up in a movie studio. In an effort to get away, she took a long breath, the frozen air ripping her throat, and closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she was standing on the soft Milkgrass of her home. Looking out, she could see the shacks that made up District Eight. Max breathed in the scent of bread baking in Mrs. Celinas's bakery and the sweet smell of summer flowers. "Home." She breathed happily. With her heart beating quickly in her chest, she trotted into town with a skip in her step. There were many foxes out today, many of whom she knew very well. She saw Kixx helping his mother by carrying his sister in her tattered blanket while his mother carried groceries. He looked to her, but said nothing. Max swallowed and moved further up the road. Cooper Riken cackled outside the trading post with his posse. He winked at her and then doubled over in laughter. Max rolled her eyes. Idiot. Also at the trading post was Spiro and his weird tail, Henry. He had a bouquet in his mouth and padded north towards the cemetery. Max stopped and stared after him, something in her mind clicking into place.
Back in the damp, dark den Max's eyes flew open and she let out a cry. Her heart beat fast in her chest and her body began to jolt this way and that. She tried to suck in air but it seemed her throat had closed off the way to her lungs. She tried to sink back into the world she had created but it was ripped away by the tremors, turning it black and throwing it just out of reach. The fox emitted small squeaking sounds as her entire form was tossed around. Finally, tiny black dots began to stretch across her vision. Max took one final breath before her eyes rolled back in her head.
The cannon sounded as the last wisp of frozen breath left the fox's battered body. Outside, the rain continued to fall. It forced some tributes to make fires even though it was signing their death certificate. Some even began letting other tributes into their shelters in order to keep warm. But for the gamemakers watching from Control, it was their ticket to a promotion from their president.