Forum Thread

The nation of Panem is divided into 12 districts, ruled from the Capitol. As punishment for a failed revolt, each district is forced to select two tributes, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18, to fight to the death in the annual Hunger Games until there is only one survivor. This year, though, is different. The Capitol wishes to try out this special….serum. One that will grant you a power, any power, depending on the person. The same rules still apply though, so may the strongest survive!

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Lifei Vaknov | Loving Mother
The warm glow of the sun slowly got brighter as Lifei tinkered with a piece of sea glass. She had been up all night working on her newest creation, a mechanical dragon with blue green glass eyes. Callused hands raked over the sharp shard, moulding it to a more circular shape. Long locks of blue-green hair fell past her ears, hiding her face from the sun’s glow. Lifei understood the fear of being chosen, or in the case of certain crackheads, joy in being chosen for the Reaping. Understanding didn’t mean she like it though. She wished everyone would just shut up. No point panicking when it was all a game of chance. Careful hands moved the final piece in place, and with a soft whir, her creation came to life. It flapped around unsteadily, before perching on her shoulder. Two clicks of her finger and the dragon could blink it’s eyes, one click to make it sit. The more complex movements were controlled by a complicated piece of metal shaped to fit her fingernails. She slid the metal bit onto her fingernail, hearing the satisfying click of it locking. She then taps out a certain pattern, and the dragon flies into the air, transforming into a sharp metal shard, flying towards Lifei. With her free hand, she caught the metal shard with two fingers. That would need just a tad more tinkering for it to fly towards a desired target. She dismantled its wings, and began fiddling with it. “Lili? Lili, time to go!” The voice of one of her only….no, her only friend reminded her. The two of them owned a small, shady store that earned barely enough to keep them afloat. Time to time, they had to resort to pickpocketing. She remembered when her friend stole money to buy her a present for her birthday. Her….birthday. What a funny word indeed. Celebrating each year you inched closer to death. Walking over to the drawer in the corner of the room, Lifei took out a metal hummingbird. Fingers delicately wiped the dust off, and it came to life with yet another controller. She slipped the metal ring on her ring finger, taking in the soft hum of the wings. “Once more, Ping. One more thing to do before the reaping. Waving goodbye to her friend, she set out of the house with her two mechanical animals, heading towards that horrendously pink house belonging to her despicable mother. She directed the bird into a beautifully decorated cage, then stepped up to ring the doorbell of her mother’s house. “Mother? I’m here again, I have a gift to give you before the Reaping.” Her mother opened the door with a sickeningly sweet smile that made Lifei want to throw up last night’s cold leftovers, Lifei grit her teeth and smiled back, passing Ping over to her, in the cage. “It’s an Anna’s Hummingbird. It looks very pretty and pink, just like you” Lifei lies. Her mother took it, and offered “Would you like to come in?” Lifei declined, and turned to ‘go’. The moment her mother entered her house, she opened the cage to let the hummingbird out. Lifei smirked, and she snapped her fingers, prompting Ping to transform into a spear like object, and hurtle towards her mother. Moments later, Ping returned, beak stained with blood. “Good job darling” Lifei purrs, before stepping into the house. She rips the diamond necklace off her mother’s neck, proceeding to collect the jewelry pieces and cash swiftly and silently. She exits through the back door, doubling back to her little hut, and placing it neatly on the bed for her friend to find. If she got chosen and died during the Hunger Games, at least her friend would be able to live happily. Lifei walked back out, and headed towards the place where the Reaping would take place.

Lilith Amberstar | The Tiny Doll
Lilith woke up to the sound of her mother’s voice, telling her to get up. Pushing silk sheets aside, she clambered out of bed, taking her sweet time to recalibrate her senses. She then proceeded to her walk-in closet, where her maid was waiting. “Miss Lilith, here is your outfit for today.” She flashes the maid a smile, gesturing for her to leave. The outfit today was an elegant yet simple black dress, along with pants with all sorts of pockets to hide things in. She combed her hair in front of the mirror, tying them into two plaits, adding red ribbons for the final touch. Lilith then slips on a pair of kid boots, lined with real polar bear fur on the inside, each with a pearl embedded on the buckle. She stares at herself in the mirror, placing one hand adoringly on her reflection. “No one could be as beautiful and youthful as I am…otherwise” Lilith giggles, then skips out of the bedroom for breakfast. No one could capture the elegance and charm that Lilith possessed, her district’s poster girl. Breakfast today was a spread of her favourite foods, with waffles buttered just right, omelets that were cooked to perfection, among other delicious dishes. Her mother fussed over her, worrying. “My little baby Lilith, all grown up and just the age for being reaped….ohhh it’s such a pity.” Her mother choked on her words, bursting into tears and leaving Lilith alone. She sighed in relief, that woman was overprotective, pretentious and highly irritating. Lilith rolled her eyes, her mother’s pathetic cries still audible. “My poor baby….she must be so worried, so frightened.” Her mother was far from the truth. Lilith was dying to be picked for the Hunger Games, and with no one from her District wanting to go, Lilith was sure they would be thankful for her. She hops off her chair, picking up her lollipop ready to head out. Unfortunately, yet another thing was in her way again, this time her annoying tutor. “You stupid fool, I’m not having lessons today. I’m going to go to the Reaping!” Her teacher puts his foot between the door, preventing Lilith from slamming it in his face. “Ugh, you’re so annoying, can’t you leave?” Lilith tries to squeeze past him to no avail, and he enters, shutting the door behind him. “We’re having lessons, like it or not. Now, I’m thirsty, so get me a drink before lesson starts” He announces, looking triumphant. “Fine fine, I’ll get you something to drink.” Lilith replies, her lips slowly twitching into a smile. She headed to the kitchen, getting a fancy wine glass to put the water in. She then unlocks a secret cupboard with a key around her neck, taking out a small blue pill that fizzled and turned colorless in the water. It was a handy, undetectable pill that would guarantee a satisfactory reaction. She hands it over to her teacher, watching as he downs it. “Thank you, now we really should begin after wasting so much time with your stupid prattle.” Lilith flashes him a psychotic grin, watching as his face contorts in horror. “What did you put in my drink?” He questions. Lilith doesn’t answer, messing up her hair and appearance in the mirror, before running to her mother, pretending to cry. “He abused me, Mother. Deal with him. He’s so mean to me” Her mother, concerned, jumps into action, and Lilith takes the time to smirk at the teacher as he is being dragged away, childishly pulling a face at him, throwing the finger before skipping out of the house despite her Mother’s protests. “I’m going to the Rea-ping, I’m going to the Rea-ping, there’s nothing you can do~“

Artemis jumped up from her bed, ready to have another calm day. She flipped her calendar. That same day. That day, was marked with a red, bold marker. It was eyecatching. The day was the Reaping. Upon looking at her calendar, Artemis' jaw dropped and her smile vanished. What if she gets chosen? She was an out-of-ordinary kid after all. And she had extremely bad luck. "Oh well, you know what will happen if I don't watch the selection." She told herself and convinced herself to go. She took her ordinary clothes and wore them. "So. I'm ready any time. Let's go." She smiled cheerfully, but deep down she was scared and horrified what will happen there. What if she gets chosen for real. What if? The chances were low, but it was still possible for it to come true... right?

While a majority of her District slept in anticipation for the next day's Reaping. Revna decides to stay awake, cunning silver eyes glaring towards two people she had come to consider as friends. They all hide within her family's barn. Nearby, sheep baa or lightly walk around from within their pens. On a normal day, she would 'wake up early' to attend to these sheep. Cleaning up after them and opening up the pens so they can graze on the grass within their lands. Today, she would be allowed to sleep in, which she foolishly doesn't take advantage of.

She holds her cards close, confidence growing as she notices her friends place less chips on the table with each passing second. They must have bad cards. But could they be bluffing? Deciding to take the risk, she pushes all her chips forward. Her grin falters slightly when one of her friend's does the same, while the other folds. It vanishes completely when they reveal better cards than her. She lost.

"Of course!" Revna shouts, frustrated. Her friends laugh and shake their heads.

"You must stop being so overly confident. Be more cautious Revna" one says with a chuckle.

"Sometimes risks are necessary. It just hurts when you fail... but it worked last time!" Revna reminds them, thinking about the previous night when she somehow bankrupted both of them. They both smile and roll their eyes. One of them pales, just now noticing the rising sun from the window behind Revna. "We should call it a night. We have to get ready for Reaping. See you there Revna."

...
Revna can't help but glance up at the horizon while sneaking back home. She pauses to stare at it. It truly was a beautiful sight. Was it possible this could be the last time she sees it? She banishes that thought and continues her pursuit home. It was foolish to be nervous about those low odds anyway.

By the time her parents were awake, she had finished putting on her favorite high wasted baggy pants along with a cute white shirt. They couldn't afford dresses, but she didn't mind. She is quick to warmly say her goodbyes to her parents before leaving to attend the Reaping, yawning the whole way.

She was quickly regretting staying up all night. Oh well, she can nap after the Reaping, it was likely that she wouldn't be picked anyway. She may be unlucky when it comes to card games, but this was her last Reaping. The odds have been in her favor for years. She was confident it would remain the same again. I feel bad for whoever gets picked... But I am too much of a coward to do anything about it. Despite feeling confident, Revna still nervously fiddles with a deck of cards while she walks.