in the grip of a hurricane [perrin]

[hunter rook piers]

Now the games had officially begun. He and Perrin had gotten out of the Cornucopia, alive, armed, and mostly uninjured. Even better, they had snagged two backpacks- both had some pretty valuable items inside. Nothing golden, but enough to sustain them for at least a week, maybe more if they could ration out what was perishable and not. Perrin herself had also snagged herself grabbed a knife, and Hunter had gotten hold of a pickaxe- thankfully. In the process, he managed to scrape up his arm, but it was nothing major. He suspected it was a career, since he knew that it was a knife that had been thrown in his direction. Although, years of running around in the Seam had taught him well- he could move fast.

And even more importantly, keep his steps silent. With the pickaxe over his shoulder, he kept walking, Perrin by his side. Eventually, he knew one- or both- of them would die. Somehow, by someone- and if Perrin were to die, he didn't want to be at fault for it...he didn't want her to die, no, that was his sister for god's sake! He wanted to live, too, but who's life was more valuable might have been the better question.

"Who d'you think died? At the Cornucopia, I mean", he'd caught glimpses of death at the Cornucopia- the boy from five, he saw, was killed by the tiny girl from eight. The boy from one had managed to kill someone, who, he couldn't tell, but they were dead. The canons hadn't been fired yet- they would have to wait until the sun set, if that ever happened- the Arenas were weird every year. This arena was...fairly normal, compared to the other arenas that he had seen. But, the more normal, the more wary he had to be. He remembered hearing tales of the Quarter Quell, the one that Haymitch had won...the whole arena was poisoned. Beautiful, but poisonous. This arena, there had to be some sort of secret, somewhere.

Rubbing his eyes, he kept them peeled for other tributes, but he knew that at this time of the games, everyone's concerned would be to distance themselves. Nobody wanted to fight, just yet. The fun hadn't begun, just yet. "You okay?", he asked Perrin.

[perrin rochelle piers]

Quite a few things had gone well for Perrin so far that day. For one, she was alive. Among other things, she'd escaped the Cornucopia with Hunter, who wasn't injured beyond a scratch on his arm, and they both had weapons and backpacks of supplies.

Other things, however, were downsides to her day. Like how she and her brother were now going to have to survive on their own with their meager supplies and try to keep each other alive if the Career pack happened upon them and decided to pick them off. They'd also have to endure the humidity and the jungle. This was a good thing, though, at the same time. Because it wasn't a bizarre arena like the other year, when it was nothing but desert, or a barren tundra. But they would have to be wary of what they took in, what they shot, what they drank. For all they knew, the water was undrinkable.

But for now, they were relatively safe. She was keeping at a quiet pace with Hunter, her arms swinging deftly at her sides. Walking quietly was something easily picked up when she was younger, Hunter too. For now, she wasn't going to think about who she would rather go first–her brother or herself–but tried to think of how long they could survive as a pair. Because Perrin wouldn't be killing her own brother…that would mean she'd let the arena get to her, and that was one of the last things she wanted.

Perrin started to wonder when the cannons would start firing. It wasn't possible that the bloodbath was still continuing, was it? Unless someone had already snapped, which would be a shame for the watchers in the Capitol. It was likely that half the tributes were gone already, left for dead in the Cornucopia. She paused for a moment when he spoke, then resumed walking, sticking her hands in her back pockets.

"I know the boy from five is gone," she said thoughtfully, "maybe the boy from two. District nine, I'm hoping." She knew for almost a fact that neither of the contenders from District One were gone. Mainly because they were from District One, and also because she'd caught a glimpse of Atticus with a sword as they'd run from the bloodbath. Unless someone had snuck up behind him and got rid of him, she was pretty sure he was alive. Not that she would care if he was. He was just another tribute.

She glanced at Hunter after answering, about to ask him about his thoughts, when he asked her if she was okay. Perrin blinked and nodded, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why? Do I look not okay?"

[hunter rook piers]

He nodded at what his sister said- he saw the boy from five die, too. "The little one killed him", he said, his voice in slight shock. Coming into the arena, he didn't know what to think of his fellow tributes- they were tough competition, yes, but he didn't pay much attention. He only cared about building some of his skill and keeping his sister safe. Although, he remained very wary of the Career pack. Even though this year they didn't seem to be travelling together in a group, they were still deadly on their own, and had been trained from birth to be in these games. He was especially wary of that one boy from District One, the tall one with the long hair who volunteered.

"We have to keep an eye out for a few of the tributes...especially. Both of the District One kids, the girls from nine and seven, and the boy from four", he said. Those were the few that he saw recently just kill. They were like animals, those guys. Walking alongside his sister, he kept his eyes peeled for some form of movement other than them- who knew what the Capitol would throw into the arena. Mutts, poison...anything went. Rubbing his eye with the backside of his pale hand, he sighed and kept moving. They would need to find a place to rest, soon- the anticipation of their first night in the Arena was looming, and he hoped that the Arena wouldn't suddenly change at night.

"No, you look fine just...you know", he shrugged. The two were protective of eachother, it was safe to say, and Hunter's nature had only strengthened by being plopped into the arena. "The fact that we could die any minute is a bit unsettling."

[perrin rochelle piers]

Perrin gave a small nod of recognition at the mention of the little girl. Honestly, the poor thing was tiny, Perrin was almost glad she could fend for herself. The only downside was that eventually someone would have to take the poor thing down eventually, wouldn't they? The thought came to her mind that the girl's size was all she really knew about her. That and that she was from District Eight.

She didn't know much about her competitors. Well, she knew a little about the pair from Four and the boy from One, but barely anything. She knew their names, and their faces. She knew that the boy from One had volunteered. Maybe it was better that way, though. Familiarity came with feelings, which were only an asset with her brother. It would only drive each other to keep the other alive even more. Which was best, in her opinion.

As they continued on their way, Perrin scanned the area around them, searching for movement as well, but also things they could use, places they could rest. The latter would be best suited if night was drawing closer, which she couldn't tell with her mind still slightly racing from the adrenaline of escaping the Cornucopia. But they'd need time to set up some sort of camp, to find food, right?

Her gaze transferred back to Hunter when he spoke. What he said was true. It was unsettling to think that any moment they could be killed or poisoned or fatally injured. Perrin frowned at this thought and cautiously fingered the hilt of her knife. "It helps to think that we also could find a sanctuary any minute. Or come across something to eat, or a place to rest," she said, aiming for a hopeful tone.