Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
Parrot's POV
Parrot's feet tremble as he steps onto the platform. It doesn't feel real.
Even after a few weeks of training, it still feels absurd.
His partner from his sector, Theo, is in the room next to him.
Parrot knows that, but he still feels so alone. He can't trust anyone anymore. Not even his best friend.
These past few weeks, he has met people, and this bond has grown, and now he is expected to kill them? Sick.
The platform under him starts moving.
He looks up as the sun shines into the claustrophobic tube.
The platform stops when he's at the surface; Parrot’s eyes take a second to adjust to the sudden brightness.
He looks around and sees everyone else on the same little platform. Some look prepared, some not so much.
He looks at Theo. Theo has his eyes set in the centre, probably trying to make out what's there.
Theo and Parrot are different when it comes to combat. Parrot would rather wait it out, let them pass and move on, then go head-on, while Theo is the opposite and would dive right in.
Maybe that's why they get on so well, or maybe Parrot just needs someone to protect him.
10 seconds till the game.
10 seconds to make a choice.
Run to the middle with Theo, or run away in the dense forest alone.
5 seconds.
Theo nods at Parrot, but his mind has three words.
Safety or danger. Safety or danger. Safety or danger. Safety or danger. Safety or danger.
3.
2.
1.
The horn blows. The people split.
A few run away. Some run towards the Cornucopia.
Theo is running towards the middle. Subconsciously, Parrot does the same.
The blazing sun makes it impossible to see, but he does catch a glimpse of bright, long purple hair in the corner of his eye. Was that Wemmbu?
In the training facility, he never really spoke to Wemmbu since they were classed differently in the social hierarchy.
There is no time to ponder other things when, if Parrot's mind slips away for even a second, he could die.
Bodies fall with a slap on the mud. Parrot cares. More than he should.
These people were all here for the same reason.
To live. Parrot is suddenly grabbed by his collar and pulled back.
He almost trips back but realises it's Theo, pulling him away from the Cornucopia.
His mind was so focused on the people around him that he didn't even grab anything. All he did was put himself at risk.
Parrot runs behind Theo, and he runs ahead into the forest. He's holding a pouch and some kind of axe.
He should know the name.
He and Theo grew up using these axes to cut trees all day.
Theo didn't mind, but Parrot hated it.
Parrot has always been leaner and weaker, but he had his mind to make up for that.
He was smart. Strategic.
Theo always was the "Protector" in their friendship.
Parrot hated feeling weak because he wasn't, but people care more for what you can show than what you can really do.
Deep in the forest, they sit next to a willow tree.
The drooping leaves provide cover, giving them even just 10 minutes of rest before they have to keep moving.
“I killed someone”, Theo utters
Parrot’s eyes widen “What”
Theo ignores him and opens up the pouch, pulling out the contents.
There is some kind of cream, probably for wounds or burns, an oat bar and a small canteen.
“We should find water for this thing”, Theo says once he realises there is no water inside it.
“Who?”
‘I don't know”
“How do you not know? You must have seen who. How did you kill them? Why-”
“Parrot, stop”
The words die off Parrot's tongue.
He stands up and starts walking, so Parrot quickly gets up and trails behind.
As Parrot follows behind Theo, there is some distance between them.
Parrot wants so bad to ask Theo more; he needs to know, but his heart just won't let him ask.
“If we keep going this way, we might find a creek or something” That was the first thing Theo has said since the tree.
Theo freezes and turns back to Parrot and takes small but quick steps to him.
“What? Finally gonna tell me or-”
Theo raises his finger to Parrot's mouth and looks right.
Parrot looks.
Far in the distance, he sees some running down the hill. He can barely make them out.
Purple.
Long purple hair flies in the wind.
He knows that hair from anywhere.
Wemmbu.
But why would he be so far into the forest? From what Parrot saw at the training centre, Wemmbu was always in the middle of a fight.
Most of the time for fun.
So what makes him come in when the people who would want to fight are in the Cornucopia?
Wait-
“Who's with him?” Theo whispered.
“I- I don't know”
Wemmbu was always alone, which made him such a mystery to Parrot, but then Parrot barely saw him.
Loud laughter travels in the wind. Genuine laughter.
“Let's follow” Theo grabs Parrot's arm and pulls him through the trees.
“No way, are you crazy?! He will kill us. He wants to get out of here just as much as we do. You know he's strong. Stronger than both of us, and if he is with someone else, that just confirms our death” Parrot pries the hand off him.
“Fine. Let's just go find water”
They fall back into silence once again.
After never-ending walking, they hear water.
Real flowing water.
Parrot drinks from his hands while Theo fills the canteen up, then shoves it back inside the pouch.
Water felt like a luxury. He had never been this thirsty in his life.
The only worry now was someone finding them. Sure, they had walked a while to get here, but that doesn’t mean others didn't, too.
What if Parrot got distracted and got too comfortable, and then someone strikes?
He's hopeless.
Especially without Theo.
The silence is deafening as they sit next to the lake.
Parrot has so many questions.
Who did Theo kill? Who was with Wemmbu?
The air was getting colder, which meant night was coming quicker than Parrot was ready for.
It felt like they had been walking for hours, and his legs ached.
“Where will we sleep? I feel like this lake isn't a good idea,” Parrot says to Theo, who was sitting up on the rock Parrot's back was leaning on.
“Just rest here. We can take turns sleeping”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I'm sure”
Parrot sighs and lies on the cold floor.
For once, he was actually missing his home.
The home he begged to be taken out of, the home he wished he was never born into.
He wants it back.