Arena 13 - Ice Age

[etcircenses]

It's the morning after the night before and, without rest or warning, the Tributes are marched straight from The Signless' Crowning to the waiting hovercraft to be flown to the location of Arena 13. There the prep teams are waiting, hurriedly stripping the Tributes out of their glamorous outfits before pushing them to don sturdy winter clothing. No questions are answered except to confirm that this really is the arena, already happening to them again after only a paltry three week break in the Capitol.

They rise up out of their tubes to the chill of a brisk wind and the sun shining overhead. Around them is the waist-high green grass of an expansive meadow, beyond that on all sides stands a tall pine forest and further still, to the west, great snow-covered mountains loom in the distance.

20

19

18

The Cornucopia stands in traditional horned form in the centre of the meadow, with the prizes of weaponry, food and survival supplies piled inside. Some objects are scattered further out amongst the high grass, tempting Tributes to risk their lives on an early prize.

8

7

6

Observant Tributes might mark the passage of geese overhead or catch a glimpse of a deer in the shadow of the trees, indications that this arena might be bountiful with food for those who know how to find it in the wilderness.

3

2

1

The gong sounds and the Tributes are free to make their choice to run or fight. Either way they better do something because the 13th Arena has officially begun.

Comments

[arrogantalloy]

"Really is one way to put it."

He shrugs. Tony was hardly clean when it came to bloodshed and death, but at least he prided himself on only attacking people who came for him first. After all, he might not be naturally violent, but he's also not a moron. He will always defend himself.

"Uh, yeah. This is my fourth Arena. Well, third I've lasted more than a day in. So I kind of have this all down pat by now, yeah."

If anything Tony welcomed the kids company, partially the whole two eyes are better than one thing, but also because he might notice something Tony misses in the area that wasn't tribute related.

[foundafamily]

Four? Firo doesn't say it out loud, but the frown on his face probably says it clearly enough. That really sucks.

He kicks a small rock into the stream and watches the fish scatter. "Confident, huh? Or just too used to it to get all worried?"

[arrogantalloy]

"Uh, the latter. The first few weeks there's so many tributes that it's the best time to take it easy. The worrying can happen when there's fewer people and you're seen as the easier target compared to others."

So Tony my be talking from experience a lot, seeing as out of his team, he is the weakest in most respects. Especially in an arena with no apparent technology whatsoever for him to at least feel useful in.

[foundafamily]

Casually, as if he's not asking one of the most insensitive things he could ask, Firo looks over Tony and wonders, "Is that how you've gotten taken out before?"

There's nothing malicious in the question, just curiosity. Hey, he needs all the tips he can get, so why not try asking?

[arrogantalloy]

Tony gives him a bland look, he knows that in all places being an arena toy, he shouldn't be all that sensitive about how he's died, but it's still not something he's enjoyed in the moment, let alone thinking back on.

"Every one of my deaths was a calculated risk." He replies curtly, before licking his lips. "I usually go out before the end game, for the record."
Tony's hardly someone who dies easily, so he still feels the need to defend his ability to at least survive a long while in the arenas... Mostly.

[foundafamily]

Firo shrugs his shoulders. "Hey, I didn't mean it as an insult. You're just one a' the first people I've run into here who's actually talked about that stuff from experience."

He leans his head to one side, nearly smiling. "...Not that I've been goin' around askin' people about it."

See, he's not a huge jerk. Just a really big one.

[arrogantalloy]

"Kind of used to being on deaths door since before I got here. Tends to make it easier to talk about... I guess?"

Tony gives a shrug himself. After all being the only Heir to his dad's fortune and then taking on his fathers position from 21 Tony knows a little about people wanting to kill him, a fact that only became more solid after becoming Iron Man and having more tenacious people out for your blood.

"And believe me, people have said more insulting things to me than that."

[foundafamily]

"That's what some people say." He nods; he'd be one of those people agreeing. After experiencing the deaths of others and a few deaths himself back home, he's pretty desensitized to it.

Firo crouches down to test the water temperature with his hand. "I had a friend who told me he only stopped worryin' about it once it didn't matter anymore for him. So I guess it really depends on you."