The Hunger Games: Mashup

Chapter Twenty One

District 6

“I hate the Reapings, mother. They make me feel like a human—especially since I have to dress up like one for the ceremonies,” snarled San, a feral growl building in her throat. Her mother, Moro, had forced her into a human girl's dress, but that didn't make her barking any less terrifying. She was extremely wolf-like for a human, even one raised by the wolf clans.

“Be thankful, San,” said Moro in her godly voice as she watched San place her wreath of flowers upon her own head like a crown.

“The wolf clans are lucky to be living in Panem,” said Moro calmly. Her wolf teeth shone in the afternoon sun. San's adoptive brothers paced behind her, their ears pricked and their tails swishing back and forth. Her siblings were excluded from the Games since being a full-wolf might bring out some unfair advantages in the Games.

“We get shelter, food, and space to run in. At least the Peacekeepers aren't keeping us caged in a zoo like silly little pets,” she told San.

“We're still as imprisoned as everyone else,” said San unhappily.

“You should be grateful to what you have. We are even separated from the Dog Demons of Inuyasha's clan,” said Moro. San shrugged, staring out at the woods past the fence. They had an area of the woods, but they didn't have all of it. Game and animals passed through the fence, but the wolves could not. Moro and the rest of her clans had electric tracking chips in their necks that can locate them in seconds, and would send out an electric shock that will kill anyone who tried to pass the boundary fences. All of the people of District 6 had this. If the population escaped, where would the Capitol's hovercrafts come from?

“I want to run free in the real woods though, mother. This space is too small for me. I've already explored every inch of it. It's not—”

“Silence, San. You will not speak badly about the district. Curb that tongue of yours before I rip it out,” said her mother furiously. San sighed, her shoulders slumping down. “Yes, mother.”

“Now turn for me. Let me see you,” said Moro. Moro sat down on her haunches and then lay down on her front paws peacefully. San turned, forcing a smile on her face for her mother. If a wolf could beam, Moro would have.

“Beautiful. I am glad that I stole that human dress for you, San. It goes well with your smile.” San's smile disappeared suddenly, replaced with a frown.

“I hate smiling. None of the other can wolves do it,” she complained to her mother. Moro sighed, a rumbling coming from her chest.

“San, that is because you are not a wolf...you are human,” she chided to San gently. “If you haven't figured that out by now...”

“Of course I know I'm human, mother,” San said suddenly. She said it so quietly that Moro was forced to cut herself off swiftly just to hear it. “I know I'm human...I'd just rather be a wolf...that's all.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Inuyasha and San stood side by side, frowns plastered on their faces from their unfortunate positioning. San glanced at Inuyasha through narrowed eyes, noting that he had traded his regular attire for a clean, dark red dress shirt and a neat black jacket over it. His pants and shoes were the same color as the jacket. He was void of any specks of dust or lint, so it was easy to assume Kagome had forced him into it. Also, he kept pulling at the fabric, unhappy by his new outfit. Personally, San agreed with his attitude and wished she could rip her own outfit off. However, her mother had already ordered her not to do so, so San refrained from the very tempting idea of nudity to constrained movement. San was in a deep purple outfit, and her hair had been left down. She walked in her simple white shoes, but the dress had a tailored waist, a pink ribbon around her hips, and black polka dots on the fabric. It was soft, but not soft like her wolf fur cape.

“Hey there, everyone!” proclaimed a happy little puffball, popping out of nowhere with some form of magic. San narrowed her eyes at the strange being, but she mainly eyes his appearance. The child looked to be about ten years old. He had large eyes and light brown hair with a reddish tint. His fox ears and tail were of the same caliber fur, and his height reached San's knee from examination and mental comparison. He wore robes that belonged in the Feudal Era of Japan, same as Inuyasha's usual getup. San found it very distasteful and old-fashioned. To her, nothing was more comfortable than loose, short clothes, a wolf fur cape, and her wooden tree mask. Their clothing had too much fabric to get caught on trees, enemies, and were only hidering in battle. Plus, more fabric meant more things to clean in the river. Any piece of clothing with more fabric than San was used to was just extraneous baggage that she didn't need. Fashion was just a preference. San preferred practicality.

“I'm Shippo! Your announcer for this year!” the child said happily. Inuyasha's ears flicked in irritation. Apparently, the kid's voice made him uncomfortable. San agreed, but was pleased at his discomfort. Even if they shared the same age of 16, she would not relent her feelings against him. He was demon scum, and she was a god's child. Which one was the superior family? Obviously, she thought her clan was, but he had the audacity to think otherwise.

“It's good to meet you all! Let me just say how thrilled I am to be in the Games with two of you lucky kids!” he said happily.

You're more of a child than any of us, so just read out a damned name, thought San viciously. Inuyasha seemed to think so as well.

“Just read out the name, you little squirt!” yelled out Inuyasha furiously. San glared at him, but he smirked at her. She frowned at him. Foolish boy, she thought to herself.

“Silence, Dog Boy!” ordered a nearby Peacekeeper, raising his gun. Inuyasha cracked his knuckles threateningly.

“You wanna make me?!” he demanded, his claws gleaming malevolently. San shut her eyes in furious exasperation.

“Shut your trap, you stupid mutt. Do you want to be killed?” she snarled at him in an undertone. The child up on the stage frowned at Inuyasha.

“Why don't we just get through the Reaping, and then you children can squabble later,” said the kid arrogantly. San glared at him, and he glared right back at her, as if he was above her.

Shippo held up two slips he had already snatched from the balls and ripped them open, reading out the names quickly. No doubt, he wanted to get out of the village before he got caught up in a battle between Inuyasha and the Peacekeeper.

“Inuyasha, and San. They're your tributes! Everyone applaud!” said Shippo hurriedly. Inuyasha's claws dropped in shock, and he and San exchanged a shocked look. That look soon turned to hate. Now the two had one more reason to dislike the other. Now they were enemies. Only one of them would survive, and they were each thinking it would be themselves.

There's no way I'm losing to that mutt, thought San.

Let's see the little wolf girl stop me—I'll rip her throat out! thought Inuyasha.