The Tribute of The Sea

Part 1:The Tributes - Chapter 1

Percy

"Percy, come on, it's time to get up!" Said a voice, though it too far away for my tried morning brain to pay attention to. "Percy! Get up!" the voice yelled, shoving me onto a cold hard surface, making me finally wake up. "Hey!" I said, glaring up at the 'voice', which turned out to be a not-so-happy Katniss.

"'Hey!' yourself," She snapped, "I want to get in a good hunt, I can't to that if the person hugging me like a teddy bear won't wake up!"

"Opps?" I really hoped that I could worm my way out of this. Katniss just sighed, "Come on deer-for-brains."

Both of us quickly changed, grabbed out bows and hunting knives, then headed out towards the fence and the forest beyond, where we would meet up with  the third member of our hunting trio: Gale. 

We slipped under the hole in the fence, then quickly but quietly moved through the forest to our normal meeting place. When Katniss and I arrived, Gale was crouched on a rock, observing the area around him and seeing if he could spot any prey.

He turned and smiled, then playfully teased, "What took you guys so long? I've been waiting here for ever."

Katniss let out a snort, "Sorry, deer-for-brains was still asleep."

Gale nodded. We both knew that I always ended up snuggling with Katniss in my sleep, and since we shared a bed, there really wasn't anything that me, Gale, or Katniss could do about it.

"So," I inquired, "What are we hunting today?" 

Katniss thought for a second, "Let's hunt around the river." 

We all agreed and headed towards the river, then each took a different direction, stalking around looking for prey.

I had taken the northern direction, stalking up on a deer. 

It would be enough to feed the Everdeen's, me, the Hawthorn's with enough to sell for a good profit. This was the catch of the year,

I pulled out a knife but kept it close and covered by my arm so there was no glare the deer could spot. I moved to a bush and crouched, waiting till it had it's back turned and...

THAWK

I threw the knife, nailing the deer in the heart, and killing it instantly. I slowly walked forward with a rope and flipped the deer over so that the cut on it's lower chest didn't get covered by dirt. Then I tied its legs together and dragged it back to the river, where I dropped the rope and stood on alert for any predators who may try to steal my catch.

"RUN!" I whip around to look at Gale, confused, till I see it.

It's a massive cat with giant teeth, solid-looking golden fur, long sharp claws, and bright red eyes.

It was one of the Capitals Mutation or Mutt for short.

I rolled out of it's path as Gale Jumped onto a high rock and started to climb a tree. I reached over into my quiver and took out 5 arrows, loaded them into my bow, and let them fly, before the Mutt even realised I was there. It let a roar as the arrows bounced off it, then wiped around and flung me into the lake with its paw.

I landed with a splash as the Mutt turned to Gale, shaking giant tree he was in like it was a twig. Gale looked green and terrified.

Most in my situation would give up hope and run for dear life since, well, most people really couldn't do anything against it. 

But I could.

The familiar tug in my gut sharpened as I focused on the water molecules in the air, and the ones around and in me, and where I wanted to go. For most people, this would be incredibly difficult, but for me and my ADHD brain, we were good to go! I pulled out the sword I kept strapped to my thigh, out of it's hilt, gripping onto it.

Then I did something that may or may not have been incredibly stupid.

I charged.

Then I focused on changing my body into water molecules, then moving them somewhere else, which by the way, isn't easy. But, I managed it. I re-appeared on top of the Mutt and raked my sword along its back, then continued, as I like to call it, 'Vapor trailed' around the Mutt, stabbing and cutting it till there was a clear opening near its heart. I turned and threw my sword at the beasts chest, stabbing it through the heart. It let a pained screech, before collapsing to the ground, dead.

The last thing I heard was Gale's voice before I passed out from exhaustion.

***

I sat up, looking around I could see that I was in the bed me, Katniss and Prim shared, in the house that me and the Everdeen's lived in. How long had I been asleep? No idea.

Katniss was on the left side of the bed, slouched on the floor, asleep. I smiled at her peaceful face, and quietly got out of bed, and walked down stairs.

Prim, Katniss's little sister, was cooking over the stove while her mother and Gale were chatting. Then Gale noticed me, and ran over.

"How!?" He said, while I looked at him, confused, "What do you mean 'How!?'"

He sighed, "How did you do the water-teleport-y thing?"

"one, I named it Vapor trailing," I told him, and he rolled his eyes playfully, "and two, no clue, I just did it one day."

He studied me for a minute then sighed, "Are you okay? You scared me when you passed out you know. I thought that-" His voice cracked and he looked away. I wrapped him in a hug, that he returned gratefully.

"I hate to do this," Ms.Everdeen said sadly, "but the Reaping is in a hour, and we need to get ready, and Gale needs to return home."

Gale and I nodded.

The Reaping, just the thing to dapen everyone's moods.

Little did I know just how much this years would change my life.