Mission: Survival

Chapter II: The Collection

I walk in the house to see Bella wearing a pretty sky pink dress of mine that just passes her knees. "Oh, Bella! You're beautiful!" I tell her. She looks at me and tries to smile, but she can't smile on Collection day. She's never been able to.

"I laid something out for you, Jade," Mom says quietly. My eyes rise to the small gold pin on Bella's front that used to be Dad's: the circular symbol of the Strike class of dragons. Announcing that she has a werewing for a family member. Protecting her from harm. "Okay," I say.

I wash myself over in the tub, then inspect the dress as I dry off. One of Mom's better dresses, the light blue suggests a glorious summer day. Exactly the opposite of today. It's warm, yes, but there's a muggy dampness to the air that warns of rain. Not to mention the dark clouds hanging over the north side of Smokey Mountain. I shudder and put on the dress. Summer being my favorite season after Collection, the number does make me feel a little better, but, personally, I still feel grounded. I go across the hall and find Bella sitting in her spot at the table holding Cookie. Normally the cat would hiss at me, but he can read Bella's emotions like an open book and he knows that hissing at a time like this would not help her already dark mood. So he leaves me alone.

After a few minutes of tense silence, we hear a whistle in the distance. The Tribute Train has arrived. Bella breathes in sharply. I put a hand on her shoulder. "Your name's only in there once, Bella. They're not going to pick you," I say reassuringly.

She merely nods, puts Cookie down, and Mom follows us into the square. When we get there, it's crammed, but there is just enough room for Smokey Mountain's teen population. Bella and I sign in and she takes her place. As Guardians, Venne, Darry, Kyle, Seth, and I get to fly around a bit, showing off our skill before we land and phase, staying in formation so the other tributes and commentators can identify us. It's supposed to warn them of what they could be walking into, but that's one rule that all five of us are more than happy to abide to.

After dropping off Bella, I go back to the designated spot for the werewing flying squad. Despite being an outlying village, our school has defended its well deserved title of Most Elite Flying Squad for more than two decades. It is a fact that all werewings, Guardian or not, take great pride in.

I make it about two minutes before we're supposed to take flight. Our coach, Vidrina Dublé, raises her chin in pleasure when she sees me. Directing me to my front spot in the "V" formation, she steps aside as we phase and grabs the flag, raising it high to get our attention. She looks to the side for a signal and recieves it. Turning back to us, the muscles ripple in her arm. That's our cue to cup our wings, preparing for flight. Then the arm comes down and we explode into action.

We fly right over the square, performing loop-the-loops and diving down toward the concrete, pulling up at the last second. Each of us gets a chance to do our own thing with the others in the background, adding very nice special effects.

Seth wants to do his solo invisibly, and I've seen him practice it often enough. So I fly right over him, so that the audience will have an idea of where he is. Venne's turn is next, and he performs with ease and enviable grace.

Finally it's my turn. I know Bella is watching; seeing me perform always makes her stand straighter with obvious pride. So I make the most of my moment and throw myself into my solo. This has always been my favorite part of being a werewing: flying. But then our flight is done and we have to land. We stay in formation so identification will be easier.

As I'm slowing down from phasing, I see Seth's uncle, wobbly but standing, out of the corner of my eye. I say to Seth in ThoughtSpeak, Hey, Seth. Your uncle made it over here after all.

Seth grins at me. Yeah, your mom tried to make him stay, but I guess he gave her the slip. Speaking of which, where is your mom?

I shrug. Somewhere, I say.

Beyond the sea, Venne finishes in his best singing voice. It's a song we all learned in first grade. All five Guardians chuckle. Then Darry joins in with, Somewhere, waiting for me.

Coach Dublé gives us a look, but we all know she's smiling under that scowl. Abbey Dolgot, the official escort for the Smokey Mountain village, comes onto the stage to read out the names and everyone goes quiet. The intense silence is deafening. She introduces herself, even though we all know her. She has us watch a video clip of the war and how it led to the Hunt being created. Then she walks over to the tribute bowls, pulls out a tag, and unfolds it. I shut my eyes, hoping for that slight streak of luck, that it's not me. And it isn't.

It's Isabella McMullen.