be there in seconds flat :: D10 train thread

He is the last of the three victors to arrive. Guided by either Ripred's sense of timing, or by an innate knowledge that Mace and Saffron needed time without him, or even perhaps by his own sudden need to be alone before facing this journey, he waits until mere moments before the train begins to move before boarding. When he arrives, Saffron stands and takes Mace by the hand to guide him to the car where their charges are sitting. He follows, nearly as blank as the older man.

His brother might have volunteered this year, there was enough leeway in their ages that Anselm could have slipped in, but something had convinced him to stay. Be it the glassy stare of his false eye or the knowledge that Ripred had not called him forth, the victor hadn't paid much mind. Their mother could not have born the weight of another son off to fight Ripred's war, whether he also succeeded or not, and the brothers had known that. So, even as the spear went off to the Capitol, the shield remained to shelter their mother.

Now, though, he faced a situation he had not been prepared for. There were twice as many tributes this year, too many by half, and they had volunteered. The churning sense of competing beliefs swirled behind his one good eye. Had Ripred called to them? Or were they acting out against the wishes of the god? His own winnings would have provided for the district, even if their supplies had been cut due to a lack of volunteers. That could not have been their justification. For the first time in what felt like ages, the need to seek advice settled on his shoulders.

Ripred, what is your plan for these four? They have placed themselves in a place of death that only one might return from but likely none of them will. When you called to me I knew it was my duty to go, to serve, to guide. You led me to this point here, gave me back the life I gave so readily to you. Did you call these children as you did me? Are they the ones who will carry your name once again into the arena and defend your honour as I had?

As had been since he had left the arena nearly an entire year ago, he received no words in return. Ripred still hadn't forgiven him for those moments of doubt and blasphemy. He would have to demonstrate true faith once again in order to win back the favour of the god. This moment of prayer was only one brick in the wall of Ripred's shelter. There were many more to be laid.

As the compartment door opened and the three victors stepped inside they were immediately greeted by a voice. This voice, however, was not welcoming. "Welcome to the morgue. Let's see, we have...the preacher, the grandpa, and....the girl who turned him straight." There was a brief ripple of motion through the car, each person reacting to the blunt caption of district ten's three mentors. He barely stirred, other than to turn his one-eyed gaze on the boy who spoke - the only male volunteer from district ten. He could see that this boy - the name Lazarus echoed like a distant whisper in his mind - was not a servant of Ripred. His sister - Scarlett, said the whisper - was not one either.

More words came, crude and aimed to hurt. He didn't move as Saffron leapt forward. Mace had pulled her back for just long enough to settle her before letting go. Looks were exchanged but his eye was only for Lazarus. An inkling in the back of his mind told him that this boy would be trouble, perhaps more than was worth dealing with. Empty hands itched for the handle of a spear. Saffron may have had the right idea - it would be better to end this problem at the start. His look flits quickly to catch Mace's glance as the older man tried to get a handle on the situation. "But know that we won't take kindly to disrespect for the dead, past and future, of our District. Understand?"

He doesn't move as Mace finishes speaking, holding a straight and stable posture as he now looks over all four young faces before them. Once more, his gaze holds on Lazarus. He knew, even more now that in the moments leading up to this point, that Ripred's new task for him was to watch Lazarus closely. Keeping him out of trouble was not necessarily the goal, keeping others out of his trouble was.