I uh. Got lazy and reused some art yes. So that’s why Critter AND Pilot are on it. One week before reaping… Critter was skipping along merrily on the streets of district six, definitely not about to cause some mischief… she went about rather casually, until she noticed a peacemaker nearby… with her typical, albeit somewhat creepy, grin, she bounded towards them. “Hey, hey mister!” she cheerfully chirped, waving a paw. The peacemaker turned to look at Critter, clearly unimpressed, and even maybe somewhat annoyed by the sudden disturbance, “what do ya’ want, kid?” Critter thought a little, before she grinned and murmured, “oh, nothing! I just thought you should know I saw somebody… uh, breaking the law!” The Peacemaker narrowed their eyes, “really now, kid?” Critter nodded, before pointing at the peacemaker, “yeah, loitering! I bet you’ve been uselessly standing there all day, wondering what the meaning of your sad life even is!” The peacemaker paused, perhaps shocked by the audacity of bite, before their expression turned pointed and hostile, “Ya’ better be more careful who you mock, kid… I could have you beaten for even this little, ya’ hear that?” The peacemaker turned their head, snarling, “But I’m goin’ to be merciful this time. Run along, before I change my mind an’ what not.” Critter grinned, chuckling, “Alright, mister, but, I’m not really that scared of you regardless anyways, heh!” Giggling, she turned and dashed off. As she sped away, she noticed a group of three older cats in an alleyway, talking… about something… “Hey, what’cha talking about?” Critter inquired cheerfully as she suddenly neared them. The group of three cats turned and stared at her distastefully. The oldest of the three narrowed their eyes, exclaiming, “well, really, none of your business- I mean, who just butts into a convo like that, huh?” Critter shrugged, before the youngest of the group sighed and explained, “Ya’ heard of the hunger games kid?” Critter chuckled, “what, who hasn’t?” “Well, the reaping is pretty soon. We were discussing ways to avoid it- like, cheat the system,” the middle-aged of them explained. “Avoid the hunger games?” Critter echoed the words. “I mean, well, yeah? Who wants to get involved with that, fighting other cats and risking death and all that just to get some shiny prizes cuz’ the Capitol said so?” Critter paused, not saying anything as she shrugged, “I don’t know. Fighting is pretty fun,” bug found herself murmuring. “Really, no it isn’t,” the youngest of the lot meowed with a roll of their eyes. “I mean, clearly more fun than you lot, you look like your rejects and you regret your lives!” The three cats stared at Critter, mouths agape, before the oldest of them hissed, “Ya think fighting’s fun? Then you feeling my fist will be doubly fun!” Critter grinned up at the three, before she shrugged, “I don’t know, don’t think so, so I’m going to take my leave!” With that, Critter dashed off, aware of the three following her. She kept running until she was close to her house. At that point, Critter simply shouted, “Pilot, Pilot!” And her little brother came out of the house, an expression of exasperation plastered upon his face. “Oh sweet peas, what did you do this time, Critter?” “Nothing much, I just lightly insulted them! I swear, cats are so sensitive nowadays!” Pilot went over to sort things out with the three cats, as Critter darted inside. Although, that conversation had got her thinking about the hunger games… now, she didn’t exactly like the Capitol or anything, and in the past the Hunger Games was kinda just a… thing to her. But Critter was twelve now, old enough for the hunger games, and unlike most cats, she didn’t hate the Capitol either… just thought they were awfully privileged. The hunger games. fighting. risk. glory. The thrill of winning… hmm… [cont in N + C]
… About a week later, it was time for the reaping. In about thirty minutes- half a hour- many cats, so many, would be doomed to the hunger games. Pilot and Critter were in their shared room, sitting on their beds. “So… you’re uh… legible to be entered into the uhh… hunger games this year… y… you won’t get reaped, right? Hopefully not,” Pilot was saying. “Actually, I’ve been thinking, maybe getting reaped isn’t that bad after all!” Pilot paused, turning to stare dazed and confused at Critter, “wha- Crit, that’s insane! Probably the worst thing you’ve ever said!” Bug smiled, its face bright as she exclaimed, “but is it really? I mean, fighting! I get to beat people up! and, and also there’s a prize! I don’t actually care about it, but like- I’ll also be in history! I also don’t care about that too much, though- but being famous is cool, I think! Oh, oh and I meet new people!” Pilot frowned, “Critter, you’ve never even learned to properly fight. I don’t know where this aggressive side of you randomly comes from sometimes, but, it’s concerning.” Critter scoffed, “no it’s notttt!” Pilot shook his head, “whatever, just- don’t get yourself reaped, kay?” “No promises!” At the reaping, Critter found herself in a crowd of other young cats. Most of them looked nervous and anxious, some of them put on a brave front, while some others looked almost bored. Critter grinned as she waited, watching as the usual words were spoken and the reaping started, the names picked out one by one. She watched as the final name was called. Some cat she didn’t really know. She watched as they gasped, and shaky-legged, began to walk up to the podium. The podium Critter thought she should be on. It was clear this cat didn’t want to be up there, anyways… “Hey! Hey, reaping speaker woman! I volunteer in place of… uhh… uh what’s it name, the last cat that was called!” Everybody turned to look at Critter. Some were shocked- Critter clearly wasn’t doing this to save the other cat, just evidence by the fact she somehow didn’t even know their name, even though it was called just moments ago. “If it’s so…” Critter watched as the last cat gave a shaky sigh of relief, taking a few paw steps back. With her signature grin, Critter bounded up to the podium, waving towards the young cats below, “Hi, yes! I’m Critter, by the way! Critter Calamity, hehe!” Not that it mattered, for most of the cats below were staring up grimly and others were simply relieved it wasn’t them. Critter knew that this wasn’t what her family would want. She could imagine particularly Pilot would be displeased. But the image of the Hunger Games… it couldn’t be that bad, right? With that thought, Critter bounced joyfully towards the train, much unlike the demeanors of the other district six cats reaped that day… … This isn’t proofread, I wrote it when I was sleepy and Critter lowkey might act out of character at some moments Idk okay goodbye Art by @Cloud_Song
