Interview

Instructions

FIRST REPLY : Mandrake adjusted the crown of glistening foliage atop his umber-furred head, his green eyes shimmering slightly in the light, the marigold flecks in his eyes gleaming like liquid gold. After the parade, he had been a bit calmer, as if it drew out an untapped pool of confidence within him. But the nervousness still gnawed at him like a sharp-toothed rat. Despite his brash smile and posture, the slight tremble within his body still peaked through, his blood vessels rushing with adrenaline, causing his outfit to shudder and flow slightly. He was so absorbed in the moment, everything else seemed insignificant. Instead of the snowy whites and bIood reds of his previous outfit, Mandrake now donned new silken and bright fabrics. A blue tunic the exact color and vibrancy of the sea clothed the tribute, rippling and cascading like the ocean, an inky black band near the end, woven with golden patterns. Silky smooth white fabric crossed over his chest, held onto the rest of the garment with a Stygian band at the bottom, both tipped in the color of sunlight, a pin near the top depicting the raging waters of the sea. Golden bands were tied close to his paws, patterns engraved in the precious metal. As a final touch, a crown of golden palm, the symbol of Nike, Greek goddess of victory, was woven over his head encrusted with shimmering red rubies. Yet again, his wonderful stylists chose a fitting outfit for the tom, the colors complimenting his fur, bringing out his furious green eyes and bright golden flecks. Adrenaline coursed through him as he heard his name called. Emerging from the room, he narrowed his eyes, shielding himself from the worst of the beating rays of light. The roar of the crowd was deafening, the drumming of his paws against the stage drowned out by the sound, but he couldn’t care less. Confidence flowed in his veins, and he could practically feel it burning in his chest as he approached the interviewer. Giving a curt nod to her and the raging crowd, he sat down beside the cat, gaze sweeping over the audience and meeting the interviewer’s. Surely the audience remembered him from the parade, would they not? He thought he made a good impression, and he would try to uphold it here, documented by the cameras, broadcasted throughout the country. Pausing for a few seconds to prepare himself, he cleared his throat. “Sure is a pleasure to be here. But I guess this interview should be concise, so I’ll try to keep the comments at a minimum.” Mandrake flashed a warm smile of greeting towards the general direction of the rest of the cats, then fixated his gaze on Delta, awaiting the first question he’d have to answer. SECOND REPLY : Mandrake let out a jocular laugh, gaze sweeping over the hushed audience yet again as he crafted his answer. The golden crown atop his head glistened in the sunlight, its rubies shining furiously like raging fires rampaging through a grove of trees. “I’d like to think of myself as a well-rounded person,” the tom began, his voice rich and silvery, robes as alluringly deep as the ocean and white as a star fluttering slightly in the wind. “Coming from Seven, climbing has always been easy for me, and being surrounded by trees and forests gave me a lot of knowledge about the wildlife and flora in the area. And..” he trailed off for a moment, drinking in the crowd’s anticipation, surges of courage and thrill flooding through him. “I know a thing or two about crafting and wielding weapons. An odd skill, for someone in District 7, but a skill nonetheless.” Finishing his answer tidily, he turned his gaze back to the green-eyed interviewer, giving a flick of his tail. The stage lights shone brightly, his silken white robes as pure as snow, battling for dominance against the somber navy and accents of gold and scarlet, soft ruffling breezes sending ripples down the garments, whistling through and between his woven palm crown.