Chapter 16
DAY ELEVEN
The eleventh day of the arena is when things changed for the pair.
Lyv and Peter were in the middle of sitting in a tree, sharing a ration for breakfast because they decided they couldn’t take another morning of waking up with their stomachs howling for actual sustenance, when they heard voices.
At once, Peter and Lyv froze. He slowly lifted one finger to his mouth to signal for Lyv to be quiet. She nodded, and slipped back into a crevice in the tree, shielding her from view from the direction of the voices. Peter, swallowing the rest of his half of the ration, carefully set the package down with Lyv and his backpack before quietly leaping through the canopy towards the voices. He chose thicker branches to perch on so the leaves didn’t shake and give away his position so much.
One girl, one boy, Peter whispered to himself in his head. He knew Cap and Nat and Clint would’ve been proud of him for the reconnaissance. As Peter grew closer, he got quieter, moving slower and slower to try to remain hidden. Eventually, his ears could discern that the voices were right underneath them. Gripping the tree, he began to crawl down and face the ground.
There.
Movements of brown and black quickly clued his eyes in on the tributes’ positions.
He narrowed his eyes. The tributes wouldn’t turn to face them, so he couldn’t see who they were.
“The edge of the arena has got to be close, right?” The lower of the two voices asked with a small groan.
“I don’t know, Allen, want me to just look up my ass and find a map of the arena?” A higher voice responded.
“That would be great.”
The girl’s voice sounded familiar to Peter, very familiar. So did the chestnut-colored hair and bubblegum pink skin… Peter narrowed his eyes again, and the girl turned her head over her shoulder to scan the ground behind them.
It was Shayna.
He remembered meeting her during training – she had the uncanny power of creating alcohol in the bloodstreams of lifeforms. She must’ve been with her cousin that she mentioned. Peter wanted to drop out of the tree and say hi, but he felt unsure. Shayna had seemed nice enough and they’d studied some of the past games together, but he didn’t want to have to hurt them if they weren’t friendly.
Peter quickly hopped through a few trees back to Lyv. Her face softened in visible relief when he returned. “Who is it?” She quietly hissed. Peter was on the tree above her, sticking to it with his face towards Lyv.
“Shayna and her cousin. They’re Tributes Seventeen and Eighteen, I think?”
Lyv frowned. “Should we just wait for them to pass?”
Peter’s attention shifted as he caught the sound of distant voices, prompting him to glance back at Lyv. It was a difficult moment for Peter. On one hand, he couldn’t shake off the apprehension that allies in this situation would only lead to heartbreak and betrayal. The thought of forming bonds with someone only to witness their death, or, worse yet, being forced to turn against them, weighed heavily on his mind. He was already dealing with this implication of being friends with Lyv hard enough. However, Peter couldn’t deny the gnawing hunger that had begun to consume his body, sapping his strength and clouding his thoughts. The lack of food had taken its toll, leaving him with a fuzzy-headed sensation. There had been multiple times throughout the past few days in which Peter and Lyv had to pause and recover on a tree branch due to the lack of nutrition. Furthermore, if Lyv was right, then they were on the verge of something bad happening to them. Thank you, Gamemakers Peter thought to himself.
“I… I think we should give talking to them a shot. They were super nice, Lyv, and they both have big backpacks. Maybe they have some food or… or better weapons,” Peter whispered back. Lyv’s faced remained motionless for a few moments. Peter couldn’t read what she was thinking, ever, and he hated that. Eventually, she pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded.
“Okay. I’ll be close behind, and I’m not afraid to stun them at the first sign of trouble, though,” she warned. Peter hoped it didn’t come to that. The last time Lyv did it, it was not pleasant. Peter could still hear a faint ringing in his ears. He grabbed his backpack from Lyv and slung it over his shoulders. Once Lyv was out of the tree and trailing behind him, he hopped through the trees and figured out a way to approach them that didn’t scream “hey! I’m going to murder you!”
It wasn’t long before Peter quickly honed on their position again. Lyv hung back about fifteen feet, turning her skin green so she could blend in with the leaves of the canopy. Peter glanced down below – he’d positioned himself so Shayna and Allen would be walking directly below him any second now. He perched himself in one of the lower branches of the trees. Peter figured that this was the best way – if they were hostile, Lyv and Peter could make a quick getaway. If they were friendly, it was close enough for him to drop out of the tree and greet them.
His heart raced in his stomach at the thought of another fight – he could still feel a dull ache under his ribs that served as a reminder of what the lack of food and the severe cold did to Peter’s abilities. And now, he had someone else to look after. Though, based on the last fight, it was quite possible it was going to be more of Lyv looking after him.
When Shayna and Allen appeared under his branch, Peter let out a loud “Psssst!”
Shayna and Allen stopped. “Allen, did you hear that?”
“Psssst! Shayna! Up here!”
The girl’s head snapped up, her eyes widening with surprise, while Allen’s hand instinctively moved towards the waistband. Peter held his breath, anticipating the imminent response, his stomach somersaulting like a performer in Cirque du Soleil.
To his relief, a radiant grin blossomed on Shayna’s face, brimming with uncontainable joy and hope, as she instantly recognized the figure perched in the tree above. “Hey, Peter! Glad to see you’re alright.”
“Yea, you too,” Peter mirrored, the corners of his lips tugging into a boyish, happy grin. She didn’t seem hostile. Shayna glanced over to Allen.
“It’s okay,” she told him. “He’s a friend.”
With Allen’s shoulder visibly relaxing and the tension dissipating, Peter’s suspicions were confirmed. He gracefully swung down from the tree, his boots meeting the snowy ground with a soft thud. Deep down, he couldn’t help but assume that if Shayna intended to harm him, she would have already begun to magically infuse alcohol into his bloodstream.
As his feet settled on the snow, Shayna extended her hand towards Peter. He furrowed his brows, eyeing her cautiously before tentatively accepting the handshake. A hint of skepticism laced his voice as he asked, “Alright, what did I just agree to?”
A wry chuckle escaped Shayna’s lips. “Why, being allies, of course.”
It was at that point that Peter heard fluttering above him. Before Allen or Shayna could get concerned, Peter said, “That’s Lyv, my counterpart. We’ve been together for the past four days.” As Peter finished speaking, Lyv gingerly set herself down on the snow near everyone. She gave a half-hearted smile to Shayna and Allen, but it was clear she was having a difficult time trusting the situation. “Lyv, didya hear that? We’re gonna be allies.”
“Mhm. I heard,” Lyv said, raising an eyebrow. Her and Shayna seemed to have a silent stare down as they silently sized each other up. I really don’t understand girls, Peter thought to himself.
Eventually, Lyv’s wings receded back into her back, and Shayna’s shoulders visibly loosened. Shayna extended her hand forward, and Lyv hesitantly gripped it, giving it a firm shake while staring the older girl in the eyes. Shayna crossed her arms afterwards, and Peter decided to break the awkward silence. “So, um… Shayna and Allen, what have you two been up to?”
Allen turned his back and began to trudge in the same direction they’d been heading before they had been interrupted. Shayna followed suit, and Peter jogged to catch up to her. Lyv trailed in the back. “We were over by the mountains for the first, oh, I don’t know, week or so? By the volcano. There were a few others in the area, too. We had a few fights here and there. A few days ago, we watched one of the Tributes try and hunt down a white rabbit. We watched, figuring we’d follow her strategy.”
“But it wasn’t a rabbit, was it?” Lyv chimed in from behind them. Shayna nodded without turning around.
“You’re right, it wasn’t. Thing let out these tentacles that tore that little girl to pieces. We high-tailed it out of there once the bunnies started chasing other tributes. I don’t think they got anyone else, but…” Shayna shuddered. “I’d hate to let one of them get a hold of me. We’re trying to get as far away from those bunnies as we can.”
Peter nodded. “The cute little bunnies are not cute. Got it. Anything else important to add?”
“Stay away from Eleven and Twelve. They sandbagged on their scores. Real nasty pieces of work,” Shayna added. Now it was Lyv’s turn to chime in.
“We know, they almost killed Peter.”
As the group made their way through the icy forest, their steps careful and deliberate, they kept their voices low, discussing strategies to navigate the arena. Peter outlined their plan to avoid encounters with other tributes, while Allen and Shayna expressed their relief at not having a strong desire to fight. Underneath it all, Peter’s wound throbbed faintly, a reminder that something was wrong with him. He pushed away the concern for the time-being. What could he do about it?
Eventually, the four of them stopped once the sun began to set to make camp. They decided that it would be fine for them all to start a fire and sleep on the ground. They were so close to the edge of the forest that the odds of someone being near them in the massive forest weren’t high. Peter and Allen started a fire, Allen creating some liquor in Peter’s water-canteen and pouring it over the fire to help jump-start it even more. Once the fire was started, the four sat in the snow as close to the flames as they could get, and Shayna and Allen began to show everything they’d gathered to Lyv and Peter.
“Allen – the stupid knucklehead –” she shot a glare at her cousin “-- decided it would be smart to go close to the Cornucopia.”
“Hey, it worked!” Allen defended himself. Shayna rolled her eyes.
“Well, anyways, it did work out, and we got some neat stuff. Allen got that sword he’s holding.”
At Shayna’s cue, Allen lifted his sword to show Lyv and Peter. The fire reflected in the shiny silver blade. “There’s something different about this sword. I tried to kill a squirrel with it a few days ago, but the squirrel’s veins turned black and it died.”
“It must be some kind of techno-organic blade. I’ve seen them in games before,” Lyv speculated, her gaze fixed on the shimmering weapon. Peter gulped. He wasn’t sure what a bio-weapon was, but he could make a pretty good guess, and he did not want to be on the receiving end of that.
“He also got a lot of rations, freeze-dried meat, fresh water, and antibiotics.” Allen continued to pull everything out of his bag to showcase to Lyv and Peter. Eventually, they broke open two rations and split them amongst the four of them. Peter showed Lyv and Allen his haphazard method to boil water with his canteen, which they used to rehydrate the rations. Lyv passed around hers and Peter’s final ration, a pouch of freeze-dried vegetable stir-fry of some sort. The pouch was filled with a colorful conglomeration of carrots, peas, and other vegetables that Peter didn’t recognize. The veggies looked like a miniature rainbow in the pouch.
Shayna revealed her ration to be a pouch of freeze-dried chicken and rice, with tender chunks of chicken and a mix of herbs and spices. The aroma of savory seasonings filled the air around them, enticing their taste buds and making them eager to try the hearty meal. At one point, Allen took the empty canteen and filled it with a deep, red wine, passing it around the circle. Shayna went to hand it to Peter, and Peter sheepishly shook it off. “I’m good. I… I don’t really like the taste of it.”
Shrugging nonchalantly, Shayna sealed the cap and tossed the canteen to Lyv, who took a hearty swig. The warmth of the fire and the nourishment of the rations kept Peter and Lyv better than they’d felt in days. Peter forgot about the delicacies he’d consumed before the games; this was the best thing he’d ever eaten in his life.
While Allen and Lyv passed the canteen of liquor between them, Peter heard Shayna let out a heavy sigh filled with discouragement. His gaze shifted towards her as she poked at the crackling fire with a long stick, lost in the flickering dance of flames. The weight of anxiety pressed upon her, etching lines of worry upon her face. It was a look Peter knew all too well.
Concerned, Peter spoke up, his voice laced with genuine care. “Everything okay?”
For a moment, Shayna seemed distant, as if lost in her own thoughts. Peter hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. But then, like a dam breaking, she spoke. .
“I just can’t stop thinking about Twenty-one,” Shayna said, her voice low with despair. Peter lowered his gaze to the snowy ground, his hands resting on his knees, while Shayna continued her quiet contemplation of the fire. The realization dawned upon him that many of these kids hadn’t witnessed the same level of violence and loss he had. They were innocent, trapped in a nightmare not of their making. The weight of their suffering rested heavily on Peter’s heart.
He realized that just because he’d seen a lot of death didn’t make any of it easier for him.
“What happened?” Peter’s voice was gentle, offering a place for Shayna to share her burden. He knew from personal experience that talking about the pain could help, if only a little.
“She was the girl who got ripped apart by the Mutt,” Shayna explained, her voice carrying the weight of grief. She continued to poke the fire with her stick. “She was only thirteen years old, Peter.”
Peter’s frown deepened. Thirteen-years-old – just a child. The weight of the death pressed on his chest, making him feel sick to his stomach. He searched for the right words to say, anything he could do to console her, but he knew that there was nothing that would truly help.
“I… I did everything I could, you know? It all happened so fast, I… I wish I could’ve done more, but I couldn’t, and she was dead.” Shayna’s voice began to thicken with tears. He could hear her voice travel to the deep part of her throat, signaling that she was making a valiant attempt to not cry. “When it started to rip her apart, I… I put as much alcohol into her as I could. It was the least I could do, you know? At least take away a little bit of the pain and make it a little less scary.”
“You did everything you could, Shayna,” Peter said softly, his voice filled with genuine empathy. “I… I know it hurts, but you showed kindness in her final moments. That means something.” He reached out, placing a hand on Shayna’s shoulder, a simple gesture of support.
Silent tears began to roll down Shayna’s cheeks, and Peter’s heart ached for her. He couldn’t fathom how she felt right now, and he hoped he wouldn’t have to. He understood the weight of guilt and the desire to do more. With a reassuring tone, he continued. “We’ll get through this together, alright? I’m not gonna let that happen to you again. We have to… we have to make it count. For them.”
Their eyes met, and in that moment, Peter felt a shared understanding pass between them. Shayna gave Peter a faint, tearful grin, and nodded. “For them.”
Shayna reached her hand up and wiped the tears from her face. With a resolute breath, she straightened her shoulders and sat up a little taller. Peter felt pleased that he was able to help make her feel better, or at least, he hoped so. After a few moments of regaining her composure, she looked at Peter with a devilish glint in her eye. “So, I know that you don’t like the taste of alcohol. I might be able to help with that.”
Peter immediately caught on to what she was insinuating, and shook his head. He sheepishly chuckled. “No, I’m good, Shay. Gotta be aware tonight, you know? Probably not a great look to have you get me wasted-”
Shayna reached out and put her hand on his arm. “I know you have nightmares, too. C’mon. It’ll help you sleep, and you won’t be so…” Shayna shivered. “Cold.”
Peter hesitated, his mind battling between caution and the desire for a moment of respite from his haunting dreams. He also figured that it might take the edge of his senses and allow him to actually rest for the first time since he’d gotten into this godforsaken arena… Peter looked into Shayna’s earnest eyes, realizing that she genuinely wanted to help. Taking a deep breath, he surrendered to her offer, a mixture of curiosity and apprehensiveness gleaming in his gaze.
“Are you sure, Pete?” Lyv asked from across the fire. Peter nodded, but his anxiety was palpable.
“Yea, Lyv. We got each other, now. It’ll be alright.”
He turned back to Shayna. With a firm nod of consent from Peter, he watched her eyes train themselves on Peter’s chest. She seemed deep in concentration, leading a train of questions through Peter’s head about the mechanics of her powers. Is it hard for her to do? Does she have to like, know a lot about biology and chemistry or does she just like, do it? How do these powers even come about? This is crazier than fighting a lizard-guy like I fought last year. I don’t even understand this…
Sweat formed on Shayna’s brow, her determined grin mixed with a hint of frustration. “Your powers make this a little trickier. I’ll need to get more alcohol in you for it to last, but I don’t want to go too fast… This should be interesting.”
She continued to stare at Peter. He couldn’t decide if he was proud or–
Woah.
Suddenly, a warm glow emanated from Peter’s chest, spreading through his veins and permeating his entire body. He felt a weight lifting from his shoulders, his muscles relaxing, and his senses dulling slightly. It was an utterly unfamiliar sensation, yet undeniably amazing. The glow released all the pent-up tension that had accumulated within his body the past three years, granting him a rare moment of pure relaxation. I get why the team likes this so much. As the warmth traveled down to his stomach, Peter’s head grew lighter, and a newfound sense of freedom washed over him.
Peter Parker, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man slash Avenger, was drunk.
The realization struck him like a hazy jolt of electricity. There was a tinge of exhilaration, a touch of apprehension, and a hint of uncertainty. How would this affect him? He couldn’t deny how amazing he felt. In fact, he felt on top of the world. Like he could do anything. Like nothing really mattered. The trees around their encampment swirled and twisted and grew twins and triplets but the world didn’t matter, it was just the four of them here and now. The Games disappeared, the Avengers disappeared…
“Guys, guys! I realized something!” Peter sputtered out. “Spiders can’t get drunk… but Peter Parker can!”
Shayna grinned and took a swig from the canteen that Allen handed her. “Well, aren’t you lucky, Peter? We’ll make sure you have a night to remember.”
“Oh, great,” Lyv said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. “Drunk Peter. Just what we needed.”
“Come on, Lyv, lighten up a little! Peter deserves to let loose for once in his life,” Allen laughed.
“Yea, don’t be such a buzzkill, Lyv,” Peter slurred. He tried to reach forward, not even recognizing the fire was there. Peter was drunk alright. Shayna put her hand on his shoulder and gently wrenched him back. “You know what’s cool, guys? Spidey-senses. They’re like tingling all over the place right now. I think it’s the alcohol making them… uh, extra tingly.”
“You heard him, Lyv. Embrace the chaos! It’s like a party with extra limbs,” Shayna purred, playfully nudging Peter. Lyv noticed Shayna scoot a little bit closer to him.
“Guys, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but in case you haven’t noticed. This isn’t a party. It’s a survival situation. I’m supposed to babysit you all?” Lyv sighed in exasperation, burying her face in her hands.
“We’ll all be on our best behavior,” Allen solemnly swore.
“Yea, totally!” Peter giggled. “Cross my heart and hope to swing through the city.”
Shayna leaned closer to Peter. His body was loose and he was so out of it that he didn’t even notice. She leaned in close to his ear. “You know, Peter, I’ve always wondered what it’s like to swing through the city with you. Maybe we should try it sometime,” Shayna murmured. Lyv rolled her eyes and groaned in an exaggerated manner.
“Oh, please. Can we focus on something other than Peter’s wild escapades?”
The moment was short-lived. Peter rambled on for a bit longer while Shayna clung to his side and kept him away from the fire that he strangely gravitated towards. Allen was amused, and Lyv was not. Especially with the way Shayna was all over her friend. Unsure of her own feelings towards the newcomers, Lyv swiftly volunteered to take first watch, hoping to distance herself from the group a bit and be alone in her thoughts. Peter’s inebriation rendered him incapable of fulfilling any watch duty, and Lyv couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern mixed with frustration. Nestling into her sleeping bag, she positioned herself against a nearby tree, feeling a newfound chill that went beyond the frigid air. It was the first time in a few days she’d been alone in her sleeping bag, and the absence of familiar body warmth made her acutely away of the newfound void.
As Shayna had promised him, Peter had quickly gone from a rambling, stammering drunk kid to passed out on the forest ground where Shayna had dug out snow.
She didn’t fail to notice the way that Shayna was snuggled into Peter’s side, falling asleep while the drunk kid was out cold. That, she wasn’t sure how to feel about.
The next day, the group lingered around their area. They had decided that they should stay near the little campsite they’d created. If the Gamemakers were sending any Mutts their way or other tributes were nearby, they’d have a better chance being prepared and comfortable rather than frigid, on the move, and taken by surprise. Lyv had cleverly thought to put tripwire around their encampment with the wire in Peter’s backpack. It was rather easy to see, but on the off-chance someone, or something, didn’t see it, they’d be notified something was coming.
Peter woke up with a thudding headache and a dry mouth. It quickly went away, but it was a somber reminder to Peter that he’d let his wits get away from him. If something had come during the night, if something had happened to Lyv or Shayna or Allen… Peter shook his head and chugged the canteen of water that Lyv had been kind enough to prepare for him. Currently, Allen was on watch, circling the campsite and brandishing his blade. Lyv was currently up in the trees, letting Arla crawl around on a branch and get some fresh air where Shayna and Allen couldn’t see her. Peter, who was laying down on a tree branch not far from Lyv, sighed as he tried to blink away the faint headache that seemed to linger. His stomach felt full from the meal he’d had the night prior, and he felt happy he was adequately hydrated. It was cold, but there was a lot of water. Peter couldn’t imagine a desert arena with inescapable heat and a lack of water.
Peter looked up at the sky. Eventually, his face would be up there, as would Shayna’s and Allen’s. He had taken a quick liking to Shayna, but he knew his responsibility lied with making sure Lyv and Arla got out of here. Until then, he’d have to navigate the monotony of waiting. Each passing moment was laden with the weight of uncertainty of what was to come next. The day passed by in monotony with nothing particularly exciting going on. Lyv didn’t talk much; Peter couldn’t help but notice she still seemed very distrustful of their new allies. Peter talked about Earth and the Avengers; Allen was very enthused by the fact that Peter personally knew and fought alongside Hulk and Thor. Apparently, he was a big fan of the thunder-god and the green… well, monster. Peter learned that Shayna and Allen hailed from the planet of Xylophora. Peter closed his eyes and tried to imagine the planet behind his eyelids as they talked about it. According to them, their planet was a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and insane landscapes, and the people that lived there held a fervent passion for the chemistry of their planet. On Xylophora, Shayna explained, we worship the magnificent chemical reactions that make up our planet and use them to our advantage. Our Planet is not living, but it seems like it. We speak its language, we understand it.
She explained the geography of the planet that was so wildly different from Earth or Sakaar or anywhere else Peter had ever heard of. She explained the glowing atmosphere of its planet, the sky itself like a living canvas where hues of turquoise, magenta, and chartreuse merged to create a magnificent painting. There were colossal mountains, meandering rivers, extraordinary flora and fauna. Shayna explained how creatures on Xylophora had evolved to manipulate the chemical world around them, including her own species. There were chameleons that could change color with a mere thought to flowers whose petals changed colors based on temperature or atmospheric conditions to birds with wings adorned in iridescent patterns created through intricate chemical reactions.
The sight behind Peter’s eyes was magnificent. He wished he’d be able to live to see the amazing planet.
Shayna explained how all individuals of her kind possessed an innate ability to influence the building blocks of their environment. A small group, like Shayna and Allen, had abilities that surpassed their peers into uncharted territories.
On their planet, the mixture of chemicals wasn’t just for fun; it was woven into the very fabric of their existence. Alcohol played a unique role, entwined within the molecular compounds that shaped Xylophora. It was a vital element. They appreciated it for its intoxicating effects but it went beyond that, serving as an integral component of the planet. To the people of Sakaar, alcohol was simply a source of amusement, and they treated Shayna and Allen as such.
For the first time, Lyv felt a pang of sympathy for their new allies. Just like those in power were treating her and Arla’s beautiful bond as something to be played with, they were doing the same to Shayna and Allen’s unique connection to their homeworld. The irony wasn’t lost on her – a bond that defined their very being was being reduced to nothing but a joke.
“I wish I could’ve seen it,” Peter murmured, just loud enough for Shayna to hear. He glanced down at her. She smiled at Peter.
“I wish you could've seen it too, Peter. It’s rather… intoxicating.” She bit into a freeze-dried red fruit and grinned devilishly as she spoke the last word. Butterflies ran through Peter’s stomach, and he looked back up to the sky. How was he going to let her die?
Peter had been on watch, trudging around the camp with his knife in hand, contemplating his current situation. He knew he was going to let Mr. Stark and the team down, but there was no way he was allowing himself to walk out of here and leaving Lyv dead. Lost in his internal struggle, a thunderous boom shattered the silence of the forest, resonating throughout the trees. Peter crouched, gripping his knife tighter and scanning the forest around him. He could hear Lyv fluttering above to look above the treetops.
Danger-run-hide-fight
His senses were screaming at him to run up the trees and climb and hide and burrow in where he’d be safe. He scanned the forest around them, and saw nothing but the same stillness he’d been seeing for the past week and a half. There was nothing. The trees didn’t even move with a breeze. He closed his eyes and listened. The same silence fell over the arena. Behind him, Shayna and Allen who had similarly frozen, began to murmur. Their voices faded in Peter’s ears as he focused outwards. “Lyv? Do you see anything?”
Lyv fluttered back down. Peter was still on-guard. Something wasn’t right…
“The body was nearby. I just saw them pick it up. Guys… we have to go.”
Peter’s heart was strangely calm in his chest as he remained vigilant, his senses on high alert. The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next move, as Peter prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation his senses warmed him of.
“No, we should stay here. It’ll be easier to fight making a stand than getting surprised while fleeing.”
Peter took a deep breath. There.
To the right of the encampment, the ever-so-faint sound of something snarling hit Peter’s ears. His head snapped to the right and he sprinted to that side of the encampment. Everybody noticed Peter now, and he felt Allen join him at his side. “Peter? What is it?”
Peter searched the treeline. He couldn’t see anything, but something was heading their way. Something big, and…
There was more than one of them.
Peter’s heart jumped when blurred shapes began to dart through the treeline ahead of them. Lyv lifted into the air, Shayna tossing her an extra knife that she had attained. Stretching her arms, Shayna stood beside Allen and Peter, Lyv hovering behind them in the air. “Ready, boys?” Shayna dryly asked.
The creatures grew closer. They were a conglomeration of horrific, twisted creatures running on all fours, pointed tails lashing behind them… “They’re… cats?” Allen said as the pack grew closer and closer. The pack snarled and hissed as they rapidly drew closer and closer, their sleek and powerful forms crashing through the underbrush.
Peter’s heart pounded in his chest as the pack of grotesque feline Mutts closed in on them. He tightened his grip on his knife, his eyes darting between the snarling creatures and his companions. Lyv floated above, while Shayna, Allen, and Peter formed a defensive line.
As the Mutts charged, their ferocity was unleashed. Their twisted bodies moved with unnatural speed and agility, their pointed tails lashing out behind them like whips. Peter couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and revulsion at their grotesque appearance.
All hell broke loose.
Peter’s focus sharpened, his movements becoming fluid and precise as a black and red Mutt launched itself at him. Peter stepped to the side, only to feel claws from a red and yellow Mutt raking his legs. He let out a groan, stepping aside. Around him, he could hear the sounds of combat as other Mutts launched themselves at his allies. Peter twisted around to the two Mutts targeting him. Having regained its footing, the black and red Mutt lunged again, its snarling jaws inches from Peter’s face, but he twisted away, countering with a swift kick that sent the creature sprawling.
His momentary victory was short-lived as the red and yellow Mutt returned with a vengeance. Its claws tore through Peter’s thick jacket, leaving deep gashes across his arm. He gritted his teeth, fighting through the stinging pain, and retaliated with a series of rapid punches and kicks, forcing the Mutt to recoil momentarily.
Meanwhile, the fight raged on around him. Shayna and Allen fought valiantly, their combined powers and combat skills allowing them to hold their own. Shayna was working on causing several of the Mutts to get drunk, stumbling around and spewing vomit before Allen quickly ended them with his blade. Allen’s blade sliced through the air, finding its mark as he defended himself and Shayna.
Lyv’s presence floated above the chaos, hurling tree branches and insults at the Mutts, momentarily knocking them off balance and creating opportunities for her allies to strike. Peter was fighting off the two Mutts who had targeted him with vigor; they seemed to be the most relentless and hell-bent on tearing him to shreds. He kept them at bay with slashes from his knife and well-timed kicks and punches, but he couldn’t help but think how easier this would be with webs.
Amidst the flurries of claws and teeth, Peter’s eyes locked onto a fleeting familiarity, a glimpse of recognition that sent a jolt through his brain. The red and yellow Mutt, with its agile movements and unwavering determination, stirred a sense of deja vu within Peter’s mind. It was more than just a passing resemblance; it felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place.
As the Mutt lunged once again, its sleek form brimming with a sinister energy, Peter’s thoughts raced. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had encountered this creature before, that he had witnessed its distinct patterns and colors. The black and red Mutt pursued him, its oddly long fangs glistening with a venomous green substance.
The realization hit Peter like a bolt of lightning.
A surge of realization coursed through Peter’s veins, his eyes widening in astonishment. The flickering memories coalesced, forming a vivid image in his mind. Pushing the two Mutts back with jumping kicks, he had a few seconds to spare. Peter’s head wildly glanced around the clearing and he watched the other Mutts attack his friends. One was red, white, and blue… Another all black with streaks of white resembling lightning through its fur… Yet another Mutt, the largest of them all, was a deep green, jumping at Lyv and tugging at her foot.
“The Mutts… they’re… guys, they’re AVENGERS!” Peter shouted his revelation over the battlefield in complete shock. How sick did the Gamemakers have to be to send his own family after him? His voice was nearly drowned out by the clamor of his fight, but the shocked looks on his allies’ faces told him they’d heard him. As he fought off an incoming attack from the Iron Man Mutt, his mind raced, drawing connections between the Mutts and his family that he idolized. The agility of the Black Widow Mutt, the thunderous roar of the Thor Mutt, the raw power of the Hulk Mutt – each one seemed to embody a distorted reflection of the beloved Avengers.
Despite the shock of the realization, Peter was forced to push aside his astonishment and focus on the battle at hand. He relied on his training, utilizing his agility and reflexes to dodge the lunging Iron Man and Black Widow Mutts and strike back with well-aimed slashes. Shayna and Allen were eventually back to back with Peter, their determination matching his own. The Thor Mutt, Bucky Mutt, Cap Mutt, and Vision Mutt were jumping viciously at Shayna and Allen. Peter’s stomach twisted when he noticed the Rhodey, Clint, and Wanda Mutts dead on the ground, blood seeping from their mouths.
They’re just Mutts, Peter. They’re not your family.
The Mutts, just like the Avengers, were relentless. Their primal instincts drove them to attack with unwavering ferocity, no matter how hard the kids hit them. Shayna’s skillful strikes earned her deep gashes across her arms, while Allen’s swift movements couldn’t prevent a dislocated shoulder. Lyv, even with her advantage, wasn’t spared either, her wings taking a painful hit from the Hulk Mutt jumping off the side of a tree that sent her off-balance.
Through the chaos and pain, Peter’s focus intensified. He fought with newfound determination, his instincts sharpened by the realization that these twisted Mutts were the reflections of the people he knew and loved.
“Peter, what do we do?” Allen shouted from behind him, his voice laced with pain.
“I-I don’t know!” Peter shouted back in a panic.
As the battle raged on, Peter knew he couldn’t allow the twisted versions of the heroes to overcome them. He couldn’t let this happen. Struggling to hold his ground, Peter’s mind raced. How-how do I beat them? What is their weakness? I can’t even remember! He knew the answer to beat the Mutts lay in their connection to the Avengers, but the specifics eluded him. It was in this moment of uncertainty that Lyv’s piercing scream pierced the chaos, drawing his attention.
Turning around, Peter watched as the Hulk Mutt dragged Lyv out of the air, its jaws clamped around her ankles. A blue and red mutt lunged at Lyv’s head.
No, Peter thought. NO!
Without hesitation, he did a backflip, leaping over Shayna, Allen, and several Mutts’ heads to get to Lyv. He intercepted the Spider-Man Mutt – his own Mutt – mid-leap, getting the Mutt away from Lyv. Their combined momentum crashed into the forest floor. With lightning-fast reflexes, he rolled to the side, narrowly evading a lethal swipe of the Mutt’s clawed paw. In one motion, he stood and lunged forward, his own fists propelled by raw strength and anger.
His blows rained down on the red and blue Mutt, each strike delivered with precision and force. A swift uppercut connected with the Mutt’s jaw, causing its head to whip back. Sensing an opportunity, Peter followed up with a spinning kick aimed at the creature’s chest
The Mutt retaliated with a burst of agility, flipping backward to avoid the brunt of the attack. It lunged forward with renewed ferocity, its sharp fangs aimed at Peter’s exposed shoulder. Peter twisted his body, dodging the assault, but the Mutt was smart, just like Peter. As it missed its bite, it swung its giant head to the side, hitting Peter’s body with such intense force that Peter flew back and hit a tree. He slid to the ground, coughing as he tried to regain his breath and prop himself up. As he struggled to quickly recover, his vision blurred and his body aching, he could hear the Mutt closing in on him. The ringing in his ears drowned out a distant scream from Shayna, urging him to gather his waning strength. With sheer willpower, he pushed himself to his feet.
The Mutt lunged once again, its fangs bared and gleaming. Peter’s instincts kicked in, his senses heightened by the threat. He mustered every ounce of his energy to sidestep the assault at the last possible moment. He lashed out, delivering a swift kick to the creature’s flank. The impact sent the Mutt tumbling across the snow, momentarily stunned.
Seizing the opportunity, Peter sprang into action. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them and launched himself onto the Mutt’s back. Wrapping his arms around its neck, he exerted pressure, desperately seeking to subdue the relentless creature. The Mutt thrashed wildly, attempting to dislodge Peter from its back. Its claws tore at the air, narrowly missing Peter. He clung tenaciously. He tightened his grip, summoning every ounce of strength he possessed.
With a final surge of frustration, Peter wrenched the Mutt’s head to the side. There was a sickening crack as its spine twisted with the force. The Mutt’s struggles immediately ceased, its body growing limp underneath him
Gasping for breath, Peter rolled off of the Mutt’s limp body and collapsed to the ground, his body trembling with exhaustion and pain. He sat up and glanced around, searching for his allies amidst the chaos of the ongoing battle.
What he saw was strange.
The sight of the fallen Spider-Man Mutt sent visible shockwaves through the remaining Mutts, their fierce aggression replaced with fear. They all suddenly retreated, sprinting off in all different directions, their teamwork replaced with panic. Small crevices in the ground opened and the Mutts all retreated in different tunnels.
Peter drug himself to his feet, his chest heaving with exertion. He scanned the sight in front of him: five dead Mutts. Rhodey, Wanda, Clint, Bucky, and… and Iron-Man.
The sight of Lyv’s limp body on the ground sent Peter into overdrive. He launched himself over the dead body of the Mutt, barreling through the snow. “LYV!” He shouted. He reached her, falling onto his knees and grabbing her shoulder with trembling hands. When he turned her body, she groaned, frowning at Peter and furrowing her brows.
“That hurt, spider brains!”
Peter sighed in relief when he saw she was okay. He didn’t want to think about the fact that the Spider-Man Mutt seemed to have it out for her. There couldn’t be a metaphor in that, right? His eyes scanned her body. Her ankle had bloody bite marks in it, and one of her wings was bent at an odd angle, but other than that, she seemed alright. Shayna and Allen limped up to them. Allen’s shoulder was obviously dislocated, hanging from his body at an odd angle. Blood covered his sword. Shayna had deep gashes across her arm, slicing through her coat. Peter could feel scratch marks on his legs and shoulder, and felt warm blood trickling down his face from a shallow gash on his cheek. He looked back down to Lyv.
“Sorry for interrupting your beauty sleep,” Peter retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm and genuine relief. “Next time, maybe I can bring you some breakfast in bed.”
Shayna gave a weary smile. Allen, grimacing from his shoulder, tried his best to hide his discomfort. Shayna let out a sarcastic snort, her voice dripping with wry humor. “Well, well, well. Look at us, a bunch of battle-hardened warriors with stylish wounds. Who needs a spa day when we can experience this level of excitement and pain?”
After Peter used his superstrength to painfully wrench Allen’s shoulder back into place and Shayna had split the antibiotics between herself, Peter, and Lyv, they sat around their renewed fire, feeling a bit better. If they could all protect each other from a pack of ferocious, superhero-themed Mutts, surely they could defend themselves from other Careers.
They all laughed and shared their stories from the fights. A lot of the talking fell to Peter to describe each Avenger that had been a Mutt to his allies. Deep down, it pained him to talk about him like these. He knew they weren’t really the Avengers, but the thought of Iron Man lying on the forest ground dead really shook Pete to his core…
When the sun began to set, a light chiming was in the sky above them. Peter heard it first, and he rose to his feet, gripping his knife, prepared for another fight. When Lyv and Shayna heard the noise, the girls burst out laughing. “Stand down, Peter,” Shayna giggled. “It’s just a sponsor gift!”
Peter relaxed as several silver packages dropped through the treetops, carried by silver parachutes. He reached up and grabbed them from the sky. The tributes eagerly opened them. When they opened the packages, intense aromas immediately wafted to their nose, revealing a feast of delicacies and rich foods.
“Oh. My. God,” Shayna groaned.
Lyv grabbed a small note from one of the packages. Good job on not dying. - L & S.
“Your mentors finally got all of us a nice gift, I guess,” she said, setting the note on the ground. It was obvious she was questioning the fact that Ingrid’s initials didn’t seem to be on the gift. The aroma of mouth watering delicacies filled the air, teasing their senses and reminding them of the comforts they’d left behind. The mentors had spared no expense in their effort to provide a memorable and hearty meal for the beaten tributes.
There were succulent roasted meats, their fragrant juices permeating the air. There were tender cuts of perfectly seared steak, still warm, and marinated chicken, cooked to a golden crispiness. The meats were accompanied by an assortment of vibrant sauces from tangy, sticky brown sauces to rich gravies. There were glistening fresh vegetables with butter dripping from them as well as fluffy mashed potatoes, noodles coated in thick cheeses, rice adorned with veggies and other delicacies underneath. There were even four slices of decadent, rich chocolate cakes with velvety ganache and fruit traits with buttery crusts waiting for after the tributes finished their dinner. Their exhaustion and injuries and the coldness eating at their bones were momentarily forgotten. With rejuvenated spirits, they savored each bite, relishing the flavors. It was a momentary distraction for what they’d endured so far and what was yet to come.
Tribute Twenty must’ve been the tribute that got murdered by the Mutts before they got to the four of them. The fourteen-year-old’s cheerful, chubby face shone in the sky above them.
Allen took the first watch. Peter and Lyv trusted him with their lives now. If he wanted them dead, he would’ve let the Mutts have them.
As Peter settled into the snow, he glanced between Lyv in her sleeping bag and Shayna who was moving for Peter. He wasn’t really sure what to do. Shayna seemed to make the decision for them as she laid down and snuggled against Peter’s side, her head resting on Peter’s arm. She snaked her body so that Peter’s arm was around her shoulders. He didn’t really mind. As she stroked Peter’s arm with her fingers, Peter looked up at the sky in silence.
The Avengers had come with a Spider-Man Mutt. The second the Spider-Man Mutt was killed, the pack broke apart in fear and disappeared, each and every one of them alone. Were the Gamemakers trying to tell him something? Did they know something he didn’t?
Peter hoped his death wouldn’t make the Avengers do that. He wasn’t their weakness. Nobody was even coming to rescue him – they didn’t care.
That can’t be true.
As Peter fell asleep that night, his head turned, and he watched the slow rise and fall of Lyv’s chest. He just hoped Mr. Stark wouldn’t be too disappointed when she was the one to leave the arena and not him.