Greed. Need. Fame. [Full :)]

Micah,

I don't know where my boldness came from, but I like it, and no matter how dangerous Dill is, I liked standing up to him. However, even though he's treating me like a little kid, unaware that I've lived through many things that few grown men have, I can see that he's doing everything in his power to help Ten and keep him safe. I can respect that, even if I don't like the way he's going about doing it. Still, it makes me mad, how he treated me.
Everyone seems to be starting to follow Dill, so I make no further protestations, until it occurs to me that we have no idea where the other team, you know, the one trying to kill us, might be. Like, they could be hiding in the outcrop of rocks that we are currently headed towards. I don't say anything yet, not wanting to bring more of Dill's wrath upon myself. Almost everyone else is pretty subdued, speaking in low voices, or not talking at all. I make my way towards the front of the group, until I'm just behind Dill and Ten. The rock outcropping is dead ahead, looming in front of the sunset. That means we're heading west.

We've almost reached the outcropping when I notice something, something that wasn't there a few minutes ago: rising from what must be behind the hugs pile of boulders is a thin stream of smoke. Which means there's a fire. And I'm willing to bet that it wasn't built by the guy who dropped us off. I whirl around. No one else seems to have noticed. I think quickly. If I yell and make a lot of noise, then the other team will probably hear me. There's nothing for it. I grit my teeth, and quicken my pace to catch up with Dill. I come right up to his shoulder.

"Dill, listen to me. You might not have noticed, but there is smoke coming from behind this outcropping. It's hard to see now that it's darker, but it's there. I take it you know what that means," I finish sarcastically as he abruptly stops.

Lire Else

"Sorry if I come off as a bossy, rude, pompous asshole," Dill calls back at us. "Just trying to stay alive, kiddies."

I stare with a wide open mouth as Dill and Ten walk away. I look back at Micah to see that he's fuming, his whole face red with anger. Mason is also glaring at their backs. Man, everyone's mad.

"I... uh..." I close my mouth to save myself from further embarrassment at trying to find some words to say to break the tension. Instead I just start walking to catch up with Dill and Ten,just as everyone else was starting to do. What other choice did I have?

"Intense," I mutter to no one. The girl with the cigarette, or whatever, barks a laugh.

"Intense may be an understatement," she scoffs. I shrug and keep walking. On my left is the girl that climbed the tree and I tap her shoulder to get her attention.

"Good job spotting that house," I tell her. She smiles and I return the expression.

"Thank you." I examine the group and my eyes land on Mason and Seph, the former of the two still glaring.

"What a group, right," I ask.

"What a group, indeed," Nadia speaks up from beside me.

Suddenly Micah runs up to Dill and Ten and I'm thinking he's about to attack them when suddenly the two in front stop. I stop in response too. Micah's telling Dill something and I can barely hear Dill grunt before he bends down to tell Ten something in his ear. I see his hands unclasping the leash around Ten collar - God, it felt so wrong to say that - and Ten suddenly shoots off towards the cabin.

"Ah," I gasp, but I cover my mouth quickly when Ten drags someone from behind the cabin by their ankle. He lets the person drop in front of Dill and waits patiently as Dill fastens the leash back in place. The whole thing seemed like a sadistic game of fetch in my eyes. I walk forward anyway, moving with the crowd, to see what Ten brought back.

I walked forward until I could peer over Dill's shoulder at the seemingly unconscious man.

"Good boy, Ten. Very good," Dill whispered absently to the smiling man kneeling before him.

"Who is it," I ask, my curiosity taking over.

"Enemy," Micah answers.

"Only one," Ten speaks. "Saw inside the rock place when I passed it. Only him." He gives the body a push. "Can I finish him, Dill?"

"No." There was no hesitation in Dill's reply. "Okay, we need someone to take care of this and will have to take turns keeping watch." He takes a moment's pause before smiling lazily. "If that's okay with everyone." Micah scoffs and I fiddle with the edge of my shirt nervously. I didn't want them to start arguing.

"I'm fine with it," I speak up. "I'm not very sleepy either so I can take first watch..."

Mavrick Lock

"I can take second watch."

Mavrick spoke up. He was liking this Dill character more every moment. He had watched the ease Dill had stepped into leadership with, ease that only came by years of experiance. It also helped that Dill had the same dislike for Micah that Mavrick had. The dude had throw a bloody knife at him! Not the best way to make a good first inpression.

Dill turned to him, running his eyes over Mavrick's attire. Taking in Mavrick's tailored suit and dress shoes.

"Alright pretty boy, I hope you didn't have to many drinks at that party you were at before you got here because we can't afford to have some woozy rich guy passing out on the job."

A few snickers came from the other contestants, but Mavrick was unperturbed. Dill was testing him to see if he would challange his athority, Mavrick had been through this routine before, with other fighters in boxing, at numerous schools and of couse, with his father.

So Mavrick simply grinned. He wasn't going to challenge Dill's leadership, at least not now and certainly not while Dill still had his pet boy. Still his eyes were serious as they met Dill's and his grip on his Morning Star a little less relaxed.

He shrugged. "That shouldn't be a problem." Dill nodded and the tension lessed. Mavrick knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help addding. "After all, I am under age."

More than one head whip up and even though Mavrick tried to keep his face deadpan, the slack jawed looks on more than one contestants face was to much.

He let out a single chuckle.

Faye

Everybody started bickering and then the kid on the leash got away. I watched as he walked a bit then turned and waited to be taken back on the leash. The boy who had him on the leash before grabbed him and put him back on the leash. I grimaced, why is he so awful that he has to be kept on a leash?

Apparently we'd decided to stay here instead of go to the shelter. Yes, I'd seen the smoke there, but if there were other people, wouldn't we want to collaborate with them?

Because they could hurt us. Said a small voice in my head. Oh, right that could happen. Yup, it said.

I shrugged and walked to the girl who was taking first watch. "Hi." I said to her. "I'm Faye. What's your name?"

The cabin. We were here and that asshole boss man Dill what ever the hell his name was hadn't even seemed to notice me. Only Micha. Oh well. I applauded the red-head kid. Good for him.

"What a group, right," Lire mutters. I have taken a spot next to her as I like her the best so far. Well Micha seems okay. And Effy... she could grow on me right?

"What a group, indeed," I said smiling a little. Some of us looked like meer children. I was probably one of them.

I had watched semi enthralled and semi horrified as Ten dragged back the enemy. But I felt no pity. When I prepared to hate someone. I did a wonderful job of hating them. I was kind, I liked to think I was. But I showed no pitty. Not when no pitty was needed. And I had a feeling that no one would be shown mercy on this island.

One thing I needed was protection. I sat with the group still, we had reached our destination. But I was lost in my own thoughts. Protection. Perhaps I could get Ten to fall in love with me. He would protect me and it would all be very beauty in the beast. "If I was a beauty.." I muttered rolling over onto my back and looking at the sky. Dill was right. It was getting dark. Funny how I hadn't noticed. The first watcher had taken his place, Mavrick was his name. Yes. Maybe I could take third watch. Or second, if no one volunteered.

I began to sing a few bars of a funny little tune my cousin used to sing on nights when we had a particularly good meal. Or when he was just in a good mood. I closed my eyes and sat. Maybe some one would speak with me. Maybe they would ask me to build that fire I said I would. Or maybe I could just lie here and hope no one ate me. I laughed a little.

Faye

I walked over to the girl, Nadia.

"Hey," I said, quietly kind of hoping she wouldn't notice me... "I'm Faye." I sat down next to her.

Nadia

"Hey, I'm Faye." I sat up quickly. God I hoped no one heard me. I tried to smile but I think it looked more like a grimace.

"Uhm. Nadia." I said offering my hand, she shook it slowly and I smiled and resigned to my position on the ground again. I sat there for a moment but left my eyes open. I was probably being stupid before. I would die if I kept this up.

"So. How long do you think it'll take me to die?" I said smiling a little forlorn. "I'll probably get ripped apart as soon as any real fight begins." I moaned. It was all becoming so real. What were we going to eat tonight? Who would cook? I could cook just fine but would I be serving the whole group. I sighed and rotated my shoulders back. I let my eyes flicker around the group again and then back to Faye.

Faye

"There's going to be actual fighting?" I widened my eyes.

I didn't know that. Unconsciously, I brought my bow closer to my body. Even though it wasn't mine. They'd taken my actual bow away and given me a different one. More powerful, it felt, and it had more arrows in a bigger, sleeker, case. Of course, it was all camo too, so that was cool.

"Well, yeah." Nadia gave me a weird look. "Didn't you know that?"

I shook my head quickly. There was silence for a while. "What are we going to do?" Our necessities rushed through my mind; a better fortress, some food, defenses, someone (or more than one person) scouting out the enemy, and keeping the leashed kid ON his leash...

Ten Sauna

There was a small fire burning around the back of the rock place, the only light around anywhere and I'd be damned if I left it. I curled up next to the fire place and laid my head on my hands. Dill was talking to Lire and some other boy, Maverick, about how long they had to keep watch and they could wake anyone once their turn was up. I was getting bored quickly. The people here, they were strange, and I don't think they like me very much.

I can see the looks they give me, those side glances, and it makes me nervous. People usually don't look at me like that, not openly anyway, but I suppose this leash had something to do with it. I give the leash a small tug and sigh. But if Dill's doing it then it must be for a good reason. Plus, if I was really good and didn't let London out I'd probably be able to walk around without it.

"How's it going, Ten?" I look up at the sound of Dill's voice and smile widely.

"I'm fine." He sits in the sand and I quickly move next to him. I don't know why, but being too far away from Dill ignites a sort of panic inside of me. I lay my head on his lap and I don't have to wait long for his fingers in my hair.

"Tomorrow we'll go hunting," he says, "but you have to promise to be very good if I'm going to let you off."

"I promise," I instantly reply.

"Yeah, but you also promised not to let London out, and he bit Seph. You broke a rule, Ten. How do I know it won't happen again?"

"Because this time I promise promise," I reply. I sit up and look Dill in the eye to show him I'm serious. Yes, Dill's eyes are the only ones that don't strike fear in me, if someone else was to make eye contact with me I'd be horrified, but it still made me feel vulnerable and caused something inside of me to squirm. I lower my eyes quickly and frown.

"Okay," Dill replies. I grin but I don't look at him. I lay my head back down and close my eyes. "Before you sleep, Ten, take these." I open my mouth without opening my eyes and swallow two pills that Dill gives me.

"Goodnight, Dill."


Dill Rivanni

"Night, Ten." He closes his eyes and I can hear his breathing softly a few minutes later. I lay his head on the sand and stand up with a stretch.

Everyone else is pretty much inside the shelter, save for Lire and Maverick, but it's easy enough to sneak past them and into the forest. That was actually sort of disappointing since they were supposed to be looking out. I run into the forest quietly, my gun cocked and at my side. I didn't need an ambush right now, but if trouble decided to find me I needed protection.

Five minutes into the forest I stopped and looked around, a knowing smile on my face.

"I know you're here," I state simply, "come on out." There's a silence before the bushes rattle and John walks out, holding a black sack.

"Hello Mr. Rivanni."

"Is that it," I ask, eyeing the bag with a smirk.

"Yes, this is it." I smile and take the bag away.

"Great, thanks, this'll come in handy. Makes things much easier, on me anyway. Don't know how I'm going to keep it away from the others."

"That's your problem." John bows and turns to leave, I wave after him and make my way back to camp.

*Oooohhhhhh, what's in the bag?*

Lire Else

Dill walks off after explaining to us that we only had to keep watch for a few hours or until we got tired. I turn to Mavrick and give him a small nudge before walking off to the front of the shelter, bow and arrow ready. Mavrick settles next to me, a tight grip on his Morning Star, a very violent looking weapon. It made me shudder.

"So what do you think about this? The whole game?"

"I'm still alive so it's looking pretty good to me." I laugh and set my bow aside. "What about you? Getting nervous?" I roll my eyes at him and give him a sarcastic look.

"Me, nervous? Please." The serious act I tried to put on dropped quickly and I smiled. "Honestly, with Dill and Ten I don't think the enemy can even get close enough to hurt us. I'm just glad they're on our team! They actually scare me quite a bit, them and that Mason girl."

"They scare you," he asks with a raised eyebrow. I laugh nervously and blush.

"They don't scare you too?" He doesn't answer and I push his shoulder. "So you're saying that Ten doesn't frighten you a bit? Not even a little? There's a reason he's on that leash." My face wrinkled at the word leash, it still felt so wrong to say.

"Well..." Whatever Mavrick was about to say was cut off when a bush rustled. I stood quickly and readied my bow, Mavrick jumped up too, his Morning Star clutched firmly in his hand.

"Who's there," he demands. No answer. He listens a few moments later before walking off towards the forest.

"What are you doing," I hiss. He just waves me forward and I've no choice but to follow.

We sneak through the forest as quietly as possible, chasing after this secret someone. Hopefully it's not an enemy, I really don't want to fight so soon, but it most likely is.

"I know you're here, come on out." I freeze and cover my mouth to stifle a yelp. Maverick holds up a hand and kneels down lower so that he's covered by a bush. I follow his movements.

"Hello Mr. Rivanni." Dill? What's he doing out here?

"Is that it?" Is what it? What's going on? Who's he talking to?

"Yes, this is it." He kind of sounds like that tall man from the limo, Josh or John or something.

"Great, thanks, this'll come in handy. Makes things much easier, on me anyway. Don't know how I'm going to keep it away from the others."

"That's your problem." Everything goes quiet and I assume the man's gone, but to make sure we stay down a few more moments. Mavrick motions for us to rise as we hear Dill start off.

"Dill," Mavrick barks. Dill doesn't even seem phased by our sudden appearance. He smiles casually and throws the bag over his shoulder.

"Oh, that's comforting. I thought I got away without you two even noticing. That's good! Really good." I stare at Dill with confusion heavy in my eyes.

"What's in the bag," Mavrick asks. Dill shrugs and hoists the bag further up his arm.

"Some things I need."

"How'd you get it?" Dill's eyes narrow and he takes a hard step towards Mavrick.

"Listen, kid, I don't like being questioned. All you need to know is that this bag has some things I need. End of story." He leans back and the hard expression melts into a warming smile. The transition bothers me but I feel a smile tugging at my own lips. "Alright, mind walking me back?" I take a step forward and shake my head.

"Nope, I don't mind. Come on, Mav." I look at the boy over my shoulder and gesture for him to get a move on.

*Seph*

"He doesn't like me. I'm so heart-broken." Mason muttered, brushing the leaves off of her resting spot.

"They'll understand that you're just mean, sarcastic you." Seph chuckled, patting her sister's shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah." Mason shook her off, curling up to sleep.

Seph smiled softly at her sister and glanced at Ten. He was sound asleep. She wanted to talk to him, to say everything was okay, but he was out like a light.

Seph looked for Dill. He wasn't there. She decided to walk outside and look for him. He was over by a tree, his back to her.

"Dill?" Dill whirled around, his hands behind his back.

"Yeah?" He tilted his head, trying his best to appear nonchalant. Seph wasn't fooled, but she didn't say anything.

"What happened with Ten, it's okay. I know it was an accident." Seph said kindly.

Dill expression softened. "I'm glad you aren't mad. But Mason still is."

Seph waved a hand airly. "She's extremely protective. Jerr, our father, and I are the only ones she has."

Dill nodded. "Ten's the only one I have.

"So you see? Mason is just a bit over-protective. She'll loosen up when she gets to know you better." Seph smiled brightly.

Nadia

I looked back to Faye. Everyone else was going to sleep. I probably should be sleeping to. It would doubtless be a big day for me tomorrow.

"We're going to fight and we're going to kill if we have to. And some one will win." I said quietly. Pursing my lips, I stood slowly. "I--we, should probably go to sleep. I'll be feeling this tomorrow." I said smiling. I began to walk towards the shelter. A fire was burning near the back and most everyone, as predicted, was asleep. I sat down in a free spot next to Ten. Ten? Yes. That was his name. Why was I having such trouble remembering? Nerves. That was always the answer.

I dropped heavily in the open space. and laid back down on my back, my hair fanned out under my head and I hoped that it was not to close to the fire. It would just be delightful if my hair burned off and then some amateur nurse had to fix up my burned scalp. I felt my nerves build. I was hardly ever nervous but I had lived by myself for most of my life and suddenly I was forced to reside with tons of other people. Well a group of other people. But this was a lot to me.

"How long before I die?" I asked aloud, quietly. It helped me think to talk to myself some times. I had to stop thinking like this. Had to. I wanted to win that money but wanting things didn't always make them happen. I had to try was all. I had to do my best and if I died I had to know that this was the best option, and being dead would be better than scrounging around for food every day. Stealing wallets.

"Maybe I'll even go to heaven." I said quietly. That's a laugh. I rolled over. And hoped for sleep.

Effy Culpepper

I noticed everyone heading to sleep. I rolled my eyes and exhaled. I leaned back on a tree and slid down until I was sittig on the ground. I hit my head on the tree and closed my eyes. We're going to die one day, one by one. I won't be able to show those twits what they've lost, and I won't be able to repay Wen's kindness. My eyes shot open and decided I'd sleep later. I stood up and began walking away from the group.

"Where are you going?" Dill demanded. I rolled my eyes, back faced against therm and stuck up my middle finger as I walked.

I walked for a few minutes before stopping. I sighed and leaned against a tree. What now? I finger the dagger in my boot and pull it out. I examined the blade again and smiled. Guess it'd be best if I try this thing out. I threw the dagger at the tree in front of me and examined how deep it went.

"Bollocks," I muttered. I pulled out the dagger and scraped off the tree bark from the blade and sat down. I seriously feel wasted. Like, I don't belong in the world anymore. My life is a wank, my parents are wanks, I'm a wank. I traced my initials with my dagger on the ground and fell asleep right there.

E. C.

(Hope this is okay!)

Mavrick Lock

Mav. Even after they had got back to the campsite and settled into their post, Mavrick ran the nickname Lire had given him over in his head. He couldn't remember the last time someone had given him a nickname, if ever. He glanced over at Lire. The orange glow from the dying embers cast shadows across her features and he try to guess what she was thinking about. Probably her brother, he thought, wondering if that how she thought of him, as a brother. He hoped not. He- Mavrick turned abrubtly away from that train of thought. This wasn't the place for that.

He casted his gaze around for something to distract him. His eyes landed on Dill's sleeping form and he narrowed them slightly. Dill had a bigger part in this than he let on and that wasn't conforting. He wished he'd pushed Dill harder about what was in the bag, even though it probably wouldn't have got him any where. Did Dill have a way to contact the outside world? What was his angle in this? Mavrick was broken from his contemplation by Lire's voice.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, her head tilted to one side as she listened.

Mavrick strained to hear. A rustling of leaves catching his ear.

"Yeah, I do." He checked to see if Dill was still there and then stood. "I'll go see what it is."

He had barely taken two step when something came barreling out of the woods straight towards him. Before he could even tell what it was, it was upon him and he felt a searing pain in his calf. Swinging his Morning Star he knocked the creature away. It backed off and Mavrick got his first good look at it.

It was a boar. It stood about four feet high and it's chest was thick and muscular. Stiff bristled hairs raised and it's tiny eye glittered wickedly. Long sharp tusks stuck out from either side of the boar's mouth and Mavrick's own blood glistened red on the bone. The boar stumbled alittle from Mavrick's blow, but had quickly recoved and was getting ready to charge again when a arrow came whizzing through the air, burying deep in the dirt in front of it.

"Mavrick, move." Lire shouted, fixing another arrow in her bow. Her yelling attracted the boar and it turned towards Lire. With a squeal it charged, it's murderous intent clear.

"Oh, no you don't" Mavrick roared. Swinging his Morning Star in an underhand arch, he then released it and sent it flying in to the pig. He breathed a sigh of relief as it turned away from Lire then gulped. His plan had work. He had the boar's full attention. He just wished he had his weapon as well.

Micah,

I'm not on watch until the morning, so I settle down and try to sleep. However, I'm too antsy from the experiences of the day to be able to sleep. I toss and turn for a few minutes before sitting up. I take my swords out of their sheaths and examine them. They are finely polished and wicked sharp. I smile. Perfect. I make a few practice swings. They're perfectly balanced, and will be deadly in combat. I slide them back into their sheaths and strap them to my back for easy access. Just when I finish doing this, I hear a rustle in the foliage behind me. Mavrick and Lire, who are sitting near me, seem to hear it as well. I can't see what's going on behind the thick, leafy barrier, but I hear Dill and...is that the man who drove us here? They talk about something, something that Dill will "find useful." I frown. Mavrick confronts Dill about it, but I stay still, in the shadows. This is very interesting. Mavrick and Lire settle back down and talk again, and I wander over to where Nadia is sitting watch. Faye is sitting next to her, and they're talking. I sit down too.

"Hey," I say, smiling.

"Hi," Nadia says. Faye just nods.

"What's up? You look worried," Nadia says.

I look at both of them, "I just heard something really weird. It sounded like Dill was talking with that guy, John, who drove us here. He gave him something."

Nadia frowns, "That doesn't make any sense."

I sigh, "No, no it doesn't. But I'm not sure I trust Dill. I mean, I know he's an asshole, but I didn't expect this..."