Everyone started moving at the same exact moment, and within the next few seconds, everything was chaos.

The Tributes took off down the narrow trails of ice, boots clacking on the thin substance as they raced toward the Cornucopia. Penelope took to the icy water immediately with a splash, swimming rapidly in powerful strokes despite the cold. Hazel watched her district partner disappear beneath the freezing waves as she dashed along.

Don't swim yet, she told herself. It's too cold. And dangerous.

Destiny and Cara launched themselves into the air, zipping past the running Tributes and toward the Cornucopia. Cara touched down first, snagging a backpack and what looked like a mix between a bō staff and a katana. Destiny landed a split second later, grabbing a long machete, a jacket, and yet another backpack before flying off to safety after Cara. Both winged girls split off in different directions and quickly disappeared from view–and range of getting hurt.

Piper's heart pounded in her pointed ears as she ran along the ice. Her paws slipped on the thin, cold sheet, but she regained her balance quickly, almost to the Cornucopia.

Don't look at the water, she told herself as calmly as she could. Don't look at the water.

A weapon of some sort whizzed toward Piper's furry head, and she ducked–in the process, she stumbled forward, stepping a little harder than she meant to. The cat-girl gave a sharp yowl of surprise as her foot suddenly plunged through the ice. A crack began to spread rapidly through it, until it abruptly shattered, dunking Piper into the cold water. The cat mutant thrashed wildly, water filling her mouth, splashing in her eyes and weighing her down.

I can't swim! Oh, I'm finished already! I'm going to drown. I'm–

A pair of strong arms suddenly grabbed her, heaving her out of the water in one jerky movement. Piper kicked and fought, preparing to fight her attacker. But instead of facing an armed Tribute, prepared to kill her, she was facing a Latina girl with dark skin and soft brown eyes.

"We have to get out of here and meet the other Careers," she hissed to Piper. "C'mon!"

She grabbed the cat-girl's wet hand, dragging her the rest of the way to the Cornucopia.

Raphael snatched a pair of sais, a thermos, and two jackets from the Cornucopia, then dashed around behind it. Before him stretched the small plain. Several Tributes were rushing across the it and up the slope, disappearing into the forest with supplies in their hands.

Scarlet! Where is she?

He finally saw her, with a hamidashi blade in her pale hands and a small pouch around her waist. The young girl looked terrified, her brown eyes wide as she stumbled through the chaos. She dodged, shrieking, as a knife shot past her, barely missing her ear. Raphael darted toward her, scooping her up onto his back in an instant and giving her a piggy-back ride away from the madness.

"What about Marcus?" Scarlet gasped above the noise. "I don't see him!"

"There's no time!" her brother shouted back.

He carried her off before she could protest, disappearing into the woods with her.

Katrina had a few throwing knives strapped around her waist, ranging in length from short to long. She ran from the Cornucopia, heading for the slope, but she only got halfway there before Cyn's metal bat collided with the back of her head. Katrina fell with a shriek, looking up at her attacker in terror. Cyn giggled madly, whacking her victim again. The first cannon of the Games boomed as Katrina went limp, a dent in her forehead, and Cyn ran off, still snickering.

Elsie and Sofie darted side-by-side, climbing up the slope toward the forest. Elsie had a thermos in one hand and a lunchbox in the other, while Sofie carried only a whip. They kicked up snow behind them as they scrabbled up, almost to the forest.

A scream of pain suddenly exploded from Elsie's mouth as an arrow pierced her back, turning her bright orange fur red. The arrow skewered the little fox mutant, and she collapsed with a gurgle, blood pooling around her lifeless body. The low, deafening boom of a cannon sounded, signaling another death. Sofie screamed at the dead body of her friend, but when she saw Galaxy approaching with another arrow loaded, she scrambled away into the woods.

Leo! Leo, where are you? the lizard girl thought desperately. I have to find you!

She spotted his blue mask flash near the Cornucopia and dashed toward it. Casey, who had been running for the woods with a wicked-looking scythe in his hands, spotted Galaxy running and darted toward her, leaping into her path with his scythe ready. The lizard girl screamed, Casey hesitated.

C'mon, Case. Don't kill her. You're better than this.

But then he remembered his family's and April's sorrowful faces as they said goodbye to him–the grief in their eyes, the tears spilling down their cheeks, their warm bodies pressing against his as they enveloped him in tight hugs.

I have to get back to them.

In a split second, Casey had swung his scythe and watched the tip impale Galaxy through the chest. He took off running as she crumpled to the ground, lifeless, her face frozen in a final look of terror.

My first kill.

Casey raced into the woods, but he didn't get far before a heavy weight suddenly crashed into him, tackling him to the snowy ground. The scythe flew from his hands, skidding away across the snow. Marcus pinned him down, his dark eyes blazing with fury. Casey struggled against the wolf-boy's grip, but Marcus was too strong.

"H-hey! Lemme g-go!" Casey gasped, struggling to free himself. His face paled as oxygen left his body.

"You killed her," snarled the wolf-boy. "You killed Galaxy. You killed my cousin! And now you'll pay!"

Quick as lightning, he sprang to his feet, snatching up his scythe from where it sat in the snow nearby. Casey gasped for air, his eyes huge, just as the tip of Marcus's weapon tore open a gash in his throat. The lanky boy let out a low gurgle before his body stopped moving, and then the cannon boomed. Marcus hesitated none. Gripping his weapon, he grabbed both his and Casey's scythes before retreating into the forest.

I'll avenge you, Galaxy, he thought bitterly. I swear. I'll kill everyone in this sorry Arena and get home for you.

The Careers were the only ones left. They gathered by the Cornucopia, hearts pounding and eyes wide. Maddie dragged a soaking wet Piper with her, who was starting to dry up some. The bodies of the fallen Tributes still lay in the snow around them, blood leaking from their wounds and staining the snow red. The hovercrafts wouldn't come to collect them until the scene had been cleared.

They stood in absolute silence for a while.

"...Wow," Hazel breathed at last. Her already-wild hair was standing on end and sticking up, making it look ten times crazier.

"Agreed," Penelope muttered.

"Well...I suppose that's one day we've all survived," Piper said, flicking the last drops of water off her whiskers. "What happens now?"

Leonardo took a deep breath, trying to steady his rapidly-beating heart. He gazed out at the Arena, his eyes fixing on the tall mountains far away.

"The mountains," he blurted.

"What about them?" Monica asked, moving to stand beside him.

Everyone's eyes turned to the blue-masked turtle expectantly, making him suddenly feel overwhelmed.

"Well...I was thinking we should try heading there," Leo said. "I mean, see how tall and far away they are? No one would try to climb those. Which means if we do, we'll be safe."

The group went quiet for a few moments, thinking.

"You know what? That's not a bad plan at all," Madison said. "I'm in."

"You can most definitely count me in," Mona agreed, grinning.

Piper, Hazel, and Penelope nodded agreement.

"It's settled, then," said Leonardo. "Let's spend the rest of today resting. Tomorrow, we set out for the mountains."

***

Four faces appeared in the sky of the Arena that night–Katrina Lopez of District Five, Casey Jones of District Nine, Elsie Are of District Eleven, and Galaxy Moon of District Twelve. Leonardo felt sick when be saw Galaxy, a white smile on her face.

She would've made a great friend, if I'd known her better.

He sighed, turning away as the image of his fallen ally disappeared for good.

***

A/N: How was that? Was there enough action for you guys? I feel like there wasn't enough of that ;-;