Destiny Star, Victor of the 66th Hunger Games

## Background

Destiny Star was born to the very privileged Star Family, a unicorn in District 11's harsh economic climate. For almost two centuries, her father's family owned a small citrus orchard, and they were known to be kind and generous to their workers. The family were also famous folk singers in 11, her mother's cultural lineage stretching back to a group of nomadic people that once ventured the war torn Panem. Those old days were long over, and Destiny's nomadic ancestors had long since blended with District locals. The only remaining relic of those old days were the ancient songs her mother and aunts sang known as "spirituals." Of an almost mythological caliber, Destiny's mother Zinnia would explain that these were songs of old religions created when ancient European and ancient Africans met. Long before Panem, the children of this union wandered all of North America singing these songs in their work and in something called "prayer." The women of her family helped keep alive the voices of those long dead people.

Destiny's father, a then young Theophilus Star, first fell in love with Zinnia's voice. Theophilus had never met Zinnia as she was a laborer at the orchard and a full eight years his junior. It was her family's music that became the nostalgic sounds of District 11 to him, and when he finally returned home after four years at a Capitol university, he traced the voices of his childhood back to a now beautiful young woman. With Theophilus' money and Zinnia's sheer soul, the family songs spread across Eleven like wildfire. What were once the songs of laborers on the southern edge of Eleven became anthems of the District's identity. These beautiful songs were hummed across Eleven; even the Mockingjay's learned them. The young Destiny Star was no exception. Rather than a first word, Destiny's first sound was a tune. With her own beauty, flaming red locks and crystal green eyes bursting against her dark skin, she was a born star. Singing her family's repertoire, she even created her own spirituals such as Waxing like a Star, Cosmic Purpose, The Shine of Life, and Singing N' Winging It.

As much as she enjoyed the praise and popularity, she always longed for a simple life. It was fun performing for a District 11 television program, but singing with her neighbors around a fire was most fulfilling. Her greatest dream was to spend the rest of her life with her hair down, an out of tune guitar in her hand, singing spirituals on a porch, and watching the sunset over the glistening fields. However, the year of the 64th Games changed everything. Watching a rich girl brutally dominate the Hunger Games seemed to set off a ticking time bomb out in District 8. President Sertorius had no patience for any outbursts, and the outer districts were placed under strict watch from then on. With District 11 the most important for food production, the punishment was the most brutal. Laborers were locked in cages every night, guards lined crop fields and shot anyone with the wrong body language, and whole sectors of the District were closed off to the lower classes. But, with the great golden eagle banners fluttering over the little stone towns, life chugged on.

The stretch to the 66th Games were ugly. Gangs of under qualified, power tripping peacekeepers vandalized shops of "suspected" rebels, forced their families to wear yellow tags on their jackets, survey conversations, and enforce strict curfews. But the spirituals sang on. The head peacekeeper, a friend of Destiny's father, said they were "good for local morale." The biggest reason, however, was because of old Cosma Baird. Destiny's grandmother, her mother's mother, was a sweet, sassy old woman. Hunched over and with black braids a mile long, she loved to pinch the cheeks of anyone she deemed handsome . . peacekeepers and school children alike. Old Cosma's thick voice echoed down the stretches of orchards as she brushed her daughters' wooly hair, those same peacekeepers and school children gathering around to listen. She was the grandmother to everyone on that side of District Eleven, and she embodied those songs. Naturally, Destiny grew up very close to her grandmother.

It was a damp, hazy morning when Cosma called the teenage Destiny over to the study. Her shaking, wrinkled little hands reached into a drawer, popped open a carved out book, and placed something wrapped in a handkerchief in Destiny's hand. Cosma had a secret, and judging by her uncharacteristically faded voice, Cosma was trading her last breaths to tell it. Cosma was the youngest child of the last original member of the nomadic singers of old. Every story shrouded in mythology was true, and she had imbued them with "magic" to keep them protected. She had seen a lot of political change in her day, a lot of hatred, and a lot of worry. This day and age was troubling. Even in the darkest times, she knew she could depend on her neighbors to keep each other safe. Today was different.

The quivering Cosma could see the spirit behind the eyes of the peacekeepers changing. Even the school children had lost their innocence. In her youth, she kept silent for the chance to live her life and protect her children . . sometimes not getting involved is the best way to obtain a little peace in this world. But now was different, and her poor, beloved grandchild would likely have to face whole new hardships before she could hope to live peacefully. Cosma unraveled the handkerchief revealing a small statuette of a man holding a little sheep. She explained to Destiny that the identity of the man was lost to time; not even her grandparents had known . . but she did know that this little statue was the soul of the spirituals. It was the suffering in the voices that carried the songs throughout the fields, and it was the hope that all "us little sheep" might live happily in a world filled with hardship. She herself didn't quite understand it, this little relic was an image from a lost world, but the spirit of it was living. It conveyed something that connected us all together through the songs in our hearts. Even their ancestors from a time long before Districts and Capitols. Cosma kissed the teenaged Destiny on her head, pressed her tight braids, and smelled her sweet hands. She shooed her off to school explaining that she wouldn't be here when she got back home, instead pointing to Destiny's heart croaking the words "I'll be there."

People say that, from that day on, Destiny sang like she had never sang before. It might have been old Cosma, it might have been inspiration, or it might have been the little statue: the soul of the spirituals. Whatever it was, there was no mistaking the sincere song of someone carrying the weight of the whole world. Songs of work, songs of freedom sung with such painful vigor were viewed differently from the mouth of a fiery young woman. Like Cosma warned, the songs of the people wouldn't be understood so innocently anymore. Some say the Star family weren't executed right then and there because of Tristan Run (Victor of the 30th Annual Hunger Games), another friend of Destiny's father.

District Eleven had always performed horribly in the Games. With inconsistent diets, many tributes were muscular and powerful, but too many were weak. Their only real advantage was their agricultural knowledge. Eleven's only Victor, Tristan Run, fiery tempered and ambitious, refused to accept that Eleven was only destined for one Victor in his lifetime. Destiny's older brother, Sojourn, was blessed with immense height and well balanced musculature, but he had just turned 19 the year of the 66th Games. Despite having a small stature, only Destiny had that fire that could turn the tides for Eleven. Only Destiny could keep her family from the hands of the newly vindictive peacekeepers.

In a sick twist of fate, the Star Family was asked to perform for the 66th reaping as a show of District 11's cultural heritage in unity with the "glorious Capitol." After Destiny performed a solo song on hope, determination, and fighting against the odds, the reaping commenced. Eleven's escort called the name of the nearly 7 foot tall, eighteen-year-old Agrario Baumfree. The crowd was silent as the young man's silent eyes towered nearly 20 feet above the square. However, when sixteen-year-old Destiny Star was also reaped, a gasp echoed throughout the square. People began to cry out in defiance . . they knew this was a direct attack on the only thing Eleven had left. The rows of peacekeepers readied their weapons on the crowd, but Destiny walked calmly to the center of the square where everyone could see her. With a soft smile on her face, she hummed a song to comfort the crowd. Today was not their fight. While her heart raced, she sweetly raised her hands to calm down. A silence ensued, and amidst the silence she skipped up the steps to the stage. Destiny and Agrario cordially shook hands, and when she raised their embraced hands in the air, the conflicted population of Eleven cheered. "Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Coming Forth to Carry Me Home." Unwitting Capitolites might have considered the song praising the reaping train on its way to the Games; a sweet farewell of good luck. Really, it was a battle cry of the people of Eleven wishing for a swift death for their proud children.

## The Games

On the train to the Capitol, Destiny and Agrario choked a few cordial words, but ended sitting in silence. Their mentor, Tristan Run (Victor of the 30th Annual Hunger Games), walked in and applauded them both for their show. He believed that with Agrario’s strength and Destiny’s showmanship, they were bound to bring home another victory. While his blunt talk shocked the pair, Tristan brushed it off. He wanted to present them as an alliance to show the strong, untapped capabilities of Eleven. Tristan excitedly went off to speak to a "reporter" waiting in his bedroom car, leaving the pair alone. Destiny finally dropped her act, crying softly into the handkerchief she had been waving during her performance. She had a strong spirit, refusing to bend over and wail like a child, but the uncertainty was a lot to process. With barely a few words, Agrario stood and embraced her. His tough countenance softened to comfort her, and with a sigh, he promised to help her get home.

When the train finally pulled into the glittering Capitol station, Agrario flexed his muscles from years of physical labor while Destiny skipped and waved at the crowds. Even as she answered questions for the reporters, her rich and sing-songy voice became her trademark. Even as she was ushered into a large black car, she could already hear the school girls trying to mimic her patterns of speech. In the training center, the pair practiced survival stations with Agrario teaching Destiny everything he'd learned from years in the harsh fields. Destiny's biggest hurtle was the weapons. She could survive most environments, identify poisonous plants and animals, forage; but 22 other people wanted her dead. Ironically, Destiny enjoyed the feel of a heavy axe in her hands. Luckily, none of the other tributes believed the sweet girl could even lift an axe let alone kill with it. While it was mostly true, their disbelief would be her strategy. While Agrario was ready to defend her with his kukri, Destiny needed to be ready for anything. Just like when she channeled the suffering of ancestors into her singing, she could channel all her worries into one blow.

When the podiums rose, the 24 tributes were lifted into a historic Dark Days Battlefield. This was the first Hunger Games where the exact location of the arena was immediately known to all of Panem. Near the outskirts of District 8, the scene was of the last stand of the rebels in Eastern Panem. This was a message from President Sertorius. Weighed down by the humid heat, the large hills were decorated by grassy scars and charred stumps from the Capitol’s bombs. A sea of billowing grass and fields of sunflowers led to an immense crater holding the Cornucopia.

The Career Pack: Faceto Wilson (District One), Fanastasia Braun (District One), Bruto Romani (District Two), Morda Grande (District Two), Aquato van Vahn (District Four), and Luma Mistisa (District Four) were the favorites for the Games. When the gong sounded, a majority of the tributes dove into the vast field of sunflowers. Destiny ran into the clearing and looked around as Wironum Bott (District Three) was beaten to death by Goro Sanchez (District Ten). She ran inside and found her desired heavy axe swinging it at Bruto, who ran away and sliced Vasnia Gutierrez (District Ten) in her neck. Destiny fled past Blighta Ransing (District Seven) who threw a hatchet at Destiny, but she ducked as it flew into the chest of Dyno Flinn (District Twelve). Flaxio Oldan (District Eight) was stabbing Transio Tranise (District Six) as he threw his cleaver into Raia Hearth (District Nine) whose blood sprayed onto Destiny. She couldn't control her screaming as she booked it from the clearing. Meanwhile, Bruto slashed Pylona Payne (District Five) in the stomach and he struggled to keep up with the fleeing Career Pack. Destiny scurried up a tree and clutched her axe, either for emotional support or to keep it safe, as she began to hyperventilate amongst the cannons. Meanwhile, powerful bulls could be spotted grazing amongst the tall grasses: not a good sign. Destiny breathed. This was real.

She forced herself to become desensitized to the cannons finding her fierce spark of determination again. A little while later, Sevettia Sunder (District Eight) was attempting to build a fire near Destiny. Destiny was tempted to throw her axe into Sevettia’s neck, but couldn’t bring herself to do it and hid in the foliage. Lucky for her, by Burr Graile (District Nine) had been watching nearby. He barreled into the clearing and killed Sevettia as Destiny solemnly watched. She froze, not breathing to go undetected by Burr. She further desensitized. If she wanted to survive this horror, she needed to make that her regular exercise.

Later on, Blighta ran into the forcefield and was burned up in a shower of sparks as Destiny also watched. Destiny breathed, running through her exercises as Blighta's broken body was lifted from the arena. Destiny found Blighta's hatchet much easier to handle and fled. The Careers had wanted to kill the roaming bulls for food, but it brutally backfired. The bulls, now clearly tank-like carnivorous mutts, smashed poor Faceto, Fanastasia, and Morda as the remaining Careers fled. Blighta noticed Trucco Leslark also watching the careers from a distance, and she remembered that he called her a nasty little hoe because of her sing-songy, flaunty behavior. Destiny, fueled by her desensitization and anger yelled at Trucco pretending to throw her hatchet. Startled, Trucco stumbled from his tree falling to his death.

Destiny grinned and kissed the air, and many Capital citizens applauded as she ventured around as did all tributes during this time. Coliana Donner (DIstrict Twelve) was also venturing the sunflower fields similar to Blighta, and hit the forcefield and flung into Destiny. Coliana died on impact, but it knocked Destiny off her tree and miraculously did not break anything. Destiny shrieked in pain and anger as she flung the bloodied Coliana off of her, and sprinted away and rested on a tree as she hummed a tune to herself whilst looking at the shimmering stars. She was given apples and water by sponsors, which she ate and drank eagerly, and rested on a hill as she discovered that Veilo Ortez (District Five) was killed by Agrario. She later found and allied with Agraario as they ran across the plains together, and they became much closer in the night. They talked together, when Luma appeared and threw a sickle at Agrario’s neck, and Destiny threw her hatchet at Luma who ducked and fled into the sunflowers. Destiny sang to Agrario as he died, and she tearfully removed the sickle as she used it to cut the dense sunflowers to make a clear path. Burr was killed by Oldan, as Destiny roamed around the sunflower clearing and fell asleep in a thicker patch of sunflowers. She was awoken from a large trumpet, and as bullets began to fall she screamed as she hid under a thick tree as bullets rained everywhere. She slept on the tree as the day passed without incident, and began to fester horrible rebel ideologies in her brain and continued to hum and sing to gain favor in the Capital. She was humming during the midday as she sang her favorite spirituals whilst looking around and cutting sunflower stems, when a large announcement was made that the Cornucopia had gas masks. She suddenly wildly sprinted and slashed the sunflowers towards the Cornucopia, as mustard gas appeared at the perimeter and swiftly advanced towards the Arena. Barrages of artillery began to fly blindly into the sunflower patches, as the rest of the tributes entered the Cornucopia and fought for the masks. The final tributes consisted of: Bruto Romani (District Two), Aquato van Reef (District Four), Luma Mistisa (District Four), Raila Runn (District Six), Flaxio Oldan (District Eight), Goro Sanchez (District Ten), and Destiny Star (District Eleven). All of them sprinted into the Clearing, and Goro slashed Aquato’s neck open as the contents spilled all over the pure white cloth that housed the masks. Goro then sprinted towards Destiny, who threw her hatchet at Luma as it severed her arm. Luma shrieked in pain, but it cut short in seconds as Flaxio decapitated her with his cleaver and Destiny turned around to see a bloodthirsty Goro. She braced for death, when an artillery shot caught him in the chest as he fell over and Destiny did not grant him a swift death as he bled out. Goro succumbed to his wounds as Destiny fled into the sunflower clearing with her mask, as the mustard gas was advancing while Raila was disemboweled by Bruto. Bruto and Flaxio looked at each other but suddenly Flaxio roared in pain with a sharp sound of metal, as he fell over with a hatchet in his back. Bruto looked around and Destiny threw her sickle as she was in the clearing hidden from view. It made the appearance that she was running, and Bruto noticed that the mustard gas was approaching but he decided that if he chased her they wouldn’t kill him. He sprinted into the sunflower clearing as Destiny broke all the masks, and by the time Bruto realized and attempted to kill her he succumbed to the mustard gas. Before he died, Destiny sang a song, and then brought her axe down onto his back, killing him instantly as the mustard gas was removed by intense air filters. She hung onto the air ladder like a pole, and waved farewell to the Arena as if she was saying goodbye to a good friend. Although she put on a good show, as a sing-songy killer, she had horrible rebel ideologies in her head and although desensitized to the gore of the Arena, she sympathized with the fallen tributes and burdened Victors.

At the first notice of war, Destiny will have to look out at her happy family: the aging Theophilus and Zinnia, smile wrinkles etched across their faces as they sang with their three grandchildren . . will her involvement in the rebellion save her family, or will it endanger them?