Ram Mutts

In the 70th Hunger Games, the Gamemakers released ram-like muttations into the arena to bring a particularly bloody end to the Games. The mutts were exceptionally fast, flexible, and durable, able to withstand heavy blows due to their thick wool. They were extremely intelligent, devising and carrying out plans to ensure both capture of a target as well as extended suffering.

Imogen, Eden, Tourmaline, and Salton were the only tributes to ever encounter the ram-muttations.

### *Appearance*

The ram-mutts are described as seemingly harmless upon first glance. They're a lot larger than any natural ram, but their snowy white fur and pink muzzles make them appear dream-like from afar. Upon further inspection, one would notice the rams lack eyes at the sides of their head, rather having the forward facing eyes of a predator. Speaking of eyes, the ram mutts possess circular pupils instead of the usual horizontal "bars" seen in normal rams, suggesting both better eyesight and sentience. The ram's muzzle is also distinctly canine in appearance, baring giant fangs within their mouths. Their hooves are black and incredibly sharp, capable of tearing through rocks when scaling cliffs or mountains.

*(picture displaying size comparison between human man and ram mutt)*

### *Victims*

* The rams' first kill Salton, after he fights the rams for several hours, spanning from midday till dusk. In the end, mortally wounded and extremely exhausted, Salton is swarmed by the mutts and brutally ripped apart, dragged, and thrown against trees and rocks by the frenzied pack until he eventually dies.
* The ram mutts' second and final kill is Tourmaline, though it is unclear if this specifically belongs to the mutts, since Imogen killed Tourmaline out of both grief and pity. Tourmaline, after killing Eden and battling Imogen, is eventually thrown from over a cliff, falling several meters and into view of the waiting ram mutts. Unlike Salton, due to her earlier fights, she's too tired to even attempt defending herself. Barehanded and wounded, Tourmaline is quickly overwhelmed by the mutts. As the muttations begin to rip her to shreds, Imogen realizes how little Tourmaline deserves such a fate, and kills her with a falling stone.

## Trivia

* Imogen describes the mutts as having their own personalities
	+ A smaller, rather meek muttation that only attacks once its allies do.
	+ A hyper-aggresive, large muttation that attacks solely off sight (This muttation is later killed by Salton)
	+ The majority of the pack grew cautious once some of their rank began to get killed (Seen when Eden first kills a muttation)
* Near the end of the 20th day (the final day), Imogen sees a hovercraft lower its claw 7 times. This is later revealed to be Salton, who was most likely dismembered and scattered near or after death. The separation of his body parts would warrant this prolonged retrieval of his body.
	+ The ram mutts are seen doing this with Tourmaline as well, biting off large chunks of flesh to keep for their own. This process of skinning and dismembering is halted when Imogen kills Tourmaline.
* The mutts were only tolerant to one another until they got their share of meat. Once retrieving a large piece of flesh, the mutts would suddenly turn on one another, using their teeth and hooves to open large gashes on each other to protect their food.
	+ Because of how graphic Salton and Tourmaline's ends were, the Capital soon stopped producing ram-mutts after this year. This means the 70th Hunger Games is the first and only year in which the ram-mutts were deployed.
* The muttations seemed to all obey a higher power (One or more Gamemakers in the Control Room), because despite being far faster climbers than the tributes, the mutts all wait at the bottom of the cliff until one (Tourmaline) eventually falls to their doom.
	+ The muttations are sadistic by choice and not for a means of food. This point is proven because when Imogen throws Eden's corpse off the cliff, no muttation lunges for it. This is most likely because the tribute was already dead and therefore would be "less fun" to dissect.