Hunter Dubchen

Hunter Dubchen is a recurring District One male Tribute in the Hunger Games.

## Pre-Games Life

Hunter came from a lower-class family and because of this Hunter was often bullied by wealthier students at the Academy. He was regularly harassed and attacked and at one point snapped and fought back, seriously injuring attacker Brilliance Vadis, narrowly avoiding expulsion. Hunter often served as a lookout while his less conspicuous younger siblings Mike and Gemma picked pockets.

## 30th Hunger Games

Arena: Mall of America

Due to his past mistreatment by privileged Academy students Hunter did not connect with his fellow Careers. After initially joining their pack he abandoned them in the Capitol in favor of allying with fellow reject Shogo Hara of District Four. Their alliance expanded throughout training until it included Felix Veaux of District Ten, Reiner Ludwig of District Seven, Lyte Anderson of District Six and Tillo Peters of District Eight. The alliance quickly bonded and had become friends by the time the Games began.

The loss of Lyte in the Bloodbath devastated the alliance. Though Hunter was also bereaved he saw the need for action and his training allowed him to urge his allies to action. They latched onto Hunter's authority and he became a reluctant leader. The alliance insisted that Hunter make a plan to attack the Careers before their numbers could be thinned. Hunter knew it would lead to heavy losses but eventually bowed to their demands.

When the attack happened Hunter engaged with Kisarna Talent of District Four. After a fierce skirmish in which both took injuries Kisarna slashed Hunter's throat with a shruiken and then stuck it into his eye. Hunter knew he was mortally wounded and stopped fighting, instead filling his last moments with dramatic struggling and yelling in order to discourage his siblings from volunteering.

## 1st Resurrection Games

Arena: Mayan temple rainforest

On his second attempt at the Games Hunter joined the Big Fat 17-Member Alliance along with all of his allies from the Thirtieth Games except for Tillo Peters, who won that Games.

During the Bloodbath Hunter retrieved a bow and arrow and shot Ryker Merlin of District Eight and Valerie Fallow of District Twelve before an unknown Tribute slashed his hand, nearly amputating one of his fingers. The wound was far too great to heal so Lyte enlisted the help of former butcher Felix to amputate. The amputation was successful and the wound disinfected and dressed.

Hunter survived the massacre by mutt Ah-Puch that decimated his alliance. Days later he was one of the first to fall ill with the malaria the Gamemakers had seeded in the Arena. Lyte was able to obtain quinine from cinchona plants and Hunter and his allies made a complete recovery.

The next trial came when the alliance was attacked by the mutt Camazotz. The friends set up an attack that would see some members draw the beast while Vera Busattil of District Four line up a fatal shot with her bow. The plan derailed when Shogo Hara of District Four abandoned the alliance because he knew only one Tribute could win. The Camazotz ravaged the remaining allies, leaving Hunter and Kazuo Braun of District One the only survivors. They remained together until Shogo's death at Kazuo's hands left them the final two. They regarded each other for a moment and saw that the sun was about to set, unleashing the Camazotz again. It was Ah-Puch that found them first but the devil bat arrived a moment later. The two mutts saw each other and attacked, ignoring the Tributes. Hunter and Kazuo fled as the mutts fought. Moments later the Camazotz emerged victorious and gave chase. Hunter and Kazuo fled without regard for the Games, even helping each other climb through the thick undergrowth. Kazuo proved slightly faster and the mutt reached Hunter first. Kazuo attempted to pull him free but Hunter was torn to pieces in his arms.

## First All-Careers Resurrection Games

Hunter emerged from the first Resurrection Games with marked nyctophobia and agoraphobia. He allied only with Priscilla Piscot of District One and both survived the Bloodbath.

Priscilla and Hunter were the first to discover the nature of the Devil Dogs, the fiercest mutt the Arena had to offer. When the pack ran toward the Cornucopia one of them locked eyes with Hunter and took him as his target. Hunter and Priscilla climbed a tree, expecting to be safe, and learned firsthand that nothing could keep a Devil Dog from its target. The mutt savagely attacked Hunter, completely ignoring Priscilla, until it dragged him from the tree and bit him to death.

## Personality

Hunter was an outcast among the Careers. The bullying for his lower-class upbringing led to overcompensation and an affected "tough-guy" act when he was around other Careers. Once he found his place in his alliance with Tillo and the others Hunter was able to show his real personality. He proved to be a master at compartmentalization. He was a true Career who was not reluctant to use violence, even on younger Tributes, though he never showed sadism in his kills. At the same time he was capable of fast and strong bonding with his friends. He cared for his alliance and wanted to keep them safe, especially after they elected him leader.

Multiple deaths took their toll on Hunter, each in its own way. He came to the first Resurrection Games wiser and less optimistic. His nightmarish second death and his many encounters with the ghoulish mutts of the Mayan Arena instilled deep fears in him that hindered his ability to perform with the same ferocity as before.

## Trivia

* Hunter is the father of Tillo's son Felix. During the first few days in the Capitol Tillo was reveling in her newfound freedom and she and Hunter enjoyed a one-time sexual encounter so she could know what it was like. It was after that that she and Felix fell in love.
* Hunter was successful in his attempt to dissuade his siblings from his life. Neither volunteered for the Games.