.:How >Cruel< This World is:. [Nadene]

As Zuka walked (stumbled actually) through the dry arena, thoughts rushed through her head continuously like a stream of water. The Anthem from that night was still a main factor in her thoughts, that along with how much she longed for water.

The faces that she had seen in the hot night air were not the ones she expected. Both District One tributes had died on the same day, something that probably no one expected. Well, she obviously knew about York, for Nadene and she had fought him. But Anastasia, she seemed stronger and more put together than a lot of the tributes. The other two she never really saw that much, but there was one more; Hayden, her district partner.

Zuka tried continuously to convince herself that she didn't care; he was only a boy that probably joined in with the taunting at Eleven. After all, they didn't join as allies, but she had to admit she had thought about asking. As much as she loathed District Eleven, along with everyone in it, there was something about him that told her she wasn't in this alone. He was from the same district, and when she would die, they would still have someone to root for.

Now her district was most likely staring at the TV in disbelief, hope draining out of them one by one. Most were probably full of grief for Hayden; hatred for Zuka. Sure, she was still alive and fighting for District Eleven's first victory in a while, but it was the fact that it was her that caused so much hopelessness. Zuka wasn't a very popular girl, you could say, back home. As much as they wanted a Victor, the thought of her stepping back into the District caused much unneeded stress for the citizens. In Zuka's mind, it was better for her to die. Better for everyone.

She had been labeled 'that girl with those drunk gaurdians' or 'that mad girl'. It was never 'Zuka'. Maybe that was what caused so much hatred inside her, along with the voices that penetrated her thoughts every second of the day. Or, it could be her unstable Aunt and Uncle who were rooting for her death, their eyes probably glued to the screen so they wouldn't miss a second of her pain and suffering.

The thought caused her to clench her hands into fists, her knuckles turning white against her tan skin. She had been used to her gaurdian's, but in the arena... everything was seen differently to the young girl's mind. It came to her attention these past few days how she had never known love, and now she was facing death right in the eyes. There was never a hug or a word of comfort for her, no one even visited her when she was about to set off to the cruel arena. Not one person.

A low sigh escaped from her mouth as she finally drifted out of her confusing and melancholy thoughts, forcing her mind to slow down, and for the words to stop jumbling around. Along wth the painful wounds, a major headache was forming. Zuka sighed under her breath, focusing on her surroundings; the changing landscape that surrounded her.

The ground beneath her was changing from a field of rocks and dirt, to a crunchy gray powder spread out over more dry dirt and black rocks. Her eyes trailed upwards, the sight before her causing her to stop abruptly, her mouth gaping open in awe. Before her was a large, black mountain... a Volcano. A cloud of ash continued to linger above it, clouding the sky and causing the air to have a weird smell to it.

Though the sight was unnerving, there was something good that came with it. Water. Just spotting the small hotspring sent a wave of relief rushing through her, covering the pain for a few moments. "Nadene there's water" she croaked, her voice dry and unnused. She hadn't even payed attention to see if her ally had been following her, for she was in her own little world.

Stumbling towards it, she kneeled down and rummaged through her satchel. Zuka quickly took out the water jug and filled it. She brought it to her lips, stopping herself immediatly. Since she didn't have any iodine tablets, she would need to boil it. Thank god she had taken the firemaking station, maybe the pointless station was a good choice.

Well finally you do something good. I was beginning to think you were just giving up, it's something you do often.

Zuka let a faint smirk of amusement lay upon her face, though her smirks were never trully real. There weren't that many times when a smile stayed on her face, not counting the times when she forced them to linger.

In a quick motion, she cupped her two hands together and dipped them in the heated water, splashing the liquid onto her face. She then rolled up her cargo pants, wincing as some of the fabric stuck to the dried blood of her thigh. Slowly and carefully, Zuka placed her right leg into the hot water, letting a hiss of pain escape her cracked lips.

Leaning backon her elbows, Zuka closed her eyes. This was the closest to rest that she could get, and it was definitely enough. Sleep had come off and on, but it never stayed for more than an hour. She sighed, staying as she was in her awkward position, doing her best to force every other though away for the time being.