~Sing me Death's chords~ Lethe vs. Seah

Lethe Turner

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Lethe never liked being wet. In fact, she found being wet one of the worst things in the world. So, when the rain started, a light drizzle really, just after the Anthem, revealing one, faceless death, she wasn’t happy. Not happy at all. Quite a bit annoyed, to be honest. With a final lick, Camalia dove into Lethe’s satchel to spend the night and Lethe sighed. Suddenly, she wished she hadn’t given up that poncho…

Rain simply wasn’t doing it for her. She liked to be warm, dry and clean. But, it was clear that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Settling down on the still-hard ground, Lethe reluctantly curled up into a small ball, anticipating the next day…or the next event. Would she die tomorrow? The glee at being alive earlier in the day was evaporating, turning into the rain that fell on her head and streaked her dirty skin. Was this what a shower felt like? Suddenly, the girl had forgotten what normal life was like. Her life for the past few days have revolved around one thing and one thing only…

Survival.

How she looked came second. Everything came second. What did it matter what she looked when she might be dead tomorrow? She didn’t care about her matted hair, blood-shot eyes, and muddy skin. She cared about going home and seeing her siblings. Telling her mother she loved her…that she’ll do whatever for her mother.

It was funny how easily problems could change. Back home, Lethe’s problems were recognizing others…making sure the horses were alive…stubbornly telling her mother she didn’t want to get married and have children…But, now, if she had to choose between staying here and fighting for her life and getting married to some faceless man and having his faceless children, she’d choose the latter.

For nothing was worse than living in fear of death every minute.

Nothing was worse than knowing there’s huge chance you’ll die before you actually get a chance to live…

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“Once upon a time, there was a young girl who everyone loved, especially her family. Although this girl couldn’t recognize them, she knew they loved her a lot. One day, that love became so much, that girl woke up to find she could recognize them. There was her mother and her father and her sisters and brothers. And they all looked like her. And they were happy. And loved each other. The end.”

“That’s a silly story, mother.”

“But, it’s true, my dear.”

“No, it isn’t. It’ll never be true. You’re lying.”
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Something, obviously in a frenzy, was licking her already wet face. Lick. Lick. Lick! Lick! And she was awake. Lethe awoke in a slippery pool of water, caked with mud. The gentle drizzle from before had swelled and grown, like a waterfall was pounding down on her. Camalia was planted on her chest, looking her chin over and over, frantically. Heart racing, suddenly realizing, Lethe gasped. She hastily glanced over and saw the river bank rising. Within minutes, it would flood, taking her with it. That meant she had to get out of there. Now. With a nasty suctioning sound, she freed herself from the mud and grabbed her stuff, wrenching it upward too. “C’mon, Camalia!” she cried over the deluge and grabbed the lizard, stuffing her into her drenched backpack.

Lethe’s clothes were plastered to her skin with rain, mud and sweat. She had to move north, she knew that much. Heading south would cause mudslides…there were cliffs there. Despite herself, Lethe prayed the other tributes would head south. Let the Gamemakers and their cruel tricks finish them off rather than her.

Slipping in the mud more than once, Lethe finally managed to make it to the trees, using them for support. She could hardly see two feet in front of her, but that meant the other tributes were blind as well, so she wasn’t alone. She could almost hear them laughing at the Capital, as she staggered through the trees, falling flat on her face many times. Camalia rustled around in her satchel, but eventually remained still.

It wasn’t until she’d broken free from the trees and the sky had generally lightened up a bit, did she fall to her knees in the mud that was everywhere and throw up. Watery vomit hit the ground, sickeningly. She coughed a few times, the rain still hitting her like bullets before she finally managed to settle a bit. They still weren’t free from this horrific storm, but at least she wasn’t in any immediate danger now.

She pulled her soaking satchel off her back and laid it down in front of her, digging around inside for a scaly being. Shivery and wet was Camalia when Lethe yanked her up and out of the bag. Lethe used her free hand to wipe stringy tendrils of hair from her face and pulled the lizard close to her chest, so it could hear her frenetic heartbeat.

“At least we have each other,” she choked out to the lizard, who licked her, weakly. She patted the lizard’s tiny head, blinking water from her eyes. It was true. Better be with someone, even a lizard, and wet, than alone and wet. “It’ll be okay now…it’ll be okay…”

At the moment, however, Lethe wasn’t sure whether the words that she hung heavily in the air were more to reassure Camalia or convince herself.
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“Lethe, darling, love makes everything better.”

“But, I’m still not better.”

“It takes time.”

“I think I’ve waited too long.”
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