(open) stay afraid dear one

Her mascara was smudged, and Illiana was pretty sure she looked like her long-term boy-friend had just broken up with her, and she was now stupidly wandering the woods because her heart was broken and she no longer wished to live. (At least thats what her sister had done when her first boy-friend started cheating on her, and got caught) As Illiana walked, she didn't even think about anything going wrong. No thought of a boy with an Axe troubled her ind--because honestly what could go wrong when a teenager had an Axe? Lana kept on walking, in what she hoped was the right direction, a small frown on her face. The forest was pretty, but eary, and sometimes Illiana got scare--

A yelp. Illiana hadn't used her voice much in the past few days, and although she had intended to scream or something, it came out as a short, clear coyote-like yap yelp. There were no cheesy tree-roots behind her for Illiana to fall on, and she wasn't clumsy... but a moment after the scared-out-of-wits teen had taken a step backward, she found herself to have fallen on her butt. Blue-green eyes, so very wide stared at a hurt boy probably somewhere around her age, with a big, big weapon.

"Is that an Axe?" Illiana asked, her voice high-pitched and nervous. It might not have been the smartest thing to ask, but Illiana had never been in a situation like this. She examined the guy, a hint of fascination in her excited, nervous expression-ate face. I truthfully have no idea what to do with myself! the thought over-shadowed all the rest of her fear and bubbly, girlish excitement. Illiana Annwn was new to the world of people, and although she had been taught to be polite and always smile, there had been no lessons on how to react to somebody with a weapon except to run away, but Illiana was still on her booty, and too tired to run, and this didn't seem like the average attack.

She smiled at her fellow woodsman, deciding to be polite. The seventeen year old sweat-heart pushed herself off the ground, ignoring how much she ached. As she wiped all the dust from her pants, Illiana quickly pulled out her sun-glasses, throwing them over her raccoon make-up-ed eyes. Always vain! "My name is Illiana," she chirped, then actually waved her hand in a hello gesture, before Lana actually registered in her mind, that the guy was bloody. Not just hurt, but very bloody! Her mouth opened and Illiana tried not to head for the hills at the sight of it. Blood had never been her favorite thing to look at.

ooc- sorry its so bad, but she hasnt really met any people and is so naturally innocent--I had no idea what to do with her!

"Have you cleaned it? The wound, I mean. I'm not a Healer or anything but my mom taught me about some medicines and things." A pause, was it a custom to always say the persons name after you had spoken? Illiana found she could not remember. "Logan or Leo Blessedheart," she spoke softly, adding the last part after a small pause.. It was humiliating acting like such a fool in front of a stranger. Her sister would have known what to do, what to say but here was Illiana struggling to figure out what the boy-with-axe's deal was. I'm smart... Ill just improv., Lana thought, because once again the feeling of average customs and such having no place in the forest, popped into her head. It was terribly confusing.

Her eyes lifted from the spot on the ground she had been looking at after the guy went to grab his shirt. She made eye-contact, but after only three seconds of that, blinked. Within the past few days of Illiana traveling through the forest, she had seen a few people. It was always the eyes that interested her most, though, she couldn't keep a steady stare going once somebody was watching her too, but just a glimpse of an emotion, or lack of one, was comforting. It helped to make her feel at home, as though she were not looking at a stranger, but one of her family-members. Illiana so easily lost herself when looking at somebody.

The teen blinked, only to find she had been staring at the axe in the tree. Illiana felt the need to say something, but what? Thank you, for not beheading me? (Lana didn't know much about talking, but she was pretty sure you didn't say things like that.) Instead of acting like an idiot and saying something that would confirm what Illiana thought must be the boys growing belief that she was stupid Lana didn't say any more. She just smiled, at first with just her chapped, pink lips, but soon with her teeth too. Lana was pleased that her teeth were very straight, and white as Logan's. At least somebody was vain or hygienic enough to keep themselves looking presentable(sorta)! Sure there were other things like hunting, and starting fires but couldnt a wanderer or runaway just take three minutes out of their day to bursh teeth, brush hair, and wash face? Honestly, it was barbaric! Some of the people Illiana Annwn had seen, looked as though they had not bathed for a year.

Illiana brushed off the question of why she was in the woods, too dazed by the flattery. She had never thought of her name as elegant, really she'd always seen her name as such a name. Illiana Annwn... it is pretty! The thought made her smile brighten. "Logan is a nice name too. Its strong and dependable," she nodded in the positive, as if the small movement proved her point. He had mentioned something else... a question with a 'why?' Of course! people were curious, her siblings had taught her this about the outside world--it was only natural for Logan to wonder why a prissy girl like herself was out alone in the big bad woods.

"I'm visiting family off by the ruins of District Thirteen," she explained. No need to mention the Uprisers, as her brother had made it seem like not all wanderers were a part of the group. For all she knew, Logan was their leader, or he was an anti-Uprisers, sent by the Capitol to find supporters of the rebels. Lana would keep that bit of information to herself. She did have family who had traveled to District Thirteen, and she was trying to find family in District Two. It was a partial truth. The how come I feel so bad about it? It was bothering Illiana. She was a very open person, and the few times she had lied, or even just kept a secret, it had ended badly. She would always feel so guilty, as her mom always told Illiana keeping secrets wasn't nice.

"I'm a nice girl," her mouth formed the words, as Illiana stared at her hands. Unless Logan was a lip-reader, he wouldn't hear the exact words, but it startled Illiana. Her cheeks turned bright once more, and she bit her lower-lip, feeling awkward. If people were this hard to talk to, no wonder so many people ran off into the wilderness. It could get tiring having to always be polite, and empathetic to the other person. Her family had been so different, things had been easy when they talked to each other. Of course, my 'family' was keeping so many secrets from me. I doubt we'll ever chat like we used to... If Illiana hadn't cried herself dry, she would be afraid of tears trying to come out and play.

Illiana jogged over to Logan and grabbed his arm, gently. Her blue-green eyes held his gaze a moment before she looked at her slim hand wrapped around his arm. She released and opened her mouth to speak. "No, I'm not being truthful... but I mean, its not like I'm asking you how you got that huge wound. I don't need a listener either, I need a talker. I'm going to tell you something ridiculous, but very, very, very true," she looked at him now, and now it was as though Illiana was treating Logan like a five year old. "You're the sixth or seventh person Ive ever had a lasting conversation with, in my life." She smiled a second, before shutting her mouth and looking at Logan very seriously.

There were crazy people in the world. It would be so easy for Logan to just write her off as one of those people. Being some crazy, little teenager seemed more likely than being a girl who had never had a bond with anybody outside of her family. For years she believed she had a disease that kept her from being normal, but now Lana knew that was just another lie. Just another lie her parents had told her so Illiana Annwn would not suspect she was of a Career family, and not of humble District Eight.

For a moment Illiana forgot all about Logan. Her hand dropped, and almost like a mechanical-robot, something inside her made Lana stare at her hand. She was in a different world where two of her three siblings had not run off to fight a war against their country, and Illiana had dismissed her connection to Arcadia London as just thinking they looked alike. She took a deep, shaky breath and ended up coughing before Illiana looked at Logan once more. She focused on his forehead, lest she see anger and humor in his eyes. Illiana would hate it if her first solid conversation with a person in the woods, ended badly. Especially since he has an axe. Maybe Logan will think I'm insane and try to put me out of my crazy-misery... The mental-image of something like that occurring was humorous for a second before Illiana started to realize it could happen.

Nothing like a jarring mental-image of her own death to calm a girls nerves the teen thought tartly. She was tempted to roll her eyes, but found she was too freaked out to accomplish even that simple of an emotional response to her own secret thoughts. Her whole body was rigid, and her mind a blur of chaotic thoughts. Illiana didn't fully understand her panic. Logan wouldn't really try to kill her or even hurt her. Keep believing that darling, but like you said... you haven't talked to many people, so be wary.

ooc- I think my muse was standing in front of that tree when Logan put the axe back in it. Shes definitely dead -.-

Was she crazy? Come to think of it, maybe thats why her family treated her so delicately, and her sister always acted like she was dumb. For a moment Lana was lost in the idea that she was insane--but no, wouldn't Logan/Leo Blessedheart tell me I was cookoo? What if hes crazy too? No, Lana Annwn was absolutely sure she was not mentally impaired. Television had been her savior. Hadn't my mother always told me I watched too much of it? She lied so much, maybe I watched it too little. I don't know what to think anymore....

So many years of watching the Hunger Games, talking to the people on the tv, talking to her family, learning all she could about life had turned Illiana into an expert on human behavior even if she did not know it. She could tell when somebody lied, she just always seemed to know little things. Now looking at Logan she got the feeling he was telling the truth, and that it didn't matter how odd she was. It was not Illiana's conscious mind that told her it was okay to trust her new friend, but instead something deep within her. Maybe the Lana that would have lived if she had been allowed outside the boundaries of her homestead back in District Eight. If she hadn't had a 'disease.'

"Well, maybe you won't hurt me, but..." she shrugged. It seemed very annoying, that Lana could not fill in the blank after but. 'But you're going to hurt me in the long run?' 'But this is taking too much of my valuable time?' 'But you creepy me out?' No, nah, nope. That was it--nothing fit. How was Illiana supposed to practice being cautious if everybody she met was polite and called her miss? It seemed far too good to be true. Heck, who am I kidding--Its not like I know enough to make a good decision on whats too great to be true.

With that thought Illliana forgot about being safe before sorry. She was comfortable for the moment, and there was no need to be suspicious unless Logan did something unsettling. The teen felt the need to apologize for her weird behavior and odd chit-chat, but how was she supposed to say sorry without admitting he had scared her? Wasn't being scary something nice people didn't want to be? Was it offensive to say sorry if somebody frightened somebody else? "But nothing. I'm from District Eight--how about you?" she asked. It was a nonchalant, simple, innocent question--one that most likely came up in most conversations people had.

She shook her head, blonde hair bouncing around her sharply angled face. "No, not really. I mean, I have time if you really need a listener..." Her conversation skills weren't that good anyways, might as well practice listening to other people instead. Illiana pretended to ignore the tear that had at one point rolled down Logan's face. Carter had never liked it when Illiana asked what was wrong--she was guessing it would be the same for this teenage boy, too.

Illiana placed her hands on her hips, looking far too much like her mother always did when she was about to tell Lana something like, 'Now my little girl, what is it? I'm tired and busy but Ill always make time for you.' Thats how Miss Annwn felt at the moment. Her eyes glinted with slight amusement at how the roles had shifted, but concern was ever so present. For a seventeen year old girl, Illiana was pretty mature.

Once upon a time when Illiana was young, her dad had snuck up behind her and swept her up into his arms. She had giggled, laughing and pounding at him with her fists.
"Now, now Lana--none of that!" he scolded gently.
She laughed, but stopped when she heard the one long, low moan of her brother. Illiana slipped out of her fathers grasp and ran over to Carter.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she bent down, looking at his ankle, which stuck out at an odd angle. Carter bit his lip, and shook his head. No. Lana immediately became all business stroking his hair and trying to help soothe the pain in all the ways the seven year old knew how to.

Later that day her father had come and patted her on the head.
"Gentle-Lana, you'll make a good mother or healer one day."

Finally Illiana was realizing her destiny. Of course she was too gentle to be a fighter, but she was healer. There for all the wounded strays she would meet. It was thrilling to look at the childhood memory and see new, deep meanings in it. She smiled and walked closer to Logan.

ooc- well that took a random turn ^^