our bones are shattered {ree + raquel | day one}

Everything was happening all at once, and then in an instant, everything stopped. The noise dulled down to silence, the movement slowed until I have to check to make sure everything hasn't been turned to stone. My heart is still racing but even that is starting to return to normal. We were here for what, ten minutes? The world seemed to turn into a blur of color and motion, and now it's a grey-and-white polaroid picture. Dull and uninteresting. Henri would shame me at the thought, telling me that peace was good, that I should enjoy it while it lasts. He wouldn't like the greedy creature inside of me that wants more action. I'm not sure I like it either.

The four of us--me, Clem, Ree and Emberly--have come to some sort of organized movement, gathering what supplies we can from the literal wealth of items around us. I don't think we intend to stay here, and there's no way we can carry all of this stuff with us, let alone the gigantic boat sitting behind the Cornucopia. That's a whole other matter in itself. So we pick up what we can, stashing it in our packs until there's no space left.

It's while I'm searching that I catch sight of a silver parachute floating down from the sky. My eyes light up, surprised that any of us could be getting anything from sponsors so early in the Games. Kirito didn't talk me up that well, did he? Actually, on second thought, I wouldn't be all that surprised if he had. He did seem highly concerned with my strategy and well-being not three days ago.

I glance around, double-checking that this isn't for anyone else. The other three are on the opposite side of the Cornucopia and nowhere near in range for this...whatever it is to be there's.

I scramble around a pile of bins, shoving them aside to get at my new gift. It's big, like the packages I've seen tributes get in previous Games, usually containing weapons and armor and shelter. It's the smaller ones that have medical supplies and food and the like. My eyebrows lift ever so slightly, mild interest rising inside of me at the prospect of armor. There doesn't seem to be any lying around the Cornucopia.

Upon opening the package, however, I am disappointed. It's another sword.

"Really Kirito?" I grumble under my breath, yanking the weapon from its casing. It's sturdy, with a fancy hilt and a long, double-edged blade. Simpler than the one I've already got strapped across my back.

"You couldn't have--" I'm caught off when my hands find a button on the back of the grip. I frown, click it, and the sword seems to disengage from itself, clicking into individual pieces attached by a long, black cord. I raise my eyebrows. Interesting. I click it again, and the sword snaps back together. The scabbard goes around my waist, the blade slipping inside.

I'm interrupted by the sound of someone shuffling towards me, and I glance up, searching for the source of noise. My gaze lands on Ree. Of course. I'm not sure why I expected him to be any quieter than the stampede of spider elephants from last year's Games. He's sifting through supplies, like the rest of us, but clearly in a lot of pain. Suddenly he stumbles and lets out a grunt.

"C-can someone help me out?"

It's painful, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at him. He's a bit of a wimp. We all know it, but for some reason, he's caught my interest. Perhaps one day he'll become useful. Of course, if we both live long for him to become so.

I stand up, brushing dust from my shorts, pack in hand as I move to investigate. There's blood coming from some injury across his back. I remember him thanking Clem, probably for saving him from whatever further damage his attacker could have caused. It looks pretty bad, but I can't quite see it properly with the floral-patterned shirt he's wearing.

My arms cross and I look at him expectantly. "You'll have to take that off for me." I nod my chin at his tourist-style shirt.

For a second, he looks confused, and I can't help but relish in amusement at the whole situation. I keep my expression neutral though until it clicks in his head. "Didn't realize you were in to that." A faint grin pulls at the corner of my mouth as he speaks, moving to unbutton his shirt. "Could've at least gotten me dinner first or something."

Right. Like I could ever afford to take you out for dinner.

A quiet snort of laughter escapes me, moving to get a better look at his injury. "I'll consider it, if you promise not to kill me first." It's odd, I suppose, talking about a date when we both know that either one or neither of us will make it out of here alive.

I rest me hand on his shoulder blade, tilting my head, as if perhaps that might help me get a better look. It doesn't look good. It's deep, not clean. That's to be expected. Whoever attacked him probably didn't have the courtesy to pull their weapon out at the same angle it went in.

"C'mon you wimp." I scoff, "It's barely a scratch."

Once, when I was younger, I bashed my head on the edge of a table in a particularly rough game of tag with Emmanuel. Ma rushed over and told me it wasn't that bad. She patched me up, and although it hurt, I was able to push through it. It wasn't until a few weeks later when I got a good look at the scar that I realized it had been much bigger than she'd said. But if Ree believes it's not so bad, perhaps he'll have an easier time pushing through the pain.

I sift through my pack, pulling out a roll of bandage and unfurling it to wrap around his torso. Once, twice, thrice, tight but not to the point where he won't be able to breath. Another groan escapes him.

"But it hurts a hell of a lot, ah!"

I loosen my grip and wince slightly. "Sorry." I say, and finish tucking the end of the bandages into themselves, securing them so they won't fall off too easily. And then, hoping to lighten the mood: "Now put that back on before you get too excited." I grab my pack and kick his shirt towards him as I step by.

"Excited?"

I glance over my shoulder and give a teasing smile.

"Damn, you got me." he moves to pick up his shirt, and there's a moment of silence, during which I believe the conversation to be over and crouch down once more to pick up a medical kit.

"Thanks though."

I give him a nod. "Any time."

"Now how about we load up on stuff we need."

I grunt in response and fold my legs beneath me so I can kneel down. My gaze scans the red-tainted dome we're sitting on, peering over the lip where rock meets sky. We don't know what's out there yet. But I sure hop we're prepared for it.