As the condor flies // [Day 2 Arianna]

Her eyes flashed open after what must have been only thirty minutes. Her clothes felt mildly damp—she had been sweating all night—but the fever-driven shivers had passed, and Arianna finally felt steady on the ground. Panic set in as she blinked her eyes a few more times and found that her vision had not gotten better, though her stomach was cooperating again. Maybe I’m still waking up. Maybe that’s why it’s foggy. But with each closing and re-opening of her eyelids, it was starting to become clear that not everything was clear.

To say she couldn’t see would have been an overstatement, but the sunflowers’ petals were no longer clean and crisp and its dirty brown middle looked fuzzier than it had the day before. Panicked, Arianna grabbed Sam and her bag and wasted no time to begin her trek while she could still see the path ahead of her. She would walk away from the bright sunflowers before she found herself drowning in the same pattern of colors, devoured by its sweet smell and comforting pull.

She didn’t need her eyes to tell her that she was back in a familiar place as the dust picked up again, clogging every orifice she had. Her coughs were dry as she used the blanket with holes to cover her mouth and nose, wishing she had something smaller. She could see the building shelter in a distance, but the heat was so strong that her steps were small and starting to falter. It would be okay if we took a break. Don’t you think so, Sam? She was starting to regret holding onto the plush; the plush was starting to trap all of her heat and it made her feel warmer. Maybe into the bag you should go.

No sooner had she nestled Sam into her bag, the sound of something rushing toward her startled her and she lifted her arm reflexively to protect herself. A silent scream came out of Arianna as the bird mutt sank its talons into her upper arm. Angrily, she took one of her knives and threw it at the dark shape. Her aim had not been the best when she was in the training center, but she was hoping that its large size and her anger would make her aim true.


[Arianna attacks Cruella the Condor; Sickle Cutter Blade]
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[DEEP GASH ON CHEEK ; 8.5 dmg]

She watched as the knife struck the bird’s face, the awful cry from the mutt ringing in her ears. Arianna had surprised herself with the throw maybe the training did pay off, but the fight was far from over and she had managed to anger the mutt more. She didn’t have to wait long until the large wings turned back around and made their way toward her. Blood was still pumping out of her left arm, but it didn’t matter—she was right handed anyway.

The mutt’s speed was unlike anything Arianna had ever seen, and it was with a fraction of a second that she jumped out of the way. She did not clear the mutt’s talons once again as they scratched the surface of her skin through the dress. Maybe she had to give the dress some credit; its material was not of poor quality and may have provided her a little more thickness and padding. Still, the cut throbbed in a sensitive area, and Arianna knew she would have to take care of it later.

Her anger and perhaps some frustration at this mutt that won’t die made Arianna find a need to retaliate as she threw one of her blades at the bird.


[Arianna attacks Cruella the Condor; Sickle Cutter Blade]
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[Knife Deep in Stomach ; 9.0 dmg]

Arianna’s blade dug itself into the bird, and yet it still would not fall. A part of her was surprised; another part of her was already over this fight. It seemed like the bird felt the same way too, as it did not fly up into the sky like it had before, and instead launched itself at her. With no time to react, Arianna defended herself the same way she had before: by lifting her left arm.

The bird barely grazed her arm this time, but it compounded the pain from the bird’s first attack. Tears were brought to her eyes as another soundless cry left her chest. Go away! Just go away! Arianna raised right arm and threw the blade at the bird, grabbing her left arm immediately afterward. Her whole body shook as she gave herself a moment to look away, hoping that the bird was not charging at her again.


[Arianna attacks Cruella the Condor; Sickle Cutter Blade]
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[Knife in Back ; 6.5 dmg]