Roots (Dustin and Jaimie Post-BB)

After running from the Bloodbath I realized all I had was my ring and a hat. I hadn't grabbed anything, just a few scratches that were stinging like crazy. The sun had climbed in the sky and I had completely lost my sense of direction. Damn you high noon!

Sweat started to run down my forehead and I kept wiping it away with my shirt. Where the crap am I? Where's Anya and Lethe? I'm lost. I have no food or water or weapons and I'm lost. Great. That's just fucking great.

Sighing, I take a big whiff of air trying to see if anything is in the air. Gagging, I recognize the smell right away. Razor Creel is nearby with that horrid perfume of his.

Find Anya and Lethe or go towards Razor? I hesitate for only a moment before following the trail of thick artificial flowers until I hear movement nearby. I go down on all fours and feel grass under my hands. Hearing a female voice and then a male voice I start to edge closer when another male voice rings out. The words reek of Razor. They're fighting. Another person is in the mix, I can hear another pair of footsteps but not another voice. Well, I found someone I know. Wanting to join the fight but finding myself unarmed I pull off my shoe- those things had bothered me from the beginning anyway. A body crashes through the underbrush near me and I take in a deep breath. Gripping my shoe I leap from the underbrush tumbling into the nearest person that doesn't smell like roses.

[Attacks Jamie with Shoe]
[dice=200+7000]
[Bruised Right Hand- 2.0]

My shoe smacked into the tribute's skin- it was the girl. Rolling away from her, I kept my shoe up to defend myself but I was still trying to figure out where I was in relation to everyone else. The girl was to my 11 o'clock, Razor was obviously to my 6 o'clock. Sweat must make that cologne stronger.

In assurance, I heard a male voice behind me “Don’t stop now, Saskia!” Don’t worry, I didn’t plan on it.

Ready to attack again the blow came out of nowhere. I heard the bone cracking as a blunt object slammed into my face. Falling on my back, blood ran down my face and the back of my throat. Gagging, I flipped onto all fours hacking blood onto the ground below me, trying to get the thick, warm substance out of my lungs. I couldn't breath out of my nose, just my mouth. She broke it. That bitch broke my nose! I'll kill her!

"How about I don't kill you if you help me kill this girl? And I'll let you alliance with me, if you want."

I stopped, my hands cupped around my nose and sat up straight, silent and listening for his reply. That bitch who broke my nose was asking Razor to kill me? My heart was hammering so loudly I'm sure everyone could hear it. He knows me- we talked, we shook on it! Surly he'd keep his word, or would he? Between the pain in my nose and the prospect of being killed by Razor, tears are threatening to fall. I don't think I've ever been so frightened in my life. Mostly because I know I can easily die here on the first day by Razor Creel's hand. I wish I was with Anya and Lethe, I wouldn't be in a life and death position if I was with them.

Well, if I am going to die I can't do it cowering, holding my wounds. Wiping some of the blood off my face I let my hands fall to my side, holding my head up, waiting for the verdict.

In response, I didn’t hear any words just someone lunging forward and the swipe of a knife. My life is endangered and perfume boy misses? Or was it the unknown tribute I can’t place? I can’t tell what is going on anywhere- just that it is hard to breathe and all I can smell is blood and iron is the only taste in my mouth. Still coughing up blood, I crawl away from the girl who tried to turn my perfume boy against me. She was at my 3 o’clock so I should be moving away from her. Collapsing, I find my shoe and grip it again close to my chest, gently touching my nose with my free hand. I can’t smell anything! Not even Razor’s horrid cologne! Panic sets in when I realize how much blood I have on my hands. I try scrapping it off on the grass but it’s already drying and sticking to my skin. My ring is glued uncomfortably to my finger by the stuff and I suck in quick breaths through my mouth. Of all the things to break- my nose is defiantly not my first choice. I feel truly blind for the first time in quite awhile. After moving farther back, I make sure to get out the girl’s range- I don’t want to get my ears cut off or something or I’ll really be out of luck. I feel so helpless, weak, and pathetic but what can I do? I’m completely blinded in almost every sense. Unarmed might as well be thrown onto that list as well.

“That was a warning. Now tell me, where did your bastard of a district partner run off to? I want him dead."
That sounded like Razor, but could it be? It was a completely different tone I’ve ever heard him use. So serious. Used to the apathetic Career who can talk the talk, such harsh words came as a surprise. May be somewhat naïve to believe but the growl in his voice made me grip my shoe even tighter. Everything in this damn Arena was making me jumpy. I stumbled to my feet, trying to pick up the dignity I had long ago dropped at the Cornucopia.

I raised the shoe above my head and chunked it towards the direction of the girl who had taken my only useful sense from me. She was going to pay with more than just that. She was going to pay with her life.

[Attacks Jamie- Thrown Blunt Proj.]
[dice=200+8000]
[Bruised Right Arm -2.0]

The satisfying thud of my shoe hitting its mark brought a grin to my lips. Finally, I can do something right. Maybe I can less of a weakling and more of a contender. More of a tribute. More alive.