Unwanted (open)

I want to look away from the screens that show children dying painful, bloody deaths, but I'm mesmerized, unable to escape the spell of the Hunger Games. What startles me out of my silent observations of the arena is a voice.

I turn my head, blinking. A girl stands there, about my age. She has a horse with her, and Raine curiously watches it. Not able to think of anything else to say, I reply, "Hey." We stand silently for a moment, the only sounds being the pattering rain and booming television screens. A rumble of thunder later, I say, "That's a good-looking horse. What's his name?"

I can't really believe that I'm actually making small talk. I've never really hung around kids my age. I always just head out to the mountains when I'm bored. But here I am, standing in a rainy district square underneath television screens depicting scenes of children getting slaughtered, talking to a girl I don't even know. But life is unpredictable. I've learned that the hard way.

I hesitate, then reply, "His name is Raine." Pausing again, I meet her eye. "And my name is Drynis," I say, offering one of my rare smiles. But it fades, washed away as if by the pouring rain. Raine steps forward a bit, snuffling a bit at Comet. I tense up. I don't want a fight to start. But Raine just examines the other horse curiously.

((Sorry for the short post, I'm in a hurry. And Drynis is pronounced "Drinnis". People never really realize that ))

My hand lightly touches the ugly bruise on my cheek. I didn't know it was so obvious. "I got... in a fight," I say quickly. I'm not too far off from the truth, but I know it's clear that I'm hiding something. I look away, uncomfortable. Finally, I look back up. "Well... it was a bit more than a fight. But I don't really want to talk about it right now." I gaze back up at the screens. The girl from here seems to be doing all right. I hope she survives. She has a strong alliance and isn't injured. But I don't really process what I see on the screens. My mind is elsewhere.

((Sorry for the late reply, I was busy ))

I stare at her for a moment, shocked. Finally, my mouth starts to work again. "You kill horses? For their meat?" I gesture at the horse that she is riding. "Are you guys gonna... kill Comet, too?" It's sick, no doubt about it. But no one in District Five eats horses or uses their hides. All horses do in District Five is serve as transportation and companions. It's gotta be for the Capitol, then. They do a lot of messed up things already. Just throw another sin on the pile, I think bitterly.

I nod, satisfied with her answer, though still surprised. I never really thought that she seemed like the kind of person who'd kill horses, but you can never tell what kind of person someone is based on what they seem to be on the surface. I've learned that the hard way, I think bitterly. "It's not your fault, though," I say, stroking Comet's nose and muzzle. "I can tell you and Comet have a strong bond."