holey moley {xoxo&giantmoles} day two
Feb 23, 2014 0:05:36 GMT -5
Post by Baby Wessex d9b [earthling] on Feb 23, 2014 0:05:36 GMT -5
ARGONITE SHORE
For the first time in his life, Argonite passed an entire night chasing sleep. He’d arranged his backpack as a sort of pillow, gathered his gi around his core, and expected to slip into slumber the way he always had. Instead, he hovered just on the edge of darkness for hours, before finally rolling over and grasping Magenta’s hand. He very purposefully thought of nothing but the sounds of the arena, the twinkle of fake stars, for the long hours before dawn.
He sat up to watch the sun rise, pale pink and distant. Francesca and Magenta’s prone figures provided warmth, and a reminder. They were so quiet, so still. He wanted to reach out and check their pulses. But they were not cold, not ashen, the way Hannah had been at the very end. He put his chin to his hands on his knees. Thought of the new day she would never see. He lifted the fedora from his head, held it to his heart. His fedora, lined in ruby red, in her blood.
He tipped it to Ares. Ares, who was free of the vines. Argonite grinned, solemn. “Figured they couldn’t hold you here forever. I think it’s best if we move on, try to find some water.” He hauled himself up, tucking the flail’s handle into his belt. He felt more than exhausted. Heavy. When he looked to the sky, he didn’t want to crow, or dance, or sing. He didn’t know what he wanted, not any more. Was Opal proud of him? Probably not. What about Petalite? Pyrite, maybe? One less enemy, she might have said.
Argonite settled the fedora back onto his head. He found that the pace of walking soothed him more than tossing all night. He stayed close to Magenta, kept looking back for Ares. He shore would have thought of vengeance if someone had killed his cousin was in reach. But the morning passed uneventfully, the arena shrinking around them. He hadn’t really appreciated how small it was until he reflected on how quickly they had escaped the Cornucopia and wandered into the verdant trap. He was glad to be leaving it behind. His mood improved considerably as they crossed the border. He even started to banter about Career training with Francesca and Ares, and then dropped to Magenta’s side to regale her with stories of tributes past.
“… And that’s when he stabbed her in the eye. You see?”
He grinned at his own joke. He was still talking, still focused on his conversation with the dark-haired girl from Nine when he found his weapon in his hands. His mind caught up a second later, and he stepped in front of Magenta. He hadn’t expected to rest. He had only expected to sleep. With grief in his eyes, Argonite met his enemy. “Still going strong after the Bloodbath, I see.”
[ Argonite attacks Mole #1; Glaive ]
OmqqiU44glaive
[Shallow Cut on Left Hip -- 3.5 damage]