Man Want {M E A T} ||Day Two Mandate~

XX

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I awoke to the loud sound of music around me. My body lay across a warm boulder, my gaze rising high into the sky overhead, the darkening horizon swifty growing blacker and blacker. Two of those faces I realized, Hades had killed- Keanu Frost and Thistle Cardo. I cringed, knowing I had a hand in their death.

But the final three came as a shock.

'Mary Ellen Goulding'

'Mizar Roxen'

The anthem died away, and an eerie sound echoed all around me. For just a moment, my eyes closed, and I realized what they were- Kodama. A groan echoed through my lips as I lifted my still, aching from from the fading warmth below, sitting upright with my arms assisting me.

My left hand crumpled and I emit a scream of pain as I stumble and slip off the boulder, maybe four or five feet onto the ground. The joint is clearly broken, but it has been put into a splint using straight branches and a tear of cloth from my strange shirt. After the sharp shooting pain goes away, the fingers of my right hand rise to my cheek, and I gingerly touch the flesh there. I've reopened the gash on my cheek.

Ow.

I stumble about and lift the things that fell around me to my lap. I dig into the new backpack, curiosity burning through my flesh. A cape... It's colored gold.

This belonged to Mizar. My body trembles as I dig and search more, finding more and more of her things- something gently pokes against my flesh and upon withdrawl, I find a flail.

I shove everything back in, except for the Golden Cape and the green war paint. I nest below the stone, and wrap the cloth around my body. The night may be cold, and the fabric may help. I do not dare light a fire, not tonight. Others may be searching for Ares and I.

My mind wanders as I rest and think about what may have happened the day before. I recall bits and peices of the bloodbath, my stomach turning. Still I am covered in blood, and a sickening feeling rises in my gut. I toss the axe back onto the boulder, and crawl up the smooth surface with any holds my fingers can find. The smaller beasts should leave me alone then, and I'm comfortable enough I could attack them if I must in the dead of night.

I dream.

I dream I stand on the edge of the world, staring donw down down into the dark abyss below. Hesitantly, I step free from the boundries of the living, and plunge into the darkness of death.

A scream splits my lips as I fall further and further.

CRASH

I land on the dusty ground below, and stumble to my feet. I must have been writing atop the boulder. Around me lies an inky blackness, the full moon overhead dictating my path.

Fuck, I guess I should leave then.

I pack everything into my bag, and turn towards the boulder- my cheek hurts once again. I gaze into the shiny silver plaque, and notice the gash extends from the bridge of my nose in a straight line to my left temple.

I wipe away the blood there, and step back to take in the boulder once more, my stare locking into the name etched upon the rock- 'Storm Jay'

A shudder races down my spine, and I turn, abandoning the rock as I start my journey. I can't stay here. Maybe Ares got the same idea, and started heading North? My footsteps kick up tiny patches of dust, the clouds qickly fading away as I wander through the Earth area. The terrain transforms quickly, as though an invisible barrier lines the entire arena. The land is now black, and patches of molten rock light the entirety of this portion of the arena.

The wind blows hot around me, and I can only think of the distant volcaneo. What if it erupts?

Nah.

I wander through, until I find a place tucked away well into the landscape. My body sits, and I rest with my back against the backpack behind me, clutching the Gold cape around my body. I do not sleep, I do not move, I simply watch the stars and moon overhead trapped forever in their playful dance. I wondered exactly what those tiny pinpricks of light were made of, and I imagined new ones forming as a human died. It seemed far fetched, but I could hope, right?

Daylight soon overtook the land, and my heart raced. Day two. Day of slaughter. Carefully I rose, the cape clinging to my form. I heard snortling and snuffling nearby, and I drew the Axe Mizar so graciously gave me. I wish it would have saved her life last night.

I had never seen a creature like this- it had pointy spines all along its back and sides, and I nervously swallowed as I approached it.

If this was happening, I'd need more confidence. A little half-assed swing of the axe would do nothing against such tough hide. The blade lifts high in the air as I charge at it, swinging down with all of the might deep in my gut.

The creature's leg pops right off with a sickening SSCHHHWUUMP

Oh gods. That was a lot easier than I expected.