and you thought the lions were bad {pearl & barney}!blitz

B A R N A B A S   S T R O U D

His heart was not heavy. A deep stirring within his chest forced his head  high, his shoulders square and a smirk upon his lips. The boy no longer felt alone, no longer felt the need to force himself away from others for fear of his mortality as well as theirs. They were no longer twenty-three opponents but twenty-three people. Most of which were likely just as scared as he. Asa had proven such, Finn had and he was sure all  others would do the same. Not evil, just condemned. The soldier had accepted that his fate lay in the palms of others and that he faced an impossible end. 

He didn't care. At least not now. 

His station lay only a few paces in front of him. Barnabas was in no rush, instead regarding his fellow tributes with eyes akin to an owl's. They were all so intricate in their own rights. Before arriving to the captiol, he'd had no clue so many varieties, so many shapes and colors, could exist within only twenty four people. It was surely  magic, so captivating he could almost forget why he walked these floors. 

His hands are calloused, wrapping around the bright white gauze with little thought. He had often cleaned cuts and scrapes when learning the trade, clumsy children wandering into his grandma's clinic with teary eyes and bloodied knees. Barnabas always loved children, telling them stories of grandeur while wrapping their legs with the fabric now clutched within his hands. They were so thankful, so kind, wrapping their arms around his waist and promising they'd be more careful next time. 

The gauze started around his thumb, snaking its way up his arm. It was excellent for burns and clotting wounds, the sponge-like texture leaving enough room for natural air to stimulate healing but not enough to allow harmful bacteria. One would have to clean the wound first, or else risk trapping bacteria into raw skin. His lip curled imagining the stench of infected skin, patients who were unable to keep up with treatment. 

She was pretty and blonde, hair bouncing in the corner of his eye. A career, he thought, one named after a gem. Perhaps he should have feared her, but his confidence was struck anew after Asa Reau.

He didn't think, thrusting his hand outward.

"Hi, I'm Barnabas." there was a smile forced upon pale lips. 

{these are the days that bind you
t o g e t h e r ;