i of the storm { pillar vs. bolts } day five

The ground splits open once more in the night, a familiar shaking that she's grown accustomed to — and she rises up on shaking legs with a flurry of blonde hair, hands gathering up her satchel and her weapon before screaming to her allies; "Get up, guys! C'mon! We have to go!" But she doesn't wait to see if they make it up onto their feet, jumping over crevices and dodging the rising patches of ground that jut out in her path at sharp angles. By the time she reaches solid earth, she can still feel the vibrations, and a turning of her neck to the downfall of the Stonehenge shows no sign of Sacha, Reese, or Sam.

Her combat boots dig into the dirt beneath them, teeth biting down on her lip, and she looks ahead of her to find the way out of the area with a furrowing of her brow. Another glance back, still no sign of her friends, and she chooses to take the route of selfishness:

she saves herself, and all that she leaves behind is a silent prayer that her allies were fast enough.

---

It starts to rain a few hours into her isolation — a hot summer rain, but she stills find herself pulling her jacket tighter when a shiver runs through her. Her chin shakes, gloved hands wrapping around her body, and although the reality of being alone in the arena starts to sink in, the pressure of the sword tucked by her side is comforting. All she needs is herself 

— and the more she says it inwardly, the more she begins to believe that it's the truth.

She continues to walk further into the Granite Flat, a slow pace that leaves her chest burning, but her stamina remains intact. A hand runs itself through damp hair, tired legs coming to a stop. The rain is not as heavy as when it started, but she still finds herself having to wipe the water out of her face. The area around her holds an eerie beauty — a smooth world of colors and stone, and the rain dripping down the surface of the rocks only serves to make the scenery more breathtaking. She smiles in spite of herself, feeling a childish wonder course through her. She turns to tell Reese how beautiful it is, but then she remembers, and her lips close before the words can come out

— and she doesn't cry. 

She sighs, taking out her sword and cleaning the steel with the aid of the water and the hem of her jacket. She crouches down after she finishes, looking through her bag and checking her supplies, and her head snaps up when she hears the footsteps. Her grip on her sword tightens, while her free hand digs out the jar of tar in her satchel. She rises to feet with her body coiled and ready to defend herself, not letting herself trust that her allies have somehow managed to find her. She doesn't speak until the figure comes into view and out of the grey blur of rainfall. The familiar flash of red hair strikes a chord of memory within her, though she's never spoken to the male from Three.

"Bolts!" she calls out in a flat voice, but makes it loud enough for him to hear her. "Did you lose your allies, too?" It's odd, how she strikes up a casual conversation with the young man, but the truth is that she's checking to make sure that she's not about to be handicapped by three tributes versus one. A quick scanning of the space around Bolts answers her question for her, and she nods with an inhale of relief.

"I guess we know what we have to do, right? And I've made it this far, Bolts. It's not ending here for me." Hands ready her sword, working to ignite the blade.

"Don't you dare hold anything back. Let's get this over with.

— I'm going to help you see your little friend again, Bolts."

---

[ pillar attacks bolts with her sword 
& lights it on fire using her jar of tar ]
vKhh0_UHsword
[ Shallow Cut on Right Forearm -- 3.5 damage ]

1-50
[ immolation ]