lost in paradise || AV:LNC vs The Sloshed

Wander lets me hold the photo. It's slick and wobbles in my hand, the surface shiny in the dimming sunlight. I want to hold onto it forever, but I quietly return it to vis hand.

Night sweeps over the Arena and the sky holds no faces. The anthem blares bitterly before plunging the world into darkness. All twenty four tributes still live, and I'm sure it'll make the second day even worse than the Bloodbath.

My heart twists in my chest. Enzo is still alive. The little trouble maker from eleven is still alive. Quest, whom she listened to music with, and Yusei who she comforted. Even Carter whom she only spent a brief moment in an elevator with. It's harder to want them dead after talking with them. After seeing their fear or their pain, or watching them shovel sweets into their mouth.

I smile, turning over on the gravel and positioning my bag as a pillow. It's our last night of innocence. That was our gift. A final, sweet day without death.


Tomorrow the Gamemakers won't be so generous.

***

The morning is gentle. Pale rays of light warming sore muscles and chilled skin. We gather our supplies, strapping bags and weapons to our bodies before mounting our steeds. Eve is nestled gently in the shopping cart and I jump onto my board. We cross the area, the sound of the waves slowly fading into the distance.

The gravel turns to grass, and then soon blooms into rows upon rows of plants. I ride closer to the foliage, reaching out and touching the bright green leaves. Underneath them thick purple fruit hang from vines. I'm not sure what they are, I'll have to ask Eve later.

Bette reaches a bush filled with colorful flowers. The shades are so vibrant they look alien, like the brushes and trees on the roof of the training center. She reaches down, slicing a bloom for each of them. My fingers brush hers as she hands me a warm, golden rose. The petals sparkle as if chiseled from metal. I brush my dark hair back, slipping the stem behind my ear.

Suddenly a screech fills the air and there are wings slapping around Wander's face. I have just enough time to free my axe from its hold before an identical pair of mutts swoop down on me. One bites at my face, missing the flesh, but I still see its sharp teeth bared at me. I raise my blade only to feel the shock of tiny fangs ripping into my leg. I gasp, looking down to see red pooling into the white fabric of my dress. I stumble off my board, trying to avoid their teeth.

The Games have started Temple, time to prove yourself.

I grip my axe and focus on the mutt who had sunk its teeth into my thigh.

Mace is watching. Ansgar and Saffron are watching.

Kahinta is watching.

I swing.


[Attacks Green Tea with Axe]
cMv7pkiOtaxe
[Block -- 0.0 damage]

Accuracy reroll
axe
[Severed Right Forearm at Elbow -- 9.5 damage]

[intoxicated roll]
1-2
[miss]

[the proper intoxicated roll]
1-10
[briefly intox, for that post only they roll 1-2]

[1-2 for being intoxicated]
1-2

[Actual accuracy reroll]
axe
[Shallow Cut on Right Thigh -- 3.5 damage]


no more rolls i'm done with rolls, i am allergic to rolls

"Temple look out!" Wander's warning reaches my ear a second too late. The mutt's claws digging into the flesh of my shoulder. I bite back a scream and shrug the creature off. The flesh tingles and stings around the newly opened wound and I am not looking forward to fixing it up later.

Stupid bat.

My fingers ache from gripping my axe so tightly. It's not exactly a tool I'm used to holding and I overestimate how much I need to hold on for it to stay in my hand. However, the last thing I want is for it to fly from my fingers and smack Bette in the face. She wouldn't take to kindly to that.

I focus on the bat who slashed me open and I'm ready to take it down.