day two / once bitten [ d12 vs nakom ]

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A blast of brutally frozen air feels to nearly pull me from the, recently discovered, comfort of the inside. Heat solely resides within a heavy sigh that curls from my, now, freezing lungs - grateful that for once, and only, I provided trust into the Game-makers and fitted into the suit clearly custom-made for myself and this situation. Desperation swayed me to this, not a single dispute dancing from my tongue at the process of getting to this moment. The walls of whatever we left behind felt infinite, while yet solely the beginning of this endeavor. Surely more awaited beyond the never-ending halls of those chambers; and once that more is discovered I realize that more doesn’t existence, solely more of an end does.

Truly the end, similar to the heart-pounding adventure to the edge of District Twelve - while never daring to cross it. One can’t help but wonder if existence is even real out there, and also knowing it’s that very border holding us prisoners in and true existence out. But here there’s surely no life beyond this edge, as life of this ship itself balance upon that very edge. Clear crisp air fills my chest, in ways I thought I’d never experience again, and I know that life-filling aspect can’t remain as other necessities are absent upon this fence.

Within the bliss of the beautiful outdoors, that I know can’t continue us extendedly, I just scarcely overhear of our exit closing abruptly behind us. The frozen oxygen nearly burns my vision with its invisible frost, while I gaze to the door despite. And exactly across from such is the cable wires providing the only chance of an exit from this frigid condition. The sky is clear beyond believe, framing the vast ocean ahead and its deadly depths below, the breeze gentle while the air is still brutal. Soft snowflakes dance through the air. A flock of birds scattering across the pristine sky, while it differs from the usual stray of migration - more of a frantic travel leaving in the distance.

No tributes alert in the close proximity, yet that’s surely no guarantee of safety with the Game-makers always about. Some brutal nibbles claw past the thick fabrics of my attire, into the skin of my calf - while no threats linger in my view. Instincts take over despite, my gifted sword of radiating light claimed into my grasp and flicked on.

Eyes flicker over to Cedar, while not in unforgiving assumptions - but rather baffled confusion. “Did you just feel anything?” I question him, my eyebrows arching inward in uncertainty. But he appears fine, unbrutalized aside from the inflictions from the day before. Perhaps I’m merely going insane… if I hadn’t already. My gaze transfers back to the light sting now pressing against my exterior, a petite amount of red even brewing in its wake. And then the beasts, petite beasts, steady into my focus.

“Butterflies?” Complete wonder echoes from my thoughts into vocalization. The tiniest butterflies I’ve ever witnessed, swarm around us in a manner of a flurry. These unkind insects appear to be made of pure glass, there bodies veined with glistening silver. Now my eyebrows raise in curiosity, grazing my sight back over to Cedar. “Ever pluck wings off of butterflies?” I question, bringing us back to the casualty of the train ride. “You don’t seem like the type… But I’ve heard some kids do that, leads them to being murderers or something like that.” A shrug rolls my shoulders up and down. My sword of radiating light sings in need of being used. “I never had, but better late than never I suppose.” So I start small, as an insect killer first.

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Another fraction of the flurry swarm is eliminated by the raft of radiating sword. A sizzle appears to dance across my eardrums, as if the light of weapon were crisping the glass of the tiny beasts’ wings - or perhaps that’s simply the buzz of the weapon. But either way a portion seems to eliminate from the threat of our intruders, if solely slightly. Yet still the monstrous insects are fluttering about in warning danger. While Cedar rejects dining on them afterwards, and destroys another chunk of the hungry group. He does admit eating them will be better then being eaten, though it sounds as though they only crave for my consumption.

This round it’s my arm that’s victim to their gnawing bites. Again paper-cuts slice across the thick layers of the clothe protecting me, more seeps of red staining through in return. It’s hardly a sting that registers in my nerves from this however, while frustration does dwell in my core far worse than the physical aftermath. “Not sure if revenge will be satisfied just by murdering these little shits - may have to eat them after. Though with my luck, the Game-makers probably made them poisonous to consumption.” Annoyed petty weaves through my words, as my eyes attempt to steady upon the threats about.

Surely a petite enemy would be preferred, while the focus of my vision struggles to decide on the aim. Swiftness dodges them in every which direction, while together they still form a cloud of company whom’s not preferred. At least larger beasts are easier targets.

“So no plucking wings, no eating butterflies. Do you do anything for fun then?” Pure sarcasm takes over in a strive for a comedic breath - though my lungs refute to relax with these flurries about, and a cliff increasing the dangers. “Gotta live a little Cedar.” A smile still creases across my cheeks, determined myself to live even at the literal edge.