my sad makes me special [The Lethal Quartet] Day 1

"I'm the lonely twin, the left hand
Reset myself and get back on track
I don't want this isolation
See the state I'm in now?l"

~

My heart continues to painfully break out of my ribs as I run further away from the bloody mess of a fight. I'm relieved to have made it out alive in the first place, but the lack of cannons post bloodbath concerns me. This wouldn't be the first to show a deathless beginning, but those other deathless intros, if I remember correctly, led to more bloodshed at a later date. I wouldn't mind dying, but if I had the choice, I would rather die heroically saving someone. On second thought, I don't think I would want to have someone in my debt in the first place. Yeah, I'd be dead and they wouldn't have to physically pay me back, but having them continue my legacy: what would be the point of remembering someone like me?

My panic fades away, and I slow down my pace to look around to observe the new location I wandered into. Giant plantlife I would only dream of in either my nightmares surround me. My hand tightens its grip on the new ax I 'won' for protection. The tightened grip causes a sharp pain to jolt into my wrist, causing me to wince. I can't say I'm not surprised. I figured I would get hit during the bloodbath, and I knew that the pain would come later, but I was hoping for something I could tolerate, like a bruised eye or a few deep scrapes. Maybe I'm lucky and my wrist isn't broken. Maybe it's only sprained. Maybe it'll heal fa-no it won't. I'm fucked. At least I didn't lose my hand altogether.

Footsteps come from behind, and both my hands go straight to my ax as I spin around, ready to defend myself. Why am I so intent on surviving if my main goal is to die? My ax doesn't lower until I could make out familiar faces. The three girls I recognize from the training center, and the only people I interacted with the entire three days leading up to the hellhole. What if they followed you here to kill you? You'd be an easy target to take out, a small boy from district 9 that doesn't have much training in anything. But wouldn't make more sense to be quieter if they were going to ambush you? Also, why would your district partner attack you? My grip loosens even more on my ax, but my gut, deep down, feels uneasy. Look. You'd probably be dead already if anyone was hunting you. Chill.

"Ya know, being a meat shield isn't your job." A meat shield? I had to bite down on my tongue from saying that I didn't even realize we were an alliance and that I was simply trying to stay alive. I didn't even realize I was being attacked in the first place. I smile back at River and shrug. "I guess people just see me as such a menacing threat, you know?"

A beeping sound from above scares me until I realize it's a care package. Is it called a care package or is it something else? Regardless, why would anyone give me anything? I guess I shouldn't complain about getting a free backpack and canteen. River says something about keeping an eye out for stuff and things, but I had already moved forward, picking up some items that I believe would be useful for the future. I turn around towards River after picking up a sword and remembering that she only had a whip in her hand. "Hey, uh..., if you want this," I hold up the ax. "You could have it. I d-don't..." Nope. "You can..." Nope. "Your whip..." Just shut up at this point and keep your mouth shut. If she says yes, that's great. If not, two weapons for you. Just focus on surviving from now on.

~

"Hit me with your best shot
You can't make my heart stop
Is that the best that you've got?"

~

It's quick the way the supposed blood bath started and ended for me; my alliance. It's over in a blink of an eye because I've seen the ways people perish waiting around for the stupid so called wealth that they flash in front of people's view to entice them to death. Half the time, that's what kills more then the actual attacks of the onslaught of scared kids. This is in no way a different scenario. Instead, it's a race to the weapon and get the hell out before you become mince meat for someone else's maniacal and twisted plan. They may reap two kids from each district but whose to say that they are going to be gentle lambs sent to slaughter and whose to say the lamb ins't a wolf in sheeps clothing?

"Damn tyrants." I mutter, hatefully as I shove some girl out of my way. I stomp on her leg or foot, whatever it may be and use that for my stepping stone to collect that spiked beauty that was closest to me. Of course, I would have settled for the bow and arrow, need it actually, but beggers can't be choosers and I ain't about to go fussing when I have something just as good, my choice or not.

It's only a moment later, I noticed how River of all people were becoming the butt of their jokes, attacking her, hitting her and attempting to take her down but it looks like miniscule hits, mere skin bruisers and I turned my attention to the others. My adversary and friend and one hell of a shot was fairing just fine. She looked healthy while my vision saunters to the boy of our group, let in merely for the displeasure that he's a little fearful and River's district partner. I would have loved to have Silas as my ally, but his plans had gone awry and he found people more his style.

So be it.

I ain't his momma and I don't plan on babying someone who can take care of themselves. I only hope I don't have to be matched against him in a fight because there's only going to be one of us going back home and truly, I've learned that you take care of yourself first and others last.

Except for Xavier, who suddenly looks worse for wear before we take off. I follow after them, pretty spike in tow and cover their tracks.

Catching up to them took time. I was in no hurry to survey their damages, or lack thereof, but once I came into view, swinging the warhammer around, I listened to River with a nod.

"Of course. I guess my great great aunt's reputation proceeds me. I'm completely forgettable. Not that I'm complaining about that." I stop before I reach them, nodding to the fact that it is sketchy, tributes could pop up at any time, hunting, as they call it and we'd be sitting ducks just waiting around for someone to show up. "Damn right we can't trust anyone."

And just like that, little twinklings of sound emerge for each of my allies and then I watch their gifts. I beat the end of the spiked toy against the bottom of my foot for good measure. Helpful items become their safety net and at the sound of Sarina's question makes my shoulder jump.

"Hell, I don't have any clue. Maybe, not die by the hands of some little kid? Maybe watching where we walk so we don't end up in some kind of quicksand maybe? I always had a fear as a kid that I'd sink in sand as much as my momma said I would if I wasn't careful. Childhood fear my ass." I watch her put the weapon in her bag and a grin plasters on my face.

"Guess we can compete once again. Wanna keep score the next fight we get? Arms and legs are one. Chest and back are three points. Chopping off a head is ten?" It's all in good fun, a way to beat around the harshness of the arena and the stickiness sticking to my face and neck. The humidity and rush of the games finally settling even more against the realization of what's really happening and it isn't just a dream anymore. A sharp intake of breath relaxes me and a tinkering noise finally makes it's appearance, falling from the sky.

"Bout' time it's my turn." An upturn of my lips brings me to seek out the companions of material items gifted to my person.


[Amberly collects 2 medicinal plants and 1 edible]
[Collects Machet, Canteen and combat boots from area]
[Sponsored things - rest in maint]

~