the rumble in the... [kerfluffle] day 1

Violence is necessary to survive this. I'm plenty aware of that fact. I was attacking people back there in the Bloodbath, wasn't I? I gashed that career's forehead open like it was nothing. Still, knowing how to use a sword is gonna mean fuck all if I end up getting an infected cut or something. I don’t know anything about healthcare— I rarely got sick back home, and if I did, my sister was the one with the medicinal knowledge and the recipe for chicken soup. I know I should have studied this in the training center, but it’s not my fault. I was still on that whole I have to be good at everything immediately or I’ll kill myself shtick. It’s hard to unlearn that when it’s been engraved in your brain for as long as you can remember. Now I know that if I don’t figure this shit out, I’m going to die, and I decided I didn’t want to die back when I was still on the platform. It’s not happening. Not today, not ever.

I didn’t know where I was supposed to go when I ran away from the Cornucopia. There was no plan or anything, not that I ever trusted those anyway. I followed Walter and Alfonso into the jungle, thinking the plants would give me a good place to hide for a bit, but the strange leaves and vines just made me nervous. It felt like they would snatch me up and consume me if I looked at them wrong. The smaller plants that were closer to the ground seemed unassuming. I reached down and pulled a few tufts out, shoving them into my bag. Maybe someone could help me identify them later.

As I got further and further away from the Bloodbath, the noise of it began to fade. No more carnage. No more shouting. Just my heavy breathing, my footsteps in the dirt, my god awful cargo pant legs swishing against each other. I think that I hate it. I’m used to things being loud. Loud music, loud people. This silence shit just scares me.

There was a noise, then, slowly building, like a bomb right before it goes off. I watched the silver parachute flutter down to me, and held out my hand so I could catch it. There was no note attached, no name, no way for me to figure out who had sent it. I was grateful anyway. Someone had taken a chance on me. I wouldn’t forget that soon.

I clicked the vessel open. Inside was a roll of bandages and some stitching materials, as if the sponsor had read my mind. I tucked them into my bag and kept going. My allies had gotten some items too. At least we'd be able to patch ourselves up now. That bitch ass kid from Three had gotten me pretty good in the stomach, so thank god for adrenaline for getting me this far.

It doesn't seem like there are any other tributes around. I don't know if it's a trick of the jungle, or if everyone else scattered in a different direction. Whatever. I'm not going to question it.

Walter says something about the plants. I reach out and pat him on the head. I like having this kid around, it makes me feel like a mom or something. I'm not really paying attention to the rest of the conversation. Abs says something, Alfonso says something else, bun then he turns to me and I have to pay attention.

"You okay El?"

I raise an eyebrow at him. Has he heard me speak in the week I've known him? I don't understand how some people can be so… what's the word? Unobservant?

I ignore what he asked and gesture to the art supplies in his bag. That seems much more interesting.

[ eloise does maint things ]