walk through fire to save my life [ jules vs croc ; day 3 ]
Mar 7, 2020 15:13:56 GMT -5
Post by ✨ zozo. on Mar 7, 2020 15:13:56 GMT -5
[presto][/presto]
When feeling returns to my legs in the middle of the night I weep.
Relief gives me hope, hope gives me strength, and strength gives me grit. On shaky limbs I rise, testing the waters of my now aching muscles and never thought I would be so happy to feel this much pain in my legs. They twitch and groan, re-learning how to crawl and stand and hold my weight. With the help of two spears stabbed into the ground I shuffle away from the sand until my balance returns and I can walk, then jog, then run.
The rain follows me out of the towered desert, brief and warm. I have half the thought to stop and take out an empty canteen from my pack but by the time the clouds pass it's collected not near enough water to keep me alive. The Gamemakers are teasing me now. For good measure my stomach rumbles, desperate to be fed. I decide to make that my next mission. Food first. Water second.
The lack of people around me as I set up my net brings a strange mix of vulnerability and comfort. There's no point in deliberating who might be waiting in the shadows for me to turn my back or close my eyes, but the thoughts do cross my mind as I settle into the ground. Three less people to watch my back. Three less people to fear in the night. You win some, and you lose some, but I didn't come here to make friends. Smart, I think in Jamie's voice. Remember: trust no-one.
I fall asleep to mosquitos and the sound of the anthem with three strangers in the sky.
Better them than me, my mantra following me into sleep. Better them than Noah.
Bolt upright, I gasp. At first I think the explosion is canon fire, scrambling to untangle myself from the mosquito net in fear of a fight. Creatures squawk and take flight above me as I snatch up my backpack and fling it over my shoulders, cursing under my breath as wounds shriek in my chest. In my haste, I'd forgotten about the gruesome gift the dead boy had left me the day before.
I take all of ten steps before the blood-curling cry fills my ears. Frozen at the noise I clamp my hands over my ears and wince, inhaling a deep breath to make up for the shock that knocked most of the air from my lungs. It lasts one second, two seconds, three.
And then all is quiet once more.
"What the fuck..?"
No time to finish the rest of my question. Best run instead.
My lack of fuel and my privileged life is catching up to me. Without a meal my body aches, running on fumes, and every effort saps up all the energy I have from resting. When my heart feels as if it may explode in my chest I take a rest to catch my fading breath, swatting away the bugs loitering around my head.
The world tilts in my fatigue, colours flashing against my eyes. I need food. It's an obvious thought, and a frustrating one at that. The kids from the Seam were built to last days without a meal, but Monaghan children are used to food on the table seven nights a week. Damn me and my family, damn our riches. Damn everything I did to keep us fed, shooting myself in the foot in the process.
I am the consequence, here in this arena, for all of my ancestor's evil.
Slowly I summon the strength to rise. Taking it slow, I pace myself as I walk, good hand clutching my weapon from Silas tightly as I move. Being alone makes travel easier, no longer endured to the whining of One or the death stares from Silas - but being alone also makes me an easy target to the likes of them. Rather than focusing on my losses I concentrate on my surroundings, desperately looking for any sign of food.
And it comes to me, eventually, as the sun rises in the sky and the air returns to its familiar muggy, weighted presence. Trees dotted everywhere, each branch thick with an abundance of fruits, in a sand-dusted clearing. In the sand by the tree trunks lies a knife and I plan to snatch it up with ease, taking excited steps towards the plants - it's easy.
Too easy.
As I halt my step, something behind me growls. The rest of my body freezes for a moment, taking a sharp intake of breath before I turn to face the noise.
Something monstrous crawls toward me. Something unnatural. Something lethal.
I don't think twice before striking.
Better them than I.
jules attacks the crococanda mutt; war hammer
aS65G|aajOspiked blunt
DEEP GASH ON RIGHT BICEP -- 8.0 damage + 1 strength
aS65G|aajOspiked blunt
DEEP GASH ON RIGHT BICEP -- 8.0 damage + 1 strength
spikedblunt