In The Frothy Waters || D2 vs. Mutts {Day 3}

The early night sounds unsettling for Alexander’s requirement for slumber. Within the corner of my neck and shoulder he seems to sleep, though unsuccessfully so it appears. Discomfort must be embracing him painfully, as he shifts always just when I’m hopefully he’s discovered an ease. There’s no telling if it’s the wounds cursing him to unrest, or perhaps he’s merely a constantly moving sleeper and last night’s stillness was simply a bluff. Despite months of calling him mine, innocence never allowed us together while we drifted off into dreamland. And though we decided to imagine our short life’s together forever, now our lifespan has been cut even shorter - and other little things like how we sleep at night, may never be experienced or even discussed.

Just as those heart-clenching thoughts breach into my mind, the anthem plays above and Alexander gives from his attempt at shuteye. The show in the sky provides a sweet distraction, in more ways than one as faces finally twinkle with the stars. A career nonetheless is the first the flash, along with two other older threats. Despite the deaths being announced, a grin relishes across my cheeks as if my lips didn’t understand the concept of death. It’s the sickness of the Games, of being a career, of wanting to survive, but all those things are exactly what’s going to keep me alive.

As soon as silence collapses upon us once more, Alexander urges for my attempt at sleep - hoping that I achieve better success then he did. “I’ve never had an issue with sleeping.” I say not just in response to him, but for him the genuinely know. If he’s the one to make it from all of this, I want him to know about me as if we were truly together. I want him to be able to tell his grandkids one day about hopefully his first love. And against the chest-stinging thoughts consuming my mind, I find an easy sleep to no surprise.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of over this place. I’d rather stick with the creepy jungle.” His voice shines within the humidly misty morning, as he begins collecting our things - and though I’m certain he woke me up in our closeness, I’m still found in a daze. With crust being scrapped from my eyes, I simply nod in agreement. Escape from the flood lands sounds better than anything else, though it still requires our tread from it. A whiney moan of tiredness, rather irritation for the dangerous waters, rattles from my throat before I succumb to what has to be done.

Fortunately our venture back the same path feels quicker then our first trek through it. But sure enough it’s further water that welcomes us, a muddy lake now accompanying the clearing we camped in just two nights prior. “Must have been run off from all the rain last night.” Alexander’s all-knowing words come out, leaving me with a chuckle at his usual ways surfacing.

“Or the GameMakers just know how much I love water.” And sure enough it’s sarcasm to flutter from me.

The old ways of Alexander isn’t the only thing to surface nor return of course. Ripples return me to yesterday, though a heaviness of fear doesn’t weigh on me this round. Instantly my sword is drawn, a mere second after Alexander’s as if a domino affect. Though before we gain the advantage, disfigured beasts slither and roar from the waters. Without understanding how a gentle bleeding pierces at the back of my head, leaving me in wonder of how they managed to strike first.

“Well looks like we’ve got ourselves an early morning, we haven’t even had a chance to eat breakfast yet. But-“ Alexander pauses, the adrenaline of battle glistening from his skin. “I guess it’ll have to wait, huh Gala?” Confidence radiates from him in just the ways I cherish so. Unfortunately so, his stride isn’t able to match his words. Another thing I discover cute, his rare slips after being cocky… preferably not in a life-threatening time however.

A light giggle slips past my tongue still though. “Let’s make sure we’re not breakfast for them now, A.” Teases brush into my voice adoringly. And with my bottom lip clenched between my teeth, I spin my sword in preparation. A breath is released in excitement, before I release my weapon on my new found opponent.
 

In this moment, there's no question. Their steps are synchronized by years of striking swords and sweat stained skin. Alexander's blade draws the bait while Gala's glares from the shadows. It takes only two swift swings to drive the beast into the trap that's been set. Alexander merely has to jump back as Gala's sword skewers the crock like creature's eye. It wriggles and wreaths in a showcase of suffering before eventually falling still.

The other animal is fast to reply with fury, but its blow against Gala is far below what her's has been. Another mere scratch slices across her skin while she meanwhile stands over the other crock's corpse. Alexander can't even help the laughter lifting from his lunges. He's certain the gym back at home is rallying and rampaging at the sight of such a swift kill. Their stars are certainly center stage now.

"One hell of a shot!"

Alexander hollers twirling the edge of his sword. It sweeps across the swaying plants and pierces several of their heads. The youthful career can't help the adrenaline a kill brings to his body. It isn't a human and doesn't come with an accompanying canon, but it's death is far better than their's. Alexander begins to prepare for their next approach as the other beast is busying itself in Gala's waters.

"You sure you don't want to go for a swim G?" 

Alexander mocks as he stealthily moves along the undergrowth. With the water he knows he has to be careful of any ripples he might make. This creature is hungry for any sensation the two of them can give it. A slight shudder across the water's surface is certainly enough to satisfy its curiosity to crunch. Alexander finds footing just on side of cool pool and crouches low.

"Doesn't it just look so, inviting?"

Then he's moving, diving through the air driven by his sword. Alexander knows the splash he'll make will be monstrous, but his sword should strike flesh first. The second sequence of District Two is coming with its first round floating dead already in the water. 

A hunger to protect growls at my heart. With rage and force my weapon craves to demolish that final threat, while his tail prevents my blade from diving into its odd exterior. Determination doesn’t allow me to sway however, as I immediately pull for another swing at the beast. Unfortunately it’s as though my arms become heavy with desperation, clamping my sword through the air rather then our enemy. It’s practically a hiss that whistles past my clenched teeth at my result, unable to gather how my success dives dramatically from a kill to an inability to even touch our opponent.

Without the distraction of pain upon the mutation, his teeth then chomps for Alexander’s flesh. My vision goes blurry in the sudden chaos that brews, until I see blood dripping from Alex’s forehead somehow. What has gotten into us? Unable to even scratch the snake with a crocodile’s head, one of the most oddest creations the Capitol has surely ever brewed. “We gotta get our heads back in the game, A…” I nearly whisper to solely myself, though it may have been loud enough for Alex to hear as well. Sternly my eyes follow him, wondering if our strength will return - or if this stupid mutt is going to scratch us to death.

“Fuck.” Another mutter slips from my tongue, as the beast denies yet another swing from Alexander. It’s as though there’s a forcefield around this slithering odd dude, refusing to allow our blades from harming him. My sword bounces in the air with debate, determined to discover an advantage we must contain somewhere. And without hesitation I step closer to our enemy and Alexander, my shoes being brushed by the brim of the water’s abyss. “I’ve heard crocodile and snake are both quite delicious. Just leaves me wondering what them mutated together tastes like.” I taunt the beast, before my weapon returns to a strive once more towards him and I embrace the water again.
 

Filler!