Rise up like the sun [Amberly's finale]

"Soon enough you'll be on your own
Steady and straight
And if they drag you through the mud
It doesn't change what's in your blood"

~

Absence of fear makes a person weak.

And that was my downfall.

My mind was plagued with the family saying since I was young that we are to be the courageous and strong and to never back down from a fight, to fight to the end, Angevin's. That's how my great great aunt would have described herself. She fought in the war and took many lives and still it wasn't enough to save her from the indescribable fate she faced once her name had been called to participate in the annual events that began eighty two years ago.

I always wanted to know who she was, for real.

I just didn't expect that meeting her would end up with my end.

And so the weakness in my limbs comes all too quickly. My weapon falling from my grip before I could even try to hit the famed Three I had been forced to see the first two days in hell. Third time meeting her makes it all the while. Third times a charm, as they say, when the realization of what was happening came to greet me. My fingers were already numb. My foot was throbbing. My stomach didn't stop pulsing and my face was fevered and red. It was only a matter of time before the wounds took my life, if someone else didn't. I just won't have to suffer.

It's okay, Amberly. You've been fightin long enough. Let go.

That voice graces me with her presence and before I can see through my marred vision, I know that there's no more hope for my return home. My sister and brother will not have to worry about their menace of a sister. My mother will no longer have to yell at me for something I've not done or did so wrong to grab her attention. Maybe my father will pay attention to his family now that their trouble maker of a daughter is no longer in the picture. Maybe, this happened for a reason?

"I can't, Avonlea. I ne -" I whisper out and something glides through my vision.

The spear impales my leg, piercing the skin and muscle and ultimately severing the artery to my life. My gaze follows suit as it's plucked from my body just as quickly as possible and I stand there dumbfounded at this creature in front of me before my leg goes completely numb. I crumple under the weight of my own soul wanting to escape. The ground beneath me is so soft with the moisture beneath my back soaking through my clothes. At least that didn't hurt -

Yes ya can. I'm right here, sweet cheeks. I ain't leavin you now.

I search for the voice that seems to come at me from all sides. The thumping heartbeat in my ears makes it sound completely distant from where I have fallen and even though the two tributes that wanted nothing but my death stand near, I am no longer strong enough to be here.

"But I'm scared... I'm not -" I gasp out. My lungs feel heavy, troubled. "-not ready to stop fighting. Haylee needs me. Fennec... too." My head spins out of control. The phantom voice goes silent for the remaining moments as a chill begins to plague my body and I start to shake.

Slowly I whither away.

"Av... onlea? - don't leave me." I beg of the voice and turn my head to the right to notice someone walking nearer to me. This person didn't seem violent this time. Her silhouette wasn't rushing at me with a blade and it wasn't the little girl I had been with the night previous. Instead - my lungs gasp out again, and it hurts to keep myself from departing.

That's when the flower is placed in front of my eyes. The sweetest flower that was ever gifted to me that belonged to my ally who succumbed to her death just yesterday. The girl who killed me brought me a gesture of kindness.

"You're... next..." Is my threat as she leaves.

A minute turned into seconds. And those seconds turned into something shorter. Another figure sought to stand in my way as their foot severs my vision from the petals of the flower I want to touch again, to feel the soft fuzz of the leaves and smell it one last time. Only, I can't see the flower anymore and a tear slips through my eye. It falls to the ground and I can no longer breath.

My lips try to form words as her blurry face comes into view. I can barely make out her smile and gentle features as her lips touch my forehead. The simplest of gestures I've never felt overpower the living realm.

I am finally with her.

Don't break character
You've got a lot of heart
Is this real or just a dream?
Be still -
Be still

---

Wow - what can I say right now? I'm privileged to have had this opportunity to join these games with someone like a retro family member. I'll admit, I had no clue how I would even portray little miss Amberly because her bio was literally 13 days old when I was reaped with her. She had no voice. Her bio was a CB made in haste because I had lost Avonlea to the second games. In that time span, I couldn't fathom that the weeks to follow I would fall in absolute love with her and she became something that I wished I could have taken further then the games. Loving a character so much like a child is hard, but I brought her to life and made her into something that I'm super proud of.

I couldn't have done it without my alliance though. From the moment I was graced to be the tribute reveal, I thought something was different. When Kaplan and Fireflyz asked me to join their alliance, I was ecstatic! When Yoya became our 4th, I was the happiest person. These games and everyone I threaded with has really made it possible for me to fall in love with a tribute again and mourn a tribute, too.

Thank you GM's for everything you did and answering all my silly questions. Even though I got unlucky with a bunch of RE's, it's part of her story and I wouldn't change it for anything. The world just isn't ready for an Angevin victor - yet. ;)

I also feel the need to give a shout out to Arcana, who really is such a great friend and person in whole. From being a confidant to giving me advice to being the most positive person and biggest supporter of Amberly, he deserves an award. Thank you!

Good luck tributes of the top 8. Always do the fun thing and write like you mean it!

~