one more try to a lullaby { scout's honor
Jun 23, 2021 19:13:43 GMT -5
Post by tick 12a / calla on Jun 23, 2021 19:13:43 GMT -5
A R E T O
► ► ►
Areto finds the group much like she left them. She feels off kilter and raw when she picks her way back through the grass, flattening little clusters of wildflowers under her heel. She registers the other three distantly, but her fists ache from the effort of not punching Love's face in and it's all she can focus on.
"Le Roux." She says in answer to their silent question as she approaches, barely even stopping her stride. "She's gone."
And Areto doesn't say much else before she keeps walking, trusting the others to see the rage hovering under her skin and to not comment on it. She goes to the water like it's a beacon, pushing her knuckles into her eyes and steadying her breathing. She can't afford to be clipped and callous with her allies, but she desperately doesn't want to talk about it, not now, with this sharp pang of grief sitting in her chest.
There's a cluster of parachutes lying on the shoreline like beached seagulls and Areto puts one hand on either of Blade and Ariel's shoulders. "You pick first." She says, nudging them gently towards them. "See if there's anything useful we can use."
Then, "Avriel," She motions for him to follow, "Keep watch with me."
But it's more of a guise than anything. Areto knows that the rest of the tributes will still be recuperating. Besides, the sunlight gleams off of their sponsorship and the weapons that the girls pull out. There's hardly anything to keep watch of.
Areto walks closer to the lake, quiet as she watches the surface of it. When Avriel steps up beside her, she unlaces her boots and rolls her socks down. She feels her feet sink into the sand and wades in up to her ankles, forcing little ripples into the smooth glass. It's almost like she can feel the tension melt from her shoulders. The cuffs of her pants darken in the water and she waits a long moment before saying anything.
"The career boys were with the body - Love and Julian." She mutters under her breath, "They said it was the boy from Seven, and I don't know if I think they're lying, or if I want to think they're lying. Either way, they're both threats. I don't trust them."
Areto looks in Avriel's eyes then, sees something like a kindred spirit.
"If you get a shot-" She says seriously, "-take it."
Alliance means mutual trust. She doesn't want to keep Avriel in the dark. Not after seeing his training score, at least. He'd be helpful even if Areto did choose to keep him at an arms length.
"Because what matters to me, is keeping them-" She nods to Blade and Ariel, "-safe."
She looks back over the water again.
"I hope we're on the same page with that."
"Le Roux." She says in answer to their silent question as she approaches, barely even stopping her stride. "She's gone."
And Areto doesn't say much else before she keeps walking, trusting the others to see the rage hovering under her skin and to not comment on it. She goes to the water like it's a beacon, pushing her knuckles into her eyes and steadying her breathing. She can't afford to be clipped and callous with her allies, but she desperately doesn't want to talk about it, not now, with this sharp pang of grief sitting in her chest.
There's a cluster of parachutes lying on the shoreline like beached seagulls and Areto puts one hand on either of Blade and Ariel's shoulders. "You pick first." She says, nudging them gently towards them. "See if there's anything useful we can use."
Then, "Avriel," She motions for him to follow, "Keep watch with me."
But it's more of a guise than anything. Areto knows that the rest of the tributes will still be recuperating. Besides, the sunlight gleams off of their sponsorship and the weapons that the girls pull out. There's hardly anything to keep watch of.
Areto walks closer to the lake, quiet as she watches the surface of it. When Avriel steps up beside her, she unlaces her boots and rolls her socks down. She feels her feet sink into the sand and wades in up to her ankles, forcing little ripples into the smooth glass. It's almost like she can feel the tension melt from her shoulders. The cuffs of her pants darken in the water and she waits a long moment before saying anything.
"The career boys were with the body - Love and Julian." She mutters under her breath, "They said it was the boy from Seven, and I don't know if I think they're lying, or if I want to think they're lying. Either way, they're both threats. I don't trust them."
Areto looks in Avriel's eyes then, sees something like a kindred spirit.
"If you get a shot-" She says seriously, "-take it."
Alliance means mutual trust. She doesn't want to keep Avriel in the dark. Not after seeing his training score, at least. He'd be helpful even if Areto did choose to keep him at an arms length.
"Because what matters to me, is keeping them-" She nods to Blade and Ariel, "-safe."
She looks back over the water again.
"I hope we're on the same page with that."