by SunnyJustice » Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:16 pm
➵ Demitra Sparks
"Glad to have you along." Demitra nodded as the younger tribute thanked her, but her expression remained solemn. She'd have to come clean about trying to kill Zoe eventually. Her conscience wouldn't let her stay silent about what she did.
Zoe didn't seem to have a particular destination in mind for their travels, as long as they steered clear of the huge gathering in the distance. Demitra nodded in understanding. She had no intentions on going anywhere near that disaster, most likely it was the Career Alliance hunting down the creeps from earlier. The movement was too violent and chaotic to be anything else.
"You left the marsh, didn't you?" Demitra murmured. She didn't clarify how she knew that. "And the northern forest is too cold. We'll never be able to reach the west quadrant before nightfall by circling around, so there's only one place left to go."
She looked Zoe dead in the eye. "We'll make camp inside the Cornucopia."
Demitra led the way, setting off at a steady travelling pace. She stopped in her tracks at an all-too-familiar chime, one she'd never expected to hear during her arena experience. A sponsor gift. For her conscience's sake, Demitra hoped it was for Zoe.
➵ Sponsor Gift
A soft chime sounded in the eastern quadrant, followed by the appearance of a silver silk parachute. It descended from the still skies and came to a rest near Zoe. Opening the oddly-shaped package attached would reveal an oversized sickle, able to be wielded with two hands like a scythe. The worn handle was wrapped in a tattered purple fabric. Clearly, someone had used it before.
Attached was a note from Himaya, written the night prior: "I won the Games with this. Hope it brings you luck."
➵ Reyna Byrne of District Twelve
➵ Location: East
➵ Tagged: Sharnaz, angry tributes
Before Reyna could take another step, pain shot through her heel. She swore and fell to her knees, confusedly watching Sharnaz run off into the distance. Did another tribute just shoot her? Before she could recover her footing or even check what caused her fall, however, that girl from District Seven slapped her in the face with a disgusting fish. "Ewww what the-"
She tried again to get up, but Sienna's district partner had arrived. Snarling and threatening, he slammed her into the ground like a ragdoll. All the punches landing on Reyna meant she couldn't even say a rude comment in between.
Moses only left when the District Two tributes arrived. That blonde, Gloria, decided to finally follow through on their 'agreement' during lunch. Reyna swore as the Career stabbed her in the leg. Gloria's district partner Chaska - who'd roared in pure rage just a minute ago - was now completely silent as he taunted Reyna with his scythe. Didn't even have the good graces to stab her with it.
"Why you little-" Reyna snarled at the duo, lashing out without caring who she hit. She still wanted to fight!
➵ Eden Beauregard of District One
➵ Location: Careers' Camp
➵ Tagged: Rieka, Sienna, Moses, Jay
A storm of thunderous tempers erupted behind Eden as tributes started to inflict justice upon the murderer. His allies were involved of course, but others joined the punishment as well. Nobody was fond of this vile coward who'd impaled a child and boasted about it. But this horrific fight should not be witnessed by young, tender eyes, so Eden turned to shield Rieka from the atrocities with his own body. He would remain her shield and cradle until the bitter end. If he couldn't save her, he'd at least keep her comfortable.
Rieka mentioned his injury, and Eden just smiled at her in an attempt at reassurance. His mind was blocking out the worst of the pain - it was nothing compared to his wrenching heart. "I've had paper cuts worse than this, and it's not your fault at all," He murmured, removing his jacket from where he'd tied it around his waist after helping Gloria. Thanks to that decision, there was no blood on it from the wound Reyna inflicted. Gently, he draped the jacket over the injured child's body. It would both keep her warm and hide the grisly wound.
The District Seven tributes soon arrived to comfort their baby, Sienna offering a song and Moses offering his district token. Little Jay from District Eleven joined them, sobbing with misery as he blamed himself for everything.
"Shh, you did nothing wrong," Eden scolded in the gentlest voice. Miserable sobs shook the child's small body, and Eden knew distracting him was the only option. "Jay, can you do me a favor and pick Rieka some pink flowers? There's a patch right behind you."
Moses soon returned, telling dear Rieka how much he loved her. The District Seven tribute had the aura of a worried, protective father about to lose his child. As for Sienna, despite the tears streaming down her face, she still lay a hand on Eden's back to comfort him. A brief jolt of pain stung him as her hand ventured near his wound, but he forced himself not to flinch. Sienna had the best of intentions and Eden would not let them go unappreciated. "Thank you," He murmured, managing a smile.
Now Killick had arrived, standing watch with his cutlass in hand. Eden nodded to him in gratitude. Now, safe and sound, he could oblige his child's final request - a bedtime story. It broke his heart Rieka would ask for such a thing, as if she already knew what was happening.
"Of course I will," Eden murmured, rubbing Rieka's shoulder to distract from the pain just a little. He only wished he could do more. But dwelling on that wouldn't change anything - he needed to focus on telling her the best story. Thinking back to the tales he'd heard as a young Career, he quickly decided on a story that might bring Rieka some comfort. He'd tell it just as his mother did all those years ago.
...
"Once there lived a scientist, the most brilliant and determined of all. No one knew when she was born, but great-grandparents recalled her presence during their own childhoods. She was timeless, maybe immortal. And she seemed to fear nothing.
No one knew the scientist's only fear - death itself. All her beautiful inventions, all her grit and perseverance, she channeled all of it in extending her own life. But one day, time began to catch up with her magnificent genius. A wrinkle had appeared on her face, the first and only after hundreds of years. Her innovations were no longer enough to stave off the creeping tide of age."
"Taking drastic action, the scientist poured all her intellect and will into one more invention. But after drawing the blueprint, she realized she'd never live long enough to see it completed... unless she put aside all her other pursits. She'd no longer have the time to help others with her creations. And even then, success was not guaranteed. Perhaps she'd throw away her life for nothing.
Faced with this terrible choice, she stared long and hard into the unfinished chassis of her project. What is life but fighting for its continuance? As she turned around to see her other inventions, ones she'd built to help the handicapped, the scientist realized she'd been wrong. There's more to life - much more. And with what time she had left, she wanted to improve the quality of her life and others.
From that moment on, the scientist set aside her dreams of further longevity. She devoted all her time and energy to helping others experience life to its fullest. As she poured her kindness into the world, her doubts and fears seemed to melt away."
"Decades later, when the scientist lay on her deathbed, a kind visitor invited himself into her room. He lay his scythe down and knelt by her bedside, regarding her with the gentlest eyes she'd seen. "It has been a while."
"I hid from you for so long," She murmured, searching for a hint of anger in those dark depths. "Do you not hate me?"
"I could never hate you," The visitor chuckled. "I love you. I love you for all your brilliance and determination, for all the lives you saved and extended. The lengthening of a life does not mock death, just as the unnecessary hastening of one does not pay me further respect. I wish only for my children to experience life to its fullest before I lift them from its worldly burdens."
"Well, I have." A smile warmed her face. "I have experienced life to its fullest. And now, I'm ready for the next adventure."
Returning the smile, the visitor offered her his hand. She accepted it with grace and followed him into the waiting light."
...
Silent tears streaked down Eden's cheeks as he finished the story. "Sleep well, Rieka," He murmured, tucking the jacket around her shoulders like a blanket. Wherever the sweet child was going, he hoped she'd be safe and warm, surrounded by flowers and those she loved. He'd be watching for her in the sky tonight - her smile would light up the heavens.
(Aaa coming up with that story took me longer than expected! Hope my Rieka baby likes it </3)
