fake plastic trees [rhys x ines] Day 1

[parsnip]

R H Y S
P E A C E

      The other members of his alliance must have been taking time for their own space; it’s only natural to sit and reflect privately. The intensity, and dichotomy, of knowing at some point at least two of them would be sent off by cannon fire is… Well, Rhys can’t figure it out. What does it mean if he was to win? Would that mean he’s to blame, even when he’d never for a second think of hurting either of them?

The forest was a refuge. It held all kinds. The central tower wasn’t quite visible in all the encroaching branches, but Rhys made out the sirens on it earlier. He couldn’t for a second comprehend how loud they might be. He hoped aloud, in the form a deep sigh, not to ever find out.

In the forest there were plenty of creatures, but Rhys felt like they hid from the tributes. That’s how it seemed, at least. Except one, a presence – not necessarily a creature. He seen it a couple of times, here and there, but ultimately it never showed its face. Until now.

Was it a creature? Was it a tribute?

He wasn’t sure, but either way, he was ready with the bloodied spiked baseball bat that had a crusted mixture of rust and the iron-smelling remnants of the bloodbath. But, seeing what approached, he lowered it – happily.

[Rhys may meet a familiar]

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[d6a seraphina keoch [cait]]

INES IZAR.

In the end, it’s not another tribute that makes the noise I catch on the wind. Maggie had gone into full stealth mood when I issued the warning, crouching low and stalking across the snow towards the edge of the trees. When the “danger” had passed, she signalled me over to find two captured critters in her arms.

Well, “captured” probably isn’t the right word; I’d seen it play out from a cross the clearing. Rather, the two tiny animals had been hidden near the gnarled root of a particularly ancient tree when Maggie had crept over to them, and they’d fixed her with a momentary curious glance before throwing caution to the wind and idling straight up to her. The cat had nuzzled softly against the back of her leg as the crab-like creature stood slightly to the side, stoic yet at ease.

That had to be a good thing, right? Animals were supposed to have excellent survival instincts. If they trust her, I should trust her too, right?

“For you,” Maggie offers, nudging the armoured creature gently in my direction. I watch it wobble over to me and look down into its two stalked eyes. We stay there, locked in a staring competition, uncertain of who the bigger danger is, until Maggie calls out to me from far up ahead and I race to catch up to her, shadowed by a rock. I keep one eye on my tail all the while, knowing fully well what Hades Lochlan was capable of and not willing to turn my back completely on my new-found company.

The Arena must be teeming with the little guys, for better or worse, because it’s not even ten minutes later when I hear yet another mewling through the trees. I barely register the noise before the hard-shelled creature I’ve picked up pulls away from me, heading in the direction of the noise.

And I could leave him, be free of him and sleep easier tonight knowing I don’t have to keep checking for the mutt to switch lanes, but there’s a pull at my heart that won’t let me abandon him out here in the cold.

A tiny-winged dragon greets us around the corner of an ice-slicked shrub, and I’m instantly enthralled. I can’t help myself from starting towards it, curious to find out more about it –

Trrrrr… My rocky friend issues a baritone growl in place of a warning. It’s only then that I see the other tribute across from me, who conveniently locates the dragon at the exact same moment I do.

My heart races as I take stock of the situation. He’s bigger than me. Stronger. Has a scarier looking weapon, but he doesn’t seem ready to use it, he’s just as intrigued by the animals as I am.

“He’s cute, right?”

I fight to control the rising panic. Tell myself we’re on the same team, as we share this moment of gentle discovery.

“Seems cruel to keep them trapped in here.”

scavenges the tower

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another mountable attempt...........

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