on the prowle {cool kids day 2}

[arctic]

Something holds his gut when he looks at Juno. Not that he doesn’t trust the boy, but there’s a catch in his breath when his back is turned. Marcellus feels comfortable with Xov. He knows that Xov wants him there - in some fashion compared to Juno, who seemed reserved at the start. He was concerned that someone was with Marcellus, but as far as he knew, it was just him. And the small little creature that decided to befriend him.

Xov had spent a lot of time exploring the arena, which left Marcellus and Juno to reside in the witches’ forest by themselves. It was curious to him that they ended up stuck together. But they sat in silence. Possibly, it’s what the two needed. Most of the night was spent in silence, soaking in the other’s presence. Which Marcellus didn’t mind. Juno was too busy nursing an injury, drugged up on the painkillers that made the suffering less terrible for just one day.

One day is all people need sometimes.

Juno asked about 11, and Marcellus didn’t have a lot of 11 to share. ”I… don’t know.” His mom never took him out on the district. She thought it was embarrassing to be out and about with him. Something about being too dumb to make a coherent look out of herself. ”It’s nice, where I’ve been.” He shrugged. ”I spend a lot of time at a volunteer shelter, and the people there are very nice.” The people he’d talk to at the shelter reminded him of how the world works. He learned more from strangers struggling than from his mother. ”They deserve more than what we could ever give them.” A thought that has always hovered in his mind, but it’s a lesson in how the world was meant to be cruel.

In the morning, their small tent did nothing to protect anyone further than Xov, but the idea did enough. All Marcellus had was the parka they refused, along with a small cap the girl offered him. His body felt hollow, like the cold air had replaced his bones. He understood the feeling of cold now, but the air smelled like it was burning despite the snowy flurries. ”Do you guys smell that?” The boy asked. He sniffed the air and stood up. Marcellus was no firefighter, but he was naturally curious, like a young boy. ”Why does it smell like it’s burning?” It wouldn’t make sense for a fire to burn so furiously. To his side, as if the small creature understood him, he saw the playful winged animal sniff the air, also trying to find a source. ”Where do you think it’s coming from?”

As if it were waiting for the cue, it immediately jumped into action. Just like the initial meeting, they tread the snow with a cautioned passion. ”I think they have an idea.” Marcellus looked to the other two, ”should we trust them? Or is this some trap?” He wants to trust the cute animal, but obviously, he wasn’t the brightest of the bunch. There was little faith in his ability to make wise decisions. 

ELEGANT

[nori halliday 🌻 d11a [Bella]]

X O V thao

It was clear that Gus, the miniature buffalo, was some kind of Capitol-manufactured creature, because he didn’t seem like something that could survive on his own in such a cold, barren place. They were alike in that way.

Since they had bumped into each other in the creepy forest, the only thing that had worked to keep his nose out of her satchel was to give him a bit of what she foraged—nuts, roots, little patches of greenery here and there. She kept the tender parts of the plant and gave him the hardy, bitter stems, but he didn’t seem to know the difference. In fact, he gave the impression that he wouldn’t even know if she handed him something poisonous, a thought she guarded in her back pocket just in case he turned on her.

Unlikely, if she was any judge of character. The more time they spent together, the more convinced she became that Gus was just a needy, clumsy child who yearned for a good nap in a spring meadow. Not so different from Xov.

She had mostly been pretending to sleep—Xov had never been a good ground sleeper in the best of circumstances. Her hypnagogic thoughts wandered between memory, present, and paranoia, afraid the shadows visible against the tarpaulin might suddenly morph into someone else, rather than the bundled-up figures of Juno and Marcellus. Her mind was so full of frightening new faces, it could be any of them. Lucky’s towering form haunted her memory, returning in her quiet moments as she imagined that magnetic smile she’d seen in the training center contorting into a sadistic grin, blood on his clothes, beating a broken and bleeding Lionel.

No, he hadn’t been broken, really. She wondered where that boy was now—how strange that he had cut her face before, but then returned to his trademark flirtatious shit-talking in the forest, like when they’d met. She wasn’t sure how to feel about him, but she knew Lucky must have a screw loose to enjoy kicking that boy while he was down. And Lionel must have something of substance to have made it out of there alive.

The night before, in her comically small makeshift tent, she’d curled up with Gus under a shawl that some sponsors had sent her, and they were warm enough. More than that, the gifts were a small confidence boost—a reminder that whatever version of herself people were seeing on screen was apparently worth preserving. She only hoped they wouldn’t change their minds as time went on.

The sheer number of gifts made her feel guilty when J and Marcellus hadn’t received so much. Since the parachutes had found her on her solo scouting venture, she had decided not mention to where all of the items had come from. Instead, when she’d returned with her pack full of supplies, she pretended like she had found all of it. One tiny, well-intentioned lie that she hoped the spirits would forgive her for—she just couldn’t bring herself to rub her sponsorship in their faces.

When Marcellus asked about a smell, Xov sat up in her tent, deciding to act awake. Gus seemed to have noticed it too—there was an acrid smell like the woodburning stoves the mountain folk used back in Twelve.

”Yeah, I think you’re right. It smells like wood burning.” Xov was wary, but curious. She cocked her head to one side, the effort of thinking manifested on her face. ”Seems unlikely the other tributes would make a fire that smells so strong. Unless someone out there is asking for company?”

She nudged Juno with a concerned look, not sure if he was awake or still zonked from the painkillers. Moving on felt like the right thing to do, but she didn’t want to push him. ”Your call, J. Do you feel up to investigating?”

[Python]

j u n o
b r i m s t o n e.

At first, Juno thought he might've been hallucinating. He had taken tablets to ease the pain, which lulled him in and out of sleep. It reminded him of the brews his folks made him at home when he fell ill - it tasted sweet because they would always add that little drop of honey to make it bearable. Whatever these pills were, they were stronger than that, and the drowsiness that followed made him incapable of worrying about the consequences. His knee was no longer in agony, but he questioned his sanity when a blubbery creature hobbled in his direction in the middle of the night.

He watched it roll around in the snow, uncertain of how to handle the situation. It seemed playful, like a cat, but he had never seen an animal like this before. It didn't look like it belonged here. It didn't even have normal legs.

When it nuzzled its cold nose into his elbow, he didn't protest. A slow and steady glance around their makeshift campsite yielded the conclusion that they all had visitors, these strange little pets keeping them company. It should've been suspicious, but Juno was too weary to care. He also didn't have it in him to hurt or abandon the little guy.

Although he didn't remember asking about Marcellus' home, he remembered the answers. The way he spoke of the people and volunteer shelters, he seemed like a sympathetic guy. Someone with a heart. That was all Juno hoped for in an ally, and so far he had no reason to believe Marcellus was lying. Nobody had followed him either. For now, they were safe.

In the morning, Juno stirred last. He picked up the smell as soon as they mentioned it, an acrid odor that tickled his nostrils in all the wrong ways. A tribute wouldn't light a fire unless they weren't thinking straight, or they were trying to attract someone. It wasn't cold enough to kill someone yet, was it? Not with all these parkas and sleeping bags laying around.

As much as it made Juno nervous, there could be someone out there signaling for help. "It's suspicious, but I think it's worth a look, especially if it gets us moving. We can't stay here forever."

[arctic]

Nobody blames Marcus that he didn’t trust himself. Trusting a fool makes even the smartest person appear as an even bigger fool. The smell of fire quickly commanded every possible scent to exist in the area. Which, aside from the warm breath that he felt on his face in the night from his new critter friend, was much more pungent. The creature smelled like… he doesn’t know a great comparison, really. Like the cheap food he’d give his dog back at home. Just… not that.

Marcellus was fine with the smell, though. Burning wood made him think of the fireplace at the volunteer shelter. He liked to remember the small moments that parents were able to enjoy. A breath of safety, warmth. That he was able to help make that group of people feel safe. The ability to matter was always memorable. He’s made a change, and for him, that’s enough.

Despite his acclaimed helpful nature, he would not be the person to lead a trail. It shouldn’t be, really, and it was clear after the two permitted him to follow the smell. Xov stated she feels it’s unlikely to be another tribute. Juno doesn’t know what the source is, but he thinks its worth looking for. Initially he just followed the creature, who admittedly probably knew as much as he did about the smell. He wondered what all the mutts are born with intellectually. Are they a simulation in themselves? Was this winged friend just predetermined to lead them to whatever the fire was? That seemed possible. But, to Marcus, animals weren’t meant to harm people. Even if it was a creation of man. There’s humanity everywhere.

There’s a finesse in the tiny creature’s movements, but the crisp air quickly gets painted brown as he makes one wrong step into the snow. A well-placed booby trap was already made, and as if the world knew he’d be the type of guy to snag himself in one, a lit fire swept across the back of his neck. ”Shoot!” He gasped, before he spun himself around and into the snow, onto his back. ”There’s a tripwire there.” He advised the two. A huff of annoyance exited his lungs before he shuffled back up onto his feet, dusting off the snow and brown dust from his pants. ”Don’t think there’s multiple rounds of ammunition, though.” While that did release a fire, it was nowhere close to the smell of a forest fire.

Marcus looked down at the creature, who stared at him with an intensity. He shook his head to the creature, as if he was still in any position to follow such a light-footed animal with his thunderous walk. He was never in a shape to be elegant, at least. ”Let’s, uh, keep going. I guess I’ll play guinea pig.” If he dies running into tripwires and flaming brick dust, so be it. ”This way still, little dude?” The boy asked. Even though it’s expected, he began to wonder if Tsiuri was shaking her head in embarrassment of his evident inability to act gracefully. The small animal took the lead after a few more sniffs of air, which gave Marcellus enough faith to follow it. Who is he to suggest otherwise? Not that he can object; half of his energy was distracted by the pain of a fresh burn.

ELEGANT

[nori halliday 🌻 d11a [Bella]]

X O V thao

Gus refused to walk any further after just one mile, which struck her as absurd considering he had four legs, and she had just two. Those big brown eyes must have performed some dark magic on her, because she agreed to carry him on her back even though he weighed the same as a small watermelon. Good deeds always came back around, she’d been taught. Did that still apply here, with made-up animals in a fake, dead forest?

The trees rose ominously around them like hollow bones, a strong wind whistling through them, pulling at Xov’s clothes as she trudged through the snow. She did her best to walk in Marcus’s footprints to obscure her own, which wasn’t too hard since they were almost twice as big.

For all of his self-deprecating talk, Xov thought it was courageous of Marcus to walk in front behind his strange winged fairy creature. She couldn’t tell if he was acting out of bravery, some kind of self-sacrifice, or sheer curiosity. Regardless, it was admirable. And Juno was too, agreeing to press on despite an injury that had to hurt more than he let on.

It scared her how much she was starting to like them. But she didn’t know which part was scarier—the terrible, inevitable future in which she would lose both of them; or the fact that going home meant they had to die before she did.

Or maybe it was that rude awakening with Lucky’s face on it, reminding her that a pretty smile and some kind words were weak glue for one’s human decency in this place. That any of them could be murderers, maimers, torturers.

Spitter-onners, a voice in her head added astutely, remembering the stain on Lionel’s shirt.

Xov’s heart skipped a beat when the trees exploded out of nowhere, sending a cloud of burning dust down Marcellus’s back. ”Marcus!” she shouted, a note of panic in her voice. She was about to run towards him until he informed them that there was a tripwire nearby. He said there was probably only one round in the trap, but suddenly she couldn’t help feeling like there were invisible tripwires everywhere. Like that children’s game—the floor is lava.

Marcus suggested they keep going, surprising her once again with his insistence on walking in front. She considered offering to walk ahead, but with him being taller and stronger than she was, she preferred to follow, watching their sides to be more helpful. Following close behind him, she could see the skin on the back of his neck where the fresh burn began to blossom.

”You really took one for the team, Marcus. I don’t think any of us noticed that wire.” she said to the back of his head, feeling that thanks was due, and also hoping to cheer him up. ”I can take a look at it if you want. Maybe I could make a salve out of some leaves.” Although, she thought as she scanned the perimeter, it didn’t seem like any plants were alive here.

The burning smell grew stronger as they pressed on—whatever it was, they were getting closer. It was unclear whether that was a good thing.

Flecks of gray floated towards them in the wind, one of them landing on her cheek. She hissed as it touched the gash that had barely begun to close itself, her hand rising reflexively to wipe it off. Her palm was smudged with gray.

”Ash,” she said. Someone out there was burning a lot of wood. The strong smell of the smoke made her throat raw. The situation didn’t sit right with her—she imagined maybe they were walking into another trap, this time not an invisible trip wire, but a visible, glaring warning. ”I don’t know… something about this feels really weird. Like someone is messing with us.”

She swallowed her next question—”Do you think we should turn back?”—because she didn’t want to tell them she was afraid of what lay ahead. Didn’t want to manifest that fear into words, in case her soul was listening. Lacked the words to ask them to turn around for her sake.

Instead her fingers closed around the crook of Juno’s elbow, a silent bid for comfort. Go, go, go, she commanded herself to the beat of her footsteps.

[Python]

j u n o
b r i m s t o n e.

In the blink of an eye, any of them could've been killed. Juno imagined their first encounter with danger as a brush with tributes or the ambush of muttations. Outside of the bloodbath, it was only a matter of time before they would be targeted or picked off by something. The important part was that Juno was supposed to see it coming. What happened next, nobody saw. An explosion rang, and fire raked across Marcellus' back. If jumping out of one's skin was plausible, Juno would've managed it. Shredded bark and ash littered the area, managing to avoid the animals. Juno's own pet seemed to fold in on itself before rolling toward him.

A trip wire. Someone had been here already. Juno wondered if these traps were the cause of the smell, but how many would need to be set off to create such a raging fire? That didn't seem right at all, and Marcellus wanted to keep moving. All of this could be a career pack or other group of tributes trying to grab an easy kill, or lead them toward worse danger. Juno was feeling less and less comfortable with this by the second.

It rained ash, and Xov's arm slipped into his elbow for comfort. Juno didn't really know if he could protect her, but he would damn well try, and he would feign confidence as reassurance. There was nothing quite like believing somebody was capable of something amazing. It was a contagious type of confidence, even if it was delusion.

"Someone or something has clearly been here. I say we walk another mile or so, and if we see one more bad omen, we change direction. What do you think?"

It didn't yet feel like there was a 'leader' of the pack. Juno and Xov were equally cautious, and Marcellus was new albeit brave. He liked that Marcellus was willing to put himself in this type of danger, because Juno would as well. Perhaps he could return the favor tomorrow, if they saw next light.

[arctic]

The concern was heartwarming. As if he needed to feel any warmer after being scorched. He didn’t care regardless. What was the worst thing that could happen, by then? It’s hard to imagine that such a trap would be so big for a minimal outcome. Something much more extravagant would come from the careers. But the idea of a looming threat didn’t pass him regardless. He trusted the small creature, who he decided to call Paul, and their curiosity. Once the initial caution of worrying to step on another wire disappeared, he had begun to pick up the pace. He tried to mimic Paul and how Paul didn’t trudge too heavily.

One could only guess how successful that was. Marcellus kept his path onward, and never really looked back. He wasn’t going to take the initiative of finding the source. He just accidentally triggered a frickin’ flame in a snowstorm, what makes you think he can find purposefully find it?

”You really took one for the team, Marcus. I don’t think any of us noticed that wire.” Xov offered, and he walked in silence for a second. Yeah, of course nobody did. That’s why his neck is going to be blistered in a day or two (if not already). ”I can take a look at it if you want. Maybe I could make a salve out of some leaves.” He considered it, yet never really stopped to confirm. He just kept walking, following the frantic footsteps of Paul’s pursuit. Does the little guy actually know where he’s going? Marcellus shrugged, both in response to Xov and his internal thoughts.

”I appreciate it.” His voice was low. He’s not used to being thanked for specific acts. The occasional little boy would squeak his thanks when receiving a bowl of chicken soup, but it never felt like it was necessary. It was what he was there to do; provide, protect. So what he does it? That means he could succeed, which was news to him.

The air began to shift colors. From the pristine white to speckles of gray. Xov recognizes it as ash, which should be a fair source given the district. They’ve had their fair share of coal and soot. It had begun to grow stronger in the air - the smoke, the choke it held around his lungs. It was the first time he looked back at the two, and for all he knew they could have left him minutes ago. Xov said it felt weird. Like they’re being toyed with. Paul wouldn’t do that, though. Would he?

Juno spoke, which brought Marcellus’ attention. His idea is to walk another mile and then turn back if it continues to get spooky. Which is fair enough, but as the air darkens it’s hard to feel like only one more omen is needed. ”I like that.” Another shrug. Marcellus was easy to make contempt. ”It can’t get… much worse right?” His eyes found Paul, and Paul seemed to stop their pursuit. Clearly, whatever they were in search of must be close. Is that what it meant? He didn’t have a lot of faith in himself, so an animal was the next best choice if Juno and Xov had so few ideas of where to go. His eyes scanned the landscape around them, interrupted by a cough as smoke had sprinkled its way into his airway. ”There’s..” he pointed, seeing a shape in the snow that didn’t look like anything they could have made. ”There’s footsteps there.” He claimed before he moved towards it. He’s interested to see who would bother starting a forest fire in a blizzard. Marcellus turned around, though, as he begun to second guess himself. ”Or is following them a bad idea?” It probably was a bad idea. If it wasn’t his curiosity that’d get him, it’d be his inconsistent thinking.

ELEGANT

[nori halliday 🌻 d11a [Bella]]

X O V thao

Xov didn’t blame whoever it was for starting a big fire in this oppressive frozen landscape. The cold wind seeped through her layers like they were made of tissue paper. For once she thought her mother had been onto something when she’d said she should eat more; Xov felt like she might blow away.

Her hand in Juno’s arm grounded her in a sense of safety she knew could only be fleeting here, but she was grateful. She watched him curiously as he trudged through the snow. He seemed to exude quiet confidence, that kind that didn’t advertise itself, but showed when it mattered. She felt a pang of homesickness, so she watched the passing snow instead. Snow, snow, snow, in all directions. Cold, dry, bitter biting flakes that tricked the brain into imagining softness.

”Someone or something has clearly been here. i say we walk another mile or so, and if we see one more bad omen, we change direction. What do you think?”

The whole thing was starting to unsettle her empty stomach, especially when she thought about possibly seeing one more bad omen. One was enough for her. But she stayed quiet. Juno’s suggestion was better than none; she preferred to stay occupied in this little hide-and-seek mission rather than some unknown alternative.

”I like that, confirmed Marcus. ”It can’t get…much worse right?

Easier for him to say than for Xov, who hadn’t yet been doused in hot brick dust. For her, mostly unscathed, it could get much worse, and what lay ahead was likely a hotter and more dangerous burning thing.

No space for fear now, she thought, only action and survival.

”Okay, I’m with you,” she said. The statement cleared her mind with the affirmation–she wasn’t alone.

A little ways more, Marcus mentioned there were some footprints. It looked to Xov like there was only one set, unless they were walking in each other’s trails like she’d tried to do with Marcus.

”Looks like they’re alone,” she offered. Though she was loathe to imagine herself killing someone after just one night in this place, she pictured the three of them confronting another lone tribute, and she knew they could overcome whoever it was. The blows she had dealt to Vali and Axyl fed her confidence in her fighting skills, and she knew the boys were more than capable. ”If it’s just one, I think we could take them.” Then thinking that sounded harsh, and feeling embarrassed, she added, ”If it came to that, I mean.”

”I say we keep going.” Xov felt like she was trying to convince herself more than them with her decisive tone. She slipped her arm out of Juno’s to fold her arms over her chest. ”Maybe that way will be warmer, who knows?”

[Python]

j u n o
b r i m s t o n e.

It was times like these when Juno wished he had paid more attention to his folks' camping lessons. Since his family lived so close to the edge of Twelve, they had insisted on teaching skills he thought he didn't need. How to tie knots, follow tracks, identify herbs. He had retained bits and pieces of this information, mostly the hands-on skills, but spent most of his training center experience reviewing that information. He did not, however, remember much about tracking. Footprints in the snow were an obvious trail to follow, but he couldn't tell how fresh they were.

"Do we think one person did all of this?" Juno asked. Were these the footprints of the mastermind, or another victim? Perhaps a wanderer like themselves. Once again the thought of an emergency signal crossed his mind. It could be a lone tribute in need. There hadn't been a cannon yet today, so whoever it was, they were alive.

He scratched the back of his neck. It was a tough decision. Following them could very well be the worst idea possible, or it could be an opportunity to help someone.

Another thought occurred to him then - why was he trying to help someone? That was his instinct back in Twelve, scratch someone's back and they scratch yours. Leaky roof? Juno could fix it for free. Stray cat? Juno would happily take it in. Now he was in the core of winter, in the midst of a slaughter game, and he was thinking about saving someone's life when the whole point of all of this was to be the only survivor? He glanced at Xov and Marcellus. He wanted to help them indeed, but did he really need to add one more to the mix? He could hardly save himself with his bad knee.

He couldn't bring himself to mention any of it. Instead, he said, "If it's just one tribute, we'll be okay. Your call." He looked to the both of them, trusting their instincts. If they wanted to turn back, he would follow. If they wanted to lead by curiosity, he would support them.