Red Skies, Where Love Dies [Skiplaurel, Day 2]

[Skiplaurel Hayjer - D7a]

s k i p l a u r e l !

O c t o b e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 4

Laurel catches her breath beneath the shade of a rather stout, low-hanging tree branch. The figure that had attacked her earlier had let her be, but Laurel feels like this more because it decided she was more trouble than she was worth rather than any great victory on her part. Just another predator in this forest deciding that the skinny girl wasn't worth the calories. The knight had left a few nicks on her clothing, a few cuts on her flesh, but it could have been a lot worse. It was going to be a lot worse if she could not find water, and soon.

Laurel thinks she hears the crashing of waves somewhere, as night comes and the birds quiet down, only for the insects to take their place. Water always tends to pool at lower elevations, even Laurel knows that. Thirst would kill her long before the other Tributes or anything else in this forest, for that matter. Laurel likes hiding here amongst the trees, it reminds her a bit of the home she had left behind that she is not quite convinced she is going to see again. Laurel takes out her blade and begins to carve the initials S. V. H. into the trunk she was previously leaning up against.

"You're thinking about how you're going to stay hydrated? Good, we're on the same page, then." A familiar voice comes from behind her, but Laurel pays it no mind while she works.

"Look at that sky, it's going to be dark soon. Half this place is going to fall asleep and the other half is going to wake up. What else are you thinking is up here? Giant spiders, maybe? Man-eating plants? Maybe more ghost knights?"

Laurel turns her head slightly to see her doppelganger once again, but doesn't respond.

ELEGANT