Tomb Raiders [Montezuma's Revenge vs. 2 Lizards]

[Spesh]

Main~83af9b
Speaking~c8c8a9
Emphasis~f9cdad
Other~fc9d9a
Others Speech~fe4365

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

Last night I honestly did not intend to make any sexual advances on Elodie, I swear it. Which is probably why I found it odd to wake up in my boxers. It isn’t like I don’t remember what happened last night, I do, I just don’t get why it happened. I was trying to be nice, not treat Elodie like a whore. For once let her know that somebody gives a shit; and she just shut me down. It’s almost as if she wants nobody to actually care about her; as if she puts up concrete walls to prevent herself from getting hurt at all. That’s the problem with concrete: it never yields. Not even when you need it to. Wasn’t now one of those times that a wrecking ball is needed? To break everything down just to build it up again?

Not here, not now. These are the games, not a couple’s retreat. How could I even think of a relationship when I know one of us has to die. Just as sure as leaves falling every autumn, one of us will die. Of course, both of us will likely die, but at least one might win. What frustrates me is why I care so much. When I slept with Elodie long before the games, I could care less, but when she gets attacked I suddenly feel the need to protect her. Am I being territorial, protective of my girl? I know if Benat tried to touch her, I’d stick a knife in his neck without a second thought. Now if that was Essence making a move on Elodie…

But I cannot focus on that; I have to get up and find my shirt. Elodie is lying right next to me, on her right side, obviously to get as far away from the pain from her left shoulder as is possible. Maybe Lethe will send down something to heal broken bones. But no, she wont. Lethe’s already gotten us more sponsorship than we could imagine. Me, I’ve already got a first aid kit and a water jug. Sure, some food and actual water would have been nice, but I’m not complaining. I actually am, but whatever. I just hope that Elodie and Benat and Essence is okay, if nothing but for the fact that she deserves better than she has gotten.
I hardly knew her before the Reaping – except for the fact that I had slept with her – but I knew that she wasn’t actually a Magpie. She was an orphan who the mother took in, loved like a secondary object, unable to free herself and fly. She’s always gotten the short end of the stick. Maybe that’s why she’s a whore; but hey, she’s my whore.

~

~

~

After trekking through the mud for a while, with me at the point wit ha tiny little dagger, there seems to be a giant stone shack in the open. Yet when we get closer, it becomes clearer. It’s a grave, but for whom? Or is it just a tomb? I don’t know, but the fact that it is out in the open scares me, worries me. There’s nowhere to hide, but I can’t help feel that we’re being watched. When I hear footsteps, I turn around, quickly scanning the area, “Elodie, be careful! You’re hurt! Stay behind me.” No matter what I say, I doubt she’ll listen. I don’t really give thought to that, and when I see someone or something that isn’t friendly, I instantly lunge at it.

[attacks first lizard with dagger]
[dice=200+2000]
[Shallow Cut on Chest -- 4.0 damage]

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

^^thanks for the awesome header Onyx

[/color][/justify][/size]
[rand=749165513785556476349617354571869010657095350331559274629689753]

[Deleted]

•••
I won't die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and man so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
•••

He’d kept running for a ways, as far as his feet would take him. He’d stopped only to wrench the sandals from his feet—now bare, they pressed against the wet and warm mud, with bits digging underneath his toenails—not bothering to look at the faces of the snakes that slithered about around him. He was scared; he could admit this to himself now because there was no hiding behind the falsehood in that he was safe. His allies had disappeared into the rain like gossamers in the wind, and Benat was once again too slow for them. His heart thumped a little faster, wondering only if he was getting far enough away from the boys and girls that had emerged so readily from the blood bath. They’d spilled the first unexpected blood—because the deaths in the bloodbath were no surprises—and started to pull back the carefully placed curtain for Benat Izar.

Climbing out was not as simple as getting in—it never was.

[/color]

Benat came to the wall dividing the snake pit from wherever he had wandered—as much in as he could see the tall grass overhead, he knew not where he was—and in the thick of the rain, reached a hand to press it against the stone. He’d climbed plenty of trees back in District Eleven—so far and distant from his memory now—that the wall shouldn’t have been a struggle. But his hands shook as he pressed against it; his vision now clouded by rain, that as he pulled himself up higher felt his feet slide back against the stone. He let out a grunt as he fell off and back into the pit. Sitting on his rear, Benat put his hands into his lap and shuddered—more out of cold than fear, though he couldn’t shake the lingering butterflies within his stomach. He sat, rain dripping down his face, chest heaving. Would he make it another day? A week? To the end?

The stone slipped from his grasp a second time, but he held on—he had to hold on—and pushed his feet up against the face of the wall. He climbed further, thinking of how far behind the others he would be—barring Elodie, though perhaps they’d gone in separate directions. He hoisted up and over the edge of the wall, this time meeting with leafy green grass. The stalks rose up and around him, too tall to see much in the distance. He pressed further, the sun now going down and the world growing darker. His heart beat a little faster, and now he looked left and right to inspect every foreign noise. His blowgun was at the ready, though his hands still shook as he carried it. He was usually pretty good grasping at his pole,[/color] Benat reminded himself, giving to a smile once more.

He came upon the tent first—nearly afraid he’d stumbled into the den of another alliance—but seeing Essence Scout had him relax. Benat was happy enough to see her that he went to give a hug, muttering, “Good to see you, kiddo,” the words coming out hurried but thankful—giving him a flutter in his stomach he didn’t expect. He’d wanted to speak with all of them—but the mood was rather somber, and even he wasn’t poking any fun at the day they’d had. They were four then—a little banged up and worse for wear, but alive. He didn’t contest Elodie having the tent—he didn’t mind William’s insistence that she get her space to tend to her wounds. The rain had let up some, and though cold and hungry, he was happy not to be alone anymore. The sound of the anthem would be the only thing that made him shiver—he watched the faces in the sky, and thought only of how much closer he was to going home. Sleep soon washed over him—as nervous as he was—and as Benat snuggled up alongside the tent, the world turned to black.

There are rows and rows of corn, stitched up and yellowed in the cold winter sun. The brown of the feed corn shows—they should be picked soon, Benat recognizes, walking along to nowhere in particular. There’s no one here now, only the rustle of the wind along the dying stalks. It made him think of the stories his grandmother used to tell about life after—when people would get separated, good or bad, and placed where they were supposed to be. Except some took more time than others, they were kept to be judged and to wait. It wasn’t unpleasant, being alone in this sea of yellow. He’d started to think how he’d taken some of this for granted—the chance to run up and down the fields with his younger brothers had him stop. He stared off and up at the sun, now barely peeking out from behind the puffy gray clouds.

He was almost sorry to wake up from his little dream, but recognized his turn to take over watch in the early morning. He tried to keep their spirits light by telling jokes—like what bone a dog would never eat (a trombone) or what does the wicked chicken lay (deviled eggs)—until they came upon it. The tomb was a massive gray stone building, with a tall set of stairs leading upwards. He didn’t necessarily want to go inside, though he recognized it could offer shelter to all of them. He kept toward the rear, his blowgun drawn, hands now shaking, readying himself for a fight. There was a sound in the distance, and the only thought he had then was to kill— unless he’d wanted to be killed.

[attacks Pitfall Lizard #1 with Blowgun]
[dice=200+4000]
[result:4069 -- Arrow in Chest -- 7.0 damage
(Bow)]
[/color][/justify][/blockquote][/size][rand=34093297622166574735949528869241571182045526802543499815633986145]

[arx!!]

Look at me. You may think you see
who I really am , but you'll never know me.
Every day it's as if I play a part.
Now I see if I wear a mask I can fool the world,
But I cannot fool my heart.

My sleep is a fitful one. It's funny how I can't even remember when I drifted off, rolled away from Will and just curled up in a ball, trying to ignore the pain again. I tried to sleep for the first few hours in the tent, but all the pain in my shoulder kept me from sleeping at all. And then of course there was the throbbing headaches that decided to resurface again. And then, as I continued to settle down, all the accumulated pain of the day swarmed me. My feet felt raw from too many hours without shoes on. My thighs burned from all the running, my back ached all over, and my shoulder still felt like it was literally on fire. A coal that would never burn out. The rain pattered, or rather hammered, against the outside of the tent. It stopped and started and stopped again and again, a pattern. I peaked my head out the flap, crawling over Will, trying not to gasp too loudly when I have to catch myself with my left hand. I fight back tears and clench my teeth and bite my lip until the pain fades to just a dull burn again. And then I'm staring outside - But the stars aren't there, even though the sky is black. I crawl back inside trying to remember that you can't trust anyone. Not people. Not the sun, the stars, or the moon either. I lay back down again, trying to find a spot where my collar bone won't screech at me too loudly. I clutch at Will's bright blue shirt on the ground, burying my face in it, focusing on the material, on the subtle amount of moisture it still carries with it, the way it smells like rain and sweat all bundled into one. And before I really know it, I'm drifting. Drifting away on a sailboat, pushing off from the shore, feeling the sand between my toes and smelling the sea air as I begin a journey. A big journey to nowhere.

-^v^--^v^--^v^--^v^--^v^--^v^--^v^-

I wake up in a daze. I spin around, trying hard to figure out where I am. It was so real - the dirty sheets, the breathing of so many sleeping kids, the sound of dogs barking outside, the sweeping of a broom below me, the feeling of crusted paint on my fingers and on my face. Except everything was so bright. Much brighter than I remember it. My years at the orphanage had been dull. Filled with stupid ideas and even more ridiculous dreams. I was bright then, but the world around me was not. But this wasn't a memory of my past - this was just a dream. Everything glowed. The window frames, the door hinges, Issac's pet rocks, Jasmine's teddy bear, Lyell's stick collection - everything was glowing so bright it was almost blinding. But it was only just a dream. the giant, glowing piece of cake that entered the room next was not actually real. (But damn did it look tasty. I could really use a piece of cake right now.) I sigh and groan as my broken bone flares to life again, reminding me that dreams aren't real and that hope is lost. Will's shirt is balled up in my hand tight enough that I swear it could crush someones hand if I were holding one. I start to tear the shirt, finally finding a way to tie it around me, holding my left arm in a bright blue sling against the light purple that I'm wearing. And then we are all on a move again. My spear in my right hand, my face twisted in pain with every major jolt I receive, and my paintbrush clutched in my left. I think about snapping it in half right then and there, knowing I won't be painting a pretty ending to this day.

It's so hot that after just a few hours I feel like I could sleep again. My head still aches and my stomach tosses and turns and my mouth begins to sweat as nausea plagues me. But the worst thing about the whole day is the smell. Usually I love the smell of rain and mud and wet things in general (and yes, I mean that in a sexual way too) but today, it all just feels like too much. I smell the dirt and everything that lives in it. The worms in the ground, the - EVERYTHING! I feel like screaming and raging at the clouds in the sky. I feel like cursing at them until they get it through their stupid fluffiness not to rain anymore because they are making the worst smells in the whole universe. At one point, I grab Benat by the shirt and tell him if he was such an all powerful guy he would tell the clouds to get the fuck out of this Arena so that they didn't smell up the place and pretty much make everything suck ten times more than it already did. And then I'm stopping to pick the flowers that we come across every once in awhile and hand them out to everyone in our party. Yes, because they smell so beautiful that I couldn't help but share the information with them. What is happening to me? I am going completely insane and, although the broken collar bone does trump it, I'm cramping so much that if it weren't masked by the pain of my broken bone, I might literally be crying. And then I'm staring into the sky, actually beginning to cry, the tears dripping off my chin, as birds fly overhead.

Oh the things I would give too fly with them. Away with my family, the little flock of Magpies.

And just when I am about to claw out Will's eyes and tell him that if I don't get some sleep soon I am going to take his knife, cut off his manhood, and shove it in his mouth we are stumbling into some giant expanse of grass. A stone ... sort of pyramid but crumbled? - stands in front of us, taller than maybe anything I've ever seen. Upon further investigation there are some small paintings around the edges of the doors. I find a tiny picture that looks sort of like a bird and brush my hand across it before continuing on my journey, glancing down at my paintbrush that I have tucked away into my sling. They say a painting is worth a thousand words. But what is a paintbrush worth? I use my spear like a walking stick, guiding myself forward until Will's voice brings me into an alert state again, forgetting my fantasy about flying again. Good. I need to quit believing that dream because it will never happening. And then I'm actually looking up and I'm regretting that I ever thought it was good to be shaken out of my perfect little world. Monsters - real live monsters, not the kind that lurk in the alleyways of five but the kind that want to rip you to pieces and taste your blood. I guess some in 5 want that too, but that's not the point.

“Elodie, be careful! You’re hurt! Stay behind me.” And before I can even tell him to shut up and quit treating me like a lost puppy, I'm screaming like I'm dying. Because I might be. Skeletons. Fucking bones and dead bodies in the deadest form you can get. But then a lizard appears in front of me and I'm thrusting my spear awkwardly towards it, forgetting the skulls for now. Hopefully mine won't join them.

[Elodie attacks Pitfall Lizard #2 with her Spear
[dice=200+3000]
{Block -- 0.0 damage}

I am now in a world where I have
to hide my heart and what I believe in,
But somehow I will show the world
what's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am.

[rand=660402515437454944725612178444928792358026839793978738817386329]

[Danny]

Millions of girls float on their one quote
Living on their last hope, on their last hope
I live my life inside a dream
Only waking when I sleep
I would sell my sorry soul, if I could have it all

Faye's face shone in the sky last night next to the stars. I guess she's like a star, too. Building and building, become more beautiful each day until she explodes. But I don't even know the girl and I don't even know why I care so much. I'm kind of jealous of her. I want to die, and at least she died on Day One. At least she won't be given false hope.

- - -

We find ourselves inside a little building that sticks out of a field of grass. A tomb, we decided. In a few seconds, we're face-to-face with lizards. The same ones I see on TV every year. Instinctively, Will attacks the creature and I stand with Elodie, back. Benat shoots his blowgun at ones of the lizards. Both of their attacks hitting his chest and leaving him pretty wounded. I want to say good job, and this is a time in the Games where I wouldn't feel bad about it (because it isn't a real person), but then skeletons pour from the sky like rain. Their bones aren't soft, but they're worn down.

I scream. I start to wonder if these skeletons are the bones of the dead tributes - because that's what people like to see. They like to see people be reminded of the hell they're living in, and that Death has already taken a few of them already.

[Attacks Lizard #2 -- Thrown Knife]
[dice=200+9000]
[Shallow Cut on Hand -- 3.0 damage]

{ooc: wow this sucks.}

All I really want is to be wonderful
People in this town they, they can be so cruel
I live my life inside a dream
Only waking when I sleep
I would sell my sorry soul, if I could have it all

[rand=5279445587657392267338631441816761232569231651725210331934504211]

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Words, words, silly words. Lizards don’t understand words, not at all, but me, the greatest lizard of them all – I understand fear.

(How am I thinking in words? Hmm.)

Never mind that, then. I am the Queen, and it would make sense that somehow I could form my thoughts in coherent chunks, claws going tap tap tap against the stone floor of.. what is this place?

It smells like death even though it’s lacking corpses. Tunnels can’t be built here, though my husband – the King, though a silly excuse for one – is sniffing along the walls, searching for a weak spot to dig. Even his claws can’t cut through the stone very well, and it frustrates him.

Nevertheless, I like this place. It’s nice cover for when the heat is too much, and the tap tap tap of my claws against the floor sounds delicious.

Speaking of delicious – look there. I stare back at the husband – what an idiot – as he swishes his tail and meanders along the walls.

It doesn’t matter! Those bizarre creatures that walk on two legs and don’t have claws are rushing towards – oww! A cry of rage escapes past my teeth, dripping venom as it happens. I lash out towards the nearest creature with my teeth, aiming to cause its inevitable doom.

[Attacks William w/teeth]
[dice=200+2000]
Shallow Cut on Left Thigh -- 3.5 damage (Poisoned)


Ugh, my wife’s up to something. Oh, she wants to stay cool in the shade, but we’re here to search, not to kill ugly two-legged creatures.

Doesn’t she ever learn?

She’s even got an arrow sticking out of her, the Queen, approaching the disgusting two-legged things that I hate. As much as I’d love to kill them, I just want to dig and search and not be killed.

I’m the one with the common sense, large fangs or not, and we’re going to die.

Ugh. Nothing to do, I suppose, but use my teeth and kill an ugly thing.

[Attacks Benat w/teeth]
[dice=200+2000]
Block (not poisoned)

[/blockquote]
[rand=499515729202909767878667386394737852987807068929420620630036989884]

[Spesh]

Main~83af9b
Speaking~c8c8a9
Emphasis~f9cdad
Other~fc9d9a
Others Speech~fe4365

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

Right away I know I'm poisoned. I've seen these mutts before, and I know they're nasty. In fact, they seem to be a Capitol favorite... Isn't that nice? I almost managed to get away from it's bite, but I wasn't quick enough. My attention was more on Elodie than myself and the muttations at hand. I was and am more worried about her than my own safety, which is sort of an issue since I'm pretty sure that I'm trying to win for myself.

But I can't lock in on the Pitfall Lizard - if I'm remembering correctly - there's just too much pain. I can feel the poison running course through my veins, starting to seep my life from me like leeches leeching. From now until I my time is up, it's going to be a race to find something to cure me, no matter what it is. But we have to get rid of these mutts first, otherwise they'll just chase after us and take out Benat, Elodie, and Essence too. I'm not going to lie, I could really care less about Benat and Essence, but Elodie matters. If she gets attacked I might give her antivenom before me.

Actually, fuck that, I'll save myself first. We'd be able to play up that we're in love - even though we're not. I'm pretty sure they'll fall for it, it seems they have in the past. That's what we need right now, some heartthrob who just wants to see love live. I just need a few million or so, if there is anyone even betting on me who is willing to do so.

Then again, there is this giant fucking lizard right in front of me. So I lunge and attack it.

[attacks first lizard with dagger]
[dice=200+2000]
[SC on right hip -- 3.5 damage]

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

^^thanks for the awesome header Onyx

[/color][/justify][/size]
[rand=86420547938905664832106565590948089706515194848184919985788874328]

[Deleted]

•••
I won't die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and man so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
•••

He stared at the darkness and it stared back.

[/color] Two lizards were staring him down, and not the little ones that he scooped up in the creek back home—little newts that he would stick down the shirt of his little brothers to make them squeal and run in circles until they’d gotten them off—but hulking, massive creatures that hissed and had jaws that could chew through razor wire. His mouth hung open for a moment—a brief Uh escaping out into the air—his voice lost in the emptiness of the tomb. Will was already ahead of him, taking a swing at the chest of the smaller one, ready to cut the thing in two. He marveled at his bravery—he supposed he took it that much more seriously, especially if he felt as though he were protecting someone. Benat was still unsure of just what he stood for, other than not becoming just a faceless casualty in the games from a lower district.

They were a superstitious folk—as unserious as Benat was, the Izars didn’t believe in breaking into tombs and stealing their treasures—that brought all sorts of bad karma, voodoo, juju, whatever it was called. Death was a sacred, quiet thing—even if it could be funny—there was no bursting into someone’s place of rest without being asked, first. They’d been asking for this, hadn’t they? As much as they wanted to shelter themselves away from the wind and the humidity, this wasn’t the place to do it. His hands shook again, thinking that death stalked this place especially—and in another instant the bones of those that had passed hung down from above. His heart skipped a beat, and he felt his stomach suddenly churn. He let out a shriek that filled the hall of the dead—his voice an octave higher and his face contorted at the sight of them.

“Guy? Kiara?!” Benat’s eyes deceived him, but he called out with the voices of the long dead—was he so tired he was hallucinating? Were these the faces of the dead of his district, placed there to haunt the boy that didn’t take anything seriously enough. They had come and gone, their bodies coming back to the district—it couldn’t be them. But to Benat all he could see were their faces, hanging bones and terrifyingly white. They marked a change in him—voice raspy and eyes wide, he wanted not to wind up like them. Not dead… not forgotten… not left behind. How could anyone forget about them—though already the faces from the previous evening were far from view in his mind. Benat’s teeth chattered, despite the sweat dripping off his body, and he moved to grab his weapon.

Not like this. He wouldn’t die like this.

[attacks Pitfall Lizard #1 with Blowgun]
[dice=200+4000]
[result:Shallow Cut on Left Calf -- 3.5 damage
(Bow)]

The dart flew true and into the terrible creatures leg. For a second, Benat was in awe that anything he’d done would have much effect on the creature. Though the thing didn’t fall, he was happy enough to make a mark—to be useful—and brought his blowgun down again. His stomach still flipped, unable to contain itself. They’d never all outrun the creatures, and whoever’s place this had been—whoever’s tomb it was, they’d all need to pay their respects before being forgiven. They’d stared into the darkness, and now it was staring back at them.
[/justify][/blockquote][/size][rand=78541487851180140906570081133395480534640210680669011761071160436]

[arx!!]

Look at me. You may think you see
who I really am , but you'll never know me.
Every day it's as if I play a part.
Now I see if I wear a mask I can fool the world,
But I cannot fool my heart.

My right hand doesn't move how I want it to. Not like my left hand ever does. I never thought I would ever want to be ambidextrous, never really imagined that I would have to use a weapon (besides perhaps a whip - Yes, I do some kinky things), never thought some bitch from 4 would break my collar bone and force me to use my opposite hand. I didn't think that the last days of my life I wouldn't be able to paint. It hurts. Yes, the break in the bone hurts, but I think the break in my soul hurts more. There are only so many categories that I have been able to fit into in my life and most of them I'm not exactly proud of. Daughter, orphan, artist, dreamer, daughter again, still a dreamer, sister - older and younger, prostitute, tribute. And then there are the generic ones that everyone uses like young, stupid, beautiful, ugly, bimbo, crazy, (whore, hoe, slut, hooker - this category gets really colorful sometimes), Magpie ... They say that at the end of there insults like the name sums it all up. And sometimes I think that I might point out that I'm adopted, but the truth is all I have ever wanted is to be one of them. And although I would love to drop a few of those groups - in fact, throw them on the ground and stomp on them - I would take every insult in the world if it meant I could always fit in the artist category. But now I am stuck dying as nothing more than a stupid whore and not the dreaming artist that I'd rather be. Maybe a bit of sex in there somewhere though? But still I clutch my paintbrush in my left hand, still I cling to the idea that I can die who I want to be. Ah, so that cancerous hope has returned?

I give a little yelp when the lizards lunge at Will and Benat, closing my eyes, thinking that maybe if I don't look, it won't happen. But it still happens. And although I'm glad that I can breathe a sigh of relief for Benat who dodges the thing, my heart leaps into my throat and I can't even scream as I watch blood drip down Will's leg from the spot where the monster bit him. And it only makes me want to cry even more knowing that the mutts are poisonous. Why must life always be so unfair? My mother left me on the steps of an orphanage. The years I spent there weren't exactly a hell, but it was close enough to one now that I look back on them. My family has never excepted me - not really - and so I decided one night that being paid to have someone love you and hold you (... yeah.) through the night would make me feel better. And, I guess it sort of did? But not really. It wasn't the kind of love I wanted. I wanted a mother's love, a father's love, a sister's love, a brother's love, a family's love. And instead I get the love of those who make sure to get their money's worth out of me. Which I have never really complained about before. It's so easy to pretend that they love you for you and not just because you are naked and are letting them touch you.

And then there is Will. I'm not sure what he wants or thinks or feels, but I'm pretty sure it's more than sex. And I'm not okay with that.

But my head is clouded and I'm before I really know what I am doing, I am pushing myself forward, thrusting my spear awkwardly again at the lizards who threaten to poison me with their teeth. To kill me and my friends. (They are friends, right?)

[Elodie attacks Pitfall Lizard #2 with her Spear
[dice=200+3000]
{Deep Gash on Right Thigh -- 8.0 damage}

I am now in a world where I have
to hide my heart and what I believe in,
But somehow I will show the world
what's inside my heart

[rand=914815763477236589584561064839482708286074921493427374605089426]

[Danny]

Two birds on a wire
One tries to fly away
And the other
Watches him close
From that wire

The skeletons aren't real, I tell myself, but even when I tell myself that, the thought tumbling in my head, I don't know if it's true. And I think that's the purpose of them, to get in my head and to penetrate the walls of my inner thoughts. I've seen people go crazy, and I know that won't happen to me, but I bet that's what everyone told themselves.

I don't want to stop being the girl I was a month ago.

The girl who would sometimes look both ways when crossing the street. The girl who could strum her guitar for hours. The girl who could eat a whole buffet if she wanted to. But it's not my choice and it won't be for a while. I don't like the fact that I'm just a pawn and I'm simply here in a sacrificial way, but it's not like anyone is too happy about their position, either.

The one lizard lunges at Will and gets a cut on his left thigh, and I can see the venom from the lizard's teeth be injected into his leg. (Benat gets lucky and the lizard misses.) In all of my years of learning how to heal burns, stitch up deep gashes and how to bring down a fever, I never once learned how to rid someone's body of poison - unless, of course, I suck it out of him, but we can leave that to Elodie.

I lash out at the same lizard as before, hoping my attack is more effective than the first time around.

[Attacks Lizard #2 -- Thrown Knife]
[dice=200+9000]
[Miss (knife lost) -- 0.0 damage]

I miss the lizard with my knife, and I hear it clatter into the depths of the dark, knowing my only chance of retrieving that would mean facing two more of these retched beasts.

Two birds on a wire
One says come on
And the other says
I'm tired
The sky is overcast

[rand=019290877971798185420849977526814653037966694682812704714923165739]

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

This is not acceptable.

[Attacks Elodie w/teeth]
[dice=200+2000]
2007 -- Shallow Cut on Forehead -- 4.5 damage

What the hell is this?

[Attacks Essence w/teeth]
[dice=200+2000]
2060 -- Shallow Cut on Right Shoulder -- 3.5 damage

[/blockquote][rand=029698244810008496020827867443194221042989269427235116066602151321]

[Spesh]

Main~83af9b
Speaking~c8c8a9
Emphasis~f9cdad
Other~fc9d9a
Others Speech~fe4365

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

Oh no, it didn't. Does that lizard really think that he can attack my girl even though I'm right in front of him, with my shirt off, looking all sexy - do lizards even find people sexy? - And he attacks injured Elodie? I don't even know how he/it made it up that high, getting her in the forehead. In reality, I'm just lucky she didn't get her head bitten off. That stupid ass lizard could have killed Elodie. At least she's safe, with me back in front of her, so she has nothing to worry about.

Except then I realize She's poisoned too! Under normal circumstances, this would be great. I honestly could care less that Essence is injured, even though she is nice and all. Just why Elodie? Why her? Why not go for my forehead, stupid mutt. That would have been simpler. Instead you make this shit real, you make me mad, and you poison me too? I'm not fucking dying of poison, and Elodie most certainly isn't either.

But before I think of anything else to do, I rush backwards to Elodie, careful to avoid her spear yet making sure I'm next to her. "Everything's going to be fine, you'll get sponsored," I say, not entirely sure of myself. Ever since her shoulder was broken, it doesn't seem like people are willing to be so generous. In fact, they're being the opposite of generous. Just because it seems like she's not going to win doesn't mean people should lack compassion. She's just a teenage girl but she's suffering from unimaginable pain. And it's not fair. Sure her life has sucked, but never has she been this close to death before.

Neither have I, but that hardly matters. As of now, I just want her to survive and for these mutts to die horrible deaths that they deserve. They're the devils creations, and they need to go. We need to banish them from the earth to help everyone else out. I need to kill it to protect Elodie, just how like the stars are needed to light up the night. Well, there is the moon, but that's besides the point

All I do know is that this mother fucking lizard thinks that he's going to mother fucking attack Elodie up in here? Up in my tombstone area. If he thinks he's going to get one inch further, he's going to have to go right through me.

"Get the fuck of my girl you filthy fucking lizard!" I scream as a lunge at him with my sword.

[attacks first lizard with dagger]
[dice=200+2000]
[Severed Finger on Right Hand - 8.5 damage]

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

^^thanks for the awesome header Onyx

[/color][/justify][/size]
[rand=938427929999306897368981153704238700486181769525108476080931723]

[Deleted]

•••
I won't die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and man so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
•••

Was there anything else he could do for them, then? The beasts lunged at Essence and Elodie, and this time Benat felt the urge to throw himself toward them. They were too far away—he wouldn’t have bridged the gap—though he took a few stuttered steps toward them. “Fuck, no!” They were the only eloquent words he could think of shouting then, knowing that all of them were doing their best to stay alive. All three of them had been sliced up by the beasts, meaning imminent death loomed on the horizon. He didn’t have the heart to think of what would happen when the sun went down that day—would one, two, three of them fall to the black death that was now dripping through their veins? Their deaths would bring him closer to going home, but would leave him very much alone to an arena still roving with tributes. And maybe a part of him enjoyed their company, too.

He moved the pipe up to his mouth to get another shot, aiming at the same one that he and will had been firing at since they’d started. She was bleeding all over the place, and looked as though she might have had enough. If he could get his hands to stop shaking, he might give them a chance for escape. They couldn’t outrun two of the beasts, but if it was only one—well, it would be worth the shot. He licked his lips one more time before sending out another volley at the thing, hoping that it would stick into its hide just as the other blow darts were doing.

[sticks his lips on his pipe and attacks Pitfall Lizard #1 with Blowgun]
[dice=200+4000]
[result:Shallow Cut on Right Calf -- 3.5 damage]

Watching it graze off its hide made Benat’s heart thump a little faster. He was getting the hang of his little blowgun, even if he wasn’t doing too much damage. A hit was a hit.

[/color] The creature tumbled and fell—he assumed for what would be the final time. Looking at Essence he shook his head, knowing full well there was a beast remaining, gave a nod toward the entrance of the tomb. “GO!” He yelled at all of them. Now wasn’t the time to think of who would be getting what, or how the poison coursed through all of their veins. He wouldn’t think of how strong William was, how sweet Essence seemed, or how Elodie intrigued him—now was the time to get out of there. He would take the next blow, if only so they didn’t have any more poison in their veins.
[/justify][/blockquote][/size][rand=85802350030280658350228201597929591027915244922208022529957816]

[arx!!]

Look at me. You may think you see
who I really am , but you'll never know me.
Every day it's as if I play a part.
Now I see if I wear a mask I can fool the world,
But I cannot fool my heart.

I'm not sure why I insist upon getting in the way all the time. I'm smaller than most everyone I know who is my age, all I really can do is paint (and tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue), and now that I can't use my left arm, I can't really even hold anything. Okay, well, that isn't true considering last night but that isn't the point. I defy those who are stronger than me and for what? What the hell am I trying to prove exactly? Sometimes I think I do it to prove I don't listen to anyone - that I don't take orders that I don't want to take. But now I'm thinking it's more of a stupid habit that I never got over from when I was little. Back in the orphanage all I did was the opposite of what the adults told me to do. I believed when no one else did. So I made sure they knew I believed. I believed my mother was coming back. I believed that the stars could answer any question you ever had. I believed that if you stepped on a crack you would actually break your mother's back, and therefore made sure to avoid ever crack in the floor. I believed that if you found a penny on the ground it was good luck. I believed that the boogy man really did sleep in my closet. I believed that if I didn't finish my homework my teacher would actually chop off my hand. I believed that if you were an artist then you were one of the bravest people in the world. I believed that boys had cooties and were the stupidest, most disgusting things to walk the planet. I believed in a lot of things when I was little - and I always made sure that everyone knew what I believed. No one much cared what I had to say though, so I usually just locked myself away in my closet and painted.

I've painted to many things through the years. Stars, constellations, quotes, poetry, random things that pop into my head. People, my family, a kid at school, a drug dealer on my street, plenty of naked men. Flowers, sunsets, lakes, oceans, rivers, beaches, clouds, mountains, valleys, forests, deserts. Cities, farms - how I imagine each District to look, how I imagine the Capitol to look. Past arenas, the most famous Games moments, the Victors with their crowns, the swords and knives and arrows dripping with blood. Life. Love. Death. But I'm not really sure I ever truly captured the whole death thing the right way. I've killed a bug before and felt nothing. Watched a drug dealer, a complete stranger, bleed to death in the street and not even have nightmares. Mentally I have slash each of my fellow tributes to pieces and enjoyed watching them die ... But death is more than bleeding out on the ground or collapsing into silence. There is a whole part of it that you can't capture in a picture. Even for a hideous, terrifying animal there is more to it. And I know I shouldn't be thinking about it, but this second lizard is now left all alone. His? Her? It's friend? family? partner dying on the ground. I know I shouldn't care so much, especially because the stupid thing bit me and now blood is in my eyes and poison - fucking poison - is coursing through my veins, but still a few tears fall. Why am I so prissy? Why am I so weak? Why can't I be like regular people and want to cheer after killing some stupid animal?

"Everything's going to be fine, you'll get sponsored." It's Will. Of course. I almost shove him away - almost. But then I remember what ignoring him a few seconds ago did, feeling the burn of the poison in my cut, and think better of it. Sponsors. I smirk and shake my head despite the situation. Sponsors?! Obviously he doesn't remember that I'm completely useless. I'm left handed and now I can't use my left arm at all. Whoever was sponsoring me before, whoever was idiotic kind enough to spend money on me before, will not do that again. I'm officially a cripple - at least, sort of? Cripple for the rest of my life at least considering I am not leaving this Arena. Not going home ... the prospect brings fresh tears to my eyes as I hear Benat screaming at us to go. And I'm not sure what my motivation is, but I throw my spear at the mourning animal. (Animals do mourn, right?) I guess that makes me the monster now. And my mind goes on spitting the word at me, putting me in an all new category - Monster, monster, monster.

[Elodie attacks Pitfall Lizard #2 with her Spear
[dice=200+3000]
{Shallow Cut on Left Forearm -- 3.5 damage}

I am now in a world where I have
to hide my heart and what I believe in,
But somehow I will show the world
what's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am.

[rand=31957252486608926509321788325906288151762448251253989298252854496]

[Danny]

Two birds on a wire
One tries to fly away
And the other
Watches him close
From that wire

[WIP... Pretty much Essence feeling effects of venom/poison... Figuring out she's going to die because no one is going to sponsor her and kind of hoping the lizard would kill her first. I'm also gonna attempt to see if the normal knife code likes me better than the thrown knife code.]

[Attacks Lizard #2 -- Knife]
[dice=200+2000]
[Shallow Cut on Left Thigh -- 3.5 damage]

I quit hahaha.

Two birds on a wire
One says come on
And the other says
I'm tired
The sky is overcast

[rand=9733066053595394978534303605556558889426314271997247129220049828]

[Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]]

Oh dear, my wife died.

I stop to contemplate this for a moment as I stop by her corpse, sniffing.

Huh, she's dead. And the disgusting two-legged things take advantage of the quiet moment - ruining my grieving process - to aim their claw-like appendages at me, like I've done something wrong.

Ugh.

I'm dying too now, clearly. An angry noise escapes through my teeth as I huddle close to the corpse of my annoying wife, making a halfhearted attempt to injure the creature closest to me as I swing my head around.

[Attacks Benat w/teeth]
[dice=200+2000]
Miss 0.0

[/blockquote]

[rand=5161286815777518790062870610183443117311278899256005832650751355]