(open) stay afraid dear one

[cinder]

Three truly was a magical number. Three days ago at about noon, Illiana Annwn, formerly of Cain household, had left. Three days ago at about dawn, Lana had learned she was not related to her family by blood at all. Three days ago she had watched the strange Career, Arcadia London and felt an odd connection with the other girl. Illiana Annwn, the delicate flower of a girl had ran away from home. She knew it was only temporary, but for the next few weeks or so--truthfully however long it would take her to get to District Two, she would be like a wanderer. A tear escaped, and Illiana rubbed it away furiously as she trudged through the woods she knew would somehow lead to District Two.

The likable girl nearly burst into tears as she looked at her black smudged fingers. Illiana had been making an effort to keep up with her vain ways, but her food supply was running out, and Lana knew she had to get to a District soon to replenish her food. The teen had already seen two strangers in the woods, and her heart had skipped a beat. In all of Illianas life she had only ever had a conversation with five other people, two of whom she knew had no idea she was out here in the woods. Just like them.

Now unless Illiana was even more stupid than she sometimes looked, the teen was heading the wrong way. Truthfully, Illiana was curious. Before her brother and sister ran off together, Lana Annwn had heard something. Carter would have never guessed gentle, kind, delicate Illiana would have been twenty feet up a tree in the middle of the woods at night, but that was his mistake. Maybe he had know, just not thought his little sister would run away--anyways, whatever it was, Lana had over-heard him and her sister. Among the things they said, all having to do with their mutual hatred of the Capitol, Illiana was shocked to learn many runaways and wanderers were part of a group of people called Uprisers.

Seeing as how Illiana was on a quest to learn about a tribute, she was pretty sure the people who hated the Capitol would know a lot about them too. This was a potential lead for Illiana to follow in her quest to learn about Arcadia London. That and Lana was pretty sure she hated the Capitol. The frightened girl knew she had just passed District Twelve, and was shivering as she made her way further. How many people who lived in the Districts had come so far? Illiana felt like she was a pioneer discovering a new land... except well, it wasn't new land, and there were people living there. Her big blue eyes were particularly watery as Illiana stumbled along, hungry and tired. She would soon enough reach this strange rebel-base.

And when she got there, Illiana didn't even know what she would do, but she just had to find a way to stop the Games. If and when the Career girl she had befriended through the television died, Illiana knew a part of her would go down with her. That was not to be taken without putting up a fight. Gentle Lana would help destroy the murderers that made up the Capitol.

[BeyondSaving]

Logan proceeded to lean his bare back against the bark of the tree. It was horribly uncomfortable and rough but he needed to tend his wound from his fight with Ramose. A continuous flow of ruby red fluid warmly shot from a wound in his shoulder flesh. Arrow were not a pleasant thing to take out.

The wind blew the dark,raggedy locks from his eyes,showing the dark brown irises. His eyes had filled with water,he squinted from pain as his muscular left arm reach across his chest,grabbed the end of the shaft and snapped it. Pain shot through his every muscle and he tensed.

"Ugh" he winced and more water came from his eyes,just a physical reaction,nothing serious.He was angry though. The woods had shattered and part of the arrow remained in tact. With his anger he grabbed the broken piece up and flung it. Quickly the frail piece of wood snapped into more pieced and fell to the ground.

The grass was green,and dewy. It was fairly cold. An old leather jacket of his, well oiled and lightly colored hung about 20 yards off on an empty tree branch. It was nice but weather beaten.The small fire pit in front of him had now died down to almost nothing,and he was out of food. Logan had loved this place, the tree he was leaning against was a willow,and grew tall and overhung as a shelter. It's branches interlaced with the tree across from it. It was kind of like an archway. It seemed as if a lot of the trees had been planted with spaces between them.

Logan reminisced and thought of petty things like his surroundings and his brothers fight for many moments....
Until he heard something.

Someone was in the woods,though he couldn't tell how far off or even in what direction, he could sense it. He rose quickly to his feet. As Logan hoisted himself up he groaned in pain but bit his lip. Within a few short strides he found his weapon,a clean axe in a nearby tree and waited....

[cinder]

Her mascara was smudged, and Illiana was pretty sure she looked like her long-term boy-friend had just broken up with her, and she was now stupidly wandering the woods because her heart was broken and she no longer wished to live. (At least thats what her sister had done when her first boy-friend started cheating on her, and got caught) As Illiana walked, she didn't even think about anything going wrong. No thought of a boy with an Axe troubled her ind--because honestly what could go wrong when a teenager had an Axe? Lana kept on walking, in what she hoped was the right direction, a small frown on her face. The forest was pretty, but eary, and sometimes Illiana got scare--

A yelp. Illiana hadn't used her voice much in the past few days, and although she had intended to scream or something, it came out as a short, clear coyote-like yap yelp. There were no cheesy tree-roots behind her for Illiana to fall on, and she wasn't clumsy... but a moment after the scared-out-of-wits teen had taken a step backward, she found herself to have fallen on her butt. Blue-green eyes, so very wide stared at a hurt boy probably somewhere around her age, with a big, big weapon.

"Is that an Axe?" Illiana asked, her voice high-pitched and nervous. It might not have been the smartest thing to ask, but Illiana had never been in a situation like this. She examined the guy, a hint of fascination in her excited, nervous expression-ate face. I truthfully have no idea what to do with myself! the thought over-shadowed all the rest of her fear and bubbly, girlish excitement. Illiana Annwn was new to the world of people, and although she had been taught to be polite and always smile, there had been no lessons on how to react to somebody with a weapon except to run away, but Illiana was still on her booty, and too tired to run, and this didn't seem like the average attack.

She smiled at her fellow woodsman, deciding to be polite. The seventeen year old sweat-heart pushed herself off the ground, ignoring how much she ached. As she wiped all the dust from her pants, Illiana quickly pulled out her sun-glasses, throwing them over her raccoon make-up-ed eyes. Always vain! "My name is Illiana," she chirped, then actually waved her hand in a hello gesture, before Lana actually registered in her mind, that the guy was bloody. Not just hurt, but very bloody! Her mouth opened and Illiana tried not to head for the hills at the sight of it. Blood had never been her favorite thing to look at.

ooc- sorry its so bad, but she hasnt really met any people and is so naturally innocent--I had no idea what to do with her!

[BeyondSaving]

Logan was set for attack.His large bare feet spread and he stood in an attack stance,his arm raised painfully in the air. If someone was coming in his direction his wound was going to challenge him quite a bit.

As he stood,ready for a battle he heard her.....her! It was a female. Generally no reason to worry but he had learned better from Cicily. She was dangerous. He lowered his axe a bit as not to frighten the newcomer so much,but kept it still in a tight throwing grip.

There she came. Odd and gangly but gorgeous in a way.Then again,Logan was attracted to almost any female that crossed his path,considering there were very few.

A small yelping sound escaped from the girls small lips.

Try as he might to keep his straight face and composed complexion, Logan's expressionless face curved into a smile and a chuckle escaped.

In a small voice the young lady inquired Is that an axe?.

With one quick motion,without even looking,he snapped his wrist back and flung the axe,propelling it right back into the tree which he had pulled it from.
In an authoritative voice he spoke.
"Yes...it is"His face went grim again"Would you like me to prove it to you?". What was she doing out here? Many thoughts registered in his mind. He left his weapon in the tree but took a step back. Was she to be trusted? Probably not.

As he saw her begin to get up he walked over to help her,but she was already off the ground before he made his way over to her.

"Not to be rude miss but you should really watch what come out of your mouth,it could get you into trouble more often" he grinned showing his perfectly white teeth. Hard to imagine that he stayed as hygienic as he did,living out in the woods.

"My name is Logan, or Leo if you want. Last name Blessedheart. Ya know" he began,noticing that she was in some pain "Maybe you'd better sit down.There are worse things in these woods than me and I'd hate for you to deal with them" Logan thought of the raiders and gangs which resided no more than a mile past his own quarters.

He saw the girl's eyes travel to his wound.The red turned to brown as it began to dry but all the same,he felt a good amount of intense pain too. He walked over and found his mud stained t-shirt lying where he had just sat. He turned his back for a good moment,trusting her,and slid the dirty rag of a shirt on.

"Sorry if that was bothering you" his voice was sincere "I didn't expect visitors".

[cinder]

"Have you cleaned it? The wound, I mean. I'm not a Healer or anything but my mom taught me about some medicines and things." A pause, was it a custom to always say the persons name after you had spoken? Illiana found she could not remember. "Logan or Leo Blessedheart," she spoke softly, adding the last part after a small pause.. It was humiliating acting like such a fool in front of a stranger. Her sister would have known what to do, what to say but here was Illiana struggling to figure out what the boy-with-axe's deal was. I'm smart... Ill just improv., Lana thought, because once again the feeling of average customs and such having no place in the forest, popped into her head. It was terribly confusing.

Her eyes lifted from the spot on the ground she had been looking at after the guy went to grab his shirt. She made eye-contact, but after only three seconds of that, blinked. Within the past few days of Illiana traveling through the forest, she had seen a few people. It was always the eyes that interested her most, though, she couldn't keep a steady stare going once somebody was watching her too, but just a glimpse of an emotion, or lack of one, was comforting. It helped to make her feel at home, as though she were not looking at a stranger, but one of her family-members. Illiana so easily lost herself when looking at somebody.

The teen blinked, only to find she had been staring at the axe in the tree. Illiana felt the need to say something, but what? Thank you, for not beheading me? (Lana didn't know much about talking, but she was pretty sure you didn't say things like that.) Instead of acting like an idiot and saying something that would confirm what Illiana thought must be the boys growing belief that she was stupid Lana didn't say any more. She just smiled, at first with just her chapped, pink lips, but soon with her teeth too. Lana was pleased that her teeth were very straight, and white as Logan's. At least somebody was vain or hygienic enough to keep themselves looking presentable(sorta)! Sure there were other things like hunting, and starting fires but couldnt a wanderer or runaway just take three minutes out of their day to bursh teeth, brush hair, and wash face? Honestly, it was barbaric! Some of the people Illiana Annwn had seen, looked as though they had not bathed for a year.

[BeyondSaving]

Logan was amused by the girl.She seemed to be a bit clueless which he thought was cute.
He was glad to see her smiling,it looked genuine, so she couldn't have been to uncomfortable around him.
This girl-Illiana seemed dazed and a bit confused but all the same,she meant well.
"Yes I cleaned it...well as much as I could possibly clean it with the help of lake water and home-made antiseptics." He turned towards her.

"I like you name, it's very,elegant" he guessed that was the word. He let it roll of his tongue. "So Illiana,why are you out int he woods alone?"

[cinder]

Illiana brushed off the question of why she was in the woods, too dazed by the flattery. She had never thought of her name as elegant, really she'd always seen her name as such a name. Illiana Annwn... it is pretty! The thought made her smile brighten. "Logan is a nice name too. Its strong and dependable," she nodded in the positive, as if the small movement proved her point. He had mentioned something else... a question with a 'why?' Of course! people were curious, her siblings had taught her this about the outside world--it was only natural for Logan to wonder why a prissy girl like herself was out alone in the big bad woods.

"I'm visiting family off by the ruins of District Thirteen," she explained. No need to mention the Uprisers, as her brother had made it seem like not all wanderers were a part of the group. For all she knew, Logan was their leader, or he was an anti-Uprisers, sent by the Capitol to find supporters of the rebels. Lana would keep that bit of information to herself. She did have family who had traveled to District Thirteen, and she was trying to find family in District Two. It was a partial truth. The how come I feel so bad about it? It was bothering Illiana. She was a very open person, and the few times she had lied, or even just kept a secret, it had ended badly. She would always feel so guilty, as her mom always told Illiana keeping secrets wasn't nice.

"I'm a nice girl," her mouth formed the words, as Illiana stared at her hands. Unless Logan was a lip-reader, he wouldn't hear the exact words, but it startled Illiana. Her cheeks turned bright once more, and she bit her lower-lip, feeling awkward. If people were this hard to talk to, no wonder so many people ran off into the wilderness. It could get tiring having to always be polite, and empathetic to the other person. Her family had been so different, things had been easy when they talked to each other. Of course, my 'family' was keeping so many secrets from me. I doubt we'll ever chat like we used to... If Illiana hadn't cried herself dry, she would be afraid of tears trying to come out and play.

[BeyondSaving]

Logan was surprised. It seemed almost as if she wasn't used to being around people.
"You know" he started in a tender voice "I'm not the most open person, actually I am surprised I've talked to you at all,but I am a good listener" he liked the idea of his name being strong and dependable.He liked to think he was,but he had betrayed more than a good amount of family and friends. Even a girl now and again.

"I'm not asking you to trust me" he spoke softly this time looking into her eyes "But it's obvious you aren't being totally upfront,and I'm here if you need someone to listen" he rose up and began to walk towards a nearby stream,his footfalls silent upon the hard clay ground. It wasn't like she could hurt anyone. This Illiana seemed far too lost,it was almost pathetic.

He questioned himself. Why did she interest him? Of course,other than the fact she was female,he thought to himself. She seemed different. Logan was different as well....but they were both unique in a totally different manner.

Even if she was truly going to find family,why wasn't she with them in the first place? He'd surely inquire more,if the young girl chose to stay around.

[cinder]

Illiana jogged over to Logan and grabbed his arm, gently. Her blue-green eyes held his gaze a moment before she looked at her slim hand wrapped around his arm. She released and opened her mouth to speak. "No, I'm not being truthful... but I mean, its not like I'm asking you how you got that huge wound. I don't need a listener either, I need a talker. I'm going to tell you something ridiculous, but very, very, very true," she looked at him now, and now it was as though Illiana was treating Logan like a five year old. "You're the sixth or seventh person Ive ever had a lasting conversation with, in my life." She smiled a second, before shutting her mouth and looking at Logan very seriously.

There were crazy people in the world. It would be so easy for Logan to just write her off as one of those people. Being some crazy, little teenager seemed more likely than being a girl who had never had a bond with anybody outside of her family. For years she believed she had a disease that kept her from being normal, but now Lana knew that was just another lie. Just another lie her parents had told her so Illiana Annwn would not suspect she was of a Career family, and not of humble District Eight.

For a moment Illiana forgot all about Logan. Her hand dropped, and almost like a mechanical-robot, something inside her made Lana stare at her hand. She was in a different world where two of her three siblings had not run off to fight a war against their country, and Illiana had dismissed her connection to Arcadia London as just thinking they looked alike. She took a deep, shaky breath and ended up coughing before Illiana looked at Logan once more. She focused on his forehead, lest she see anger and humor in his eyes. Illiana would hate it if her first solid conversation with a person in the woods, ended badly. Especially since he has an axe. Maybe Logan will think I'm insane and try to put me out of my crazy-misery... The mental-image of something like that occurring was humorous for a second before Illiana started to realize it could happen.

Nothing like a jarring mental-image of her own death to calm a girls nerves the teen thought tartly. She was tempted to roll her eyes, but found she was too freaked out to accomplish even that simple of an emotional response to her own secret thoughts. Her whole body was rigid, and her mind a blur of chaotic thoughts. Illiana didn't fully understand her panic. Logan wouldn't really try to kill her or even hurt her. Keep believing that darling, but like you said... you haven't talked to many people, so be wary.

ooc- I think my muse was standing in front of that tree when Logan put the axe back in it. Shes definitely dead -.-

[BeyondSaving]

OOC: Haha...the axe is back in a tree. She's not dead. This is a start of a great rp and I think Logan like's her craziness.
BIC:

Logan smiled at her. She talked slowly as if he was stupid and young. He found it cute. He also found it odd.Though he didn't find her dumb,she was clueless. In his mind,something told him he needed to be explaining things to her.
"Miss,I don't know how you conversation skills are even half this good then. You are very peculiar" he smiled brightly at her. No longer distant or off-putting.
He tried to appear somewhat warm and friendly in his features. Leo's other goal was to seem inviting and open,maybe he could open her up.
He thought "She probably want's to and doesn't know how" The once smile was now replaced by a frown and a sad sigh to go along with it.

"I think I would be insane,I don't know if I could talk to humans if I was shut off from the world for so long" what other reason could there be for her silence? He looked at her and noticed she was very nervous,hesitant still.
"I'm not going to hurt you,there is no point" he frowned still but his eyes shone in sympathy at the girl.





She was pretty,eccentric,uniqe,and yet she didn't understand how to communicate.

[/font size]

[cinder]

Was she crazy? Come to think of it, maybe thats why her family treated her so delicately, and her sister always acted like she was dumb. For a moment Lana was lost in the idea that she was insane--but no, wouldn't Logan/Leo Blessedheart tell me I was cookoo? What if hes crazy too? No, Lana Annwn was absolutely sure she was not mentally impaired. Television had been her savior. Hadn't my mother always told me I watched too much of it? She lied so much, maybe I watched it too little. I don't know what to think anymore....

So many years of watching the Hunger Games, talking to the people on the tv, talking to her family, learning all she could about life had turned Illiana into an expert on human behavior even if she did not know it. She could tell when somebody lied, she just always seemed to know little things. Now looking at Logan she got the feeling he was telling the truth, and that it didn't matter how odd she was. It was not Illiana's conscious mind that told her it was okay to trust her new friend, but instead something deep within her. Maybe the Lana that would have lived if she had been allowed outside the boundaries of her homestead back in District Eight. If she hadn't had a 'disease.'

"Well, maybe you won't hurt me, but..." she shrugged. It seemed very annoying, that Lana could not fill in the blank after but. 'But you're going to hurt me in the long run?' 'But this is taking too much of my valuable time?' 'But you creepy me out?' No, nah, nope. That was it--nothing fit. How was Illiana supposed to practice being cautious if everybody she met was polite and called her miss? It seemed far too good to be true. Heck, who am I kidding--Its not like I know enough to make a good decision on whats too great to be true.

With that thought Illliana forgot about being safe before sorry. She was comfortable for the moment, and there was no need to be suspicious unless Logan did something unsettling. The teen felt the need to apologize for her weird behavior and odd chit-chat, but how was she supposed to say sorry without admitting he had scared her? Wasn't being scary something nice people didn't want to be? Was it offensive to say sorry if somebody frightened somebody else? "But nothing. I'm from District Eight--how about you?" she asked. It was a nonchalant, simple, innocent question--one that most likely came up in most conversations people had.

[BeyondSaving]

Logan grimaced. As a sting of emotions overflowed him he turned his back towards her and began to busy himself by searching and examining every blade of folliage with his eyes.

"I don't know" he spoke out of bitterness. "I wander around I was born district 12,that I remember....but it just doesn't matter now" one lone tear stained his face more from anger than agony.

"This is ridiculous" he mumbled. What the hell was he doing? He was tired of letting himself get walked on and he felt odd,at some point this girl would decieve him,either that or leave. A lonely life was one in which he was meant to lead but he needed to start getting used to the idea.

"Sorry" he clenched his teeth,still not looking at her "If I am confusing you,but you need to find your family right?"

[/size]

[cinder]

She shook her head, blonde hair bouncing around her sharply angled face. "No, not really. I mean, I have time if you really need a listener..." Her conversation skills weren't that good anyways, might as well practice listening to other people instead. Illiana pretended to ignore the tear that had at one point rolled down Logan's face. Carter had never liked it when Illiana asked what was wrong--she was guessing it would be the same for this teenage boy, too.

Illiana placed her hands on her hips, looking far too much like her mother always did when she was about to tell Lana something like, 'Now my little girl, what is it? I'm tired and busy but Ill always make time for you.' Thats how Miss Annwn felt at the moment. Her eyes glinted with slight amusement at how the roles had shifted, but concern was ever so present. For a seventeen year old girl, Illiana was pretty mature.

Once upon a time when Illiana was young, her dad had snuck up behind her and swept her up into his arms. She had giggled, laughing and pounding at him with her fists.
"Now, now Lana--none of that!" he scolded gently.
She laughed, but stopped when she heard the one long, low moan of her brother. Illiana slipped out of her fathers grasp and ran over to Carter.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she bent down, looking at his ankle, which stuck out at an odd angle. Carter bit his lip, and shook his head. No. Lana immediately became all business stroking his hair and trying to help soothe the pain in all the ways the seven year old knew how to.

Later that day her father had come and patted her on the head.
"Gentle-Lana, you'll make a good mother or healer one day."

Finally Illiana was realizing her destiny. Of course she was too gentle to be a fighter, but she was healer. There for all the wounded strays she would meet. It was thrilling to look at the childhood memory and see new, deep meanings in it. She smiled and walked closer to Logan.

ooc- well that took a random turn ^^

[BeyondSaving]

OOC: At first I thought I'd give you an explanation,but then- IDK,seemed as if Illiana was too used to the "miss" and "gentlemen that" and it was too unrealistic and I mean we both know no guy is like that. And I figured if I didn't give an explanation that it would seem more Logan's idea than mine.

Bic:

Logan's heaving shoulders turned slightly to the point he could at least see her now in the corner of his eye.Slowly he leaned back and felt his back scrape coldly along the tree as he felt dazed and tired. Letting himself collapse in a heap as he fell to the ground using the giant trunk for support.

"Illiana" he spoke softly,yet a haunting tone stayed in his voice "You are a smart girl, but you seem just as lost as I am. You may have good intentions,but I feel like- you understand too much of me,and I am already a burden towards you. How could I ask for more?" he averted his eyes to his hands as they fumbled clumsily together. A dog like snarl escaped his throat
"How horribly stupid,selfish and wicked I am" the gaze still on his hands,his focus still on her.


"We both have problems" eyes returning to hers "but I never take something that I can't return" did she understand his meaning? He didn't need help,not if she was just going to leave and find her family. Her whole personality seemed to be laid out right there on the table,but she had given him no window to her thoughts.

Why should he take help from an innocent girl who needs her family,when he had fled his family so long ago?What right,on what terms,did she have to help him. She sure as hell did not seem like the independant type,however,they both need help. They both wanted to give. Could he really start an argument over who should help the other?Sounded sick and story like,that in a world such as this,people like them-who had every right to be mad at the world- were so kind.

"hm" it came out in an almost inaudible whisper "I'm turning into my brother"

[/size]

[cinder]

Illiana was mildly confused. Scratch that--she was having a hard time even trying to remember what Logan had said that was so deep and meaningful. Illiana certainly hadn't uttered any clever, insightful little remarks. Her eyes shone with bewilderment, and something more. A deep understanding of the situation? It couldn't be. Logan and Lana had one known bit of information in common: messed up home lives. It was so obvious by the way Logan had suddenly changed his whole demeanor when she asked him where he was from. Illiana felt like they had been caught on the opposite ends of a similar situation. Logan had most likely run away from home for some odd reason, and left a family that did not care. Illiana was hunting her runaway siblings who had left home for some odd reason. A simple coincidence.

She stared at him quizzically as he told her he would not take anything he couldn't return. She walked over to him, and patted his back like her father always had after Carter had come home from a little hunting expedition with no food. It was a motion meant to comfort the receiver. "No you've already returned it. I got a chance to talk to a real, live person and you get somebody who..." Did Illiana understand Logan? Not at all, but he had hinted that she knew him too well. Better to play that card then upset him by contradicting his assumption that she had a deep connection of a sorts. "... understands you. Simple as that."

She smiled but could not get the frown to leave her eyes. Pain, pain, pain. His pain, her pain, her pain the worlds pain. There was so much of it, always drowning Illiana. Why hadn't she realized this back at home in District Eight? Maybe I wasn't meant to. I mean, honestly I never would have left home If Id known how weird things were out here... That had to be it. Illiana felt a twinge of smugness fill her heart as she realized what was so obviously true. Lana hadn't even realized that her discovery was not so good, that the world being full of pain was something bad.

Oh well...