blood vs water {cato}

[knuckles]

Rob Xhalth Thirthy-Five | Male | Wanderer

Droplets of rain poured from the sky with every crash of thunder. Lightning struck through the trees threatening to light the woods on fire. Animals ran for safety. Birds hid on the branches. Rabbits hid under ground, but Rob remained in the open. Downcast eyes glared at the clouds floating through the air wondering where he had gone wrong. His life was perfect. He had everything he ever wanted plus more, and he threw it away in the blink of an eye. Now he was on the run from the peacekeepers. The sound of their boots still ring through his ears, yet his mind has found their pattern, and Rob has learned how to hide from them. Camouflaging himself beneath the branches covering the ground, or even under a bush out of sight from the rest of the world. But one thing most never realized was, Rob wasn’t afraid. Maybe at one time he was, however, he quickly realized how fear ate away at the mind. Paranoia wasn't part of his life.

Lightning flashed through the sky lighting the area showing him the way, but his home wasn't in danger. Staying stationary in a storm wasn't ideal, yet Rob had no other option. The flames of his fire died from the downpour, and any water he had setting on the kettle boiling was ruined. But he had enough food to keep the monster inside him at bay.

Puddles of water formed at his feet as the dark clouds grew darker, and he only imagined the sun setting behind the horizon as the moon rose high into the sky, yet nothing was visible not even the stars twinkling brightly. A canvas of clouds blocked his view from his nightly movement. Each night after the sun set behind the trees, Rob would move from one place to another wearing dark clothes so nobody could see him. Staying in one place for too long was extremely dangerous, but moving at night without any light was even more dangerous. It was a risk. Wild animals roamed the woods stalking their prey all hours of the day. Perhaps the storm would scare them away, make them realize that hunting was dangerous.

A soft sigh escaped his lips as he collapsed against the ground drawing his knees tight against his chest. Chills ran up and down his spine. Every hair stood on end. Tomorrow. He told himself. Tomorrow I'll move. Rain soaked through his clothes as the roof of his safe haven collapsed beneath the weight of the world. Quietly he placed a single hand inside his bag removing his favorite knife. Right now it was his only protection, yet if someone managed to sneak up on him, Rob was in trouble. His hope left with the water dripping from his skin.

But soon the clouds drifted away flying fast through the air as the wind picked up speed howling through the night sky. Leaves scurried across the ground, and it became impossible for him to tell if animals were nearby or not. The sleeves of his jacket flew ungracefully in the air. Debris flew around, and another crash of lightning forced him into a standing position. His heart raced rapidly inside his chest frantically pounding against his ribs. The world was still as his eyes narrowed squinting through the drops of rain praying for the storm to end, yet Rob didn't believe in miracles. He begged for a miracle to save his mother from the grasp of the grim reaper, and his brother pulled him away. Miracles didn't exist in Panem.

Yet as the day turned lighter, the clouds grew darker.

Gathering his stuff, Rob moved from his current hiding place. He threw his holey jacket over his shoulders, and his backpack swung across his back while one hand wrapped around his knife, and the other held firmly against the makeshift spear. One step after another he trotted through the waterlogged forest shifting his gaze in every direction while keeping his ears open for any sounds out of the ordinary. Anything was possible in the woods, and he knew that, yet his mind wasn't focused on any possibility of becoming ill or injured until a water puddle almost swallowed him whole.

Rob met the ground hard and fast knocking the breath out of him. His spear flew across the ground, and his knife fell by his side. "Dammit." He muttered as pain shot through his hands into his shoulders and neck. But that wasn't the worst of it.

A branch cracked behind him. Rob jumped, and was on his feet as fast as possible. His hand wrapped around his knife as quickly as possible, and he lunged for his makeshift spear before doing an about face. "Trying to sneak up on me from behind?" He asked quietly. "Doesn't work that way." It might have been a deer or some other animal, but maybe it was a person, and that was the last thing Rob wanted because hiding was important. His one stupid mistake could cost him his entire life.

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844 words