hard to find {aitu vs 2 harpies day 2}

[d9 kristof parks {ems}]

Rolf Parks Eighteen | Male | District Nine

This is how it feels when you're bent and broken
This is how it feels when your dignity's stolen
When everything you love is leaving
You hold on to what you believe in

The night grows cold. Stars twinkle through the sky hidden beneath the clouds. Even the moon seems real and peaceful. But it's all more than meets the eye.

An eerie chill crawls across my body, and everywhere I turn, everywhere I look, nothing seems safe. Of course it won't be safe, though, this is the hunger games. Loud roars flee from my stomach. Every fiber of my being begs for just a taste of water, or something to soothe my parched tongue. Every living creature needs water.

All I have is this weapon, a pole that I've seen used in past games. The blade seems strong and powerful, yet strength and power isn't going to keep me alive if water and food doesn't come soon - it seems like nobody cares.

Torka has been blessed by the loving people in the Capitol while I'm stuck glaring at the sky wishing someone would hear me. He's someone they want as a victor. Me? I'm just some low life kid from district nine they'll never remember once my face flashes in the sky. The realization slaps me across the face, and my head drops forward as a heavy sigh leaves my chest.

"I think we should stop here." My voice is low, and I just need a place to rest, a place to lie down and maybe sleep for the night. "I'll take first watch." I add with a nod before placing the weapon on the ground beside me.

It's beyond me if he takes my advice, or if he lies away through the night wishing he was asleep, but I understand. Both of us can't survive this.

It's through the night a parachute falls and lands beside me. I'm about to thank someone for helping me, but the lid is off, and my eyes lock on a trash bag - You've got to be kidding me!

A stupid trash bag.

They might as well just throw me in a body bag and ship me home because that's what they're telling me. I'm only a piece of trash. Something they can throw away without putting a price on. All my life, I've told myself that I'm the good child and nothing bad can happen to me. I'm safe from harm because everyone loves me -

It's obvious they all hate me.

Nothing good comes to the good child anymore.

I'm worthless just like my brother. A piece of trash left aside to die by the hands of those in charge. I'm a piece of trash tossed away - I don't matter anymore, and they've just given me the will needed to survive.

They want me dead, but it's just not gonna happen.

Wadding the bag up and pushing it off to the side, something falls into my lap. I'm about to jump up screaming when the canteen falls to the ground. A sigh of relief escapes my lips, and I throw it inside the trash bag before pushing it away once more.

The sky lights up, and the stars disappear. The anthem plays, and I know what's happening. Part of me wants to honor the dead while the other part just wishes this would go away. The idea of putting a face to a name is wrong. But we're all humans, and none of us deserve to die.

Rachel Violette of district two.

Joselle Brookwater of district four.

Two careers are dead, only four remain, and one is here by my side. What a relief.

Kimmie Yov-Maoi of district eight.

Sabrina LaRue of district nine.

Sabrina.

Her face lights up the sky, and it's gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart sinks into the pits of my stomach, but I keep the mask spread across my face trying my best to hide the pain.

On the train she made me laugh. A spark was lit inside me, but now nothing is there, only a pit of darkness and regret. The only peace of home I had left flew away. Only one good thing has come from her death, and now I don't have to worry about killing her - I don't think I could've; however, I'll never know because I'll never face that situation. For that I am grateful. I'll keep her alive for as long as I'm live. Her life will carry on through the few short memories I have of her.

But it's not enough.

She's dead, and I'm alive. It's another spark to keep me going. Another lit flame to keep me alive. She's added to the list of people I'm fighting for.

Sabrina, fly high.

It ends with the face of a man from district eleven. Drake Harvest. I saw him briefly - I hope his death wasn't filled with torture and pain. I wish I could take back the words I said to Katelyn that dreadful day in the dining hall.

I can because one is dead, and I hope to never see the other.

The night fades away as I stay seated in an upright position fighting sleep because I wish to survive.

At the first sighting of the new day, I'm on my feet shoveling everything into the dark bag. Just eighteen more, Rolf. Only eighteen more.

I wait for Torka allowing him to make a move. Waking a sleeping career could end up like waking a sleeping giant - I'm not ready to die. But who's ready to die? The ones who died yesterday? The ones who've died in other games?

When he moves, I follow behind, my ears perked listening for any sound. My grip on the blade tightens. My body aches from the stupid shoes, and I realize I'm still wearing them. Apparently taking them off hasn't been an effort I've wanted to try yet, so they still remain. My calves are aching. My toes are hurting - this isn't a life.

A fog grows thick, thicker than anything I've seen thus far - I wonder.

What is this place?

The stench of rotten eggs makes me want to vomit, yet I have nothing inside my stomach to lose. Looking around, I can't see what's happening. I can't see my own hand in front of my face - we're going to die. Every once and a while I can see the holes, the rocks, the pools bubbling with some sort of liquid I've never seen before;

This is no ordinary lake, but how would I know? I've never seen a lake in my entire life, yet I stare at one now making false accusations.

"Torka, be careful." My voice is quiet so I don't alert anyone, and I wonder if he can hear. The pools bubble away, and the smell is getting worse; I lift the edge of the sweater pressing it against my face in hopes of blocking it out, but my efforts are futile. Turning in every direction, and squinting my eyes, I try to see through the fog. I try to figure out what's going on.

Death stands in front of me, and it's up to me to respond.

Only I can decide if I live or die.

ooc notes go here

[googlefont="Vast Shadow:400"]

Rolf attacks {harpie #1} | glaive
BV1LFlvEglaive

[result: 13115 -- Deep Gash on Chest -- 9.5 damage]glaive

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

[googlefont="Indie Flower:400"]

Torka Hammerfell

So far this is all going good. I've made people like me, and receiving these items have proven that they believe in me. I just have to keep that hope alive. I'm all that's left from two. I hope they didn't make Rachel suffer. It's wrong, and nobody should suffer except those I deem deserving of it. Thankfully it's only been a couple people. I have to make it home now to show district two that their tributes aren't worthless. My family is watching, and Odysseus may know by now my reasoning for this. I had to. I know how close he is to Derek, and I couldn't allow him to lose someone like that. Me? I'm not planning on dying. I got a shield to protect me. Rolf is a cool guy. I guess it's because his brother allied with my brother. I won't push him away. I can use him, and that's what I'm going to do. He stops first saying it's a good place to rest, and I agree with him. I want to see what all the Capitol has sent me. And maybe see if my district loves me enough to support me after my district partner's death. I nod my head and sit down going through all my stuff. Thankfully I got a backpack now. It can hold these, but I don't know what this tiny golden ball is for. Maybe I can shove it down someone's throat and choke them on it? It's creative that's for sure. I don't say anything to Rolf though. I just nod my head and allow myself to rest. And when the anthem appears, I notice that another career is dead. It's becoming easier for me. The careers are my biggest threat, and once they're gone, I have nothing to worry about, and I'll have no reason to keep this kid from nine around. Seeing that his district partner died makes me shrug my shoulders. We've both got something in common right now, both of our only piece of home has died. That's the only thing in common. Had I known that showing him to hold a sword would've made us allies, I would've found more people to help. The more people to shield me and keep me alive, the better. I must've slept through the night because when my eyes open, Rolf has packed up, and I can tell he's waiting on me. He's smart not to wake me because I would've dug my knife into his neck and take that pretty glaive of his. Maybe I will take it. I pack my stuff up, and I'm moving forward. My eyes scan the area ahead of me, and I hope he scans the area behind me. But soon I can't see. The fog is thick, and it's blocking my view, and something smells terrible. It's like someone cracked open a ton of rotten eggs. I hear Rolf telling me to be careful, and I just remain silent. It's best not to talk. But before I can do anything, he's attacking. I tighten my grip on my knife, and I follow after him. Another fight. This should amuse me for a bit.

-Torka attacks Harpie 1-

i2YzOwDaknife
2156 -- Deep Gash on Right Thigh -- 8.0 damage + 1 bladesknife

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

RORY GOODELLA // BILLY BELICHICKA.

A flutter of the wings. My sister, she thought as she beat her wings once more before landing in the condensed air around the lake. The swirls of the atmosphere coated her wings and lingered on her skin, her feathers as she watched her sister land next to her. Snarl. There were no words needed between them, bonded by more than just blood. It had been so long since they were last released from their cells, so long since they had last made contact with each other. Rory reached out a hand to her sister.

But Billy did not want her. Rory always had a jealous side to her, a touch of needing vengeance. Billy was the one who always won, who dealt the finishing blow. Rory tried her best to beat her sister, but Billy—Billy was the smart one. And she knew it. Billy made it a point to undermine her sister, to show her sister that she had no love for her or her antics.

She would fight for her; there was no doubt about it. They were still sisters and their survival depended on each other. The beats of their wings would synchronize, their calls mutually understood. They were graceful together, fierce together, dangerous together. Whatever one thought of the other, they needed each other and they both knew it.

The deep fog that cast over their naked bodies cloaked their figures but not their minds. Do you sense them? Yesss, I do. Their footsteps grew silent as they peered through the heavy cloak, searching for those foreign minds that they knew would become their next prey. Malesss… …yesss. They were stronger when they fought the opposite sex, utilizing their femininity to master the other sex. Men were weak against them, but they were not powerless, so with caution the sisters drifted through the fog.

Not enough caution could have saved Rory as the metal lunged through the fog and bit her through her bare chest. A horrendous shriek pierced through the air as Billy could feel her pain and vocalized what Rory could not. Just when the sisters thought they had triggered the one and only trap, another piece of metal attacked Rory, but this time biting her leg. More shrieks pierced the air but nothing like what Billy had in mind as she remained silent for this bout as she swooped and attacked the boys. Boys they were, for they were not quite men, and men they would never be if Billy had her say. With no spoken words, they attacked with their sharp talons.

[Rory (Harpy #1) attacks Rolf]
QVk2Dz|cknife
[Shallow Cut on Right Bicep ; 3.5 dmg]

[Billy (Harpy #2) attacks Torka]
knife
[Shallow Cut on Stomach ; 4.0 dmg]

knife�knife

[d9 kristof parks {ems}]

Rolf Parks Eighteen | Male | District Nine

This is how it feels when you're bent and broken
This is how it feels when your dignity's stolen
When everything you love is leaving
You hold on to what you believe in

Beads of sweat roll from my brow, and each breath catches in the back of my throat. A giant weight sets against my chest making it hard to breathe. The thirst is unending. My head is spinning round and round, and nothing is making it better. A drum pounds inside my head, and I'm expecting an axe to be sticking out of my skull, but nothing is there. It's only my imagination.

A bloodcurdling scream echoes through the air the moment my weapon connected with the creatures ugly torso, and I swear the sound sharper than any blade I've ever held. It's a miracle my ears aren't bleeding. My mind tells me to retreat, hide in the fog, but is it worth the risk? The risk of losing a brother, a friend, someone I half trust inside this place?

No.

But before I get the chance to make a sound decision, another high pitched screech infiltrates my mind - I'm going to need a hearing aid when this fight is finished.

I turn towards Torka, "Do you think they could be any louder?"

Talking and fighting doesn't go hand in hand, yet I'm wandering through a foggy place, tripping over the heels attached to my feet all while praying to survive another day. But this thing is standing, well flying, in my way. They were coming towards us, claws extended, and the closer the get the bigger they seem. I stifle a scream as it's talon scratches across my arm. Tiny droplets of blood vanish in the fog.

I'm going to make them pay.

Kill them.

It's all I know right now. Disregarding the life of a human is one thing, but these creatures aren't alive. They aren't human, so killing them won't hurt anything except keep me alive for another day.

Hoisting the poled weapon into the air, I'm eyeing the winged mutants.

They're going to die.

And I hope it's slow and painful like I promised for the two from eleven. The corners of my lips twist into a dark, toothy grin.

I will survive.

ooc notes go here

[googlefont="Vast Shadow:400"]

Rolf attacks {harpie #1} | glaive
A3IFjHTeglaive

[result: 13007 -- Severed Right Foot at Ankle -- 9.0 damage]glaive

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Torka Hammerfell Eighteen | Male | District Two

This is amazing, but at the same time I'm scared for my life. Not I'm never afraid of anything. The closest I've been to feeling afraid was when I was arrested and thrown into the detention center. But is this nothing like that. It's a bloody mutt. It can die just like that peacekeeper did back in two when I set his body on fire. That was a moment I enjoyed. A moment to live for. A moment I'll keep in my mind forever.

Rolf did some good. Apparently he's really good at using a glaive, but that's all me. I showed him how to hold a sword. I showed him the proper way to swing it. Maybe that's where he's getting it from now. The glaive bit into it, and I heard the loudest screech ever. I'm cringing trying to shield my own ears when I stab it again. And once again the sound is filling my ears. It hurts. It's painful, but I have to keep fighting. That's when I hear Rolf talking. Of course they could be louder. Anything could be louder. But could it hurt my ears as much? I doubt it.

One of them flies towards me, and I back out of the way just in time to avoid being speared through the stomach with those dagger talons. I'm sure it would've hurt, but this is nothing. Just a scratch. They think they can kill me, but they're wrong. I'm about to attack the injured mutt once more, but Rolf steps in and he slices it's foot clean from it's body, and like that the creature died.

I nod my head at him. He's done a good job, and he's definitely earning his keep. Maybe if he's lucky, I'll keep him alive longer. He's not bad at this, and if he keeps it up, we'll both live to see another day inside the arena. Until it's time for him to die of course. But for now, I have to focus on the mutt. I can't let a kid from district nine show me up. I take a deep breath, and I attack the strong one. Rolf can have his kill, and I can have mine.

ooc notes go here

[googlefont="Frijole:400"]

-Torka attacks Harpie 2-

vIsTzpX|knife
2090 -- Shallow Cut on Back of Head -- 4.5 damageknife

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

RORY GOODELLA // BILLY BELICHICKA.

The batter of their eyelashes did nothing against these men, proven ineffective to tamper them with their charm. Rory and Billy did not like this and with an awful screech from Rory, they knew what they had to do. They would have to evolve, to train themselves so they could kill these awful men just like they had with their weaker counterparts. But Billy would not fall into the boys’ trap, not when she had a hotheaded sister to make the careless mistake first.

And careless it was as Rory swooped down only for her to fall just as quickly. That impatient, silly girl, Billy thought to herself, despite her blood boiling under her skin. It was not right for her sister to fall just like that, for these men to think of themselves so important that they could slice at such a graceful being. No, Billy was going to make them pay.

The metal bit her before she could sink her talons in. She was not one to cry in agony but the wordless yell escaped her as she turned around and struck at her attacker.

[Billy (Harpy #2) attacks Torka]
J1WK9_bdknife
[Shallow Cut on Left Hip ; 3.5 dmg]

knife

[d9 kristof parks {ems}]

Rolf Parks Eighteen | Male | District Nine

This is how it feels when you're bent and broken
This is how it feels when your dignity's stolen
When everything you love is leaving
You hold on to what you believe in

A drummer pounds the inside of my skull matching the rhythm of my racing heart. A single foot lands gracefully at my feet, and soon the ugly beast falls. It is dead. No denying that, but the other one is still alive. It's flying about trying to catch us, make us deaf, kill us, and who knows what else the gamemakers have charged it with. But I'm not going to stand around watching as it's claws dig at my flesh.

The sweat sticks to me. My hair stands straight, and I swear I'm about to fall over. The world spins around me; my ankles weak from the terrible shoes. My eyes are wide, but not with fear. Trying to see through the fog is hard, and it's almost impossible. Yet I know it's here somewhere. It's hiding -

It screeches again, and I swear each time it grows louder - it takes all my strength to keep the poled weapon in my hands. All I want is to curl up in a ball and shield my ears. Something to stop the violent roars from echoing through them, but nothing comes to mind. One is still alive while one rots on the ground. It's a prize for me. A prize for killing it, and nothing will take it away.

He ignores me. My questions. Everything. Yet he stands his ground slashing at the beast. I don't know what it is, but I do know that it's not going to make it out of this fight alive. It turns towards me, and it's staring at me like it's going to try to suck the life out of me. But I don't flinch. I stand my ground holding the poled weapon in the air. From out of the fog rises the man I've chosen to ally with, and he strikes the beast. It's attention turns towards him, but not after screaming at the top of it's lungs -

Just make it stop.

Please.

My ears are pounding, throbbing. Time is of the essence. A once not so bad headache has turned into a full blown migraine, and I can't move. It's making me sick to stand. But I can't, and I won't stop until this stupid thing is dead.

May it's screams never hurt mine or anyone else's ears ever again.

ooc notes go here

[googlefont="Vast Shadow:400"]

Rolf attacks {harpie #2} | glaive
bOr50oB9glaive

[result: 13048 -- Miss -- 0.0 damage]

accuracy reroll
glaive

[result: 13193 -- Severed Left Calf at Knee -- 9.0 damage]glaive�glaive

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Torka Hammerfell Eighteen | Male | District Two

I failed miserably. My attempts to match the movements of district nine fell short with a stupid shallow cut. The ugly thing flew out of my way before I had the chance to attack it better. All I wanted to do is stab it through the back of the skull, and I would end it's life forever. It's trying to kill me, and I can't let that happen. So I have to try harder. I have to find the strength inside to keep going. To carry on. I am not weak, don't get me wrong, but I feel weak right now. Maybe it's because Rolf has done better than me, or maybe the dehydration is finally setting in.

This thing is rather annoying. It can fly, and my knife can't reach as high as I'd like for it to. But I keep trying. Jumping and diving. Waiting for it to swoop down in front of me in order to stab at it. Unlike Rolf, I have no advantage. His weapon is long and can reach far into the air while mine can only extend so far. Nonetheless, I'm not going to let him do better than me. He's motivating me to do better. To survive. But this thing keeps flying away from me. And if it keeps flying away, it's not ever going to die.

One is dead. Killed by Rolf, and the other is still alive, and I don't want the kid from nine to steal away my honor and glory. He's been training for three days. I've been training my whole life for this moment. I almost had it before, and it was taken away from me, and now I have the chance again. I saved a man's life for this, but he wasn't any man. He's my brother's best friend in the entire world. I took his place because he has someone while I have nobody.

The fog makes it hard to see, and it's getting thicker it seems. But the screeching alerts me of this stupid mutt's location. I'm not quick enough, though. It's talons slice into my leg, but it only lasts a moment because Rolf has done it again. He severed the leg off like it was nothing. He cut through it like it was made of paper. I want that glaive, but I can't take it from him. While the stupid thing is distracted, I move towards it. It is time this ugly thing met it's demise.

ooc notes go here

[googlefont="Frijole:400"]

-Torka attacks harpie 2-

SpVZTle5knife
2048 -- Deep Gash on Right Bicep -- 8.0 damage
+1 bladesknife

[d9 kristof parks {ems}]

Rolf Parks Eighteen | Male | District Nine

This is how it feels when you're bent and broken
This is how it feels when your dignity's stolen
When everything you love is leaving
You hold on to what you believe in

My ears are ringing loudly, and I swear droplets of blood are going to leak from them. Keeping my eyes open is becoming a task I never thought would be hard, but resisting the urge to die lingers in my mind. The drummer inside my skull pounds rapidly, and all I can do is sit here trying to ignore the rushed beating of my heart. Yet fighting is a must. This thing wants to kill us, it's worse than any human beings I've ever laid eyes on - I'm glad it's not a human because I can't fathom the idea of actually killing someone.

It's leg lands awkwardly next to the foot, and a dark grin twists across my face spreading from ear to ear. Chapped lips splitting further apart. It hurts, yet the pain is nothing compared to the shrieks continuously bellowing through the air.

It needs to die.

The world is spinning around, and all I can do is try to stand still and hope that I don't fall over. Torka is standing with his knife in hand, yet his face is becoming impossible to make out. If the sounds don't stop soon, my head will surely explode.

I watch halfheartedly as Torka lunges forward stabbing the beast. One final screech, and it's on the ground. It twitches for a moment, but then all sounds stop. Yet they remain embedded in the back of my mind bouncing through my skull. We're even. We've both made a kill. We've done something right, but I feel like I'm not clear of it all yet.

Gathering my things, I notice a thing of flowers resting inside my trash bag - That's... odd... I don't remember putting them there, but I pick them up anyway because maybe they're good for something. I nod my head at Torka congratulating him on his kill, but I know it's not a human, and that's what he's dying for.

I run away as fast as the heels will allow me, and I don't look back out of fear they're more beasts to follow.

ooc notes go here

[googlefont="Vast Shadow:400"]

Rolf flees the fight
[actions in trib!maint]

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Filler. Will fill in soon

-Torka flees fight-
-actions in trib maint-