District Four Tournament Day Two: Thayer vs Krigel

[lance]

The weather is more muted on the dawn of the second day of the tournament. The sun still shines, but the air is cooler, the ocean duller, and a thin layer of mist permeates the air. But the fighting spirits still rage strong as eight individuals push forward to become the champion.

The first day saw some surprises, most notably that the Krigel family maintained a completely perfect record in all four of its fights. With the triplets and a cousin making up one fourth of the combatants, the odds of at least one of them going home might as well have been all but confirmed. But to the surprise of many that had long since shoved Leon into the annals of history as a reclusive, long-retired mentor, no one could beat those who shared his blood - not the shit talking boy or the sly girl, not the flirt or even the fellow legacy. And as it stood, with eight remaining and half bearing the last name Krigel, only blood and sweat would determine if any of the other half could take their luck from the previous day and overthrow the royal bloodline, or if they would simply become another failed challenger for the throne.

The fourth and final matchup of the day was similar to each of the three that had preceded it. Both girls had a natural beauty that would have earned them a great number of Capitol sponsorships had the tournament allowed it. Both tributes embodied a dichotomy, though theirs was in temperament as opposed to background (and several onlookers wondered just how well the last Krigel triplet would endure the barbs sure to come from her opponent). And most importantly, both fighters had something to prove - one to uphold a family name, and the other to prove that she could topple a queen.

This fight consists of Dove Thayer (Kari) vs India Krigel (Zoe)

[✨ zozo.]

. i n d i a k r i g e l .

The Krigels had triumphed.

Drunk on her victory and slipping into shock, India had hobbled off of the stage clutching her back and immediately vomited onto the medic's lap. "I'm fine!" she'd spat, "I'm fine, I can fight!" but the room span every time she moved and the skin near her spine felt like it was on fire.

Bed rest and bandages and heavy sleeping pills allowed Indi to float into dreams that night, but she dreamed vividly. Arie stabbing her through the neck, of Leo hurling his trident into her eyes, her own father laughing at her defeat. She woke up in a cold sweat screaming and thrashing, ribs on fire.

Hours later, after she'd shaken off her fears and applied enough morphine cream to her back for the wound to reduce to a mild simmer, she twirled her borrowed trident in her fingertips and peered at her siblings. "Nice trident Arie," the girl chided. "Who'd you cry to in order to get that ugly thing?"

Poking her tongue out at her sister, she heard her own name called over the loud speaker. "Least I won without the fancy toys!" Indi sneered over her shoulder, one last stretch of her legs before she took the stage.

Acutely aware of the bandages hidden underneath her new uniform, Indi took a defensive stance and eyed up her opponent - a strong, lean girl with dark hair and malice. "Finally," she muttered as the whistle blew.

"A real opponent."

india attacks dove, trident [ spear]
ze0dWoRQ8rspear

Deep Gash on Left Calf -- 8.0 damage

spear

[gamemaker sloane ♕ kaяi ♕]

The first fight was short and swift. I had made quick work of the other girl. It seemed as if I wanted to go for a killing blow, while all she wanted to do was dance around and gaze at stars. Her trident only cut deep into my thigh once, other than I walked out unscathed.

The medic waved me down and insisted upon stitches to stop the bleeding. Against my better judgement I agreed. Every part of me wanted to look away, to close my eyes as he sewed my skin shut.

But I am not weak.

I gritted my teeth and looked straight at him the whole time. It is a reminder to not be slow again.

After some rest, they finally called the last match. Myself and India, a girl with an infamous last name. She wasted no time and lunged, cutting right into my freshly sewn wound. I can't help but grunt in pain as the stitches rip apart.

I lock eyes with her, twirling my spear in my fingers. "A Krigel. Don't you ever get bored having the same last name as so many others? Don't you ever wish to change it?" There's no harshness in my voice, but instead it is soft. Just a question.

One simple question.

( dove attacks india ; spear )

nfX|U_U4zRspear

( sc on back - 4.0 )

spear

[✨ zozo.]

. i n d i a k r i g e l .

Her weapon had found a fresh wound, undoing the work of medics. India smiled at that. A good start, but the fight was just beginning. This girl was handy with her weapon, twirling it expertly - it reminded her of her brother, spending hours and hours mastering his own trident and the green envy that had burned in the pit of her stomach.

It seemed this girl was after the same prize: old wounds. India twisted her body to feign a strike to the left but caught herself in the crossfires, a small cry of pain falling from her mouth as the tip of the trident caught her back. It didn't scream as much as yesterday's puncture wounds had, but it still stung enough for her to stumble.

Planting her feet to steady herself, India looked up and narrowed her eyes. The girl asked of her name, sounding a little bored, but at least she wasn't asking of her father.

"Not ever," breathed India, gathering herself to strike.

"I'd rather be somebody than nobody."

india attacks dove, trident [ spear]
FSEaZyVTnDspear

Stabbed in Eye -- 40 10 damage.

spear

[gamemaker sloane ♕ kaяi ♕]

Sometimes it is easier to reopen old wounds than to create fresh ones.

So when her blade found mine I aimed for hers, but I was just half a second slow. Still, it was better to fight fire with fire right? Her weapon came full force at me again, a slight distraction in my mind caused be frozen, unable to move, and her trident carved itself into my eye, right above my eyebrow.

The injury lit up my face, as hot as a burning flame. It took every fiber in my body not to scream. Blood rushed into my eye, and now I am at even more of a disadvantage than I was before.

"But see, when you're a nobody, no one cares if you fail. When you are somebody that is all they will remember."

Like me.

( dove attacks india ; spear )

6Y0KAt5qOUspear

( result )

spear

[✨ zozo.]

. i n d i a k r i g e l .

For a split-second, India had thought she'd killed that girl.

Horror froze her movements. Eyes wide with terror she watched as blood spilled from her opponents wound, thick and sticky down her delicate cheeks. When the first drop hit the ground India took a breath and yanked her trident back, chest heaving - she hadn't meant it to be that bad. She hadn't meant to kill her.

But the girl got up, and the crowd cheered, and she made a damn good point.

The eldest triplet was used to a battle of words just as much as one with blades and steel. Her household was a war zone: India against her sister, India against her mother, sometimes even against her dearest Leo. Nothing she wasn't used to.

"I don't plan on failing," she replied, gritting her teeth as she swung.

india attacks dove, trident [ spear]
18qtq_UI79spear

Deep Gash on Forehead -- 9.0 damage

spear