I gathered as many branches as I could and set them down in a spot in the forest where I have chosen to stay for the night. I was originally planning on making a shelter but I decided against it and settled for just making a small fire since the sun had set about a while ago and I really couldn't see past a few inches.
My stomach growled again, it was really starting to bother me. I dropped the sticks on the ground and clutched at my stomach, a force of habit, but I knew that my hunger wasn't going to go away.
I sighed, think Gaz… I stepped on the branches that I had dropped and one of them shot up and stabbed my leg. "Ow!" I exclaimed but then froze, that's it! I'll hunt for my food. I sat down next to the branches and reached over to get a hold of one of them with one hand and with the other one yanked off the skull necklace that was around my neck.
I pressed one of the skulls eyes sockets and a small but sharp knife popped out. I worked with what I had; I did my best to make some sort of spear out of some of the branches.
When I finished I grabbed the spears and put my skull necklace back around my neck. My stomach growled again and I smiled, it's hunting time.
I took in a deep breath and stood as still as I could. Water means life, life means food, I needed to go to the river. I closed my eyes, hoping that it'll help me hear the river.
With my spears in hand, I opened my eyes once I heard the sound of water rushing. "That way." I mumbled to myself as I walked forward in the direction of the river.
I have to be careful, the river was where I was almost captured… not this time. This time I have something to defend myself with.
My hand clenched around my arrows as I heard rustling in the nearby bushes.
My heartbeat quickened as I turned to look over, but I couldn't see anything it was way too dark. I took a step in that direction and the bushes rustled again. I grabbed one of the spears with my right hand and held it up as I took another step in the direction of the bushes.
I stepped over the bushes to see that it was an Elk. I held the spear higher, I was about ready to kill it, but I made the mistake of looking into its eyes. Its eyes held fear… but it still held its head high. I couldn't bring myself to kill it.
I sighed as my hand dropped the spear. "I can't do this." I mumbled reaching down to grab the stick and walk away. I turned back to see that the Elk had run away.
"There goes your food Gaz." I growled kicking at the pebbles that were at my feet angry at myself as I made my way to the river.
My stomach growled again. "Shut up. Just shut up!" I yelled at myself. "Why do I have to be so weak?" I growled dropping the spears and clutching at my stomach.
I heard rustling behind me. Quickly, I reached down and grabbed a spear but I wasn't fast enough.
An arm quickly trapped me, and a gloved hand covered my mouth. "Mph!" I exclaimed.
"Drop the weapon." Someone growled into my ear.
'Like hell I will.' I thought as threw my head back against my captor.
"Ah!" they screamed letting go of me.
I stepped away from them and kicked their stomach sending the flying backwards.
I took a step towards them and my eyes widened. "What do you want with me?" I growled at him.
It was the one that had captured my mother and nearly captured me.
He coughed and clutched his stomach. "You're my new player." He said as he stood back up.
"No I'm not. I refuse." I growled stomping my foot.
"It doesn't work like that." He growled back, glaring at me as he wiped away some sort of liquid that was dripping down his chin with his sleeve.
"Rules are meant to be broken." I snarled at him.
He took a step in my direction and I lifted the spear ready to throw it at him.
He backed away and glared at me. "You are so different from your mother." He said.
"Don't bring her into this." I yelled at him, outraged.
"It's true! She was a whole lot better than you!" he growled pointing at me threateningly.
I threw the spear in a fit of rage and it went through his shoulder with a disgusting splat.
His hand went up to his shoulder as he let out a groan of pain. "Who do you think you are?" he growled at me.
"I'm Gaz. I warned you but you didn't listen. I loved my mom, but you had to take her away." I said backing away.
"That's not what I heard." He said an evil smile playing on his lips.
"What are you talking about?" I asked curiosity getting the best of me.
"The real reason that your mother was killed on the battlefield… it wasn't because she was weak, oh no… It was because she was distracted." He said, yanking the spear out of his shoulder. He winced but let it drop to the floor as he fingered his injury.
I glared at him and grabbed the spears that I had dropped and had one in my right hand just in case.
"Every night I would listen to her cry, every night Gaz. Do you know how hard that was on me?" he snarled at me taking a step towards me.
"Don't get any closer, I'm warning you." I told him lifting the spear.
"She would cry about the fact that her daughter didn't love her." He whispered.
I froze, my heart stopped beating for a second, and I paled. "No… no, she knew I loved her." I whispered backing away.
"She believed what you told her Gaz. How do you think I know your name? She would call out for you in her sleep! 'Gaz don't leave me!' 'Gaz! I'm here! Don't you see me?' 'Gaz! Where are you?' It was so heart breaking!" He said his hand going up to cover his eyes.
"You don't know the meaning of heart breaking!" I yelled at him.
"Yes I do!" he yelled at me dropping his hand.
"You have no idea what it's like." I growled at him letting my guard down.
"Yes I do, don't you get it Gaz? She was my friend!" he yelled tears in his eyes.
"You don't know the meaning of the word." I growled at him, refusing to break down in front of him.
"At first she was nothing but a playing card… but then I made the mistake of getting to know her. I hated watching her die just as much as you did." He growled.
"Liar! If she was what you call a friend, why didn't you save her?" I questioned him angry beyond belief.
"Because it was too late to back out! The Tallest already had their eyes on her! The whole reason for these games is to entertain the Tallest!" he exclaimed.
"I don't believe you." I said, not lowering the spear that was in my hand.
"What the hell am I doing trying to convince you." He mumbled angrily to himself shaking his head. "Skoodge! Knock her out!" he exclaimed looking behind me as he turned to walk away.
I quickly turned around to see the other alien running towards me and tackled me to the ground, pressing his hand to my neck and then everything went black.