Arena: Day 2

Arya Nightshade

The last thing I expected to do when I woke up was to be clinging onto Shade crying. Now I just felt plain embarrassed. He was leaning against the tree asleep while I practically had been crying/sleeping/sobbing on top of him. My cheeks burned a flaming red.

My nightmare came back to me in a rush.

Mom, Dad, Leo, me, and Jason were playing in the meadow. The whole town was. We were laughing and singing like there wasn't a care in the world. Then the meadow turned to the arena. Then a large rock fell out of nowhere crushing Jason. I screamed for him to run. Then he got back up, but most of him was smashed in and he looked grotesque but he kept coming after me, Come on Ari, Don't you want to dance? Then I ran into my mother, but she shriveled up until she was only skin on top of bone. Yes, Lets dance Arya. My father exploded to bits while Leo coughed up all his blood on my dress. Soon the whole town was dying but still asking me to dance. I ran. Straight into Shade. I waited for him to die but he held me tight and reassured me. Then he just disappeared. And I was running from the living dead again.

I steadied my breathing and grabbed my messenger bag from the branch above. I looked back at Shade. I gently ran my fingers through his hair and brushed it out of his face before I caught myself and pulled back.

Too late. He woke up. I was sure my face was repeatedly being painted brighter shades of red by the second.

He smiled. It was a gentle smile that made him look like a normal guy and not a blood thirsty career. He gently tucked a stray strand of hair away from my face.

"I have to go. They will be wondering where I am."' He murmured, breaking into the moment.

I opened my mouth to say something but he put his finger over it effectively keeping me quiet, not that I exactly had my voice with me at the moment. "Please, meet me back here tonight."

"Ok." I manage.

He gave me a hesitant hug and smiled before flying off. I felt as if some part of me was missing. Wow. That nightmare had really messed me up. Now I felt like I like liked him. We were friends at the very most I corrected myself. Nothing more. I do have to kill him later.

I swung my messenger bag over me and landed on the ground where the rest of our happy campers were. Imply lots of sarcasm there. Today something was different. The forests were a darker shade of blue.

I walked into camp as everyone was eating the leftover rabbit from yesterday.

Logan gave me a look over, "Finally finished with your beauty sleep princess?"

I rolled my eyes, "Remember I'm the one you are relying on to kill stuff and get red meat here."

He held up a net and trident, "I kill with these."

I shook my head and sighed, "Not as accurate or as beautiful as a bow."

"Speaking of beauty." He commented, "Check your hair. Its so fluffy this morning."

I groaned. Great I bet Shade is just laughing his wings off right now...not that it matters of course.

I sat on the rock by the waterfall and looked at my reflection. Indeed my hair looked 'fluffy'. By that meaning my hair stuck up in a billion different directions. Instead of spending hours untangling it I just dove in the water. I could see why Logan enjoyed it so much. It was cool and refreshing. I popped my head back up and dragged myself out of the water. My hair was no longer fluffy and I was soaking wet.

"That's one way to take care of it princess." Logan said acerbically.

Shook myself out in front of him purposefully getting him wet. "Anyway what should our plan be. Attack others? Or avoid?"

Forester spoke up, "I think we should always return here. There is a good water supply and shelter."

"Other than that we can pretty much do what we want." Acacia added, "We can make a pact now that if someone wants to break from the alliance they can tell the others and they can leave safely."

I nodded, "Sounds good, what are we all going to do today?"

"I'm going to scout the area." Logan said.

"Me and Acacia are going to stock up on nuts berries and set some more snare." Forester old me.

"I'll go spy on the careers I guess." I muttered. I always was curious what they did. Of course I also want to see what a certain person was doing. Not that I was a stalker or anything...

Shade Verin

I woke up to her looking curiously at me while brushing my hair back with her hands. She was blushing, a lot. I tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Her hair was messy but cute in a way. But I am probably very biased.

"I have to go. They will be wondering where I am."' I said quietly, not wanting to disrupt this precious moment too much. I put my finger over her lips. "Please, meet me back here tonight."

"Ok." She said.

With that I dived off the tree leaving part of me behind with her. Mellow dramatic much?

I landed and pretended to be on look out just as the rest of them began to wake up.

"Morning Shade." Shimmer yawned.

"Morning Shim." I mocked jokingly.

Everyone sat down and enjoyed a breakfast of rolls, courtesy of supply pile.

"So we gonna kill people today?" Ren asked.

Aisling nodded, "I suppose."

I shrugged, "I don't really give a crap."

"Yeah, sure." Shimmer said.

Irina nodded, "Dibs on arrow girl."

I bit my tongue to keep from killing her right there. I won't let you kill her.

"So who is are first target." I asked.

Ren shrugged, "Whoever we see first I suppose."

As if on cue we saw a column of smoke rising up. "Lets go!" Irina grinned.

I grabbed my sword and we ran towards it. The crystal forest seemed a darker shade today. We surrounded a campsite where a girl was roasting some type of bird over the fire.

We surrounded her campsite quietly. I saw that she was 14 at the very most and she looked scared and hungry. Irina lept forward first and stabbed the girl in the legs with her spear.

She began crying and begging for us to let her go. Even if we wanted to we couldn't. This was the games and Irina was a sadistic bitch. I heard a rustle in the tree above us. A light blue feather fell on my shoulder and I instantly knew who it was.

Don't tangle with Irina I mentally screamed. Irina normally was just Irina but now she was more than a bit crazy. You could tell by the way she was laughing as she cut up the girl who was still screaming. A silver arrow whizzed right by Irina's head and killed the girl. Her cannon resounded through the arena. The next arrow was aimed at Aisling's leg. She promptly fell over. Irina's neck was the next target. It flew a little to the right and missed. I heard her say a not very nice word.

Irina threw her spear back in retaliation. It made no sign that it hit. The next arrow came and didn't miss. It caught Irina's throat and she fell down dead. Her cannon sounded as soon as she hit the ground.

Ren and Shimmer got an arrow to the knee next. That was finally when she dropped out of the tree.

She walked over to the dead girl where she shut her glassy eyes. She muttered a few words then kissed three fingers and held them towards the sky.

Next she took her arrow out of Irina and the girl as well as the tree. Ren, Shimmer, and Aisling made no move to stop her. They were as good as dead if they did. She dropped down beside each of them and took out their arrow.

"Um sorry for shooting you." She said quickly, "I didn't want you guys to kill me I guess."

This had to be the first time any tribute has ever apologized for killing or hurting someone. When she lifted her wings to fly off I saw what Irina's spear did. There was a long jagged bleeding cut on her right arm. Before I could stop her she was gone.

I helped my teammates up in turn and got the medical kit from each of their bags.

"Whose happy that Irina is dead?" Ren asked. "Cause I am."

"Me." Shimmer responded.

"Me." I said after.

Aisling shrugged, "Couldn't care less."

"Why didn't she shoot you in the knee?" Shimmer asked with a smile on her face.

"Dunno." I said stupidly. To be honest I was contemplating this myself.

"I think she likes you." Ren said in a sing songy voice.

I rolled my eyes, "Would you rather me not treat your knee?"

Ren mimed zipping his lip and throwing away the key. Shimmer laughed, I rolled my eyes, and Aisling just continued treating her own knee.

"We should head back." She stated.

We all nodded, no sense staying here. It was mid day when we made it back to camp. We ate some more of the food. I put a roll in my pack.

I ended up leaning back against one of the trees and found that my wings didn't stick out as much as yesterday. The forest was definitely darkening.

"I think we should start hunting at night." I said lazily.

Aisling shrugged and sent one of her cross bow bolts into a nearby tree. "It makes more sense. That way we can see more idiots making campfires."

Ren was kissing Shimmer in a tree so they didn't even bother to join the conversation. "I don't really think we should hunt as a pack." I said choosing my words carefully, "Most of the tributes we can kill off in pairs or alone and this way we could finish them off faster."

"What about the other alliance?" Aisling asked.

I shrugged, "We'll figure it out when we get there I suppose."

She nodded, "I'll tell Ren and Shimmer later. Do you want to get a head start?"

"Why not?" I said carelessly. "Meet you guys back here tomorrow morning I suppose."

She nodded and I grabbed my sword and pack. Aisling flapped her wings then flew off to tell Ren and Shimmer. I flew off next. The forest seemed to slowly be darkening. There were only 6 of the other tributes, not counting Arya's alliance.

I heard a shriek, well two shrieks. They were the sounds of young children screaming. I ran towards it. I might as well pick up a kill.

I quickly saw that it was that the boy that Arya was always taking care of. He was trying desperately to get a girl who was stuck in a net dangling from a tree.

I walked up to them. I didn't need to say much. I just sliced the net so that it fell to the ground. I helped the girl up.

"You two ok?" I asked.

They nodded fearfully, like they were afraid I was going to kill them. Well that was a possibility.

"Be more careful next time. I might not be here to help you." I warned them. My ears picked up on the sound of a nearby tribute, "You better run now."

The girl tugged on the boy's hand, and they ran. I turned to face the on coming tribute. To my surprise it was that girl from seven.

She looked at the net behind me and then at me. "You took my kill?" then she charged.

She had an ax and an ax against a sword wasn't exactly fair. I had more mobility but she could put more force with her blows. This was one fight I actually found myself fighting for my life. By the end of 10 minutes neither of us had gained any ground. I had a cut on my left arm, but I used my sword with my right arm. She had a long cut on her thigh. Both of us were bleeding.

"Shade duck!" Someone called. Ok...random... I ducked. Three things happened. The girl threw her ax. An arrow flew and hit the girl. Arya fell out of the sky.

They had absolutely nothing to do with each other. At all, but somehow they did.

When a person is falling out of the sky, what do you do? Catch them? Not as easy as it sounds. In fact TV makes it seem effortless. Not so much, especially if the person you are catching has wings. I caught her though.

"Thanks for catching me." She mumbled as she got up and sat down a bit further away on the grass.

I was dead confused. How did she even find me? When I asked she told me.

"Forester. You saved him and Acacia. They saw the girl and ran to get me, since we all know that Logan is a lazy ass." She laughed.

I saw that her other arm was bleeding. "Are you ok?"

She looked at me. "I have an ax stuck in my arm. What do you think?"

"Uh no?" I said.

She rolled her eyes, "Duh."

I opened my pack and took out the medical kit. She gingerly held out her arm.

"This is my shooting arm." She told me sadly, "If I can't use this soon I'm probably gonna die."

"Hey." I told her gently, "You just saved my life, I'm not going to let you die." I paused, "Even though I could have handled myself."

"Sure you could." She said before changing the subject. "Why are you here alone?"

"I told the rest of them that we should hunt down the singles separately to save time." I told her.

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, "Really?"

"Uh yes?"

She winced as I finished wrapping up her arm. "So want to come and have a rabbit?"

I shrugged, "I suppose."

She experimentally moved her arm. "Eh good enough." She unhooked her bow from her back and shot an arrow. It missed. "Ok not good enough."

Before she got up I went and got the arrow for her. She took it and muttered thanks.

"Hey don't feel that bad." I told her.

She ran her fingers through her hair. "Why? I can't shoot. I can't help my alliance. I'm helpless here."

I brushed her hair back, "No you aren't, you have other skills."

She shook her head, "None that can kill. Maybe it will be better by morning."

I doubted it would be good enough to give her her total accuracy back but I nodded for her benefit "You still going to meet me tonight right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I will. I better get back to camp though."

I helped her up, "You sure you gonna be ok?"

"Yeah. I'll live." She said.

I gave her a light hug, "See you tonight then."

She nodded and walked off after gathering her stuff. I flew up and sat on a tree. I suppose nothing to do but wait until tonight. I had a good list of kills. I didn't really have to add to it.

I wonder if my parents would be proud of me. It was a useless thought. The only one who didn't see me as a monster or a tool was Arya, but I would have to kill her eventually.

Arya Nightshade

I walked slowly back to camp. My arm was going to be useless until it healed. It would take at least a week, which I didn't have. I had to be ready to shoot on a moment's notice to survive. Whether for food or to kill.

I made my way back to camp to a very pissed off Logan. After a long lecture about not straying off, how Shade could have killed me, and me getting injured and lots more topics he finally relented.

When he shut up I socked him with my less injured arm.

"Ow!" He shouted, "What was that for?"

"You wouldn't shut up." I told him, "Now I'm going to sleep or whatever."

Logan rolled his eyes, "Ok I'm done being responsible. How did your parents live?"

I clenched my fist and tried not to break his nose, "One of them didn't. Now if you'll excuse me."

I flapped my wings and flew over the forest. It was such a beautiful blue, but it kept edging darker. I wondered what was up with it. I landed in my regular tree and leaned against the bark.

If this was any other day back in 12 I would be either playing with Leo or hunting in the woods. Now I'm in an arena to fight to the death.

"Lavender, If you were any use as a mentor you would send me something to fix my arm." I snapped under my breath.

As comical as things go this was pretty funny. A silver parachute appeared and nearly conked me in the head.

"Ha ha very funny." I muttered as I unhooked it.

Inside were a pot an a spray can. I picked up the pot and opened it. It smelled strongly of medicine. I touched it experimentally and put some on my smaller cut and wrapped it up again. I repeated the same process with my other arm and felt the pain melt away.

Then I picked up the can. It said Pepper Spray but the words were corrected to say Boy Away. I sniggered.

I took it as a good sign that Lavender had enough sponsor money for me to send a joke.

Then an idea popped in my head. An evil grin spread across my face. The rational part of me knew this would be a horrible idea, but currently being rational was very low on my list of priorities.

I lept out of my tree grinning. I read the instructions. Avoid contact with eyes unless it is to target. To use: Push down nozzle for spray to administer. Aim for eyes. Will cause itching swelling and temporary blindness as well as difficulty breathing.

Ok maybe not the nest way to punish Logan for lecturing me. I put the spray back in my pack and walked over to him.

"Hey Logan." I said. "Guess what?"

He looked at me, "What?"

"YOU NEED A SHOWER!" I yelled in his ear then pushed him in the water.

When he stuck his head up I was laughing so hard at his disoriented expression. This was the first practical joke I had pulled in years.

"Oh you are in for it now!" I was glad to see he was grinning.

I knew I was a way better flier than he would ever be. So I ran across the lake while flying. I looked like I was skipping on water. Eventually he gave in and realized he would never catch me if I kept on flying. Then when I landed he pushed me in. Cheater.

Dusk came around and we watched the sky to say that Irina, the girl from 8, the girl from 7 and the boy from 10. All of which were my kills except the boy from 10. Guilt was starting to weigh into. My time in the games had turned me into a murderer. All these people had families and homes they wanted to return to.

I sighed and looked at the fish Logan caught.

Everyone seemed to be regarding me like a time bomb. Of course I could kill, why else would I volunteer. I decided to lighten the mood, "I hate to offend you guys but that fish is looking at me."

That broke the ice. The campfire dissolved in conversation. I sighed. I was a murderer. It was right that no one would want to talk to me.

"I'm not that hungry I think I'll just go sleep." I told them.

I climbed up my tree and settled in. After re-bandaging my wounds I lay down on the branch with my wings over me like yesterday. It was only the second night in the arena.

I sighed, might as well catch some sleep before Shade makes it here. Which brings me back to the question. What did I feel towards him. This was life not some sappy romance novel that the capitol girls gush over.

He was my friend, who I would have to kill eventually. I shook that thought away. Just rest for now. Just rest.

Shade Verin

I landed on the branch. "Arya?" I whispered.

Her eyes opened. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." I smiled as I sat down next to her. "So where is the rest of your alliance?"

"A bit away." She said. "I'm going to have to leave them soon though."

"Why?"

She swallowed, "Because we're down to the final 9." A canon sounded, "Make that 8, and I don't want to have to kill them. I'm going to miss Forester. He's like my little brother back at home."

"Tell me about your home." I said.

She shook her head, "Tell me about yours first."

I held my hands up in surrender. "Ok, if it makes you feel better." Even if there was just a kill the screens would be featuring us right now. "My parents didn't exactly spend time with me." I said carefully.

She saw right through my half truth and raised her eyebrow.

"Ok, fine they didn't care for me at all. They left me in the care of a nanny for my life. When they had a child they didn't want a child. They wanted a victor. So I grew up as a obligation. No love, no laughter, no affection. Which is all I wanted in the first place. I grew up around mentors and trainers who constantly pushed me to be more ruthless and kill more. I learned many things but I never had a friend. The closest I ever got was probably my shadow." I chuckled slightly, "I found solace in the starts though. They always fascinated me. I don't know any here but back in District 2 there were so many. I learned them all from an old book. I wish you could see them."

She sighed, "They sound beautiful. Back in district 12, we, my brother Jason and I, used to go out to the meadow at night to watch the stars."

"He'll be wanting you to return home then." I said quietly.

She shook her head, "He's dead." A few tears fell from her eyes but she wiped them away quickly, "I loved him you know. My mother too. They're both dead. Jason, when a rock in the mines fell on him, and Mom when she starved." Her eyes seemed to glass over a bit, "My mom used to make the best cookies. She worked for the baker. My dad misses her. He works in the mines now. I help the house too. Leo is so sick..." Her voice seemed to fade a bit, "We get by though. The town doctor helps. Everyone loves Leo. He's the charming and charismatic type, even though he's only 9. The day before the reapings he was so sick. I had to volunteer, that way we could pay for someone form the capitol to heal him,"

"Well I guess they would be proud of you for making it this far." I said.

She shook her head, "I'm a murderer now. I killed. All those people. They had homes and families that wanted them to come back."

I lifted her chin up towards me, "Hey you saved me. That counts for something."

She smiled through her tears, "I thought you said you didn't need help?"

"Well I lied." I said smiling.

She smiled too. That made me realize no matter what I always wanted to keep her smiling and happy.

She sighed, "You gonna stay the night here?"

I nodded, "No offense but you stick out like a sore thumb right now." It was true. Her wings seemed to glow in the dark.

"Great now what."

I leaned against the trunk of the tree. The branch was wide enough for both of us to sit on. "Sit next to me and pull me wing around you I suppose." She just stared at me like I grew a second head. "Relax we're friends. Its not like I'm going to push you off."

She sat down next to me and I put my wing around her, "That's not the problem." She sighed as she began to drift off.

"Then what is?"

"I like you too much for anyone's good."

"Why?"

"Because I'll have to kill you later."