Arena: Day 3
Arya Nightshade
I woke up feeling contented and well rested. Wanting to still be warm I buried my face into the black feathers.
"Awake?" Shade asked me softly.
I stretched and nodded, "Yeah. You sleep well?"
He nodded back, "Yeah."
I looked around and saw that the trees were near black. "I suppose I have to tell my alliance I'm going to split from them."
"I'll wait for you here." He replied.
My brows knit together in confusion, "Who said you were coming with me?"
He smirked, "I did."
"But, you have your alliance." I objected. A little part of me was dancing around giddily that he wanted to be in an alliance with me. Of course it was a little part. I couldn't let that little part take over and let me do something crazy. I would have to kill this boy sooner or later. Even with his sweet personality, golden eyes, ruffled hair, beautiful- Snap out of it! I scolded myself
"I don't care about them." He shrugged. "I want to be your ally."
I put on a calm face. "Ok then." I paused, "Wait is my hair fluffy?"
He gave me a half smile, "Yes. Very."
I groaned, "Why."
He tugged the elastic off of my wrist. Slowly he began braiding it. When he was done I gently touched it and found that it was perfect.
"How did you learn to braid hair?" I asked him.
"Its not that hard."
I shook my head, "Wait here."
I slowly crossed the meadow. The campfire was blazing merrily anf they were talking, which stopped as soon as I was seen.
"Guys." I said quietly, "I'm going to leave the alliance. You all are wonderful though."
"Why?" Forester asked.
I shook my head, "Its down to the final 8 and I don't want to have to kill you. Thank you for being wonderful allies though."
At this point I was in danger of crying. Forester hugged me, "If I don't win I want you to, ok? And tell my parents I love them if I can't."
Tears over spilled anyway as I hugged him back, "Ok."
Logan flicked my head, "Bye princess. No waterworks for me please."
I nodded. "Bye." Then I left. I had to. I told myself. It was the only way I could avoid killing them myself. For a time at least.
Shade was at the tree. "Ready?"
I nodded, "Yeah."
The rest of the day was spent wandering and filled with aimless chatter. I found out that his favorite animal was the tiger. I could imagine him as a dangerous tiger with golden eyes about to pounce. Mine was the wolf. A white one especially. They move with such grace and beauty and coordinate as a team to bring down each kill.
I told him about dressmaking and how I always wanted to own a tailor shop back in 12. And if I won I would start it and make it a free service.
He told me about how much he always wanted to study the stars and learn to play the guitar. Once a musician had been hired to play for a ball and he was also a guitarist. So Shade fell in love with the music there.
I told him I sang. I used to sing with my mom. She had the voice of the family. I took after her but mine was higher and airier than her voice. That was it for my musical talent.
We were sitting in another tree eating a bird I shot. It didn't really count because it had a broken wing.
"Sing for me," He asked softly.
"Sing?" I asked.
He nodded, "I want to hear your voice."
"You're going to make me do this aren't you?"
He smiled, "Yep."
"Really?"
"Arya just sing the song."
"Fine." I muttered before taking a deep breath
"Come on try to find the diamond tree
branches so high
that almost scrape the sky.
Come on try to find the diamond tree
a pool of gold
and silver to behold
Come on try to find the diamond tree
jewels and gems
hanging from the golden boughs
Come on try to find the diamond tree
at its center
guards the most precious gift
Come on try to find the diamond tree
the heart is where you find
the key to happiness
I have found the diamond tree
I have found my happiness
and riches
At the diamond tree."
He was staring off into space, "That's beautiful."
"My mom taught it to me." I sighed.
"So what was the treasure at the tree?"
I must have looked very confused, "I actually have no idea."
He laughed and shook his head. "Only you would sing something so beautiful and meaningful and then have no idea what it means."
I shoved him lightly. He shoved my back just as a cannon sounded.
"What was that?" I asked.
He looked up, "Cannon, we'll see who it is tonight."
I nodded. "What are we going to do tomorrow?"
"I think we should hunt down some other tributes." He said slowly, "If we are only on defensive the capitol might decide to send something after us to make it 'exciting'"
"I wish I could just go home right now." I said wistfully.
"I'm not sure I would want to go home." HE said smiling.
I gave him another confused look, "Why?"
"Because I finally have a friend."
I shrugged, "You could make other friends."
"I don't want other friends," He said softly, "I want you."
With that he pressed his lips softly against mine. It was sweet, soft, and gentle kiss, the kind ever girl dreams about as a little kid. The boy I was kissing right now was sweet, kind, yet overly protective and annoying at certain times. This was the kind of thing in a fairytale. Only in fairy tales you aren't in an arena to fight to the death.
We pulled away at the screams of two children and two consecutive cannon booms.
"Oh no." I whispered. "Acacia and Forester."
That sadness instantly diminished at the sound of the triumphant howls coming closer and adrenaline was coursing through me. They were wolf howls. I knew firsthand how deadly they could be on the hunt.
Shade tugged my hand, "Grab your bag and fly." He already had his, "Any idea where
wolves don't like to go?"
"They can't fly." I said.
He rolled his eyes, "Doesn't exactly help."
Here was the guy who had just stolen my first kiss around thirty seconds ago. Mood swings much?
"Underground?" I ventured.
He shook his head, "Lizards there."
I laughed hysterically, "Lizards or wolves? No offense but I'm choosing the lizards."
He nodded. "Good of a way to die as any right?"
"You know any underground caves here by any chance?" I asked him. The wolves were circling the tree. I touched the tree bark and noticed it was pure white. So that's what it meant.
He nodded, "In the forest to the left of the cornucopia. Giant cave mouth. Saw a deer run in there. It didn't come out. What did come out was a giant lizard to bask in the sun. It had a giant mouth of sharp teeth, metallic skin – "
I stopped him right there, by kissing him.
"Why did you do that?" he asked me.
"It'd be pretty pathetic if I went to the afterlife and only kissed someone once in my life, oh and to shut you up before I lose all my nerve."
His eyes seemed hurt for a second there. "Your right. Lets go."
"On three?"
"Sure."
I grabbed my bag and swung it over my shoulders, "Three."
The wolves saw us fly out and instantly ran after us. They weren't regular wolves. They were larger and had longer glistening teeth. Their eyes showed human intelligence as well.
I shuddered and grabbed Shade's hand. Just so I don't lose him of course. We landed in the cave and the wolves growled angrily after us. But didn't pursue us as we raced through the tunnels.
Right after we landed we heard three thuds behind us signaling three others had landed. Another bit of good proof was the searing pain in my lower back.
"Shade. Run faster." I hissed.
He looked back at his former teammates and the knife in my back. I was running as fast as I could but each movement cut into me. I pulled the knife out which let me run a bit faster. Quickly he picked me up bridal style and ran with me.
"I can run myself." I complained. "I don't need your help."
He looked behind us and slowed down when we lost them, "Let your pride go for a second and let me help you."
"There I let it go for a second now put me down. I'm fine." I moved my arm but it made the pain lace up my back. I bit my tongue to keep from crying out.
He gave me a skeptical look, "Only you would get a knife in your back then say I'm fine."
The cave system was lit by crystals which were currently glowing a very light shade of green. They probably worked the same as the crystals the forest was made out of.
He slipped through a crevice that led into a cavern with its own mini spring. I sighed in relief. Good we could stay here.
"You could save yourself the trouble and kill me now." I noted.
He turned his back to me, "You know I wouldn't."
"You could." I repeated.
He took out the medical kit. "Take off your shirt."
My face went utterly red, "What?"
He ran his fingers through his hair impatiently, "So I can treat your wound."
"No way I can do it myself." I objected.
"You can't even reach you back. Let me help."
I shook my head stubbornly. No way. Not in the whole world. Not if the whole existence of the planet depended on it.
He brushed his hair in his face then blew it away again, "Arya. Please let me help?"
"I- uh- No." I said.
He of course after asking nicely just did it anyway. After a very embarrassing 20 minutes I wasn't bleeding anymore. The side effects were that I was determined to avoid Shade at all costs currently.
Back to the old belief= he is a creeper.
Of course it didn't exactly help that my survival currently depended on him.