Klavier fists his hands, grimacing. "What?!"

"I think you ought to take a look at this for yourself." I hand him my glasses, my arm stretched out so I don't have to move any closer. "Check out the front of your jacket. You may not have noticed before because of the color, but..."

He briefly tries to slide the glasses over his sunglasses before giving in and swapping them out. He stretches the jacket out, squints at it, and frowns.

"It's too low to have spattered you putting the chain over your shoulder, and too high to be from the chain hitting the blood in the first place." I cross my arms. "How about you tell us what really happened?"

He lets go of the jacket and slides his sunglasses back on. After a moment of messing with his bangs, he looks back at us. He hasn't yet figured out what to say, apparently.

I slam my fists down. "Did you kill someone?"

He leans his shoulders back against the rocks. "I... don't know."

Trucy, checking Ema's pulse again, looks up. "What do you mean...?"

Klavier stands up straight again, though he's not quite smiling. "I was attacked not far from my starting plate, the chain was within reach... Instinctively, I grabbed it and swung it hard at the side of his head. There was blood, yes, but he had made it back to his feet by the time I looked back. We won't know until tonight if he succumbed to the wound or not." He snaps a few times. "Of course, someone else could have finished him since then, so his face in the sky wouldn't be enough to prove it was my kill."

Well... My bracelet didn't react to any of that. "But if that's the truth, why did you try to hide it?"

He grins. "When you first asked me, you were on the verge of putting your sword to use. I hardly wanted to startle you by admitting that I had attacked someone." With a chuckle, he flips his bangs. "I'm glad you seem to be thinking more rationally now."

You can't be serious...

I manage to pull myself out of my disheartened stupor when I see Ema stir. She's doing all right, then. At least, she's not on the brink of death. That's good...

"Now, if we've finished our exciting discussion..." Klavier gets to his feet. "I think it's about time I secured some water. We're not far from the stream by the Cornucopia, which looks uninhabited as far as I can tell. I've yet to see another stream, even from this height, so I'm sure this is the closest."

He takes a step toward the cave entrance, water bottle in hand, and smiles back at us. "I trust you'll keep an eye on Fräulein Scientist while I'm out?"

Trucy nods. "Of course!"

"Yes, but..." I frown. "You seem to assume we're all already in an alliance."

He leans toward us. "Aren't we?"

Trucy's watching me, too, and I realize this is my decision. Do I enter an alliance with an unwell girl and a suspicious boy? Do I need them on my side? Do I want them watching over my campsite when I'm trying to sleep?

Can I even stand their company for that long? Ema can be awfully grumpy, and Klavier... I'm not even going to start listing problems with him.

"If it makes any difference—" Klavier reaches behind his back—"I believe there was some hair gel in a toiletry bag I grabbed."

With an exclamation, I fist my hands. "I'm not allying with you just because you have hair gel!" What I have now is supposed to last a while, anyway!

Klavier laughs—I suspect he wasn't being serious after all—and drops his hand to his hip. What was he even reaching for? I don't see any backpack straps on him. Maybe there's something hooked to the back of his belt... I think his water bottle was clipped to it.

Wait, that can't be his usual belt if his sunglasses were his district token. Did he just wind part of the chain around his hips? I guess if it works...

He resumes his usual smile. "Of course. There's much more to an alliance than sharing supplies. Although if you don't mind looking after an injured Fräulein, you can't be an outright strategist. What's so wrong with me, then? Does a possible killing in self-defense render me completely untrustworthy? Or do you have another reason to doubt me?" He rearranges his bangs, smirking at me sideways. "I don't suppose it's a logical one?"

...He knows exactly what I'm thinking. He's given me no reason to doubt him personally. The blood on his chains is still unsettling, but I was ready to slash at him myself a while ago. He helped out Ema, definitely without any thanks.

And it could all be to make us think he's a kindhearted person. I wouldn't put that past a Gavin at all.

But... strictly looking at the evidence... I really have nothing to condemn him with.

Exhaling, I fold my arms, not quite meeting his gaze. "Okay. I guess there isn't sufficient reason to run you off." I look up, extending a hand. "Allies?"

He shakes gladly. "Allies." Pulling back, he turns his face toward the sunlight. "I'll return shortly, then. Does either of you have a bottle to fill?"

I shake my head. "Nothing that would work as one, either." The box of crackers is a container, and the poncho is waterproof, but nothing is both. Maybe I could put them together? I can't help but think that would be a little hard to handle, especially with everything else Klavier is carrying.

"No, wait." I slip off my backpack and start pulling things out. "I think I'll go with you."

"What are we doing?" The voice isn't Klavier's, as I was expecting, so it takes me a moment to place it.

I check over my shoulder to find Ema sitting up, if not very rigidly.

"Water," I tell her.

"Good." She shuffles her shoulders, her eyes shut. "I get the most since I'm hypovolemic."

Trucy blinks. "Since what?"

She waves a hand. "Blood loss."

"Oh... Yeah, you're right." Trucy folds her arms, looking up. "Can we even bring enough water back for everybody?"

"Not enough to keep us happy for a while." Klavier spins the lid of his water bottle. "We'll have to find a better source to station ourselves by, but not until we're all in condition to travel."

Ema opens her eyes to locate her snacks. "I can travel for a little bit."

"Enough to make it to another stream?" He snaps. "I sincerely doubt it."

I put the opaque plastic bag of crackers in the backpack and spread the poncho around the inside of the box. "Does she have to make it to a different one? I understand that we don't want to hang around on lower ground for long, especially by the Cornucopia, but we'll all get our share of water if we all head for that stream. Otherwise, anyone hanging back here won't get much."

"Good idea!" Trucy starts tying the blanket around her shoulders. "Do you think you can make it there and back, Ema?"

"Sure." She munches on her food. I'd be surprised if it sees the end of this day. "Just give me a minute to... wake up."

Klavier nods, grinning at her. "And if all else fails, I can carry you back. You aren't that heavy."

A piece of her food hits him square in the forehead.

"It's a little slippery over here. Be careful." I grip the rocky face behind me as I take another step onto the mud. I didn't realize there was still this much when the mountain started to slope upward. Then again, I wasn't paying the most attention on the way up...

We all make it to level ground without too many slip-ups. Ema's still pale-faced as she ambles along by my side. We can't go too fast, but I haven't seen anyone coming after us yet. I... thought I caught a glimpse or two, but nobody else did. I have to admit I'm a little paranoid today—as if I'll be much calmer any other time in this place—so it's a good bet that there really wasn't anything.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!"

My eyes are on Ema, and that was too high-pitched to be Klavier. "T-Trucy?!" I whirl around.

Someone else gasps as we catch our first glimpse of the shining knife at her neck. Behind her and a bit to the side stands the boy from 12, his eyes darting around the lot of us. Trucy swallows, standing stiffly and unable to get a look at him. There's no blood on her neck, although the knife's edge is definitely pressed against it.

"All right, now, hear me out, will ya?" The 12 doesn't seem much less nervous than the girl he's threatening. "I don't want any trouble from you fine folks, I really don't." He casts his eyes to the ground for a minute, like he's trying to look more pathetic. "I just ain't got any supplies but this one knife here, and I'd sure 'preciate it if you'd be willing ta make a donation."

"You know, there's such a thing as just asking, Phineas." Ema glowers at him.

He sighs, still looking shaky. "Well, I'm afraid people just ain't too generous 'round here. So, whaddya think? Can we make a deal?"

"Trucy...!"

Phineas may be pretty small, but Trucy isn't that big herself. I don't think she can thrust him away, especially not fast enough to keep from getting seriously hurt. The rest of us are pretty close, but how are we supposed to take care of the knife before he makes his move?

Would he really go through with it? I-I mean, it could all be a bluff. Not everyone is ready to kill a person from the start!

I...

I can't. I can't risk it when Trucy's life is on the line. He... he could really kill her! She could be dead if we don't agree!

"O-okay." She carefully starts to bring her hands up to the blanket over her shoulders. "Okay. I-I'm just taking this off so you can have it, too, all right?"

He watches her and moves the knife up, closer to her jaw. "Much obliged."

She's a little shaky as she pulls off the blanket—her jacket starts to come off, and she only just catches it under her arm. Rearranging the blanket, she holds it in front of her, one end dragging on the rocks.

"Here." She takes the throwing knives off her waist and sets them over her palm. Sliding her other hand underneath the blanket, she holds it out a little further. "We can p-put things on here, so it's easier for you to carry everything."

"Good idea, miss." He glances at the knives and then looks pointedly at us. Is he... going to demand everything? Why wouldn't he, with that kind of bargaining chip?

Klavier takes a step toward the scene. "I see little point in further aggravating him." The chains clank as he pulls them off his arm and waist, his water bottle and two small pouches coming off with them. With another step, he carefully lays it on top of Trucy's knives. Trucy doesn't shift under the weight. I guess she can't afford to.

"O-okay." My mouth is even drier than thirst has made it as I take off my backpack.

Wait! Clay's jacket, and the knife...!

"Wh-what else do you need?" I flip the bag open, but not enough for him to see it. "I have some crackers, and a flashlight!"

"I figure I'll take everything I can get." He raises his eyebrows at me.

But...!

I meet Trucy's gaze and know I have to do it. I still hold my breath as I force my feet over and lay the bag and my sword down by the chains. "Can you carry all of that okay?"

She smiles. "I'm fine. It's really not very heavy."

I pull back just as Ema adds her small bag to the pile. Phineas gives all of us a good visual inspection, to make sure we aren't holding anything back. His eyes rest on my wrist. "Expensive-lookin' bracelet ya got there."

What?! "This is my district token!" I force my hands down at my sides. "And it's not like you can sell it in the middle of the arena!"

"I guess you're right." He takes one more minute to confirm there's nothing else on us—the forensics kit is back in the cave, but we didn't think to leave anything else behind. It usually seems a lot safer to keep things on your person. Not a good move today, though.

I turn to Trucy again. She throws the other half of the blanket over the supplies and starts to pull up the corners. In the process, she loses her grip on her jacket, letting it float down—

"Aaah!" Rocks suddenly go flying from her left foot with a loud clatter, and she struggles to keep her head up. A sliver of red appears on her neck, and my heartbeat vanishes.

"I'm sorry! The mud..." At her voice, I regain some of my nerve, although I'm still shaking even more than she is.

"That's all right." Phineas bobs his shoulders as he eyes the blanket. "Ya didn't mean anythin' by it." Keeping his right hand tight on the knife, he reaches for the supplies with his left.

"The shield on the bottom is a lot lighter than it looks, don't worry." Trucy shuffles her hands down, the four corners of cloth in the middle falling over her fingers like a banana peel. "You shouldn't have any trouble carrying this."

He grips the top of the bundle and begins to lift it.

"The deal has been made, ja?" Klavier scowls at him. "I suggest you leave quickly."

"Don't mind if I do!" Yanking the knife and bag to himself, he spins on his foot and runs for the hills.

Trucy lets out a breath, pressing a hand to the cut on her neck.

"T... Trucy!" I lunge and hug her tight. "You're okay! I-I thought..." I thought you were going to die! I thought he might just kill you, anyway...! I...

By the time I catch myself sobbing into her hair, it's too late to stop.

It's fine... You're fine... Nobody else has to die today...! No more of my friends have to die today!

"D-don't cry, Apollo!" She hugs me back.

Gah... I must look pretty bad right now, crying again. I have to pull myself together. People are watching.

Forcing myself to draw in a long breath, I pull back. Trucy gives me a smile before glancing over at the 7s.

"Ach, your neck." Klavier reaches behind his back. "I have some oint—" He cuts off with a frown.

Ema crosses her arms. "You couldn't have even tried to hide it in your pocket?"

"He was watching closely. And I didn't see you stowing anything, either, Fräulein."

She growls. "How did he even manage that? Everything but the forensics equipment...! What about my snackoos? What am I supposed to eat now? How am I even supposed to drink anything without Apollo's iodine tablets? What about when my dressings have to be changed?!" She lets out a burst of a scream.

"C-calm down." Trucy fists her hands, her look intent.

"Right, we can't let this get us down." I swallow. "Like you said, we still have the forensics equipment—" Ema's the only person that that would cheer up, honestly—"and Trucy's alive." I put an arm over my district partner's shoulders.

Klavier smiles. "That's what's important. Are you doing all right?"

"Yes, thank you." She grins and glances at Ema. "Oh, and your snackoos?" She whips her hand out from behind her back, Ema's snack bag crinkling in her fingers.

"Wh-what?!" Ema snatches the food, rolling the bag in her hands and squinting at it before taking a piece out. "This was in my shoulder bag! How did you...?"

"And Polly?" She steps back, kneeling to get a hand under her jacket. "Do you want your sword back?"

I have just enough time to furrow my brow before she holds my sword out for me to take.

?!

While I'm busy staring at it, she plucks her jacket off the ground. Now I can plainly see the pile of supplies sitting there on the rocks.

Klavier cracks up, nearly doubling over in laughter.

"Wonderful show, Fräulein Magician!"