"See those clouds?" Crystal snapped, completely exhausted and unable to play nice. "That means rain. Rain means getting my hair wet. I am not in the mood to get wet."
Ace grinned. "You weren't saying that last night."
"One minute," Bronze moaned. "I'm just going to puke."
Crystal scowled at Ace. "Ace, seriously! Can we head back? Garnet will be worried."
"Garnet? Worried?" Ace echoed.
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Crystal yelled.
Thunder rumbled ominously from above.
"Fine, we'll head back," Ace sighed. "But if we run into those fuckers on the way, they're mine."
"I already claimed Fish Girl," Crystal interrupted. "You can have Fish Boy."
"And I'll just watch, shall I?" Bronze grumbled.
"Yes," Crystal and Ace replied simultaneously.
The Careers turned and began their long trek back to camp.
Crystal frowned as the jungle darkened; the dark clouds loomed above their heads.
"Fabulous, just wonderful," she hissed under her breath.
"Say something, Sparkles?" Ace asked.
"Oh, nothing Ace! Don't let my rambling interrupt your perfect silence," Crystal replied sweetly, voice dripping with venom.
Ace rolled his eyes and stalked ahead.
"Uh, guys, it's starting to rain," said Bronze uncertainly, dreading Crystal's reaction.
The droplets began slowly hitting plants, and the wind picked up rapidly.
The Careers pulled on their water-proof jackets.
Ace sniggered as Crystal marched past him.
"Sparkles, you're a league completely your own," he teased.
Crystal turned and winked. "Tell me about it."
"Ow! Shit!" Bronze cried. Ace and Crystal whirled around, drawing their weapons.
"What? What is it?" Ace demanded.
"Something fucking wet hit me and burned my hand!" Bronze wailed, clutching his arm.
Crystal glanced around. "I don't see anything."
"Come on, let's keep going," Ace ordered.
The rain began to quicken, and the Careers were in danger of getting soaked.
Their jackets began to soften until the material was peeling off.
"Take off your jackets," said Ace. "I don't want to end up wearing their clothes."
Crystal whimpered and wrapped the jacket around her waist.
The thunder rumbled again, and the clouds produced a violent flow of rain.
"Ah!" Crystal screamed as the rain splattered on her bare arms. "It burns!"
"Stop screaming!" Ace snarled, and then the rain struck him too. "Holy shit! Ow!"
"RUN!" Bronze yelled, sprinting desperately towards camp.
Crystal shrieked and took off after him and Ace.
The rain hammered down relentlessly.
"It's acid!" Crystal screamed.
"Good fucking observation!" Ace roared, ducking his head.
The Careers raced through the jungle, completely terrified and in agony.
Crystal's pained shrieks sounded for miles.
"There!" Bronze called, pointing towards a large tree.
Crystal recognized it as an oak, which she found unusual, considering they were in a rainforest, but she didn't dwell on it.
The Careers reached the safety of the oak. It's branches provided good shelter.
Ace grimaced with pain. "Those bastards!"
"Keep your voice down," Bronze warned, cringing as he viewed the damage the acid had inflicted on his golden skin.
Crystal was screaming with rage. "If this doesn't heal, I swear on my father's name, those fuckers will pay!"
"Crystal!" Ace growled, gripping her wrists tightly.
Crystal gasped with pain. "Let go!"
"We have to find safe water," Bronze stammered. "It will ease out the acid."
"I'm not going anywhere in this fucking rain," Ace snapped.
Suddenly, the clouds evaporated into gas, and the rain completely vanished.
.
A cannon sounded. The sound of rainfall disappeared.
Linnet and I removed the water-proof sheet.
"Is it safe?" I whispered.
The Careers screams had chilled me to the bone. I was suddenly so thankful for that crappy water-proof sheet. It seemed to be protection against harmful fluids.
Linnet nodded. "Just don't touch anything."
We crept from our hiding place against a massive, looming cliff.
All day we'd been on the move, trying to put some distance between us and the Careers, and we'd run into a cliff. Linnet was certain we could climb it, but I'd refused.
I was a useless climber.
Daringly, Linnet held out his hand towards a wet leaf, and a droplet splashed onto his palm.
Linnet cursed and stumbled away. "It's acid."
I gulped. What would've happened if we hadn't found shelter?
I silently hoped that cannon blast had been one of the Careers.
"Let's keep moving," Linnet decided, gathering our supplies and setting off into the jungle depths.
.
"You idiot!" Garnet screamed, pummeling her fists against Bronze's chest. "I thought you were dead!"
"Not yet," Bronze chuckled, pulling her into his arms.
"Did you get out of the rain?" Ace asked.
Garnet nodded. "Only just. I heard the screams, so I hid in the tent. Then the cannon went off, and I was certain it was one of you."
"With any luck, it wasn't Fish Girl," Crystal mused. "Nothing or no one kills her but me."
"What the fuck happened?" Ace yelled.
The Careers turned and saw what was left of their supplies.
The rain had completely destroyed everything, except the weapons.
"No!" Garnet gasped, horrified. "Not the food!"
"Aw, shit!" Bronze cursed, launching a spear in frustration.
"What are we going to do?" Crystal whispered.
"We're Careers!" Ace snapped, turning to glare at the trio. "We don't need that! We learned how to survive, right? We can do without. All we need right now is to find a source of water. Can we do that?"
Crystal nodded slowly. "I know this place. My father taught me every trait of the jungle."
"Great," said Ace, giving her a smile. "So, let's pack up the tents and get moving."
.
"Harper, don't come over here!" Linnet cried urgently. "Stay where you are!"
Me, being the inquisitive, stubborn idiot I am, ignored his good advice, and stepped into the tiny glade.
There was a small campsite. It seemed a tribute had been here.
Linnet was crouched, facing away from me.
I went over to him, curious, and almost vomited my crackers.
There, was the bloated, swollen body of the girl from District 3.
"She must've got caught in the rain," Linnet mumbled, frozen with shock.
I turned away and grimaced. My stomach lurched violently.
"Let's go. I can't stay here."
Linnet understood, and we left the girl in peace.
At least, I hope she'd found peace.
I glanced up at the sky, my gaze full of hatred.
"You are despicable."
