#bhgrita

[mischievousmarvelousmagical-blog]

You’re Welcome ~ [Mata feat. Naomi]

@theycallme-rita, @someonespecial-naomi

In which Maui’s time as a tribute comes to an end...

[tw--blood, gore, violence, death etc etc]

NAOMI looked down at the objects in her hands, knowing that so far as plans went, they didn't get much more desperate than this. The sun was already beginning to peek through the trees, drying away the last of the rain, and in Naomi's hand, she held a torch. Naomi had torn the Hot Brad shirt into strips and wrapped them around two branches to act as fuel, dipping them in sap to help them burn longer.

Mateo had taken the batteries Charlie had left behind and the wire he'd been sent and managed to rig up a make-shift lighter. Now all that was left was to burn it all down. Jim and Rama were either screaming at their screens or preening in pride; after all, they'd been the ones to inspire her. It wasn't uncommon to burn fields in Five; burn away all that remained after the harvest and let the ashes fertilize the fields for when they cycled back around to the cleared land. Rama had burned through his Games with a single canister of kerosene and a box of matches. Jim had hunted down the remaining Tributes with fire dripping between his teeth and licking through the industrial arena. Naomi was just continuing the tradition.

"You got your tin of water?" she asked Mateo quietly. She had filled her own tin full, it being one of the few things she was keeping. If this plan worked, they needed to be fast, and Naomi couldn't have anything unnecessary weighing her down. Wasn't like she was going to need this all anyways. It was ending. Today.

MATEO, at first, had thought this plan was insane due to growing up in a lab. Everyone knew fire in a contained area with people was a nono. But he wasn’t in a lab, there weren’t any warning labels. And thinking about it, Mateo knew Naomi was right. He too wanted to see the places that had been crafted specifically to harm them and all the other tributes go up in flames. So he set about combining the the batteries, leftover pieces from the flashlight that had jangled around in his pockets all this time, and the wire he had been sent, the spark they made would be enough to get him through their plan. 

“Got it,” he said, wiggling the tin for her to see, the muffled sound of water sloshing against the sides coming forwards. Mateo pressed a smile to his mouth even though the rest of his expression read worry, “You ready?”

NAOMI grinned, baring her teeth. "Ready as I'll ever be. Remember, if we get separated, meet up in the area with the rocks, yeah?" There, the fire would have nothing to burn. There, there would be nowhere to hide. There, they'd make their final stand. After a moment of hesitation, Naomi gave Mateo another tight hug, lingering for a moment before rising onto her toes and kissing his forehead. 

"May the odds be ever in our favor," she joked darkly, giving him a nod before stepping back and holding out the two torches for him to light. 

MATEO nodded his confirmation that he understood. They were in this together now, after all. He wasn’t expecting the hug, his body going rigid when she first made contact but he quickly relaxed once his brain caught up, and managed to return it for a moment, breathing in deeply, before they released one another. Mateo closed his eyes, pressing into the contact of the forehead kiss, and smiled when he met her gaze once more. 

“Alright,” he said, expression turning serious as he focused on the task at hand. With one hand he held the batteries and with the other he pressed the exposed end of the wire to the end of the battery. It took a moment but soon enough the end of the wire glowed red. He lifted it to one of the torches Naomi had, flinching a little when the flame caught as it burned his fingers, but kept it steady in order to keep the contact. 

Finally the fire caught and moved, lighting the torch up to its full potential and Mateo stepped back.

NAOMI watched as the torch smoked, then smoldered, then burned; holding it far enough that she didn't risk burning herself - they had torn pieces from the tarp to wrap their hands in, just in case. She quickly lit the other torch and waited until the flame was burning brightly before handing it off to Mateo wordlessly. Moving downwind, Naomi held the torch out towards a tree at the edge of the clearing, and began to sing. She could remember watching her father and uncles moving through the fields with their torches, singing to the goddesses as the fields burned. Praying for safety. Praying for a good crop the next year. Praying for health. Praying the fire didn't roar out of their control.

Naomi prayed for the forest to light. The tree began to burn, and Naomi quickly moved to the other trees in the area, singing louder and louder as she prayed for the forest to burn. Prayed for the Gamemakers to not put the fire out fast enough. Prayed for the other Tributes to be caught in the flames. Prayed for her life. Prayed for Mateo's. Prayed for Greg and Brad and Charlie and all the other children thrown into this godforsaken arena.

The 300th Hunger Games began to burn.

MARU had fallen into another fitful sleep in a tree after a measly meal of cheese and crackers. It wasn't filling. His stomach still growled. He stayed up late enough to watch the sky project who had died. The girl from four and the boy from three. Maru frowned.

Then, he slept.

He woke with the scent of smoke in his nostrils, burning his nose. He coughed and scrambled from the tree. The fire crackled and popped. For a second, he considered just--running into it. But there were three others left. Maybe he could win. So, instead, he turned on his heel and ran and ran and ran until his lungs burned. He burst from the trees and kept running until he reached far enough into the rock quarry. He was coughing, gasping for breath--and then he saw Rita standing there. He straightened up some, reaching for his axe, heart pounding.

RITA had retreated back to a place she knew was safe. The quarry had offered her shelter on that first day. Had kept her safe. Truthfully, it had been the place she'd been headed towards the previous night before she'd run into Maru. She was tired, so very tried and sleeping had only felt safe in between those two rocks that hid her from view. There were only four left now. 

The smell of smoke woke her up and she looked around quickly. Was this some sort of trick from the game makers? Were they trying to bring the games to an end? Were they unhappy with how things were turning out? The Capitol was surely getting bored. They liked action. Her hand moved to her side, fingers curling around the dagger as Maru came into view, her eyes narrowing as he coughed. 

"What the fuck?"

MARU kept his hand on his axe but he just--shrugged a little, helplessly at her. "Figure the gamemakers want a nice bloody battle to end it," he said with a humorless laugh. He shook his head and pushed his hair back on his forehead where it had stuck in thick curls.

"Should we even give it to them?" RITA huffed, features softening just a bit. She didn't want a bloody battle. She wanted to go home. "Why do they," she gestured wildly to the open air. "get to decide what we do? Bullshit."

MARU "Name of the game," he shrugged again, looked her up and down. "Bet we could take out that boy from 3 no problem."

RITA "Bullshit game." She watched him, trying to figure out if he was sizing her up. Maybe he thought he could kill her. She'd put up a fight. One helluva fight. "Personally? I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about the girl. She's.... strong."

MARU smirked--he didn't feel like himself at all when he did it, but he did it. Smirked. There was a gleam in his eye. "Bet we could take her too."

RITA raised an eyebrow. "And what happens after? When it's just me and you, huh? We can't both win. You know they won't let that happen."

MARU shrugged again and his smirk dropped off. The gleam left his eyes as soon as it came. "I'll make it quick."

"No. I've made it this far. I need to go home to my son," RITA shook her head, adamant. She wasn't going to come this far just to die. She wasn't going to let Ollie see that.

"Yeah, well, I'll give you a fair fight--that's all I've got. I've people to go home to, too. We can make sure it's one of us, either way."

"Pinkie promise," RITA stepped forward, holding her pinkie out to him. It was the only piece of home that she could bring into the ring. Even if in the end it wouldn't mean anything.

MARU flinched a little as she stepped closer. He hadn't expected that. Glancing down, he eyed her hand warily. It wouldn't be hard for her to jerk him forwards and slit his throat with her dagger. At least it would be fast. He stepped towards her too, gingerly--his ankle was definitely sprained--and he raised his hand, wrapping his pinkie around hers and shaking up and down once. "Pinkie promise."

RITA gave a small smile at that. She was thankful that in what could be her last moments, he was kind enough to placate her. "Thanks. Means a lot." She stepped back then and cleared her throat. "Should we go look for 'em? Or just... Wait?"

MARU unsheathed his axe and slung it up over his shoulder. He put his hand to his forehead, looking out over the quarry. The sun was mostly shielded by the smoke. "Might as well get it over with," he said with a shrug and he moved slowly, stealthily forwards, axe raised.

RITA nodded, following suit. Her fingers tightened around her dagger and followed. Her eyes darted around, scanning the area for anything or anyone that would hurt either of them. The entire time the only thing that ran through her head was that she needed to get home to Ollie. She needed to survive this.

NAOMI and Mateo had both chucked their torches as far as they could once they reached the quarry, holding the sleeves of the Hot Brad shirt to their noses and mouths to help filter out the smoke. Luckily, the quarry wasn't burning, so Naomi dropped the cloth and instead took up her hatchet and whip. Mateo was carrying their remaining supplies, and together they moved as quietly as possible through the canyon. Each sound echoed back to them, loud as a gunshot, and Naomi was shaking with anticipation as they walked along.

They stopped, and still the footsteps came.

She narrowed her eyes and motioned for Mateo to get behind some rocks to hide as she crept slowly forward. She could barely feel the burning in her ribs anymore. All she could feel was her own blood, pumping hard and fast and hot with adrenaline in her veins.

MATEO followed after Naomi, coughing and wheezing despite the fabric that was covering his face. He heaved a breath when they were out of the worst of it. He kept close to Naomi, looking to the side and over his shoulder in search of the other tributes as no canons had gone off so surely they had made their way here, to where the fire hadn’t reached.

He froze when Naomi did, eyes widening at the sounds, he looked to Naomi then, unsure of what the plan was now. Mateo wasn’t a fighter, he was just a lab rat.

When Naomi motioned for him to hide he hesitated shaking his head, wanting to help, to do something to help her. They were in this together were they not? But at the same time...at the same time he was a clumsy idiot who would be nothing more than a hindrance. So he nodded, finally, slowly walking away while he kept his eyes on her until he was far enough. Mateo then took off to hide behind the rocks she had pointed to, crouching down in the dirt.

MARU It didn't take long for them to run into the girl. Maru kind of wished it was the boy first. At least--it wouldn't be that hard to take him out. The girl though--she was tough like Rita said.

They came upon her, Maru's eyes flicked around, looking around--for any other signs of movement, knowing the girl and boy had been camped together the night before. Could be working together the way Maru and Rita were. His gaze flicked back to the girl and he spun his axe around in his hand once.

"Ready," he said to Rita, though he wasn't looking at her.

RITA They came upon the girl quickly and she was both relieved and filled with a nervous tension. At least she wasn't going into this alone this time. She raised her dagger as Maru's axe spun. She was scared but it was drowned out, once more, by Roscoe's voice.

Don't hesitate. Don't give her a chance. Strike hard, strike fast. Come home to me. Come home to Ollie.

"Ready." She breathed the word out as she charged forward, looking to tackle the girl to the ground or at least throw her off her balance. It'd give Maru a chance to immobilize her further. From there it'd be quick work. It had to be quick work.

NAOMI Fuck, they were together. Naomi had been fairly confident they could take them one on one, but now... No. It didn't matter. They were all injured and Naomi could hit from a distance. She'd make it.

Rita - they had shared drinks not even a week ago - charged at her and Naomi dove forward past her, rolling across the ground and racing past them, ignoring the painful twinge in her side as the vest barely held her together. She spun on her heel and snapped her whip out fast and hard at the boy. She could take Rita by herself, she thought in the back of her head, oddly calm. She needed to keep Maru away though. If he got close with that axe, she was done for.

MARU was glad that Rita had rushed her first because his ankle was pounding. He could barely stand on it after having rushed out of the forest. It didn't matter, however, as Naomi dodged right passed them.

He spun on his own heel to keep her in his line of sight, but the movement twinged his ankle and he went down to one knee with a cry--the only thing that saved him from the lash of the whip as it cracked over his head.

RITA let out an animal like noise as she whipped around, the dagger flying from her hand in the process. She watched as it sailed through the air. She paid no attention as Maru went down. She couldn't think about it him in this. They had a common goal. Take down that bitch who stood between her and Roscoe and Ollie. All she had to do was kill her and it would be a cake walk.

With the second dagger now in her hands, she moved again, darting across the rocky terrain and past Maru. She need to get this girl down. Get that fucking whip out of her hands.

NAOMI Maru went down with a yell and Rita's scream was the only thing keeping her from running him down and swinging her hatchet into his throat.  She turned and hissed as the dagger slid past her arm, leaving a long, narrow gash. Rita was running at her now and Naomi attempted to whip at her as she rapidly stepped back. It swung too wide, and Naomi grimaced as she moved the hatchet to her right, holding it and the whip in one hand. It was awkward, but freed up her hand to deflect Rita's attack.

MARU scrambled to his feet after that first second, Rita rushing passed him. His blood was rushing in his ears. He moved forwards, looking to get that bloody whip out of her hand. If he could snatch it, toss it away--it'd be a close quarters fight from there.

"Oi!" he shouted to try and get her attention as he came up on her right side, looking to step on the part of the whip that trailed along the ground.

RITA heard the cry and looked towards Maru right before she ran into Naomi.

There was no sound but the blood rushing in her ears, coursing like an angry stream. Rita was in full out survival mode at this point. Ready to kill at a moment's notice. And she wanted to. She wanted to drive her knife into Naomi's flesh. There'd be no remorse. No nothing.

NAOMI heard Maui scream but couldn't take her eyes away from Rita, not when she was right on top of her. Naomi grabbed the wrist of the hand holding her dagger and shoved it away as Rita charged at her, her eyes wild. She snapped her fist forward, curled tight around her hatchet and whip as she punched the woman hard in the throat before scrambling back, turning to Maui and swinging her whip again. It was messy and barely made a snapping sound, but gave Naomi enough time to scramble back and attempt another swing, this time at Rita.

She could take them. She could take them. Maru's ankle was hurt and Rita's wrist was in a splint. She had a full night's sleep and food. She could take them. Her thoughts were steady and quiet as they looped again and again. She could take them.

MARU had his eyes trained on the whip. He didn't care about Rita. Didn't care about Naomi. At the moment, it was all about the damn whip. It flicked through the air towards him, though this time, there was hardly a snap to it. It wasn't vicious and it wasn't going to bite him.

He took the opportunity, reaching his hand out so that the end of it wrapped around his wrist in a coil. His hand twisted around the rest of it and he jerked with a hard snap, trying to yank it from her hand.

NAOMI cried out as the rope around her wrist pulled tight, yanking her forward. She looked at Maru with a snarl and let the momentum carry her forward, dropping her hatchet and catching it with her other hand as she ran at him. Close the distance, reach him before he could swing the axe, it was useless close up. She just needed to close the gap. She swung the blade at his chest with a scream before letting her foot swing towards his ankle.

RITA saw her move and before she knew what she was doing, Rita charged forward. This time there was no one to stop her. Naomi was focused on Maru and Maru wasn't going to hurt her. Not until Naomi was taken out of the picture. Naomi and the boy. All she had to do was stop this bitch from killing him.

A grunt pushed past her lips as her body connected with Naomi's, successfully pushing her onto the ground. She didn't feel the pain as some of her weight landed on her broken hand. All she could focus on was Naomi, taking her out. Doing anything to stop her from killing Maru or herself.

MARU Well, shit. Hadn't expected the bitch to come running right fucking at him. He stumbled back a step, two, but she was already on top of him. Her knife slashed across his chest, cutting an arc through his shirt. The pain blossomed and he felt the blood running down his chest. He knew what that felt like. He'd been covered in other people's blood all week.

She kicked his ankle and then, Rita came out of nowhere and knocked into her. Maru fell to the ground, scrambling for his hatchet. Raising it, he sat, prone and ready for whichever girl came out on top.

NAOMI only had the brief satisfaction of knowing her foot and blade has connected before something crashed into her and sent her into the ground. Pain blossomed hot and all-consuming from her ribs as she hit the ground, and Naomi cried out as tears pooled in her eyes. No giving up yet. Not yet. Naomi threw her head back, feeling it connect with Rita before she swung her elbow back as hard as she could into her side. She desperately tried to buck her hips up, get turned over so she wasn't facing the dirt. She didn't want to die with her back to her murderer, she wanted them to look her in the eye.

She wanted to take their fucking eye out.

She rolled hard, kicking and squirming in an attempt to roll Rita off of her and into Maru.

RITA was good at very few things when it came to this. Roscoe had made sure she was trained with his knives and that she was able to best him in hand to hand combat. It'd be imperative, he'd told her. Not everything was done far away. Battles could be close up. Tributes could attempt to kill you with their bare hands. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered in the arena.

She clung to Naomi even as she headbutted and elbowed her. Her good hand grabbed a fistful of hair, fingers twisting in it and pulling as hard as she could before she pushed it forward as hard as she could. Her broken hand searched for the dagger that had slipped from her grasp. When she found it, she curled her fingers around it as best she could as she pushed herself up to sit on her back.

NAOMI's head was pulled back before slamming forward into the ground, and pain ripped through her skull. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. Her head was still reeling as Rita pushed herself up onto her back, dagger glinting as it passed her face. No. Nonono. Naomi screamed - the sound blood-choked and feral- as she tightened her grip on her hatchet and swung it back into Rita's thigh as hard as the awkward angle allowed.

RITA She knew the girl was disorientated, just enough. Enough for her to let go long enough to get her dagger in her good hand once more. Her weight shifted, as she braced her forearm against the girl's back. The dagger slipped into her side easily and to the hilt. Rita knew it wouldn't kill automatically. She didn't want it to. No. She wanted her to suffer. To be able to say her goodbyes before death took her.

The hatchet, though, she forgot about the damn thing and winced as it hit her leg. She could feel the skin split but ignored it. Instead, she leaned back down, her mouth so close to Naomi's ear. "You're going to die. There's no changing that. You move it'll be faster. I don't give a fuck where you go. But say your goodbyes to whoever you need to." She pulled the dagger from the girl's side, wiping it on her pants before picking the hatchet up and tossing it to the side. "Try and kill us and I won't hesitate to slit your fuckin' throat."

MARU just kind of stared, flinching back as Rita tossed the hatchet. He felt his heart beating fast in his chest. Each time he blinked Naomi was someone else--The girl from six, the girl from three, the boy from two, Penny, Peg, the sisters, his mother, Lymantria. He felt his throat clogged with tears and bile. There was nothing in his stomach to vomit, though.

He blinked, two hot tears slipping down his dirty cheeks, but all he did was stand back and avert his eyes. He didn't want to see that beautiful, powerful girl scampering off somewhere to die like a wounded animal--which is exactly what she was.

NAOMI felt the blade going into her side, and she could only gasp. Oh. Oh, that hurt more than she expected. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she struggled to breathe past her own sobs. No. Nonono. Not yet. Not yet. There was no one to sing to her now.

Rita's words were cold and mocking, and Naomi's fingers dug into the ground. She spit out blood as it ran down her nose and bubbled over her lips. "I hope you can look your son in the eye when you get home," she gasped out between harsh breaths, fury and spite the only thing ruling her tongue. "I hope you die fucking screaming." In ten minutes. In ten weeks. In ten years. Wherever she was, Naomi hoped she died knowing that somewhere, there was a mother who had lost her only child to her. Who's hand would find her throat in the afterlife.

Naomi saw Maru look away, and spit blood at him. "LOOK AT ME!" she screamed, the words bubbling with blood and hatred.

MARU flinched as the girl screamed at him, but he didn't look up. He could feel his heart in his throat, the tears in his eyes. His fingers were trembling. There was a shuffle, dust. Then, the sound of footsteps retreating.

A few moments of silence.

And then, ash began to fall from the sky, like black rain.

He wished it was raining. He wanted to wash all of this blood off of him. He wanted a hot shower. He wanted to scrub all of it off of him, until his skin was glowing gold. Until he couldn't smell anything but the soap from home. The same soap his mom used. He wished he could hug her--

He couldn't do that covered in blood like this.

And it would never go away, would it?

Every time he blinked, he saw a different face behind his eyelids. He was so--tired.

Without his permission a little sob eeked from his lips. Those lips of his trembled and he looked towards Rita. "You know Lymantria Khan, from back home?"

RITA was breathing heavily. The adrenaline that accompanied the fight was slowly ebbing away and the aches and pains were coming back tenfold. She could feel the blood from her thigh dripping down her leg, wetting her pants legs with the sticky fluid. For a long moment she forgot even that Maru was there, her eyes were fixated on the space the girl had been. There was a small pool of blood where she'd laid. Rita had done that. She'd created that mess.

She was a monster.

You did what you had to. You did what was needed so you could come home.

Maru's sob brought her back and she turned to him. Her own eyes had begun to water as she looked at him. He looked like a child. Despite the dirt and grime and blood. He was still so young, so broken. She nodded at his words slowly. "She--- She's the girl you came here for, right? The, uh, the blind one?"

MARU Another little sob bubbled to his lips but he choked on it and swallowed it down. Nodded at her.

Then, he sunk down onto one knee, and then the other.

He looked up at her, blinking the tears away, down his cheeks, into his hairline. "Take care of her, yeah? She d-doesn't need much. S-she's all a-alone. And, my mom too, if you--you can spare it. I'm her--her last son. I was--I was supposed to come home. But I-I can't kill you. You've g-got a kid. And I-I'm so sorry." His head bowed for a second and he sniffled and sobbed again.

"You--you know how to make it fast, yeah?" He looked back up at her and smiled a little. "I won't be a ghost for you to carry, I promise."

RITA cried as she stood back up. The tears came in hot streams down her cheeks. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she breathed out. She was going to win. She was going to take care of Lymantria and his mother. She'd see her son again. She'd see Roscoe. Maru was giving this to her.

She was thankful he closed his eyes. If he had been looking at her she wouldn't have been able to. She would have figured out some way to fuck the whole system up. Bring the Capitol fucks to their knees. Give them a show they would have never thought of.

Around them the forest burned. Rita burned in her chest as she let the dagger fall from her hands. Instead she picked up the hatchet, feeling it's heavy weight as she clutched it in her good hand. Fast, as painless as possible. She couldn't do this with emotion. Had to purge it from herself so that she'd be able to do what needed to be done.

Count of three, yeah?

Her eyes closed as she swung the hatchet down with as much might as she could. Her scream drowned out the sound of it finding purchase in Maru's skull. In the distance a cannon sounded, loud and jarring.

[ariel-the-rebellious]

A Heavy Heart

Summary: In which Ariel’s compassion is her downfall...

Trigger Warning: Blood, violence, gore, and also a little bit of death for flavor.

Featuring: @alana-the-badbitch and @theycallme-rita

RITA had lost her raincoat. The one that she had injured herself to get by trying to fight the tribute from 5. But with the loss of it came the knowledge that there were others close to her. Others who could harm her if she wasn't paying attention. Falling asleep in the glen had been a stupid thing and she could hear Roscoe scolding her for it. She hadn't covered her back and her front. If it had been anyone other than that boy, she would have been killed. She couldn't allow that to happen. 

So she moved, packing her things back up and trudging her way through the glen. The trees grew denser even as the sky rumbled over head. It was the stuff of nightmares but Rita was focused on finding somewhere dry and safe to camp for the night. 

Moving wasn't easy but she made due, keeping her eyes peeled for anything that would suit her. Her mind was focused, a single string of safety running through her thoughts. So focused that she didn't notice the trap. It happened in an instant. Her foot stepped down and then she was flying through the air. A loud cry left her as her arms hung above her head, body suspended in mid air. 

"What the FUCK?!" 

Holy fucking Neptune washed on the shores of Tahiti -- that had fucking worked. Not that ALANA had doubted Ariel's trap. She'd seen her sister set 'em before, back in Four, but the Arena was -- it was different. Plus it was people. It was different. 

But lo and behold, that pretty little face from One with the sob story had wandered right into their trap. Alana and Ariel were waiting in the bushes and as soon as the cry ripped through the evening air, Alana craned her head to see what had gotten snagged, then stood up, bow raised. 

"Look what we trapped here," she said to her sister, lips pulled in a wicked smile. "Lord -- I love an easy target." She lifted her bow.

ARIEL had doubts in her trap. Not because she was bad at them - she was actually very, very good with them - but this time the trap was meant for people. It was meant to catch anyone that wandered too close. The rope had truly been a godsend, and whatever Adella did to get it for her, she owed her big time. 

If she made it out alive. 

The trap worked, which surprised Ariel for a moment. But soon she was rising up next to her sister, and stepping out of their hiding spot. “Wait, you can’t just kill her,” the redhead insisted, looking at Alana with wide eyes. The games were getting to her if she was so ready and willing to execute on site. “She’s a person, Alana. With a family. Like us.” 

ALANA had been just about to shoot, string drawn and God it would've been satisfying but -- 

Here was Ariel with the morality argument. Something ticked off in Lana -- this wasn't the time to get on a high horse. It was kill or be killed. If they bloody let her go Lana had no doubt that Rita would try to take them out -- especially Ariel, who only had Percy's makeshift spear. 

"Ariel, if we let her go she will literally try to kill us," said Alana, not lowering her bow. "That's the whole point of this thing."

ARIEL knew her sister was right. In the arena, it was kill or be killed. Alana had killed. She'd killed Percy. Mercy killed, but killed all the same. Maybe that's why it was easier for her. Or maybe Ariel was just too soft. 

She stepped in front of her sister's arrow. "We don't have to kill in order to win this thing. People have lived by just surviving. Besides, I didn't say we had to let her go. We could leave her, or we could- we could just... injure her, maybe. Like her leg, so that she can't follow us." 

Ariel glanced back towards Rita briefly, grimacing as she struggled, and then turned towards her sister again. "We don't have to become the monsters they all want us to be. She's trying to survive, just like us."

ALANA couldn't take the risk. Rita was from One. Rita had a son -- someone to fight for -- was she awful for not caring? She wanted to get out of here. She wanted Ariel to get out of here. They weren't gonna do that by letting their one kill go. They'd already been trampled on. They'd already lost Percy. 

"I'm not taking that risk -- what are we gonna do? Shoot her in the knee and leave her dangling? She's gonna come right after us -- if not right away, then -- eventually!" She let go of the taut bow string and gestured to the air.

ARIEL knew she was right. She did. But she didn't want her to be. She didn't want this to be the way that the world worked. That they would have to kill each other just to stay alive. She swallowed thickly, eyes still pleading with her sister not to do it. 

"Maybe she wouldn't," she mumbled, but her voice wavered. Maybe she would. "Fuck, Alana, this is insane. I don't want you to become a murderer. You shouldn't have to live with that."

RITA saw the bow and the arrow, fear paralyzing her. She wasn't ready to die. She didn't want to die like this. She was helpless like this. Hanging in the air just waiting. Her words died on her tongue as the brunette spoke but it was quickly cut off as the redhead spoke. Jesus. It was the sisters. How fitting. A sob story taking out a sob story. 

She closed her eyes, ready for the final blow, but it never came. Instead it seemed they wanted to argue.... over whether or not they were going to kill her. There was confusion for a few beats, those dark hues watching  the two of them go back and forth, before she realized that this was perfect. They were distracted, not paying any attention to her. It was a chance to escape. 

Slowly, not wanting to give herself away, she shifted in an attempt to get her fingers around the hilt of her dagger. All she needed to do was cut the rope. Then she could.... Then she could make a move. There was no denying that there would be a fight. That if she wanted to survive she'd have to kill. Her moment was now. There was no more avoiding it. A cannon would sound and it would be because of her. 

They continued to argue and Rita, dagger now in hand, began to cut away at the rope. She felt it give way bit by bit, giving her the chance to attempt to angle her body so that her fall wouldn't be too harmful. Finally... Finally it gave way and she dropped to the ground, crouching low as she looked to both of them. Then, without warning, she lunged for the girl with the bow, tackling her to the ground.

ALANA had been about to snap back, that in order to get outta here -- either her or Ariel -- that she would have to live with this. The other option was to die. Both of them. No one to go home to Attina and Daddy. No one to make Percy's sacrifice worth it. She'd been about to snap when -- 

She yelped, pushed to the ground by the Onesie who'd just been tied up in the rope. She grasped onto her bow, using it to wedge between herself and Rita, grunting as she tried to push this fucking bitch off -- 

(couldn't think of her as a mother, couldn't think of her as a person -- she was an obstacle, she was trying to kill her)

ARIEL's eyes went wide as saucers as she watched her sister get tackled. She didn't have her hatchet anymore, just a wooden spear that was likely to not do much damage, if any at all. (Her shoulder still ached from when it had been thrust out of place by one of their attackers earlier, would she be able to move it with enough force to do harm?) 

"Hey!" she shouted, raising the spear and striking out at the other tribute's leg. The sharp end cut through the fabric and sliced at her thigh. Not very deep, but enough to be a warning. "Get off of her!" She raised the weapon again, ready to strike down with more intent if need be.

RITA grunted as she struggled to stay on top of this girl. She would need to if she was going to get out of this. Her fingers tightened on the dagger, wanting to jab it into this girl so deeply that she wouldn't be able to recover from it. 

The thought was broken off, however, as there was a sharp stinging on her leg. She was distracted as she looked to the other girl, snarling as her hand moved back, slashing at her wildly. "Fuckin' bitch," she growled, adjusting the dagger so that she could grab at the bow as well, trying to pry it from the girl's hands.

ALANA growled, grip tightening on the bow, wriggling her lower body as much as she could so she could kick upwards, put some distance between herself and Rita -- grab her arrows, shoot or something. 

She took advantage of Rita's slight movements to slash at Ariel to tuck her knees as close to herself as possible and with a yell, she kicked as hard as she could to get Rita off of her.

RITA winced as she was kicked from on top of the brunette. It was painful but not unbearable. And it gave her leeway. She jumped up as quickly as she could, eyes wild as she looked towards the red head. If they were sisters.... Rita could use that to her advantage. It was even possible she could take them both out right here. She just had to play her cards right. 

Get the red. Use her as bait. Get them emotional. Get them unfocused. Strike quick. Do it without mercy. Kill. Kill. Kill 

It seemed to happen quickly, Rita's body moving before her brain could tell it to. She was acting on instinct, on Roscoe's whispered words. Her foot kicked out, landing somewhere on the brunette in an attempt to keep her down for a few seconds longer, as she moved to get behind the red head. Her bad hand held the dagger now, knowing it'd be easier even if there was pain to do what she wanted. Her good hand wrapped around the girl's body, pulling her close and trapping her as the other hand brought the dagger to her throat.

Alana managed to shove their assailant off of her, and ARIEL backed up with her spear raised high, ready to attack if needed. The older woman kicked at her sister, hard, and Ariel swung her spear out like a bat as anger flashed through her hotly. 

But before she could connect, the other tribute was quickly dodging and moving behind her, the spear falling out of Ariel's grip as she was pulled back jarringly. She gasped and reached up to grip at the arm that held the dagger to her throat. She could feel the cold blade pressing into her skin. 

"Let go of me!" she screamed, struggling in the woman's grasp. She couldn't kill her. She wouldn't. No, she had tried to show her mercy, had tried to give her a chance-- 

"Alana!" 

She should have listened to her sister.

ALANA was knocked to the ground, the wind kicked out of her, and scrambled to find her bow. 

Oh God. No -- no -- 

Rita had her knife pressed against Ariel's throat. Ariel's eyes wide. God, she should've shot, she should've shot when Rita was in a trap, when they had her all tied up, when she wasn't holding Ariel so close to her. 

She couldn't hesitate. That's what got them here. That's why this was happening. She had to save Ariel. She'd seen this in one of her tapes -- one of the ones she'd watched night after night, one of the ones she told her Capitol boy about -- something just like this, a knife pressed at an ally's neck. The girl had shot the enemy in the neck. The neck, the neck, God -- 

"Let my sister go!" she yelled, pulling back on the drawstring, the arrow whizzing towards Rita 

RITA snarled as the other got up, that bow notched with an arrow again. She could see the emotion flash over her features. Perfect. It was what she wanted. For those emotions to cloud her judgement and to make her weak. All she had to do was drag the dagger over that soft skin. It'd be like slicing the stomach of that winged Two. Just like butter.  And the hot blood that would spill over her hands. Maybe this time it would stain them red. 

She saw the girl release the arrow and she shifted. It grazed against her neck, a stinging little cut. "So you can fuckin' kill me? Fuck yous!" She spat, pressing the dagger harder against her captive's throat. "Try that shit again and I'll fuckin' slit her throat. Then I'll do the same t'you." As if to prove her point she let the tip of the dagger graze her skin, a small drop of blood appearing.

ARIEL went rigid, eyes wide and breathing shaking as she held on tight to the woman's arm. Pain stung at a spot on her neck, but it was nothing. Yet. 

"Please. Please, just let me go. You don't have to do this. You don't have to give in to their stupid games." She couldn't believe this. That she was going to die because of this stupid fucking arena and the stupid fucking capitol and the stupid fucking system that allowed all of this to keep happening, year after year after year. 

She just wanted to go home. She just wanted to see her sisters. Wanted to bake with Attina and make jokes with Andrina and sing with Arista and braid Aquata's hair and tell their Daddy and them how Adella was alive. She wanted Alana to be there, too,  so she could gush about her Legion Pal Turned Love Interest and fantasize about how she was going to run away to be with him one day and they'd lead the revolution together. 

Ariel wanted a chance to have any of that. She wanted a chance to live.

"Please,” she pleaded again, tugging at the other tribute's arm gently. "You have a son. I have a family, too. You wouldn't want to watch your family be killed, would you? You have to have a heart. Somewhere. Anywhere." Her eyes stung with tears and they spilled over the redhead's cheeks. Maybe if she begged, she could change her mind. Maybe... 

This wasn't going to work. Ariel's pleading. There was a glint in this Onesie's eyes and all this talk about family -- ALANA knew that that desire to see her son would burn through. She knew because she had the same desire -- get home, see her family (or get Ariel to see their family -- she wished it could be both of them; she was fine with either, in this moment, she was fine with either, she cursed all those dreams of the Capitol, of the fancy dresses, of that -- ) There were tears streaming down Ariel's cheeks. Alana's heart lurched. It pounded so heavily, echoing in her ears. She held the bow taught, arrow ready to go. Don't try that again Rita had taunted. But what was the other option -- she'd slit Ariel's throat. She'd come after Alana. She'd do anything to get back to that son of hers. 

The only option that meant Ariel surviving was Alana killing Rita right now. She had to make this shot count. She had to. 

She lowered her bow slightly, hoping to ease Rita's guard, hoping to make it look like she was admitting defeat, but the minute there was a clear view of Rita's neck, Alana drew her bow, fast as she could and pulled another arrow.

RITA didn't care about what this girl was crying about. She couldn't. Those tears were nothing. Pathetic attempts to live. She couldn't live. Neither could the other girl. If they lived that meant that Rita would die. She wouldn't see Oliver again. She'd never get to marry Roscoe. So no, she couldn't just let the girl go. Couldn't spare either of them. 

"My heart was stolen the minute my son's name was called in the reaping." 

She was ready to do it when the bow was pulled again. The brunette fired and Rita moved again. Another nick, this one deeper. She sucked a breath in as she looked at her. Malice was in her eyes as she pressed harder against her neck. Just like butter. The skin split beneath the dagger as Rita dragged it against her throat. The action was quick but to Rita it felt as if it dragged on for long minutes. She'd never taken a life before. 

The girl's blood poured hot over her fingers and Rita couldn't help as she pulled away quickly, letting her almost lifeless body drop in front of her before turning and running.

ARIEL's heart broke for the woman holding a knife to her neck. Alana's name had been called in the reaping. Her sister Adella had been taken and thought to be dead for years. (They'd discovered her in the capitol with her tongue cut out, an Avox now. A slave to the capitol.) She knew heartbreak. She knew fear. 

But she never lost her heart. 

It happened fast. The pain blossomed quickly in a line across Ariel's neck and her eyes went wide as warmth ran down her skin. The other tribute released her, and the redhead grasped at her neck, pressing down, trying to stop the bleeding as she fell to her knees. 

This was it. She was going to die. All that talk of a Phoenix rising from the ashes... She wasn't rising. She wouldn't rise from this. Ariel would die, and her family would mourn her, and Alana would have no more allies. "L- L-" She tried to speak, but it hurt, it hurt so badly, and she was so, so scared.

ALANA screamed. 

It happened so fast -- yet she could see every glint of silver on the dagger, every red burst of blood that blossomed from the wound of Ariel's neck.

There was no sound. There was too much sound. Her ears rang with the sound of her own heartbeat. 

She dove towards Ariel-- not caring if Rita would stab her, not caring that there were still Tributes out there, looking for someone to hunt, looking for someone to kill. Her baby sister -- 

"Ariel -- " she choked out, reaching for her sister. Ariel didn't have much time left. It was a deep wound. The blood was rushing out fast. There was no fixing this. There was no -- 

She wrapped her arms around Ariel, biting down so hard on her lip it drew blood, choking back the sobs. 

"I'm sorry -- you were so brave. You -- I'm sorry. I love you -- I'm going to go home. I'm going to tell everyone how brave you were." She reached for her sister's hand, grasping her fingers between her own. "And how till the end -- you didn't let them change how brave you were."

After a moment or two, it didn't hurt anymore. It was warm. Very warm. ARIEL knew that wasn't good, even as Alana held her in her arms. It was like she was disconnecting from her own body, slowly unable to feel much of anything. 

She was dying. 

Ariel was dying, and her sister was watching her die. She hadn't wanted this to happen. This was what they'd been trying so hard to avoid. One hand still clutched at her throat, the redhead felt Alana take her other, and she tried her hardest to squeeze her hand. Her eyes scanned around wildly for her- her murderer- but the woman appeared to be gone. Alana was safe, at least for now. Tears fell onto her cheeks and mixed with her own as Ariel struggled to breathe. "I- I-" 

She wanted to tell her she loved her. She wanted to tell her to survive. She wanted to tell her so many things. But black was closing in around her and Ariel knew she didn't have much time left. She pressed her eyes closed, squeezed them shut tight like maybe she could blink it all away. But when she opened them again, Alana was still there, crying, talking about Ariel at the end of her life like she was already gone. 

And she might as well be. Alana's face was getting blurrier. She was getting weaker, the hand on her neck falling off already. She mustered up the last bit of strength she had to reach up, trying to reach and touch her sister's cheek, and wipe at her tears, anything-- 

Her hand fell limp, instead, and Ariel's entire world went dark.

She wished she could snatch those last moments. She wished she could bottle up each last breath and hold it close. She wished there was a sea shell somewhere that she could press against her ear and hear Ariel's sweet laugh. 

 Ariel's hand went limp.

The sobs shook through ALANA, hitting her like waves against the shore during a storm. She pulled Ariel's limp body closer to her. Her baby sister. She was still warm. She was still warm and her hair still smelled faintly of the sea. 

This was her fault. 

No it was Rita's fault. 

No. It was someone else's fault entirely. The someones who had put them here. Who had set them all against each other. Who had created this whole mess in the first place. 

The waves in her chest turned to fire. She pressed a kiss to the top of Ariel's head and then laid her sister down gently. Aside from the slashed wound at her throat, Ariel looked -- peaceful. She looked at rest. Alana stood up. 

She couldn't leave her sister like this. 

She found Percy's spear and set it in Ariel's hand, crossing her arms over her chest. At rest, but powerful. Alana swallowed. Not enough, not enough.

here were some flowers growing beneath the tree, not pretty, gorgeous, blossoming flowers like Ariel deserved. They were wild, resilient -- maybe that would work. Maybe that would be perfect. 

She plucked a few of them, setting them in Ariel's other hand, letting her tears flow freely. 

She had to leave. Someone would find her. 

Alana pressed her lips to her sisters forehead one last time and whispered as if Ariel could still hear (and somewhere, she felt that she was). 

"I'm going to come home for you."