Pompeia Clacher [D2] (trajan) wrote in colosseum, @ 2014-04-17 00:02:00 |
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"Any last advice?" "Yeah," replied her trainer, before she entered the quarry for the first time. "Keep going." One of Pompeia's legs gave, and she collapsed against a tree, leaning heavily on it for support. She didn't want to run off a cliff like the outlier. She didn't want to get chased down. She didn't want to die for being boring and not fighting Shimmer and Shad right away, wolves or not. The cold numbed most of the pain, but the water getting into her scratched legs stung. Her free hand was slung over her shoulder in an attempt to keep the arm somewhat elevated. She kept looking back, not entirely out of fear. Irritation set in, at the situation of Aeneas getting killed, and at herself for listening to his advice. She was still on the move as the anthem played; she focused on the ground ahead of her, instead of looking at the sky. She didn't expect to see anything in the rain cloud. She should've stayed, she thought bitterly as she set out again. The rain was slowing, but the water had seeped into her fleece, soaking parts of it. Maybe she could've at least gotten treatment first before stabbing them in their sleep. But with Aeneas gone, them being past the final eight… Trapped in a mountainous arena, Shad and Shimmer would be complete idiots to not try to take her out at any point she stayed. Maybe they could've fought. Aeneas had the strength to speak. Shad had the runs. It could be equal. Pompeia kept gritting her teeth to stop all the shaking. And because she kept thinking of going back now. She could use the energy she was taking up getting away from them to fight instead. She kept replaying it. Where it could've gone differently. How maybe she could've been faster than wolf mutt. Why. If Aeneas died because they were too busy trying to stay warm to fight, then wasn't she sealing her death now? Pompeia paused. The top of her head felt heavy. Keep going, even as her brain spaced out briefly. She just had to get away. Regroup. She'd come back, ready. Keep moving. She willed her feet to drag the rest of her along. She kept going until she came to the foot of a bridge. Everything inside and out made her too impatient to remember if this was the one that would take her back to the Cornucopia. She didn't want to walk that distance again, in the dark rain, alone, after nearly sliding a few times. Sword ready, she walked a few steps to the nearest tree. The area around its trunk stayed dry, the rest of it catching the rain and letting it loose once in a while. She settled against it, squeezing her eyes shut briefly, and she immediately lifted her injured hand to wipe the rain off her face. She hadn't felt this helpless since— Pompeia leaned heavily and tilted her head back to try to take in a deeper breath. She hadn't felt this helpless since she did the course the first time. Starting strong. Away from home. The only one around, the only one she could count on. Everyone around her trying to beat her. And she knew that back then, there were some who wanted her humiliated for daring to set foot in there. But she was stronger than before. It wasn't over; she wouldn't flag. She wouldn't be mired in self-pity. It was so easy to try to think of what she should could change. And shivering in the cold, wounded, with her longsword and some ugly bag with shit for company, god, it was so fucking easy to close her eyes. The whole district was on her now, and some of them were pissed at her for what she had done to get there. But tonight, one promise was broken, and there was another she intended to keep. Patch up her wounds as much as she can. Try the bridge. Maybe find food. Maybe find outliers. Come back and finish it. She waited for the pre-dawn glow before setting off. The rain had stopped. She cut off and used the flap of her purse to wrap around her arm, and used her teeth and good hand to secure it with the removable part of her pants. She moved, slowly but deliberately, ignoring how starve she was, with only water to fill her stomach. This time, when she reached the other side, she let out a much deeper sigh of relief, leaning over. It was then she spotted the shiny object. It had to be better than a stupid diamond necklace, Pompeia thought as she made her way over. The ground was still soaked, making it easy for her to unearth it. She squatted. It took two swipes at the mud before she could pull out the contraption easily. She regarded it with the same look she had stared at the wristlets that ended up thrown off the mountainside. Look for more food, then head back. She gave it a fling before sticking it in a compartment in her purse. Just like before. It's a game, isn't it? And she promised in blood. |