Conquered (previously known as Veni Vidi Vici)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

    After running for a while, Aspyn found a familiar looking tree.

    “Look Terrence, it’s the tree that you couldn’t climb. We’re close.” She said.

    “Hold on.” said Rika, “You can’t climb trees?” Rika was clearly amused.

    “So?” asked Terrence.

    “I can see the coliseum from here!” Aspyn interrupted.

    “Climbing a tree is, kind of, a necessity to survive here.” Rika said, ignoring Aspyn.

    “I’m alive.” Terrence replied.

    “How long do you think that will last?” Rika asked, “Aspyn had to save you plenty of times within these games.”

    “Says the girl who was tied up in a cabin!” Terrence snapped back.

    “Hey! Will you guys focus?” Aspyn said. So, Terrence and Rika stopped arguing, but after a while of walking, they were back at it. Aspyn was tired of trying to keep the two of them at peace, so she just walked ahead to get away from the arguments. Then she saw the river.

    “Look! There’s the river!” she exclaimed. At that moment, Rika and Terrence stopped arguing and sprinted to the river.

    “Now, you guys play nice, please.” Aspyn pleaded once they got to the river.

    “Aspyn, this is the Hunger Games. We aren’t supposed to play nice.” Rika said. That was it for Aspyn.

    “I can kill you now, and not play nice.” she said aiming an arrow at Rika.

    “Okay, okay.”

    “Good.” Aspyn said under her breath. While they were arguing, Terrence noticed something.

    “I think there’s something moving in the water.” He noted.

    “It’s probably just the wind causing the ripples.” said Rika.

    “Well, we’ve seen some pretty strange things,” said Aspyn, “I think we should find a safer spot downstream. Let’s go.”

    “I’ll catch up with you. I feel like I’m about to die of thirst.” said Rika.

    “Okay.” Aspyn said. While they walked, Terrence started to get worried.

    “Maybe we shouldn’t have left her there.” he said.

    “Maybe you’re right. I…” Then, they heard a scream.

    “Rika!” they exclaimed in unison. Panicking, they ran back to the spot they left her. When they got there, they saw nothing except Rika’s spear broken in half.

    "Oh Terrence." Aspyn said, "I'm so sorry. We just found her alive and now she's…"

    "I know." Terrence was kneeling by the water, "I knew there was danger. It's my fault that I didn't tell her."

    "No, it's not. It's my fault for leaving her by herself." said Aspyn. While they were mourning, they didn't notice the shadow growing larger and larger. Soon, Aspyn looked up.

    "Terrence," she whispered. Terrence looked at her. Her face was pale, her eyes wide, and she was shaking. Perfect, he thought, another monster. This one was bigger than a tree and almost as long as the river itself. It was the same color of the water, so it was impossible to see while it was waiting in the river.

    "It’s a water dragon. It has a soft spot in its gills." said Aspyn. Terrence saw the gills, which were impossibly small compared to the gigantic monster.

    "So, what do we do?" asked Terrence.

    "You distract him. Let me take care of the rest." Aspyn instructed. She ran off leaving Terrence with the monster.

    "For Rika!!" Terrence yelled, charging towards the dragon.

    Meanwhile, Aspyn was climbing a tree, to stay hidden in the branches. She was getting an arrow out of her quiver and aiming at the monster's only weak spot. The monster was roaring with rage as Terrence was running around it yelling. Then, Aspyn took a deep breath and released it and her arrow at the same time. Her arrow flew toward the monster and hit it exactly in the soft spot. The monster stopped and fell back in the river.

    "Whoa!" exclaimed Terrence as the splash from the monster's fall drenched him, "That was some amazing shooting Aspyn."  

    Aspyn took a little bow, "Thanks."

    "Attention all tributes. I'm sorry for any earlier interruptions that were not by me.  Everyone is to gather in the coliseum. Thank you." said a voice.

    "Well, let's get going!" said Aspyn.