Game On

Chapter Thirteen: "Sexual Permissions"

Mark tried to convince Sean to sleep while he stayed up, but Sean's mind was too active. He didn't think he could rest if he wanted too. So, he took the first shift to watch over them. He didn't think anyone would mess with them, but he couldn't be sure of that. They were outside the safe zone of town, and he doubted this cave was always empty. Sitting against the wall, Sean watched until the others had fallen asleep before getting up. Standing closer to the rushing veil of water, he kept his keen ears and eyes sharp. His wings twitching to every distant snap of a twig and animal call. They days events trying to distract him. He couldn't believe there were people in this world that cared so little for others. To them this was just another game. Another reason to divide themselves from everyone else and dominate others. Games were supposed to be fun... but people like them turned games like this toxic. Shaking his head, he wondered what the Game Master's experiment was. Was it to see if they turned on each other?

Sighing softly, Sean glanced at his shimmering reflection in the moonlight water. He marveled at every attention to detail in this world. It was so beautiful... and if it wasn't for the threat of death, it would be hard to pull himself away from it. Reaching out to trace his fingers in the crisp cold water that fell in a shimmering curtain, he smiled to himself. Everything felt so real. Upon lowering his hand, he glanced back at the others over his shoulder. He could only hope they weren't putting Lulu in danger. He didn't think his heart could bare it if she died because of him. He didn't know much about this game or what they'd run into. He stayed up all night with his thoughts, until he eventually sat down and dosed off without meaning too. The dreamless sleep state was bliss, until a soft 'whack' nearby woke him. Jerking upright from his slumped position on the wall, Sean's long ears perked up and his wings shuddered in distress. Mark and Lulu were missing.

Tossing off a blanket that he hadn't fallen asleep with, Sean hovered a little off the ground as he called out to the depths of the small cave. "Mark? Lulu?" There stuff was still here. Spinning around, Sean landed on his feet and jogged out around the waterfall. He was just about to yell their names, until he heard Mark and Lulu laugh. Skidding to a stop on the wet rocks, Sean observed Mark on the other side of the little lake. He was holding a small bow and showing Lulu how to use it. Mark was holding his nose and wincing as he told her through a muffled chuckle. "Ha. Ha. Now you see why it is important to release properly?" Lulu was bent over laughing, her face streamed in tears as she wheezed out. "Ya. I don't want it to break my nose." Rolling his eyes, Mark playfully shoved her and chuckled back. "Go on. Let's see you try it." Lulu composed herself, flicking her long bangs out of her face, before taking a few breaths. Then with a long inhale, she pulled the string back.

Her hands shook as she tried to hold it steady. Mark placed his hands on her waist, his hands ready to spring up to grab the bow as he told her. "See the red dot? Let go when you see it flash. The game will do the rest." Lulu cringed as she tried to line something up and released with just a soft thud of the string. The arrow whizzed toward the apple that sat on a rock and soared right over it. Lowering the bow, Lulu exhaled out grimly. "I missed." Mark lifted his hand, gesturing with his fingers as he playfully told her. "Missed it by that much. You're getting better. Had it been taller you would have it hit." Lulu snorted, strutting out to retrieve her arrow while retorting sarcastically. "Liar. I couldn't hit a moose with that." Mark shrugged, mumbling out to himself. "Well... I didn't say how much taller it would have to be..." Snatching up her arrow, she shot back. "I heard that." Shrugging to her, he quickly told her with a warm smile. "From here it was about that distance above the apple. You're improving. That is the important thing."

Groaning, she took her spot beside him again and said a bit disheartened. "I'm going at throwing smoke and flash bombs... Can't I just do that?" Mark cleaned off her arrow and restrung it as he replied nicely. "They are good to flee, but not to protect yourself. You can't always pick food in games like this. Different levels and areas may not have pickable food. Which makes stealth hunting critical. You should practice basic combat skills at the very least." Lulu huffed, turning to aim her bow again. Upon release again, she missed again at the same point and mumbled out. "It's no good... I can't see well in the daylight. My marker is all off... I'll never get it. I'm... I'm gonna die..." Lulu dropped her bow, reaching up to flip her little black hood over her head to hide her face. Only her long ears stuck out through the holes in the hood. Sean inched toward her to comfort her, but Mark was closer. Cupping her face, Mark sat back on his heels as he told her so serenely. "Hey. Lulu? Look at me. Everything is going to be ok."