Timber

Chapter Thirty-Five: Paths in the Shadows

***Trigger warnings for violence, terror, and death***

Navigating through the darkness back to the camp, Hazel's nerves were taut. As she walked in silence, her gaze trailed the bootprints scattered around their makeshift campsite. Amidst the dirt, several rusted brown dots speckled the earth. Drawing closer, she squinted at the trail. Blood. These couldn't have come from Mia. Aaron's hip must be bleeding. Maybe the cut was deeper than I thought. Or perhaps the frantic escape had exacerbated it. If he had used the bandages I gave him, he wouldn't be bleeding all over the woods. Hazel sighed with a subtle roll of her eyes.

As she approached their makeshift post, Ruby and Ethan came into view; their breathing was deep, and their faces were relaxed. Nearby, Mia's form shivered, tossing and turning, forehead glistening with sweat. Aaron was seated with his weapon resting across his lap. He kept a vigilant watch over Mia, his eyes deep with concern.

Hazel's gaze then shifted to Silus, who lay on his side, an arm tucked under his head as a makeshift pillow. His breathing was steady, yet his eyes were wide open, alert, and fixed on her.

Letting out a deep sigh, she settled herself beside him on the cool earth. "Seems I'm a bad influence," she teased. "Didn't I tell you to get some sleep?"

Silus lifted his head, a worried furrow settled between his brows, "I just wanted to make sure you got back. What took so long?"

Hazel withdrew one of her axes, placing it before her. Her fingers traced the handle, picking at its edges. She battled with herself, but Silus knew her too well for her to outright lie to him. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she whispered, "I found some Sapphire's Breath."

"Really?" Silus adjusted his position to face her better.

As their eyes locked, Hazel noticed the gears turning in his head. "I gathered some."

Silus's expression shifted, his eyebrow arching in a blend of surprise and concern, "That was risky; you know how dangerous those plants are."

"More dangerous than Caleb or Elara?" With a slight nod towards the backpack resting on her shoulder, Hazel added softly, "It's in here. Just in case we ever...." she felt a sour taste on her tongue, "...need it." It wasn't outright deception, she told herself. Like the audience watching from afar, she would let him draw his own conclusions; he would destroy the flowers if he understood why she really had them.

Silus's gaze lingered on the backpack before returning to Hazel. "Do you think you'll be able actually to use it when the time comes?"

Hazel shifted her gaze from him to the group and then to their surroundings. "I don't know," she admitted. "I want to say yes, but my idea of the Games and reality are two very different things."

Silus's expression softened, and his warm palm settled on hers. "Me too."

"Like I've told you, if you are in danger, I will do what I have to do, but outside of that, I am not sure I can just..." She glanced at their group again before meeting his eyes, "...kill one of them." She hesitated, her tone lightening. "Well, except Caleb, maybe."

Silus' expression remained unchanged, his demeanor serious. "I know you are afraid," his voice was low and deep, like a gentle wind. "But you need to be able to do what needs to be done. I know you didn't feel like killing Elara, Grace, or Owen was necessary, and maybe you are right, but..." He adjusted his position, his grip on her hand tightening. "Just promise me, Hazel, you'll fight when you need to. Even if I'm not around..."

She cut him off, pulling her hand away from his. "Stop," She shook her head, fear bubbling up in her chest. "I don't want to hear it."

He searched for her eyes, which she kept solemnly on the axe in her lap, "Your own life is worth defending, not just mine. Promise me that you will continue to fight for yourself inside this arena." His eyes grew infinitely more serious, "or outside of it."