Timber

Chapter Thirty-Six: Shattered Dawn

The chirping of birds coaxed Hazel awake. Her mind was heavy, like a dull weight was pressing down on her skull and her eyes ached. The subtle warmth of breath against her ear and the steady rhythm of a heartbeat beneath her cheek brought her to the realization that she was resting on someone. As her consciousness knit itself back together, disorientation gave way to a spinning sensation that clutched at her senses. A few quick blinks dispelled the last vestiges of sleep, grounding her in reality: she was perched on a branch, leaning against Silus, trapped in the godforsaken Hunger Games. For a fleeting moment, she yearned for the blissful ignorance of those first confused seconds of awakening.

As the dawn broke, the warm air gently caressed Hazel's face, her lungs filling with the freshness of the new day. The sunrise painted the sky in rosy hues, shifting to golden as time passed. She rubbed her eyes, wincing at the tenderness of her swollen lids, the rough texture of dried tears beneath her fingertips. The memories of the previous night surged forward, Mia's screams were a haunting melody in her mind. She tried to shake away the images and the sounds, but her body resisted, her muscles aching with every stretch. Pain, though unwelcome, offered a brief respite from the relentless replay of Mia's voice. Hazel had never experienced a hangover, but she suspected the feeling might be akin to this.

Silus, stirred by her motions, met her gaze. His expression carried a solemn heaviness, underscored by dark circles around his eyes. They shared a conversation without words, finding speech inadequate in the shadow of the previous night's horrors.

Aaron, Ethan, and Ruby gradually woke up. Aaron's gaze was locked on his clenched hands, his body tense. It was as if sleep had eluded him throughout the night—a sentiment Hazel understood all too well. Looking down from their refuge, she noted the absence of the wolves and their menacing quills. In their place, the arena's birds chirped cheerily, which was unsettling compared to the nightmare that had unfolded just hours before.

Without words but with a mutual understanding, the group began their careful climb down. Hazel's head spun, a dull ache pressing at her temples as she worked her way through the branches.

Hazel's breathing hitched as she forced her eyes to where Mia had last been. Mia, with her eyes full of warmth, her hair a cascade of night, and her spirit unyielding, was gone. Instead, the ground, blanketed in moss and pine needles, cradled her abandoned knife. Pressing a hand to her mouth, Hazel battled the urge to vomit. A sizeable maroon stain trailed away, disappearing into the morning mist. Silus towered beside her, his gaze fixed on the ground as his deep sigh mingled with the crisp morning air.

Aaron approached the knife, bending down next to it. A faint shiver passed through him as he lowered himself next to the dark red streak. Lifting the knife from the earth, he cradled it in his hands. Silence enveloped the group; even Ethan held his tongue. Only the vibrant chirps of pudgy songbirds filled the air with life. Aaron remained stationary, hunched over the large stain that wove through the pine needles and into the forest's embrace. 

Ruby joined Aaron's side, her delicate hand finding its place on his shoulder. Aaron accepted her comfort, remaining still and silent. The group stood motionless for a while. Hazel grappled with the sounds of Mia's last moments—a pain and fear she wouldn't wish upon anyone. A gentle breeze caressed her face, the cool, fresh air snapping her back from the fog of her mind. Adjusting her backpack, she found a dark comfort in the sapphire petals resting in its depths. The hope remained that she could save herself from such a horrid fate. 

Finally, Aaron placed his hand over Ruby's, gazing up at her with tear-filled eyes and a melancholy half-smile before rising to his full height. He clipped Mia's knife to his belt and rejoined the group.

Drawing a deep, unsteady breath, Aaron lifted his head, his red rimmed eyes sweeping across Ethan and Silus before settling on Hazel. "What now?"

"I think we should look for Kai and Iris," Silus proposed. "We have an alliance with them, and we should at least try to help them if we can."