Azalea Rose Willow loves three things above everything else:
summer, the only season that mattered in her mind.
singing, alongside the comforting embrace of her guitar.
but above all, the easy camaraderie with the boy who lives next door to her, and...
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The treacherous landscape of the arena unfolded before them – a chaotic tapestry of swamp, forest, jagged rocks, and a glistening lagoon. The air hung heavy with humidity, the ground slick with mud and shrouded in perpetual twilight filtering through the dense canopy overhead.
It was beautiful in a deadly way, the lush greenery masking the treacherous underfoot conditions.
Sparks, the self-proclaimed leader of way, took point, his eyes scanning the undergrowth for any sign of food or water.
In all honesty, they picked him as leader of way, so he would stop asking stupid questions all the time.
Just like moments ago.
The trek through the pre-dawn light was a tense affair. Each rustle of leaves, each snap of a twig sent shivers down Azalea's spine. The remaining Careers, their initial camaraderie dampened by the events in the cave, walked in a tense silence.
Sparks, however, seemed determined to disrupt the somber mood. He swaggered ahead, a cocky grin plastered on his face. Reaching a particularly precarious section of the path, a narrow ledge overlooking a sheer drop, he stopped abruptly.
"Watch this, you landlubbers!" he declared, his voice laced with bravado. Before anyone could react, he hopped onto the ledge, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He teetered for a moment, arms outstretched for balance, then proceeded to walk across the narrow edge with exaggerated slowness.
"See this?" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the canyon below. "This is how a real tribute walks the tightrope of survival!"
Sunshine, ever the pragmatist, shot him a withering look. "Be careful, Sparks," she said, her voice clipped. "One wrong step and you'll be swinging with the angels."
Sparks scoffed, his confidence seemingly unshakeable. "Don't worry, Sunshine," he retorted, his voice dripping with mock concern. "I've got this."
Azalea watched the display with a mixture of annoyance and apprehension. Dusk, beside her, remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Ignoring Sunshine's muttered warning to be careful, Sparks strutted to the edge, his arms outstretched for balance. He swaggered precariously for a few moments, relishing the gasps and murmurs from the other Careers. His chest puffed with pride, his taunts barely audible over the wind whipping around him.
Suddenly, with a clumsy misstep on a loose rock, Sparks yelped in surprise. His arms flailed wildly, his balancing act turning into a desperate scramble. But it was too late. With a sickening thud, his bag – the one containing their precious supplies – tumbled over the edge, disappearing into the dense foliage below.
A stunned silence descended upon the group. Sparks, teetering close to the edge, stared after his bag with wide, panicked eyes. Sunshine, usually stoic, let out a low growl of frustration.
