Splintered

Chapter Twenty-One: A Taste of Iron, The Smell of Hide

The aroma of animal hide and iron permeated the train like smoke filling a valley mid-forest fire. This was far worse. It was gamey, visceral, and tinged with an indescribable quality that didn't need to be fully recognized to be appreciated. Even the most naïve could practically feel the sense of death soaked into every lungful.

A depression-flavored palette matched the stomach-churning odor. District Ten was coated in as many shades of rusty brown as there were green in Seven.

Festus half coughed and half gagged beneath the handkerchief currently crammed against his nose. "It is like they are bottling blood sausage and toenail sauerkraut cologne."

"Come on, it's not that.... bad," Indira commented, struggling to hold her elegant, painted face into a neutral expression.

"I agree, Miss Lovegood," Augustus interjected, sucking in a deep nostril full. He lounged in the farthest corner of the train car. His arms were draped over the bench, and his legs were leisurely crossed. It was like he was soaking in a luxurious simmering bath.

"I've smelled worse." Sable gruffly added his thoughts. He was settled into the seat across from Hazel, Bellona at his side.

"You have certainly smelled worse," Bellona smiled at the older peacekeeper, "Especially after one of those lovely jogs."

Sable grumbled and looked prepared to push her off the bench.

"You all can speak for yourselves," Festus grumbled as his handkerchief fluttered for dear life. "I hate this District."

Hazel wrapped her arms around her torso as she battled the scent herself. Never in her life had she smelled something so uniquely unsettling. Tapping her nails against her left palm, she wondered if the citizens just suffered continually or became nose blind over time. The latter would be a blessing.

"Makes you miss the papermill, huh?" Leo murmured in her ear. A restrained laugh colored his tone.

"I take it all back." Hazel chuckled. "It's like they've made rancid meat into an air freshener or something."

"Fantastic. Not sure I'll ever be hungry again." Leo's face soured.

Just as she was about to laugh and tease him with a clever joke about pickleberries, she met Sable's eyes. Though his shoulders were relaxed, his scrutiny was fixed and unblinking.

She was slightly amazed at how much he could communicate without saying a word. Though the message was still wholly irritating.

Unfortunately, he didn't appear to be the only one scrutinizing her. Unlike Sable, however, she refused to meet the tan stare of the blue-haired monster relaxing on the far side of the train car.

Swallowing down a lump in her throat, she sank back into the plush bench, pressing her thumb even harder into her worn bandage. A satisfying lick of discomfort crawled from her palm up her arm.

Leo frowned down at her hand with a slight upward slant of his lips, "You keep doing that, and I'll need to change it again."

Hazel stilled her nervous thumb.

Damn him for being so observant.

She caught another stony side glance from Sable. Bellona too, seemed to be not so subtly watching.

Ugh, Peacekeepers.

"It's probably about time I start to take care of it myself."

"Right." He breathed out, straightening his posture. A curious look slid over his brow, but he let the conversation fade.