Roots of Destruction 𓅫 Finnick Odair X OC

☆11☆

In an arena of this magnitude, being a five foot two girl with a single knife is terrifying. Roscoe has been a great help, constantly reassuring Briar that he will protect her because that's what allies do, but it isn't preventing the girl's stomach from somersaulting every time a twig snaps in their vicinity or they turn a corner blindly. She isn't ready to die yet, and she isn't done fighting for herself and Roscoe yet. Fortunately, day five in the arena had passed without issue; despite their lack of an axe, Roscoe and Briar were able to gather enough firewood to keep them warm for nights four and five, and had hunted and foraged enough food to keep them going. They haven't been full yet, but they've eaten enough that their hunger has remained satiated.

Another cannon had sounded in the past twenty-four hours, and the eighteen year old female from Eight's face had been projected in the sky during the night, which has taken the total death toll of the games to fourteen so far. In less than five full days we've gone from twenty-four to ten. As the thought runs through Briar's mind, a chill radiates down her spine. The fact that fourteen families had lost their children already, and nine more need to lose theirs before this year's Hunger Games ends is devastating enough to give Briar nightmares.

Briar and Roscoe have been up for a few hours, but neither of them have been able to get a gauge on the time of day they're currently sitting in. They weren't able to find a building with water the night before, but they still have some remaining and have rationed it well. It should last them a couple more days if they're lucky. They've just finished their first meal of the day, and they're now considering their options for the day. "Do you think it's worth us hunting for another building with running water, or just another water source just in case?"

"We can always check, that won't hurt. And, I know I sound like the tributes from One and Two, but we may as well start hunting for other tributes. There's less than half of us left now, I think, and the quicker we can get this over with the better."

He's right, there are less than half of them left, but Briar isn't going to give away the fact that she is mentally tracking how many of them are left alive. The brunette is conscious that lying to her ally is far from the smartest decision, but the less he knows in respect to how many tributes are left, the less likely he is to turn on her or slaughter her whilst she sleeps. Hunting other tributes is also not the top of her priority list, but objecting to the notion could be a dealbreaker for their alliance... and Briar isn't ready to give it up yet. "Alright, we can keep an eye out for any water sources whilst we hunt for food and tributes. If we don't have luck with that then we can use the cover of night to check the buildings."

"Sounds good to me. Did you want to head out now?"

Briar thinks it over for a few moments. If they chose to leave the building now, they risk being found by another tribute or alliance – it's a possibility at all times, but being outside increases that possibility – but if they stay inside then they're practically sitting ducks. "Yeah, there's no point in delaying it."

So the pair venture out into the open air, trekking down the dusty roads and gravelly alleyways in hopes of finding a water source. They've noticed a few tributes in the distance, but the duo have managed to go unnoticed in return meaning they have remained safe. It started raining a few hours into them walking, and they still haven't been able to locate a water source or building with running water, so they're both becoming increasingly miserable.

Despite the downpour, the arena still looks oddly beautiful. The raindrops are making all the dust and pathways appear darker than normal, their usual light grey morphing into an almost brown-tinted paste. Droplets of rain glisten in the light as they slowly drip down the windows of buildings surrounding them before colliding with the floor below. It would be particularly easy to forget the circumstances they're in, even if only momentarily, when observing their surroundings, but Briar makes an effort to keep the danger she is in at the forefront of her mind. The serene atmosphere is calming and gives the brunette time to reflect on what is waiting for her back home. On what she has to lose.