Game of War:The Games

Back In The Game

   The group got up at sunrise to get ready. They packed and checked their supplies. Silver and Karambit were the first to go out. Aria went with Atom this time. Dill had insisted on staton with Moccasin just in case. Scotty stayed there too. He stood watch outside of the horn,like Atom had the day before. Pixel and Dell headed out to the woods today. Pixel had been reluctant,but she supposed it was necessary. They traveled in silence,not knowing what to really talk about. They shot a fair amount of wild game and packed it in Dell's bag, putting his supplies in Pixel's. The woods seemed to get thicker and thicker as they went along. Pixel and Dell nearly got lost.
   "Let's climb a tree to figure out which way to go," Pixel suggested. Dell nodded and the tow climbed one of the nearby trees. They were close to the top when something caught their eye. Well,Pixel's at least. She stopped mid-climb.
   "What is it?" Dell asked, trying not to fall or hit his face on Pixel's boot. Pixel didn't respond. She climbed up to a branch and stood on it. Dell joined her on the branch. "You see something?" he asked. In response,Pixel pointed out into the forest. A descent distance away,there was a small stream of smoke, obviously from a camp-fire. "Oh.." Dell said,knowing what would happen. "You wanna fly closer?" he asked. Pixel sighed.
   "Not to close," she said,her voice not much above a whisper. Dell wrapped his arms around Pixel,unfolded his wings,and leaped into the air. They made their way to the stream of smoke. They landed in a tree close by. Dell unwraps his hands from around Pixel when he was sure she was stable. They saw two tributes. A girl and a boy. "District ten," Pixel mumbled. The two tributes of District ten were desperately putting out their fire. There was a crack in the nearby trees. Both sets of tributes turned their heads. Pixel watched as the boy grabbed a makeshift spear and the girl put on their shared book-bag while pulling out a small pocket knife. A silver dagger flew and landed at the boy's feet.
   "I'm not gonna miss next time," the voice of Silver said from the trees. "That was just your warning. I do like a little chase now and then,". There was sounds of metal against metal along with footsteps. More branches cracked.
   "Get ready to run,April," the boy said in a deep British accent. April turned to him. Her ombré hair stuck out of her bun.
   "I can't leave you Rob," she told the boy. Silver,followed my Karambit,came into the small opening.
   "Shouldn't have made a fire," she said.
   "She was freezing! I had to help her!" Rob yelled at Silver,ready to die to save April. Pixel saw a tear fall down his cheek.
   "Pix," Dell said. But Pixel was frozen. She couldn't even make herself move.
   "April," Rob said as Karambit pulled back her bow and Silver readied her dagger. "When for us,". The dagger and arrow pierced through Rob's chest. He fell backwards into the ground. A smile spread on his face. "I...love..you...April...now... run!"  His eyes shut and April stared for a moment. She shut her eyes and began to run.
   "Will chase after her in a moment," Silver said. Pixel couldn't take much more. They seemed so...heartless! Dell picked up Pixel.
   "We're getting you out of here," he said. He flapped his wings and took off. They landed about where they were before. They went and climbed down to a lower branch,Dell carrying Pixel over his shoulder. He set her up against the tree. "You okay,Pix?" he asked after forcing her to eat and drink some water. She turned away from him. He took his hand and turned her head gently back to face him. "Pix," he said softly. Pixel sighed as she turned away from him again. The sun was beginning to set already.
   "They just...seemed so... heartless," she told Dell. Dell let out a small sigh.
   "I know," he admitted. "But it's what we have to do to survive,".
   "Well maybe I don't want to!" Pixel shouted as tears began to fall down her face. "Maybe I don't want to be in this damn hell hole fighting for my life! Maybe I don't want to kill these innocent kids that are just like us! Maybe...maybe I just want to go home...." Pixel said. She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her head in them. Dell rubbed her knees.
   "I know Pix.." he said quietly. "I don't want to be here either. But we can't change that. And I'm not letting you die!" he said, adding the end when he saw Pixel raise her head to suggest something. She lowered it back down and settled it on top of her knees. There was a rustling in the trees. April appeared, her face year streaked. Her eyes widened as she saw the two. She glanced down at her closed hand. She looked up,then rushed into another part of the woods. Pixel hopped down and followed her. Blue berries were falling out of her hand. Pixel's eyes widened as she realized what they were. April stopped running. She opened her hand. The bluish-black berries shown in the last rays of sunlight.
   "April don't!" Pixel said, attempting to stop her. She had no reason to,she just... didn't want anyone else to die. April turned around.
   "I'm going to join my love," she said. She looked up to the sky. "I'm coming Robert,". She held up the berries and dumped them in her mouth. She stood there for a moment,then she swallowed. A smile spread across her face as her eyes glazed over and she fell. Pixel rushed over and felt her pulse. There was the sound of wings behind her.
   "Nothing," Pixel said. "She's gone,".
   "You tried to stop it," Dell said from behind her. Pixel nodded. She stood up and grabbed a handful of nearby flowers. She placed them delicately on April's body. She gently closed her eyes as well. "She could be sleeping," Dell said. Pixel nodded again as she stood up. She took Dell's hand in her's and later her head on his shoulder.
   "She's joined her love,she's happy now,". Dell leaned over and kissed Pixel's forehead.
   "Come on,Pix. It's getting dark. Let's head back to camp," he said.
   "Okay," Pixel said. "But no more dying,". Dell chuckled.
   "Alright," he said. "No more dying,promise,".