thearena | What have you come here for;

Who| Luna, Phi
What| A run-in between fellow ex-players.
Where| Edge of the forest, near the water
When| Week 3, after Winterfell's bombing
Warnings/Notes| None for now.

Luna suspects that when she and the Stark sisters take up shelter in Winterfell that it can't last. Surely those in charge of the game won't allow them to stay in the castle forever, with the relative stability of their days and the relative lack of drama save for a few incidents. But she still holds onto hope, and it still comes as a surprise when the bombs hit. Quickly the beautiful facsimile of the girls' home is torn apart into rubble and fire, and everything that once made the castle look like a home is soon gone. Left in its place are rubble and ash, and once the bombs keep coming Luna has doubts about even those.

They're all separated during that time, and although Luna makes an effort to try and seek out the other two girls she fails. Eventually it gets to the point where she knows to stick around any longer will probably kill her without achieving anything, so she runs out towards the forest - still one of her favored places in the Arena for the abundance of green, dangerous as it may be - and is glad to see that it looks unaffected by the assault on Winterfell. She has to get through a burning field and more ruined homes as she heads for the forest, and at least those seem to be just more replicas without real inhabitants. Not much of a win but they're something. Luna's already seen one person with severe burns this Arena; no need for more.

Eventually she makes it to the forest, and once she's just inside the cover of the trees the assault seems to die down. Or maybe it's just that the noise is further behind her now, but at least it seems like she's safe for now. Luna checks herself over next: she's coughing a little due to the smoke and air, which isn't ideal but not the worst condition she could be in. She still has her first aid kit, so that's an advantage as well. Before she does any more, though, Luna feels the need for water - a drink for her throat, and maybe some washing depending on how the smoke clings to her. Luna knows from previous experience that there's a sort of lake at one edge of the forest so she makes her way towards the water, still suppressing a cough now and then from the air and her dry throat.

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Ever since getting that trident at the cornucopia, Phi has been lingering near the water as frequently as possible. She's never been in a situation where she had to hunt for food, but such a useful tool deserves a chance to use it. It's a lot more productive than she's going to be running at woodland creatures with a broken sword.

She's in the middle of trying to spear herself a meal when she hears the noise of someone moving through the nearby woods. Instantly, she's on alert, spinning around and holding the trident up like a proper weapon. It's not until Luna comes into view that the buzz of adrenaline in the back of her mind dies down.

"Oh, it's you." She exhales. Just Luna, if there was a bit of relief to be found in that. She had almost forgotten that the other Nonary member would be playing in these Games too. This arena was so large, it was easy to get separated and lose track of just how many others were out in the wilderness somewhere. "Where have you been?"

The tension eases, but Phi doesn't lower the weapon just yet.

Of the things she expected to find by the lake, Phi with a sharp weapon is not one of them and Luna quickly puts her hands up to show she's weaponless - just the first aid kid in one hand and the remains of some rations in the other. Despite the talk of training in the little time they had before the Arena Phil hasn't sent her a knife, which Luna is especially glad for at the moment. Things are a little strange as is with Phi; no need to go about making things worse.

And to her credit Phi seems to relax a little when she realizes it's Luna instead of an active opponent, although the fact that she hasn't put away the weapon keeps her on edge. Luna tries to respond, but the only thing she can manage at first is a few scratchy coughs that leave her throat sore. "The castle," she finally manages. "East of here. There were bombs. Sansa and her sister--I lost them."

She coughs another few times, and casts a long look the way she came as if hoping Sansa and Arya would just coming running after her. Her brow furrows when she doesn't, and she looks to Phi. "You haven't seen them, have you? There are two of them, both a little older than Quark was. One of them is another Tribute in my district." It's a long shot, but she's afraid for those girls. Sansa in particular she wants to protect, and if she can't find either of the sisters Luna can't do anything for them.

Two kids, a little older than Quark. The reference brings back a mental image of the boy to Phi's mind. Kids had no place being thrown into situations like this. It was bad enough to have Quark in the Nonary Game, where the environment was dangerous but everyone could get out alive if they worked together. The Hunger Games were different. They only had one winner, and it wasn't going to be those kids. They were as good as dead already.

"Sorry, haven't seen anyone come this way." There's a bit of anger in her tone, turning it harsher than she means to be towards Luna. It's obviously not her fault that those girls are stuck in here. It's not anyone's fault but the Gamemakers--and she's trying hard not to consider Sigma in with their lot.

"You don't sound too hot. There's some water here; I think it's drinkable. You should take a break." It's something like an invitation, if Luna wants to take her up on it. It's unlikely that she's going to find those girls, and even less unlikely that there's anything she can do for them.

Luna debates the offer for a moment before she responds, her mind still on finding the Stark sisters in hopes of ensuring their safety. But while she's peaceful and idealistic she's not a fool, either. The longer she goes without finding them the less likely it is that she'll find them at all, and by now she's lost track of exactly how much time has passed since they separated already. At this point she might be better served looking for others in the area in need of help or protection...of which Phi doesn't really count (Luna's pretty sure she can take care of herself), but the familiar face is nice.

So she nods without another word and kneels at the lake's shore, setting down her kit and scooping up water to drink with her hands. She wines after a few handfuls when she swallows and feels how sore her throat still is, but manages a hoarse "Thank you" anyway before sipping another few handfuls of water and standing up again. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I've been looking for those girls, and I might have stayed back there longer than it was safe." Hard to know when her breathing has been nothing more than cosmetic until recently, but given that she was never able to find the sisters it's an easier call than it might have been. "And you? Are you looking for anybody else in the Arena right now? Or maybe you're already working with someone."

Phi keeps watch while Luna drinks, her eyes scanning the forest for any movement. She doesn't see or hear anyone else out there, but that doesn't give her any kind of comfort. Being sneaky isn't a difficult ability, and she knows that some of the other tributes are capable of it.

The gratitude that Luna voices has Phi looking back down at her again. "It's nothing," she responds, shrugging her shoulders a bit. The water was there for anyone to drink from. Suggesting that Luna have some wasn't any skin off of her back. It goes double as a response for her apology, too. It wasn't Luna's fault that she's so jumpy.

"I'm not working with anyone. I was looking for Mollusc, but..." She hasn't been able to find the District kid since she got into the arena. It had been a nice plan to ingratiate herself to the boy, but she had underestimated how difficult it would be to find him in this place. "I haven't seen him, either."

He's still alive, at least. That much she's grateful for. By nightfall, they should know if Luna's friends are alive or not, as well.

"Mollusc...that's the boy from District Four, isn't it?" Luna remembers the names and faces from the media coverage. It's how she found Maglev some time ago - but that thought just brings up a host of bittersweet memories and regrets. Mollusc is alive, at least. "If you haven't seen him and he's still alive, that's a good sign. It probably means he's been good at staying low-profile." It doesn't mean he's going to be safe forever, but Luna's choosing to be optimistic right now.

And then there's the two of them, here and now. Luna's still calming her nerves from the bombing, but she does recognize that they're very much in the middle of the Arena. She swallows, wincing again - that's going to take time to recover - and looks out at the rest of the forest. No sign of anyone as far as she can tell. She misses the security of easy camera access, but in lieu of a detectable threat she turns back to Phi. "It seems like you've been good at keeping safe as well. You look...fine." Any better is a bit much for their current setting, but it works.

What have you come here for;

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