Arena One

"I've never had steak before. Unless you count horse meat." He gave me a look. "Hey, when Peacekeepers come and shoot your horse, you can't just let it sit there and waste. Dead horse equals meat. Can't be picky, you know?"

"Hey, i am not judging, ill make you a steak, you cook me some horsey stew and we call it even."

I smiled a little. "Sounds good. What I'm really good at is fudge though, which I've only made a couple of times. Chocolate is too expensive to get very often."

I chuckled, " I will bring you chocolate, if you make me fudge, my mom used to make it for me."

"I can do that. I mean you... you saved my life," I said quietly. "The least I can do is make you fudge."

"Hey you are my best friends girl, I gotta keep you safe, I shoulda tried harder with Aurora, I'll never forgive myself for that."

"You weren't the one holding her hand," I whispered. "I tried so hard not to let go... her hand slipped right out of mine. I promised her I wouldn't let go and I did. I will never forgive myself for that."

I made her look at me, "Don't do this, I made the call to cross. I will have to face that everyday, you were wounded, don't put that on yourself."

"We all agreed to cross," I said and looked away. "I can't help the way I feel Bastian. I blame myself and that's just the way it is. I have another reason to get home though. I have to go home and... apologize to her family. I have to tell them I'm sorry. It won't ever make up for anything, but I have to tell them."

"We will tell them together, deal?"

I nodded. "Okay. Deal." The food was done so we took it off the fire and sat eating in silence.

I heard it first, a small howl then snarling. "You have got to be fucking joking me." i said and pt my hand over her mouth when she went to speak and pointed down at the ground.

"Oh... oh no... not those," I whispered in horror and shrank back against the tree.

We watched as the slowly circled the tree and i watched in horror as it looked up and spotted us, a low snarl forming. "Oh shit, okay we need to kill this fucker and we only have one shot, gimme your bow, and be real still and quiet. He smells us, but cant see us yet."

I moved slowly and handed him my bow and arrow. "If you miss, I have a knife. we can throw it, maybe make it in the fucker's head," I whispered.

I shook my head, "I am not gonna miss. Now be still, I'll be right back." I said and carefully climbed lower, not making a sound. I draw back the bow and pulled, shooting it straight through the throat. It screamed out, then fell to the ground.

"Good shot. We should get moving, before more come. The smell of blood is going to draw them." As soon as I said that I heard another howl and snarls coming our way.

"Shit, we need to get out of here, i said as the blood stopped flowing and all got quiet, i dont like when its this quiet, lets go."

"You want to swing through the trees? Because I am not about to try to outrun those fuckers on the ground."

"Okay, do i look like a monkey?" i laughed. "No, thats cool. Caleb, Carter, and i used to do it, i got this, you?" i asked looking at her arm.

"I'll make it work. I'd rather injure my shoulder more than get torn to shreds and eaten."

I looked for the nearest tree and said" I am gonna go first, then you throw me the packs and come okay?"

I nodded. "I can do that," I said then looked around to make sure we had everything, and the packs were fully closed. "I'm ready. Go for it."

I swung across to the other tree and she threw me the pack and swung across right after. We did that til we were through the ruins and the dogs couldnt be heard anymore. "This is nuts." i said as we stopped to take a break. "Shh, listen...i think those are the others."

I rubbed my shoulder a little, it felt like it was on fire. I looked through the trees and over at the buildings. "Look, I see them," I said quietly, then looked down at the ground. "They killed some of the dogs... looks like two of them."