Arena One

"It could work, we gotta watch Allen and Reese though, smart fuckers those two."

"Well we're not going to find them tonight. We need to find somewhere to sleep. I'd feel better if we were sleeping up in the trees, harder for someone to sneak up on us. And one of us should stay awake at all times. We can take shifts."

"I will stay awake first, you two both need to heal, no arguments there lil bit." i said to an almost ready to argue Aurora. We found a tree with wide, thinck branches and i helped them both up. "You two bundle together, stay warm and all okay"

I nodded and we dug around in our packs, finding two blankets. I handed one to Bastian and pulled the other over me and Aurora. "Wake one of us up in a bit okay?"

"we'll see, now you two get some sleep, im right here." i said and listened to them talk a bit before it got quiet. I sat and thought of Lea, missing her like crazy, and my sister too. I sat watch all night, letting the girls sleep, knowing i wouldn't sleep anyways.

I drifted in and out of sleep, half-waking to the sounds of the night, then falling back into my dreams, filled with Caleb and the times we'd spent together. In my waking moments I hoped and prayed I would make it home to him again. In my dreams I was back in his arms and he was promising to never let me go again...

I tossed and turned all night, I couldn't possibly rest here in this place. I kept thinking of my family and Quin, I missed them so much. I grinned a little, thinking about the spats Quin and I had, had. When I thought about the times we held each other it was everything I could do not to cry.

I woke in the morning, not really feeling rested at all, and heard noises above us. I looked up and saw some kind of animal hidden in the trees, but couldn't make it out. I nudged Aurora and Bastian and pulled out my bow and arrow. "Here, one of you, look," I said, pointing upwards. "Breakfast."

She hit it perfect and i grabbed it as it fell. "Good shot Ezra, ill get this cleaned up and yall let me know when you are ready to come down."

I nodded, rubbing my shoulder, it felt like fire was spreading through it. "Think I did this too soon," I said, handing the bow and arrow to Aurora. "I'm ready whenever."

We got down and i unwrapped the wound and looked at it. "Damn, its starting to tear. NO more bow and arrow there robin hood okay?" i said and handed her a stick. "Bite down, i gotta restitch this." i said and cleaned the wound. while aurora skinned the animal.

"You have to rest it, I'll shoot from now on until you're feeling better. Doctor's orders." I winked.

"Thats right listen to Dr. Miller, i think thats your new name, Doc. Yeah that fits." i laughed and we got the food ready.

I smiled a little. "I just didn't want it to get away. I'll be good from now on. Until it heals anyway, then I can go back to shooting."

"Just give it a few days, until then I have your back."

I smiled. "Thanks, I know you both do. I'm glad I'm not out here alone, I'd be in real trouble now if I was."

"I wasn't planning on letting you go at it alone, Bastian either." as soon as I said that the temp rose and it was immediately suffocating hot "Oh..fuck." I gasped out as I broke a sweat "These suits have to go." I said and we both agreed as we stripped down to out bras, panties, and boots. I put out suits in the packs.

"This is fucking ridiculous, we need to get to a water source and now, or we're going to get dehydrated."

"Yep, and fast. Come on, we gotta hurry or we'll dehydrate."

We grabbed our packs and set out. We walked a little ways and came upon a riverbed. It was dry to the bone. "Fuck, what now?" Just as I said that I heard a beeping and looked up. Three little parachutes floated down, a canteen of water tied to each. "Well thank you Asher," I said, opening one and taking a drink.

I took a drink and savored it in my mouth for a bit "He's a life saver."

"Yeah he is. So is whoever sponsored me with five grand. I hope I find out who it was, I really owe them big."

"I guess I owe whoever it is too." I said taking another drink.

"Well whoever it is, they've taken care of all of us, and saved my life twice now."

I looked around, sweat pouring into my eyes and burning them "This. Is. Such. Bullshit."