A Leaf in the Breeze;; [Alicia]

[Lily-Faith]

I woke, tense and alarmed. Although, the reason as to why this was the case, I was unsure of. Maybe it was the fact I was asleep up against the side of my house, and not inside, snuggled up in my cozy bed. Blinking rapidly, I stood, stretching out my arms and legs. A yawn emitted from my mouth, and I looked around through blurry eyes at everything around me. It was quite cold, and although in the dark, I could clearly see my breath in front of me in plumes of white air. Sure, I was wrapped tightly in a blanket, wore jeans and a sweater, but the stinging cold air still managed to seep through my clothes and chill my skin. I needed badly to break my habit of falling asleep outside; especially in the winter months, when dirty, fluffy snow covered all of Panem.

It was quite early in the morning, most likely two or three. If I was caught out here, I'd end up in some serious trouble. It wasn't like I would deserve it, though, considering I was only sleeping. With a light sigh, I trudged around the house, not particularly caring how much noise I was making at the moment. Screw the damn Peacekeepers. They had no purpose, anyways. But, to be honest, the amount of noise made was very little. The snow crunched under-foot, and the blanket that covered me was dragging behind. I had awoken to a new layer of freshly-fallen snow, which I happened to be covered in. When I slipped into the house, I realized I was shaking, and quickly took the blanket off of me, tossing it to the side.

I had small flakes of snow in my hair and on my eye-lashes, as well as pale skin and a pair of red cheeks and nose. I needed urgently to change into some warm clothes, without waking anyone in the house. If I were to do that, though, I'd first need to stop my teeth from chattering. Walking stiffly into Alicia's bedroom, I hurried over to the closet, and selected a few sweaters, a pair of jeans, and several pairs of socks to change into. Quietly, I undressed, pulling on the warm clothes with haste. There was a definite sense of warmth now, and a relieved smile graced my cool lips. Leaving my damp clothes on the floor, I grabbed the blanket from the old, wooden chair in the corner of the Avoxes' bedroom, and wound the comfortable cloth around my trembling body. Then, with one fluid motion, I sat down, breathing deeply in and out.

OOC: Not my best, but better than what I've been writing.

[aliciamusa]

When I heard my sister enter my room my eyes opened. I did not move but I did close my eyes when she sat down on my bed. I finally got up and wrote down Why are you up so late? Anything happen? Whats wrong? Oh I have to talk to you too but answer my first questions first please. Then I handed it to her.

((my posts are always so small >.<))

[Lily-Faith]

My chances of not waking Alicia up were slim to none, but the girl had a knack for waking up early, anyways. Not this early, but early all the same. Her bed was particularly creaky, and the fact that I had just sat down on it wrapped in a blanket and dressed in several layers of clothes was not helping. Only moments had passed before the blue-haired avox had sat up and began writing. What I couldn't quite grasp the concept of was how she managed to write it the dark, and not mess up. The paper she slipped into my hand held large words printed clearly. I squinched my eyes, trying to see through the dark, and read the yellow-ish paper quickly.

Thoughts reeled through my mind at her questions, because, in fact, I had no way of answering them. After re-reading the questions several times, I set it down to the side, and stood. My attention was directed to the vanity across from the girl's bed, and I made my way over to it. When I returned, I held a lit candle and a box of matches, which I then set on the small table next to the head of the bed. "To be honest, nothing. I think I'm just letting the upcoming reaping get to me. Since Kyla and Lucy are both able to be reaped this year. Other than that, I don't really think anything. I just need to break my habit of falling asleep outside," I said to her, remembering the last thing she had said. Or, written.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" I asked, not sure if I should be worried about where this conversation was going to go. I hoped that if we were to have a long conversation, the hours would fly by. If we weren't I would probably just fall asleep, and I didn't want that, since I was already awake. But tired, nonetheless. If I stayed up the rest of the day, then I would be tired by the end of it, and get some good rest for the first time in a while. "Is everything...alright?"

OOC: It's alright. I'd just make sure you're reaching the word count of 75 words...

[aliciamusa]

I took the paper back and began to write, Even though it was hard I had training on it. Me and my brother both did. Alex, I know where he is. I got a letter from the house he was at, I shoke my head and started to write again I just wanted to tell you I might go searching for my brother. I got a letter from him, in his new house. I want to go looking for him. I handed her the paper and waited for her to yell at me, well yell the best she could.

[Lily-Faith]

Scribbling down something once more, I waited for her to finish, and gently took the paper from her when she had. I just wanted to tell you I might go searching for my brother. I got a letter from him, in his new house. I want to go looking for him. So she was leaving? "How'd you get a letter from him? He knows where you are?" I asked, my voice soft. I didn't want her to leave, as she had only been here for a couple of months. My the look on her face, I could tell she was expecting me to start screaming at her. I would, but I completely understand where she's coming from. And I'd probably be too tired to do it anyway.

"I want to help. I want to help you find your brother, and make sure you two are safe."

OOC: Is this a short post? Yes, very. Blah.

[aliciamusa]

I took the paper back in shock. She wants to go with me. Does she even know that she might not come back. It's a long walk that we have to take. I sigh and wrote, You might not make it back. Are you sure you want to come? Then I handed the paper back to her.

[Lily-Faith]

I knew I might not come back. But what if I did? Taking the paper from her once more, I read it, and handed it back to her. "I know. I want to, 'cause I don't want anything to happen to you. When would you be leaving, anyways?" I asked her, hopping off the bed. This certainly was turning out to be something different than I had originally expected. Pacing the room, I let out a sigh, pondering over it all. Each scenario entered my mind, some good, some dreadful. I was beginning to get jumpy over this.

"I want to go with you. Am I sure about it..?" After a pause, I answered, "..No..."

[aliciamusa]

I took the paper back. I was a little hesitate to write her what I wanted to say. I wanted to say that she shouldn't come with me. Or she might die if she did. I looked at her and tried to smile. My mind back to when my dad got picked for the reaping. Him and my mom had me when they were really young.

My dad looked me in the eyes and told me to remember the fighter song. then he started to sing it. "half population is just waiting to see me fail. Yea right they are better off trying to freeze hell." He smiled at me while he was looking into my eyes. he poked me and started again, "This ones a fighter."

Then I remember being pulled away from him. Then I shake my head and find myself next to my sister. I think about her, what would I do if I lost her to the reaping. I write down, "If your sure you want to come with me then pack. I want to leave before the reaping." and hand it to her.

[Lily-Faith]

But I wasn't sure. I just flat-out wasn't. I wanted to help her and make sure she was safe, along with her brother, but before the reaping..? If my name was called and I wasn't there, I'd have a bounty on my head before anyone could say 'strawberries.' That fact frightened me. I could become like Alicia, or even worse: killed. Or they could do something to my family...Those thoughts were taking over my mind, not letting me think straight. I was spiraling away from reality; away from sanity. To stop myself from thinking of anything worse--by this point, I'd begun shaking uncontrollably--I literally slapped myself. Repeatedly. I was about to slap myself several times more until I looked over at the nineteen-year-old who sat on the bed, my cheeks stinging from the impact of my hand on my skin.

"Alicia, you've got to understand, I will end up dying if I go with you before the reaping. You have to stay until the reaping ends. If I'm chosen, then you can go without any hesitance. But please...If I go with you and I just happen to be picked..." I said through gritted teeth, my voice gradually getting softer and softer.

[aliciamusa]

She thinks her name will get called if she's not there. HA am I the only one who remembers getting my finger pricked. I take my paper and write "You won't get picked if your not there. They have to prick your fingure before they put your name in the bowl."

[Lily-Faith]

I once more took the paper from the girl, reading it over quickly. I then tore it up into little shreds, tossing them in the air afterwards. "Yes, but my name should be entered in forty-seven times. I think they might notice the small amount missing from the bowl. And if I'm not there, they'll still take notice to that. Everyone eligible to go into the Games is required to be there," I told her, my eyes focused on the somewhat dirty floor. "I really do want to go with you, but that would come at such a costly price. What if they got ahold of my family..?" These things needed to sink into her mind before I even re-considered it. "And I would worry about them, and miss 'em..." There were many outcomes to this, and the majority of them were overwhelming. I glanced out the window at the other side of the room, and just let myself zone out, thinking about the sky and clouds, stars, moon, and nature in general.

[aliciamusa]

I get a new piece of paper and think before I write. What would I do if she got chosen for the reaping. What would I do? Would I even go and look for my brother, or would I stay here and cry? I think about it and write down, "Look my parents had me when they were really young. I had to watch my dad go into the games, and not come back. I don't know what I would do if you got picked. I don't know what I would do. I don't want to lose my other family member. You guys are like a family to me and I don't want to lose another member of my big family."

[Lily-Faith]

Reading the paper again, I sighed, and handed it back to her weakly. "Well you never told me that. If you really have to go before the Games, then I'm not stopping you. I just..." I paused, and inhaled deeply. "I just wish you could stay. I'd worry about you. I worry about you whenever you leave my sight for two minutes, because you stick out from the crowd so much. If I did go with you, and Kyla or Lucy was reaped, I'd go insane, because I wouldn't be there to protect them."

OOC: Sorry it took me so long to reply, but I got busy and stuff...

[aliciamusa]

I think about going by myself. Seeing as my sister won't go with me. I sigh and just put away the pad of paper and the pencil. I crawl back under the covers and pretand to be asleep. Maybe that will get her out of my room. Than again maybe it wont. I hate doing this. Only I need to find my brother. Maybe if I find him me and him can go to District 13 together. I would love to do that.

[Lily-Faith]

After a few seconds, everything went dead silent, and Alicia lay still in her bed. Letting out a sigh of my own, I slid off of the bed, and sat on the floor, fiddling with my hair. The chances of my younger siblings getting reaped was very slim, but not impossible. After all, they only have their names entered in once each. Pulling my legs up to my chest, I rested my head on my knees, rocking slowly back and forth. I wanted to help Alicia and her brother desperately, but I also had a duty to protect my brothers and sisters. If everything went right in the quest to help Alicia find her brother, I would be able to slip back into the district without much of a problem, and I wouldn't be gone for long. "Alicia? I...I promise to help you find your brother. But only if you promise to wait until after the reaping for us to leave." There was this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, but for some reason, I didn't think it had anything to do with me or my family.

OOC: If there's anyway you could have her agree to that, I'd love you forever. <3