Some recent commissions for my D&D buddies~

"Priya, I'm so sorry. I just... I didn't want to be with you just for the baby."

"Feast." She said weakly. Her mind automatically jumped to the medicine she so desperately needed at this point. It was life or death. All she needed was one little vile of medicine...  "Asher, are you awake?" With her good arm, Zalia reached forward and shook his arm lightly. If Asher would help Zalia to the cornucopia, she could run, inject herself, and run. Of course she could! Capitol medicine would heal her instantly. She'd be perfect again!

After experimenting with a few more instruments, it was clear that Zalia's energy was wearing out. Asher playfully held the flute just out of her reach but it was clearly unnecessary after a few more minutes anyway. While she slept, he kept watch and surveyed their remaining supplies. The food and water would get them though another day or so but the real issue was medicine. The container hadn't been full when he took it from Az and after using it for Zalia and himself, they were almost out. Without any signs of a sponsor gift, Zalia would have to rely on her own strength. Asher wasn't terribly optimistic but he had no other choice. Staring almost longingly out the store window, he had to admit that he missed the game this used to be. They were really just hiding now. He was actually contemplating leaving Zalia's side just long enough to hunt down and kill one more person when he heard the cannon. Someone was dead. His heart skipped a beat. The sound seemed louder and closer than ever. It hurt him more than Zalia's trumpet had. His eyes locked on her still form and he rushed to her side. "Zalia!" He shouted, shaking her and forgoing gentleness for urgency. It wasn't until her eyes opened that he even registered her warmth and the rush or relief that passed though him.

Zalia was gasping for air as her feet stomped on the ground pulling her further down the wide hallway of the first floor. Her adrenaline was pumping hard through the course of her veins which caused the wound in her left arm to bleed even heavier. She didn't mind though, because all she could feel was the pure anger and her vehement toward Asher. He went after Az without  talking to her first, and alone of all things. Did he want out of their alliance? Was he done using her? Shaking her head, she finally saw him standing over Az's corpse, dagger in hand, and breathing heavier than Zalia was herself. She narrowed her eyes just as they made eye contact. "Is there something you need to tell me?" She called across the space that separated them. Her adrenaline was fading, and a growing and aching pain began in her left elbow, right knee, and on her left arm. She looked down at her elbow to see a bright pink and purple streaked bruise forming where Zayne got a good hit on her. Her head was spinning from the pain, but she tried her best to ignore it. She leaned on her left leg to reduce the pain in her knee, but it was no better. Sniffing, Zalia whiped her nose with the back of her hand only to find a trace of crimson blood streaked across it. She shrugged and wiped the blood off on her pant-leg. She took slower breaths to keep from fainting. 

After her mild success in using the keys and monitors to spy on and attack the girl from 12, Zalia had been reluctant to sleep. Asher was annoyed with her but, more than that, he was bored. His patience was at an all time low while his instincts demanded action and the more twisted parts of his mind begged for another kill. When Zalia finally took a break from her spywork to get a few hours of sleep, Asher sighed with both relief and exasperation. Why were they even still in this room? He told himself that he didn't care what Zalia did- it was a lie but it was also beside the point. Asher had scored as well as the most popular Career and better than the rest of them. He was one of the best tributes here and he'd always been one of the animals. It was time to remind himself of that- and prove it to the audience at home. Debating his course of action for a few minutes, Asher looked back and forth between Zalia and her damn monitors. The girl from 12 had managed to escape the ants they sent. Neither of them were happy about it, but Asher had promised to make sure the girl died later... maybe sooner rather than later, but still. It took him a few second's concentration to find the girl again. She'd left the candy store and now sat crouched against a wall in the hallway outside it. This wouldn't be a challenge. It wasn't even worth waiting for Zalia to wake up and come with him. He could have this one kill and then everything would be okay again. That settled, Asher picked up his trusty knife and pocketed a small water bottle. He wouldn't need anything else and he'd come right back anyway. Sneaking down to the first floor wasn't easy. When he heard some shouting close to the second floor Cornucopia, he was tempted to get involved but he quickly decided against it. If the Careers were turning on each other this early in the Game, he could stand to sit this one out and just look forward to facing whichever of them survived that fight. Silently making his way down the broken escalator, Asher compared the layout he could see with what he remembered from the monitors upstairs. Sure enough, there was the candy store and a little farther away, the hallway outside it led to several more stores... but where was the girl? Asher didn't see her at first but he smirked almost-resentfully when he did. Azalea Highnet had moved from her spot against the wall and had conveniently found a large potted plant to hide behind. Tempted as he was to make a sort of game out of this pursuit, Asher was in a hurry. Not bothering to announce himself, he maintained his signature smirk and walked right up to the girl, waiting to see some flash of fear or recognition on her face.

Sighing, she moved her hand across the keyboard, accidentally hitting a key. A subtle beep sounded and all the screens seemed to melt together. A long code quickly typed across the screen, and they screens separated once more. The lights in the tribute's room rose from a dim light, to a harsh and burning bright white light. Now, Zalia could see the girl's face. "Asher." She stood and sent the rolling office chair back from her with such force, it crashed into the desk behind them. "Asher! You need to see this." Pointing at the screen, she jumped up and down. "It's the girl from twelve! It's the girl from twelve." A malicious grin was perched on her lips as she pulled the chair back to her and began furiously typing away once more.