Zeke Grenich

As Zeke took care of the second alligator another tried to get at me on my branch. I reached up and used the hand axe to secure another branch and in a moment of bravery I reached down towards the alligator and the thick branch held its mouth open. It was open long enough for me to shove the spear into the weaker skin of it's throat and watched it fall to the ground.

With two alligators left, and me running low on energy, I felt the key knock against my leg and formed a plan as I swung my axe towards the closest alligator. "Ave, get down to the cart!" I yelled, tackling the alligator at the foot of the tree, I punched it in the gut before standing above it and digging the axe into its skull. I helped Avery down out of the tree and then chucked her the key, "Get in, and get it running!"

I was having quite a nice dream when Zeke woke me up, I couldn't remember it but it had been nice, nicer than the sight before me was. When my eyes had adjusted and I could see properly I almost froze. Alligator mutts.

I quickly made sure Avery had got up the tree safely before stepping towards one of the alligators. I brought one of the axes up above my head, and got ready to strike when a body fell on to the floor next to me, from Avery's spear. I dug the axe into the head of that alligator instead, the axe got stuck in the head, and I kicked in deeper. One down, five to go.

I listened carefully as I waited for Zeke to come back, I couldn’t hear anything unusual, just some animals in the tree above me. I picked up the spear that had been left on ground in case I needed to defend myself but hopefully he’d be back by then.

After what seemed like hours of waiting, a squirrel finally began scuttling along the branches towards me. I thought I was finally going to be able to go back to Avery with some food, when the little fucker spotted me. It hopped down a branch, ran underneath me, and then up into its home.

I smiled as he kissed my cheek again and watched him carefully as he headed off, it wasn’t pleasant to be without him, I could manage but it wasn’t pleasant. I checked on my leg again, the bleeding had definitely stopped but it was still painful, at least I wouldn’t be in pain too much longer.

Moving into the patch of trees, I noticed animals scurrying around in the treetops. Way out of reach, but they were there; squirrels. I found a large tree, easily climbable, and remembered what Cliff had told me. Look before you act. Within no time, I was up the trunk of the tree, and had perched on the top of a large branch jutting out from the top.

I smiled a little at him when he came back, it may have only been a hand axe but at least it wasn’t a mutt. I frowned a little when he mentioned the water, it was probably very unclean but if we needed a drink it was our only option, that was unfortunate.

I could see in her face she wasn't happy about drinking the water I had found, but we would jump that hurdle when we got to it. I stood up, holding an axe in each hand and turned around to set off hunting.

I walked back over to Avery, and dropped the axe on to the grass beside her. "Got another axe, from that sand pit over there, but that's it. I think I'm gonna have to go hunting for food.." I remembered seeing a water source near the sand pit, and mentioned that to her.

I chuckle at how idiotic I must have looked just uncovering a hand axe, so I pick it up then begin walking back towards Avery, so we can formulate a plan to get any food.

Pardon the interruption… Zeke, while you’re fallen ally is indisposed and resting you are faced with several choices. You seem to have hit the jackpot with Avery’s golfcart which will aid your journey through the arena, especially with Avery’s injury, but it seems like you’ve also hit the jackpot in the direction you set.

After giving Avery the key for the cart in case she needed a quick getaway, I grabbed both of the axes and headed towards the green of the hole we were at. Upon closer inspection of the green, I saw a large yellow pipe, god knows how I missed it earlier. Walking towards the pipe, I leaned my head in. It was silent, and there was no wind movement in it whatsoever. I picked up a pebble from in the nearby rough, and threw it back into the pipe. There was a clatter of the pebble as it hit the pipe wall, and bounced in, but after that. Nothing. Not another bounce, as if it had just disappeared.

As soon as he kissed me I knew what his plan was. When the axe was removed from my leg I bit down on my lip instinctively, also catching his with my teeth. I was swearing a lot in my head and even when I felt tears forming I blinked them away.

I watched as she leaned back against the tree, and even with my bloody lip, I couldn't help but smile. She had done it. I would have never been able to do that, even with years of training. That takes some guts.

I took a deep breath and tied the tourniquet quickly, it was definitely secure enough, I smiled a little and looked up at Zeke. Now was the difficult bit. I took his hand gently and wrapped it around the handle of the axe. He needed to pull it out.

The part I was dreading finally came. I would have to get the axe out of her leg, causing as little pain as possible. I checked the tourniquet was tight enough, and than squeezed my fingers around the handle of the axe.

I laughed breathlessly and nodded a little, looking over everything that had been in the parachute, it was a very generous parachute to be given. I looked back at the axe in my knee and whimpered a little, it hurt more to look at it, when you can’t see something the pain doesn’t feel real.

I quickly grabbed the tourniquet, and passed it to Ave. "Okay. Now, I grab this end, right?" I asked, I could see her squint as she looked at the wound, and pulled her chin up so her eyes met mine. "Look at me, not that. Look at me."

I could see all the new, pretty colours, but I wasn’t able to take it all in due to there being an axe in my knee. As Zeke ran I whimpered and clung to him, the pain was unbearable, I refused to cry though.

My hands cupped her face, and I looked her in the eyes. "Avery, breathe. With me." I held her hands, and breathed out slowly, then inhaled again, slower. Exhale slow, inhale slower. "Ave. Look me in the eyes. You'll be okay, you'll be okay."