The Pits

[Farleigh]

The suddenness of it all made her stumble backwards, almost falling on her butt. She couldn't escape this...she had to choose. Korr was sitting there with a half smile, barely meeting eyes with Farleigh.

She looked behind her and hoped that someone could get her more time to think. After what seemed like forever, Farleigh couldn't believe Korr would wait that long. She couldn't leave him hanging like that. But it was too soon for her to say, she still needed to think...

"Korr," said Farleigh softly.

She walked over to him and his head shot up. "I wish I could decide, but..."

"What do you mean, decide?"

Farleigh's face was only an inch from Korr's and he was blushing wildly. She couldn't help but feel a hint of guilt. She gave him a quick kiss before saying, "I don't know who I love more. You... or Raiden."

With that, Farleigh stepped away Korr and walked out to the forest. She sat near the cave on a rock, staring down at the dirt.

I hope he doesn't hate me...

Azael

Azael led them at a leisurely pace to the spring. It did not do to rush around in the heat of the pits and it was even hotter down here, so close to the lava grounds.

"Is the water cold or hot?" Astoria asked. Azael led them across to a crevice in the rock where water fountained from the cave wall at shoulder height.

"Does it matter?" Azael asked though the questions was now redundant as both Astoria and Tadgh reached towards the water, letting it trickle through their fingers.

"It's cool!" Tadgh exclaimed in surprise. "I thought..."

"If the water were hot, it would not entice fools to drink," Azael stated simply. "Come... Tadgh. Let Astoria have the water first but remember, keep your mouth closed. A drop will do no harm but best not to be tempted."

Astoria-

Astoria stepped into the flowing line of water, letting it flow over her body. She scrubbed slowly at her clothes and skin, wiping away the sandy remains while relishing in the cool surge of water.

How could something so refreshing, so cleansing, be bad?

Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe Azeal was wrong. Had he ever tried to drink it? Probably not, he seemed too cautious about everything. He would rather die of thirst than of poison.

It was too soothing, too stimulating. She needed it. Slowly she turned from Azeal and Tadhg, who were busy talking about where to find food, and tilting her head down, she let water run smoothly down her throat.

[Farleigh]

Farleigh jumped off the rock and stood up straight. She was getting off task, her whole goal was to get out of there. With a quick glance back at the cave where she left Korr, she shook off the strange feelings in the pit of her stomach and slowly began to walk aimlessly into the forest.

She had passed the tree where Raiden was still sitting, not noticing he was there. A couple tears began to stream down her face. Farleigh kept her head down the whole time she walked. Finally when her legs couldn't take anymore walking, she stopped and sat under a few trees. A soft breeze passed by every so often. It was a calm quiet, where she sat.

The only sound was the wind passing through leaves... She soon fell asleep.

[Raiden]

Raiden watched in confusion as Korr and Farleigh neared a kiss, then one of them said something that made Farleigh run off and Korr crumple on the ground. When Farleigh passed his tree, crying, Raiden climbed out of the tree.

He looked over at Korr, who still hadn't quite gotten ahold of himself, and then followed Farleigh. He stopped every once in a while to look back at Korr, telling himself that it would be best to leave him alone although he didn't quite know why.

When he caught up with Farleigh, she was asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he climbed into the tree above her. He had a feeling that she had an idea of how to escape, and if she found it he was going to get everyone out of here.

He settled into the crook of a limb and waited for her to wake, scanning the surrounding landscape as he slept.

Azael

"This food and water you mentioned earlier, where do the guards hide it?" Tadgh asked as Azael led him a little way from the spring. Without turning, Azael pointed back, past the spring, towards a clump of rocks. As Tadgh's eyes followed, they grew wide with fear. Azael did not need to ask the reason. There was only one possible danger at Venom Lagoon.

Azael turned swiftly, covering the ground in two leaps. He pulled Astoria away from the water, pounding hard on her back so she coughed and spluttered, choking up great mouthfulls of liquid.

"How much did you drink?" Tadgh demanded, fear causing his voice to rise. He looked as though he wanted to shake the girl. Foolish girl, Azael thought, pressing her to her knees until the last drop of saliva had dripped to the floor. He appeared to be calm but his mind was calculating, wondering how much she could have swallowed. Astoria glared at him with her dark eyes and she pushed him away, standing and dusting the dirt from her trousers as if to show herself fine, as if to show Azael's fears false.

"See. The water's fine, you selfish idiot. There's enough here for all to drink and I bet you've known about it years!"

He watched her. As a vet might watch an injured leopard, knowing she was dangerous and yet yearning to help. When her pupils expanded and her body began to shake, Tadgh placed an arm around her shoulders to support her.

"I'm fine," she protested fiercely as Azael walked across to the clump of rocks and searched amongst them for water.

[Farleigh]

It was dark... Her mother was sitting right beside Farleigh with a worried look on her face. They were in a tight, cramped spot in a house. Noises came from a walls all around her. Shouting, screaming, silence. Part of one of the walls came down. Farleigh's mother hid her head in her hands, while Farleigh didn't know what was happening...

It was a just a blur, her mother left her side screaming. Another ominous, black blur grabbed hold of Farleigh's arm. There was no noise, her screams couldn't be heard, and then... everything went dark.

"No!" shouted Farleigh opening her eyes.

She set her head back down on the tree behind her, breathing deeply. Everything was back where it was, dried tears were still on her face, and... and there was a piece of bark on her head? Farleigh reached and took the piece of wood off.

There was a slight russling above her, Farleigh turned around and gasped. "Raiden!"

Tadhg-

"Come on," I said, supporting Astoria as she stumbled over to the rocks. "Just breathe. Gently. In, out, in..."

She shuddered fiercely and spluttered.

Azael was searching through the rocks behind us for water. "Do you have any?" he asked me.

I took the bottle I had found out, and poured the few drops there were down her throat.

"Come on Astoria," I said.

[Raiden]

"Sorry to startle you," Raiden apologized, climbing down, "Are you alright?"

She just nodded, "What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if you know a way out of here? It seemed like you did," he looked at his feet, feeling like an opportunist.

Name: Joyce

Age: 17

Gender: Female

Appearence: Dark brown bob with striking green eyes and slender figure (obviously, with food scarce)

History: Former criminal, convicted for multiple robberies of convienece stories with her deliquent boyfriend

*Sorry I was gone. 1st I was sick then I got MAss Effect. Now I am grounded alittle*

Allura-

She smiled. It was almost too easy- killing all those poeple, just to live another day. To take thier food, water, cothing and supplies.

Gentally she stroked the cheek of a dead child. It caused her to giggle and be happy.

"Oh well, Our time is up. I have to get moving before others come to steal my things." Allura whispered.

That's okay. Good to have you back, even if you are sort of grounded

Welcome, Sock.

Azael

On the outside, Azael appeared calm as he moved across the rocks, looking carefully behind each. He found a small package of food, wrapped in brown paper. Some guard's meal of bread, ham and cheese. A good find except that it would not wash the poison from Astoria's system. He put it in his pocket. There was no water.

"Azael!" Tadgh sounded panicked and Azael turned to see that he was completely supporting Astoria now.

"Come," Azael commanded, leading the way to one of the numerous exits of Venom Lagoon. "She needs water."

"She can hear you. And where do you expect to get water? It can not be traded for!" Astoria snapped, still trying to walk by herself but there was a fear enclosed behind her eyes.

"I have my ways." Tadgh frowned. "Connections," Azael corrected. "The First are not far from here."

"The First? I've heard of them," Tadgh mused, wishing that Azael would move quicker as he exited through a small wooden door. If anything, the man moved more slowly than earlier that way, his hand resting against the dagger at his belt. The scavengers and murderers of the pits would recognise weakness when they saw it adn Azael knew he would be their only line of defense.

*I'm confused, are your connections the First, or are we running from them? Sorry, I'm confused easily.*

Astoria stumbled and fell forwards as we passed the threshold of the door.

"Wow," I said. "Steady." I caught her under the knees and hoisted her up.

"You alright?" I asked.

"I'm fine," she snapped back.

"You're obviously not," I joked. "Why did you drink it?"

She shrugged and shut her eyes. I could see every hair on her head.

"So you know the Firsts then?" I asked Azael.

"You could say that. But stay close. They can get desperate at times. Once they know you're with me, you'll be fine. But otherwise, it's generally not somewhere you can talk yourself out of." [is that better?]

"I've talked myself out of a lot of places," I said quietly. Astoria coughed and her face settled again, though she was frowning slightly. She looked gorgeous.

Only you Tadhg, my conscience said. Only you could fall for a girl in this situation.

"Where next?" I asked Azael as he came to a halt where the path forked.

They're the connections -

He [Azael] spent his first two years in hope and high spirits, helping out those he found in the pits and gathering a group of survivors around him. Then the conflict started. News of the Meredian's increasing victory started to flood the pits and prisoners panicked and turned rogue. Many died and Azael could not take it. He failed to bring order and as such could not bring himself to stay, to lead the group. He fled. Six more years have passed and Azael exists alone. He still helps out those he finds but then, one night when he feels they are strong enough to live on their own, he leaves without a goodbye. Or if they are young or too weak, he finds them a place in his old group who are now calling themselves 'The First.'

Mind editing your post? Sorry for the confusion!

Oh no not at all. Sorry, probably should have read that