Diary or the Dead

The third day of the games started with the same sunshine as the last two days. Dew found himself in bed with his hands still around Avery's waist. Loosening his grip to examine his wrists he discovered that the rope had left red marks through friction. Touching his neck the bruising there made itself noticeable as well. She was still asleep. Dew could feel the steady movement of her ribs under his fingers as he placed them back on her hot skin. His eyes found the white cloth wich was his bandana entangled with her horns. At the attempt of secretly removing it her upper wings twitched and she slightly opened her eyes.
"Good morning," Dew greeted while bringing the cloth into his possession. She muttered something which Dew assumed to be a reply. The blanket which was partially covering the two of them was taken by her while she sat up and then used to wrap herself in at waist height. Avery stretched her arms and wings and eyed him before commenting: "You look a little disheveled." "What on earth did you expect? I bet there are dents on my neck." "And spots. Do you want to cover them up or should I help you out?" she suggested. Dew lifted his arm and looked over the dotted surface which had gotten a lot worse since the last time he checked. "Bandages would be enough. You have those?" Avery nodded and got up, leaving the blanket behind, to seek out the chest.

Shortly after she held his arm in one hand while leading the bandage through his fingers, over his palm and to the next finger to then proceed to simply cover up his wrist and lower arm until the full length of the item was used up. The wrap was tight to reassure its lastingness but she went a lot gentler on Dew's neck. "You have two noticeable spots here." She poked the merling's head in an area close to the ear. He ruffled up his hair and put it over the spot. "Better?" "Wow," she exclaimed out of nowhere and buried her hand in the fluff. He blinked twice while staring at her confused about what she had discovered. Then he felt a short pulling and she held something before his nose between thumb and index. "What is it?" Dew demanded to be enlightened while squinting hard to make out what she was holding. "I guess we're matching now. You got some white hair again," Avery explained, "oh, and perhaps you should get your hair trimmed a little." "There's no need, this is fine," he quickly replied before she could think further.
"Speaking of it," the moment Dew heard her say it he felt guilt rushing over him like a wave, "where did you put my knife?" "I gave it back the same day, did I not?" he blatantly lied to her face. "I wouldn't have sought out the lake if I had had it." "Maybe later then? What I'm saying is: "If you don't have it neither do I." "Alright, I trust you with this. Maybe Sue could lend me a pair of scissors because I want my hair shorter for sure," Avery stated while brushing her long hair over her shoulder. "Why's that? I like it long and I thought you did, too!" Dew protested and softly brushed over it. "It's almost at my hips and impractical." Dew pulled a whiny face which made her giggle.

Dew reached next to the bed and picked up the pile of cloth to begin dressing himself. "What I wanted to ask you yesterday: Could you enjoy yourself?" he asked while pulling his shirt over his chest. "Uh... maybe? I don't really remember mu-" Avery was interrupted by a knocking. Dew quickly got himself presentable and got the door while being careful to block the view inside the room as always. Frederick immediately shouted at him as he saw his face: "Get your ass down to the kitchen, Shawn overslept as well!" "Sorry," Dew muttered without meaning it and slammed the door shut to get his shoes as well and brush his hair at least a little. "One more question before you leave." Dew turned towards Avery, the doorknob already in his hand. "How long do you usually stay in the room after delivering the food?" He frowned and guessed: "Maybe ten minutes?" "Shit," she cursed. "Why? What's wrong?" Avery sighed loudly and fell back into the pillow. "I guess we'll see each other at dinner."

"Did you get hurt? A sunburn or...?" were the first words spoken to him by Josephine. He tried to kindly smile at her, make up for his rudeness somehow, and agreed to the explanation: "Yes, that's it. I only covered my head and someone got me an ointment but it has to soak for a bit." Josephine nodded understandingly and luckily didn't continue asking about the bandage on his neck. "So, are you going to the tournament today as well?" he struck up a conversation in which she gladly joined into: "Yes! Patrick was doing so well yesterday. Did you know? He's an amazing duelist and almost made it to first place!" "How's he doing in today's category? What was it again?" "Archery! Oh, Patrick has a bullseye and barely ever misses even from one hundred meters away!" "Sure thing, sure thing," Frederick growled next to her, "and I bet he can also carry an ox with one hand." Josephine offendedly huffed: "Well your skills with the knife are none to talk about." "I can show you exactly what I can do! See that dot on the door over there?" Dew wasn't looking but heard Shawn's high shriek a second after, the man had been sent upstairs shortly before and must have barely escaped impalement by an overly confident cook. "In the name of Bota, Frederick! Keep the knife play to Dew!" "I don't trust him with my knife!" Frederick whined like a child being told not to eat the coal out of the oven. "Why don't you trust me with a knife?" Dew wanted to know and looked down to his chef. "Well... Let's say you're not the most present spirited person at times." "Are you?" Dew countered. The man went silent.