A boy shoved another child to the ground. His face slammed hard against the freezing floor, the skin already beginning to frost over with icebite.
"MOVE! I WILL BE THE ONE! I'M NOT DYING LIKE THE OTHERS!"
A girl elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"OUT OF MY WAY! I'M THE ONE WHO WILL SURVIVE! I AM THE DRAGONBORN OF THE THOUSAND!"
Another child scrambled on his knees, his hands shaking as he grabbed the girl's hair and pulled with all his strength, making her scream as blood seeped from her scalp.
"YOU B*TCH! YOU WON'T TAKE A SINGLE SIP! THAT BLOOD IS MINE!"
They rolled across the stone, clawing at each other like animals—punching, biting, even killing one another just to claim the first sip. Another child stretched both hands upward, tears streaming down his broken nose and shattered teeth.
"I CAN DO IT! I WON'T BURN! I WON'T! PLEASE… LET ME DRINK—"
Behind him, someone laughed wildly as he slammed a rock on his head and ran.
"Yes! YES! THIS TIME IT'S ME! I DON'T CARE WHO DIES!"
