The Sterling Nightingale ⟷ Finnick Odair/OC

This upheaval

And here we are, finally. It's been a long time coming! The next chapter will put things between Finnick and Sil into perspective and introduce some action into the plot. And, if you guys are interested, we are about two thirds of the way through the story now. I kept writing even after the rebellion, so there is still a lot of ground to cover ;)

Chapter Forty Seven | This upheaval

"Pride had kept him from her, and woman-like, she meant to win back that conquest which had been hers before. Suddenly it seemed to her that the only happiness life could ever hold for her again would be in feeling that man's kiss once more upon her lips." Emma Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel

Sil scans the group before her. They look like they're down on their luck. Some are injured, and they all appear to be depressed and unhappy. She supposes that's a normal reaction to what they've just went through. The entire Capitol knows about their recent losses by now, thanks to the news broadcast that aired not so long ago.

"Sil?" Katniss croaks, her voice shuddering with shock. Their eyes clash, a mixture of surprise and hope. Sil quirks a small smile.

"You're still alive, I see. I was sent to check your status. I guess I don't have to send Coin any bad news today." She steps into the room carefully, and hesitantly looks over at Finnick's shocked figure by the wall. Their eyes meet but they don't say anything. He is too shell shocked to find the words, and she isn't about to push him for a heartfelt reunion that she doubts she deserves.

Jackson pushes forward to grasp her hand. "Nightingale," she greets, and her usual brash tone is sliced through with what sounds like relief. "I'm...glad to see you."

"The Sterling Nightingale," Gale speaks up, arms crossed over his chest as he studies her. Sil glances at him. Unlike Jackson, his tone is slightly more cynical, as if he finds her lacking in some way. She raises an eyebrow at him, unconcerned. She's quite used to people underestimating her. And besides, it isn't as if this is the first time they are meeting.

"The one and only," she responds, her voice just as cynical as his. She stares him down for a long minute before turning back to Katniss and saying, "I was in the area when I received orders to track you down. It seems that everyone thinks you're dead."

Katniss doesn't even blink. The news doesn't appear to concern her, and Sil tilts her head at her as she stuffs her hands into the pockets of her combat trousers.

"How did you find us?" Peeta's voice wonders, scratchy and sullen. She looks over at him with a frown. He, especially, looks worse for wear.

"...Caesar is a good anchorman. And there's the tracker in your Hollow," she responds, nodding at the device on Katniss's belt.

The girl looks down at it skeptically and narrows her eyes. "You traced us with the Hollow? How?"

Sil laughs at the question and crosses her arms. Her eyes burn with intelligence and knowledge and it makes them all stare. Of course they've known who she is – they've all known for a while now – but to see it so clearly in front of them is another matter entirely.

"Gracious, Katniss," Sil murmurs with a smirk. "As if I can't hack into a simple device to find a couple of coordinates." She pauses, then shrugs, "It doesn't matter now. I'll let Coin know that you're alive and then – "

"No," Katniss cuts in fiercely, taking Sil by surprise. She stares at the Girl on Fire with raised eyebrows, taking note of the fire blazing over her expression, and falls silent. Katniss shakes her head. "You can't tell anyone. With both sides assuming I'm dead, it gives us an advantage that I don't want to lose."