'I don't wanna die, I sometimes wish i'd never been born at all' -Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
He's the Capitol's Golden boy, she's the famous child of a Victor...
-Finnick Odair X female oc
-pre Hunger Games -> Mockingjay part 2
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Lyra and Dylan made sure to train according to the advice given by their mentors: Mags and Finnick.
Dylan had been advised to show his strength, his persona being confident and determined, to intimidate the other tributes alongside his muscular build. He decided upon a spear during training and turned out to be rather good. With help from the instructor at the table and advice from Finnick, he quickly improved his aim and he already had the strength behind the throw from hauling bags upon bags of fish around.
Lyra had been advised to show her strength in the stations but also to miss here and there to throw the other tributes off. She'd already have a large target on her back being a Victor's child so it was important for her to try get the Careers off her back a little. Her Capitol persona would be sarcastic and confident in herself so she had to refrain from helping a young fellow tribute, Sage.
Sage was the twelve year old female tribute of district 12 this year. She's small and skinny, most likely from malnourishment, and has long dark brown hair always tied back into two long plaits down her back to keep the long strands out of her grey eyes. Her natural olive skin seemed much paler compared to her district partner.
Lyra was relaxing at the knot tying station on the third day of training; she'd already tried all the stations she wished to during the previous two days. She had spent most of her time with weaponry rather than survival skills as she already had as much knowledge about those things (such as fires, edible/inedible plants, hunting, etc) as she could possibly retain as a result of her parents teaching her and her siblings about them in preparation.
As her fingers tied an intricate knot into the rope in her hands as if it was second nature, she noticed a small shadow on the table hinting to her that someone was standing behind her.
"Yes?" Lyra turned with a blank expression until she saw it was Sage Fern. The realisation caused her expression to soften, but only slightly.
"Can I?" the small girl pointed to the seat on the opposite side of her. Lyra shrugged.
The girl took this as a yes and sat across from the seventeen year old, her eyes shining with glee.
The smaller child picked up a rope and looked at the instructions before her. After a few seconds her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
Lyra inwardly cursed herself for letting the child sit as she couldn't resist helping the innocent twelve year old, it was in her nature as a sister.
The redhead passed over another sheet, "here, this one's for beginners. It's easier, but still helpful."
Lyra helped Sage tie the first knot before letting the girl repeat it. Once she finished the knot, a large grin found place on her lips and, for a split second, Lyra saw Cole.
She saw the grinning face of her innocent seven year old brother. A small, bittersweet smile formed on the redheads lips as she looked at the younger girl and told her 'well done' before leaving to throw some tridents. She needed a distraction to keep the image of Cole in the training centre out of her head. It was inevitable, right? No matter what, he would eventually find his way into the arena. Into the Games. Her nineteen year old brother had been lucky to escape them but would Cole be able to? Most likely not.
She threw around a few tridents, testing their weights. She was extremely efficient with them all but eventually found the perfect one. It was perfectly proportioned in her hand, the weight balanced making it feel natural in her grip. A small crowd gathered as they watched her throw one after another at the row of dummies. Some she purposely aimed lower than her intended bullseye target, but most she hit with accuracy. She would already have an enormous target on her back no matter what she does so she might as well scare the others off a little.
—
At lunch, the tributes sat with their allies. This meant that, for a few, some people sat alone. The Careers, of course, all sat together glaring down the tributes as they passed by as an intimidation tactic.
Lyra Holland sat with her tribute partner and ally, Dylan, whilst they ate the chicken alfredo and salad provided by the Avoxes. Lyra sat opposite Dylan. She was looking at her partner whilst he told her about training and the small crowd of tributes that (unknowingly, to Lyra, as she'd been too focussed to notice) had gathered to watch her training performance. Whilst listening to him talk, she saw a small figure walking in. It was Sage holding the hand of Miles Crown.
Miles was eighteen and tall with a muscular build. Lyra had seen him around in the training centre. Usually, he could either be found with his sword, his weapon of choice, or wondering with his distinct partner almost like a bodyguard. He had the same grey eyes but slightly more toned olive skin, he also shared the dark hair of District 12.
Sage practically skipped into the food hall, dragging Miles (who had a soft grin on his face) along with her. If it wasn't for their last names, Lyra would've wondered if the two were siblings by their close behaviour.
Sage seemed to notice Lyra and smiled at the older girl before dragging Miles in their direction, a look of suspicion crossed his eyes but he obliged her command nonetheless.
"May we sit?" she asked politely.
"Sure," Lyra replies after looking at Dylan to check he was okay with it, to which he had shrugged with a small nod seeing no problem with it.
Dylan shuffled around the table to sit beside Lyra so the district 12 tributes could sit opposite them.
"You're not with them?" Miles nodded his head backwards, in the direction of the Career pack who were, rather loudly, laughing at something. Most likely discussing who is weak out of the rest of the group.
"No, definitely not," it was Dylan who had replied to him.
"Why?" The district twelve boy seemed to speak in short sentences, projecting his obvious hesitation and mistrust.
This time, Lyra speaks up. "We don't agree with their beliefs, about the games." Miles raises a brow with a tilt of his head, telling her to continue. "My mother always told me and my siblings there's no pride in causing death of others but rather gratitude to have avoided it, and there is no joy in volunteering for honour but in returning home safely to your family," she recited the words her mother used to tell them the night before every reaping. "I believe that."
Miles nods, seemingly accepting her explanation. "This little one told me you taught her some knots."
He nudged Sage with his shoulder gently, as if she would fall over if he applied too much pressure to the action. Said girl beams, "thanks for that."
"You're very welcome, thank you for the company," Lyra smiled softly.
Though nobody said anything of the matter in allies, there was a mutual understanding that they were safe from each other.
