A Tale of a Boy and His Flower

No one is ever safe

"Must we wear cow outfits?" I asked Cal as he decorated my body. 

"Your district is livestock." He said, "Unless you want me to turn you into chopped lamb. You're wearing the cow outfits." I groaned. 

"Chopped lamb is sounding really good right now." I said as he placed small cow horns on my head with a head band. 

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a black and white cow print dress with white tiny horns. 

"Absolutely not." I said, "I looked better when I was twelve." Zach came out. He was the same maybe horns and cow print suite. I nearly laughed out loud as I watched him struggle to put the horns on. 

I knew most victors weren't happy about the games. Many were trying their hardest to get it cancelled. Especially the newest victors. Katniss and Peeta. Haymitch was currently trying to get them caught up on victors, and status. Something that took years for me, but they had hours to learn.

*** 

"Cashmere and Gloss, District 1. Brother and sister who won back-to-back games. Capital favorites with lots of sponsors. The other half of the Career pack is Brutus and Enobaria." Haymitch said trying to bring Katniss and Peeta up to speed. 

"What's with her teeth?" Katniss asked. A clip showed Enobaria flashing her teeth out to the crowd. 

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out." Peeta looked in half amazament. 

"She's committed I'll give her that." 

"Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters but brilliant. Real tech savvy." He pointed to the man. "Won his games by electrocuting six tributes at once." The screen changed to two different tributes with sunken faces. 

"The morphlings. Masters of camouflage." he said. "Basically won their games by hiding until everyone else was dead. They medicate themselves to try and move on. Not a threat." 

The screen changed to another man. Katniss recognized him. How could she not? His features were widely known everywhere. 

"Finnick Odair right?" She asked. Haymitch nodded. 

"Yes. Won his games at 14 youngest male victor ever, and second youngest over all." He said. "Extremely humble."

"You're kidding." Katniss scoffed. Haymitch smiled. 

 "Capital darling. Very popular, and very skilled, especially in water." 

"What about weakness?" Peeta asked. 

"Two." Haymitch said. "Mags. She volunteered for Annie Cresta. Mags was his mentor and practically raised him. If he tries and protects her in any way, he will be exposed." 

"What about the second?" Katnissed asked. Haymitch smirked and switched the screen to a girl. 

"Amaryllis GreenShire." Haymitch said. "Won her games at 12, youngest ever. Volunteered for her twin and unexpectedly won. She is ruthless and lethal. If she's an ally she will die for you but if not..prepare for a painful death." 

"She couldn't have killed that many." Katniss said, "She's almost a foot shorter than me and if she won at 12 she must have been very tiny." 

"On the contrary she killed 11 tributes including all 6 Careers." Katniss gaped and Peeta whistled. 

"How is she a weakness then?" Peeta asked very confused. Haymitch gave them both a look. 

"I think you'll soon realize not all love stories are televised." He mumbled. They barely seemed to hear him and before they could ask, he continued.