BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

22

Ember

Johanna eagerly gulps the water I fetched for her and stuffs herself full of shellfish.

I sit silently while Finnick fills everyone in on the fog and monkeys, expertly avoiding the part of Mags sacrifice.

The spiky haired woman raises a brow at me to which I shake my head at. Talk later.

When it's time to rest, I have to fight Finnick to go to sleep and allow me to take first watch.

"You've let me rest enough, Finnick," I say. "You need the sleep more than me."

The bags under his eyes do little to help his case. And he knows it.

He lowers himself onto a makeshift mat and says, "Wake me up in a few hours."

"Okay," I say, knowing it's better to not disagree with the stubborn man.

I'm not surprised when Katniss refuses to sleep and joins Johanna and I.

It's quiet at first. At least until everyone falls asleep.

Johanna glances over at Finnick before she turns back to Katniss and I. "How'd you lose Mags?"

I can't force myself to say the words aloud, and I think Katniss knows that, because she beats me to the punch.

"In the fog," she starts. "Finnick had Peeta. Ember and I had Mags for a while. Then we couldn't lift her. Finnick said he couldn't take them both. She kissed him and walked right into the poison."

My head falls, tears welling in my eyes. Hearing it from someone else made it all the more real.

"She was Finnick's mentor you know," Johanna fires back.

"No, I didn't," Katniss says.

A few minutes pass before she speaks up again.

"She was half their family," Johanna says, less venom behind her words. My chest tightens, knowing she's referring to me too.

But I remain silent, watching the water wash up onto the shore and back down again.

"So what were you doing with Nuts and Volts?" Katniss finally asks her.

Jo's eyes briefly catch mine before she replies, "I told you- I got them for you. Haymitch said if we were to be allies I had to bring them to you."

"That's what you told him, right?" I say reassuringly.

Johanna and I both know this isn't necessarily true.

Katniss' pause let's me know that she knows so too. But she doesn't press either of us anymore. Just says, "Thanks. I appreciate it."

"I hope so," Johanna snaps.

She gives Katniss her best glare before I intervene.

"Cut it out, Jo," I say.

She rolls her eyes, but is interrupted by a murmur.