Chapter 1: Welcome Home Lucy Gray

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If Crow Calamine Baird was being honest, they had never expected to see their sister, Lucy Gray, ever again. When her name had been called in the reaping they had tearfully said their goodbyes, and done their best to provide for the Covey in her absence. But despite everything, there she was, beautiful as ever, fresh off the train.
"Crow Calamine! Oh Crow, I missed you so much!" Lucy threw her arms around Crow, coming dangerously close to knocking them over. Nearly numb from shock, Crow had just enough strength to wrap their arms around the taller brunette and hold her tight.
"Lucy. I thought you were gonna die in there. I thought I'd never get to see you again." Crow sniffled, a few tears leaking from their eyes as reality set in.
"I thought I was done for too. But my mentor saved me. Without him I wouldn't be standing here in front of you. I'd be as dead as the rest of them. Well. Without him, and without my voice of course. My singing charmed the snakes." Lucy's tone was cheerful but beneath it there was an air of complete and utter exhaustion. It hung in the air like a dust cloud, settling over everything.
"You had a mentor?" Crow asked.
"Yes, a mentor. His name's Coriolanus Snow, and without him I'd be as good as dead. I didn't get to see him before I left... but I hope he's happy that I won." Lucy smiled a tight-lipped smile, so different from the usual wild grin Crow was used to seeing. They found themself wondering what had happened to cause their sister so much pain. Though they had an idea. After all, the hunger games were always brutal.
"Coriolanus? What kinda fancy name is that? You didn't give him any nicknames to shorten it or nothing?" Crow quipped in a poor attempt to lighten the mood.
"Well, I suppose I could've but. Coriolanus just seemed to suit him, y'know?" Lucy laughed a hollow laugh.
"I suppose I'd have to have seen him to understand what you mean." Crow finally released Lucy from the overly long hug the two had shared.
"Yeah, I suppose so." Lucy stared at the floor thoughtfully for a moment before shaking her head and meeting Crow's eyes with her own.
"Anyways, take me to the Covey! I've missed them! I wanna know how they've been without me! You've been taking care of them right?" It felt as though Lucy's carefree attitude had come out of nowhere, sweeping the sadder, more hollow version of Crow's sister temporarily out of sight.
"Of course I've been taking care of them!" Crow grinned, taking their sister by the hand.
"But if you don't believe me then you can come see for yourself!" Crow dragged Lucy through town towards where the Covey had been staying. People whooped and cheered as she passed. And Lucy played the part of the victor wonderfully, smiling, waving, cheering right alongside the overjoyed members of District Twelve. As Crow dragged Lucy through the town to go visit the Covey, there was only one thought going through everyone's head, including their own.

Welcome home Lucy Gray!

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