THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES | Coriolanus Snow

part I: the mentor | 8

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow on their skin as they strolled in the direction of the monkey cage. Lupinia held the sandwiches in one hand, and occasionally, her other hand would inadvertently and ever so slightly brush against Coriolanus due to their walking motion. As they approached the cage, they realized they weren't alone, a few other people were already there.

Lupinia quickly spotted a young girl, recognizing her as Arachne Crane, their classmate. Handing Coriolanus the sandwich intended for Lucy Gray, Lupinia turned to greet Arachne. After exchanging brief pleasantries, she walked away to give Jessup his food.

Jessup had gradually started to trust Lupinia, and she was pleased about it. She had put in considerable effort to earn his trust, understanding the importance of their connection for the upcoming Games. Taking her mentorship seriously Lupinia often found herself contemplating Jessup's chances in the arena. She believed in his capabilities, but gaining sponsors was crucial. Without support, Jessup would face the daunting challenge of surviving without supplies, and that could significantly impact his performance.

Lupinia was determined to secure sponsors for Jessup. The united front they would present during the interview, coupled with the acrobatic stunt she planned to perform with him, aimed to make them appealing to the sponsors. Moreover, Lupinia was aware that her last name, Evergreen, carried its own weight and could potentially attract additional attention and support and she was going to use that as a benefit for Jessup.

"Tomorrow, we'll have time to visit the arena and discuss strategies," Lupinia explained to Jessup. However, Jessup seemed too engrossed in his food, hastily stuffing it into his mouth. Lupinia, studying his face and behaviour, sensed that something wasn't right. He appeared slightly unwell. Before she could inquire about his well-being, her attention was diverted by Arachne and her tribute.

Arachne taunted her tribute, Brandy, by teasing her with a cheese sandwich through the bars of the Capitol Zoo enclosure, only to retract it. "Hey, Arachne, stop it! What are you doing?" Lupinia intervened.

"I'm just having fun," replied the Crane girl, a bit annoyed by Lupinia's comment.

"Come on, Arachne, it's not funny. Give it to your tribute and stop fooling around. No one's laughing!" Lupinia's voice carried seriousness and a hint of anger at the girl's insensitive behaviour. However the girl wasn't listening she didn't care what Lupinia Evergreen had to say and continued to tease her tribute.

Suddenly, everything escalated. Angered by Arachne's actions, Brandy seized the knife that Crane had used to slice the cheese and swiftly cut open her neck. Lupinia was paralyzed, terror evident in her eyes as her vision blurred. Arachne's screams drew the attention of everyone around. Coriolanus rushed to where Arachne lay, knelt down, and tried to stem the bleeding. But it was too late. The cut had been fatally placed. He saw the life inside her eyes vanish as he checked for a pulse. But there was nothing no pulse no heartbeat. Arachne Crane was dead.

Coriolanus's eyes immediately searched for Lupinia, who was crouched down on the floor. The shock and horror of witnessing such a sudden and violent event had left her stunned.

"Lupinia, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern, as she wasn't moving. He checked for wounds or any kind of other injuries, but she seemed physically fine.

"Hey," he tried to reach her again, then took her into his embrace.

"She...she is d-dead, isn't she?" the girl in his arms stuttered, struggling to form words as tears streamed down her face. "Yes," Coriolanus said quietly. Lupinia started to shake heavily, and her tears began to flowed like little waterfalls from her eyes. She grabbed the boy tightly, burying herself in his chest. The weight of the sudden tragedy hung heavily in the air, and Coriolanus held her, offering what little comfort he could in that moment of shock and grief. Lupinia's sobs echoed through the quietness of the moment as she clung to Coriolanus, seeking some form of comfort in the midst of the despair.

Grief had a way of distorting one's sense of responsibility, and in that moment, Lupinia's mind was tortured by the 'what ifs' and 'if onlys.' Coriolanus, however, understood that the tragic turn of events wasn't something she could have foreseen or prevented.

Lupinia looked up facing Coriolanus. As his eyes met hers Coriolanus wiped away a tear from Lupinia's cheek, his touch gentle and reassuring.

"I-if I hadn't said something," she cried, "then she probably could have defended herself, o-or if I-I hadn't," she sobbed uncontrollably, "distracted her s-she would have been able to react." Lupinia struggled to articulate the words, tears rolling down her face as she hid in Coriolanus warm and comforting chest again.

"Lupinia, none of this is your fault," he reassured her, his hand gently stroking her hair.

Time seemed to lose its significance as they remained on the ground in front of the monkey cage, locked in a tight embrace.

Eventually, Coriolanus gently suggested, "Come on, let's go." He stood up and extended his hand for Lupinia to take. With his support, she rose to her feet, and together, the two teenagers walked back to the car.

Coriolanus carefully placed Lupinia in the car, informing the driver of their destination - the Evergreen mansion. Seated beside her, he offered his arm, and Lupinia nestled herself against his side. He continued to stroke her hair, providing a comforting presence. By the time the car came to a halt, Lupinia had drifted into a peaceful slumber. Coriolanus gazed at her with a slight smile, appreciating the tranquility that sleep brought her, a temporary escape from the harsh reality of the day.

He carried her from the car to her bed, ensuring not to disturb her rest. As he covered her up, she stirred, waking up just in time to see him leave. In a soft whisper, she said, "Stay."

She lifted the blanket, inviting him to join her, and he obliged. Coriolanus settled beside her, and Lupinia rested her head on his chest. His fingers ran through her hair, a soothing gesture that gradually calmed her. Soon, she drifted back into a peaceful sleep, lulled by the rhythm of Coriolanus's heartbeat, which quickened ever so slightly because of the girl on top of him.