Wilted Roses ; The Hunger Games

VII. Sword fights

     "TOMORROW THEY WILL evaluate your skills, this will determine your score which will be what sponsors are looking out for. So basically, this is a big deal." Finnick explains as Connor and Rose sit parallel to him, taking in his words as if they were receiving a lecture. "Any ideas on what you will be doing?" He asks with a quirked brow.

"I could do something with a sword?" Rose shrugs. She wasn't exactly sure what she could do in that evaluation, she could only imagine how awkward it would be just swinging swords at dummies while they watch you from above, judging your every move. Rose turned to Connor who looked more nervous than ever, she grabbed his hand once again and gave it an assuring squeeze which he returned.

"Any idea what you would do?" He turns to Connor and asked. Connors face went pale, Rose could tell he didn't have an idea.

"You're good at knot tying." Rose points out, though it doesn't look like it eased his nerves that much. He hesitantly nodded before looking down at the coffee table, watching the fake fish swim through the glass.

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     Rose sat stiffly on the metal bench, Connor sat beside her, practically shaking. As each tribute was called to show their talents, the game makers who would judge them got more and more bored. Rose sympathized with the tributes from District Twelve, the last tributes to be called up, they wouldn't have a sliver of the mens attention. Rose could only be thankful she was called up eighth, where she could at least get them to look at her.

     "Connor Maxwell." The robotic voice boomed over the speakers. Connors head shot to me, I gave him an assuring squeeze of the hand before letting him go, watching as he stiffly walked towards the big metal doors.

"You got this." Rose mouthed to him before he closed the doors behind him, Rose could only hope he did well. His score would affect both of them when they were in the arena, nobody would want to sponsor Rose if her ally was holding her back.

Roses eyes danced around the room, avoiding eye contact with the other tributes glares and stares of judgement and amusement. Clearly the word got out about what happened at the parade, at first it was just the career districts but now it was almost all of them. Even the twelve year olds were judging her which was truly a new low for Rose.

      "Rose Carter!" The voice booms, Roses breath was caught in her throat. She steps up from her seat, slowly walking towards the doors. She thought back to her plan, stay under the radar. That means she didn't have to pressure herself for once to be perfect, she could get a low score and it would still play along to her plan. It was truly a giant weight off her back.

     "Rose Carter. District Four." Rose announced as she walked through the metal doors, her attention instantly being grabbed by the men above her as she slipped on her mask once again. She tried her hardest to maintain a cocky smile as she looked around the room, some ropes tied into knots laid on a table.

Roses gaze fell on the array of weapons laid out in front of her. She let out a breath of relief she wasn't even aware she was holding in as she laid eyes on the very type of sword she was trained with. She hesitantly picked it up, though the weight was feeling much more daunting than she was used to.

She walked back over to the mat, a trainer waiting for her as she readied herself. She had practiced sparring many times before with Finnick, she was quite good at it though half the time she believed he had simply let her win.

Their blades clashed, at first Rose was rather mediocre but when she got the hang of it she was rather talented. This and her confident persona would most likely get her a higher score, Rose could only hope it wasn't high enough for people to start viewing her as a threat.