Scarred | The Hunger Games

22.

Third Person

"Finnick Odair right?"

"Yes. He won his games at 14, youngest male victor ever. Extremely humble."

"You're kidding." Katniss states, face void of any emotions. 

"Yes I'm kidding. He's a peacock," Haymitch drones on, "very skilled at combat, especially in water."

Worry floods Peeta as he tries to find the light in the dark, "what about weaknesses?"

"One. Eh- two? Actually no, just one." Haymitch stutters to correct himself before continuing. "First, Mags. She volunteered for Annie. She was his mentor and practically raised him."

Katniss stoically makes a comment, whilst Peeta signals Haymitch to go onto the second. The mentor uses the switch in his hand to immediately turn the screen onto a young girl in an off-white dress. She had dark wavy hair that was pulled back in a half-up-half-down, eyes following the figure of her escort as she reached into the bowl with two slips of paper. 

"District Eight. Novalie Tream. Youngest female victor ever, and won the shortest games ever in 40 hours."

Katniss furrows her eyebrows, "is she dangerous?"

Haymitch almosts scoffs at her as he watches the reaping along with the two teenager. "No, she's a sweetheart."

A moment of silence fills the room as the three victors watch the young girl volunteer for the older woman, and helping her calm down her children. 

"Finnick sees her like a little sister, so I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to protect in some way. But at the same time, the kid's independent, so she'll be a'ight. After all, she's a victor."

***

"I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding." Finnick almost taunts, "I know how dev-"

"Fishfuck!" A voice yells, causing Finnick to turn around, mid sentence, with a sugar cube in his mouth. "God, you need to stop tormenting the new kids, get outta here with your fish stank."

The young girl pushes him, practically shoving him away, giving him a disgusted look as she sees his chariot outfit. 

"And cover up!" She adds as she watches him walk away.

"Wha-"

"Men used to tell women that, now it's my turn. Feminism bitches!" The girl then turns to Katniss, smiling softly. "Hey, I'm Nova, District Eight."

Katniss barely spares her a glance, although slightly amused by the commotion she had caused not even a minute ago. "Katniss, Twelve."

Nova stretches a wide smile on her face, "Katshit, I like it. See ya 'round!" She says, as she also smiled at Peeta in his arrival. 

The District Eight victor walked up to Woof, who's dressed in with tons of layers of different fabrics, similar to herself. "Alright, let's get you up on this chariot old man." She says, helping the older victor up onto the ride before getting onto it herself. 

***

Nova giggled with Mags as they helped each other DIY their tools, the former with a spear, and the latter with a fishhook. She had left Woof near the station with painting tools, letting him explore with the equipment. 

She knew Woof didn't stand a chance in the arena. His mental state wasn't the best, and he was often confused, especially with his hearing deteriorating. She vowed to herself that she would still do her best to look after him in the arena, although she needed to keep up with her own training now. 

"I have some thread if you want to use that? Ooo! Pass me that needle thing you used in the fishhook." Nova grinned at the amused elder woman. 

"Those are beautiful." Katniss mumbled to the two, though it was clearly a bit more aimed at Mags. "I saw you volunteer. It was really brave."

Mags reached out with a nod to place her hand on Katniss' braid, placing her other hand on top of Nova's. 

"Prim is my sister." Katniss said.

Nova's heart ached as she remembered her own sister, but she smiled at the other girl, in the most real form of understanding she knew.

"If you- if you teach me how to make a fishhook and spear, I'll teach you how to hunt?" Katniss asked, hesitantly as she watched the other teen girl, cautious of the insulting name she had given her the day before.

"Only if you teach me how to make a bow, Katshit." Nova winks.

***

"Damn she's a good shooter." Cashmere mutters to herself as the groups of victors watch Katniss in the simulation. 

"Don't worry Cash, you're a great thrower." Nova reassures, before Gloss joins the conversation. 

Nova was great friends with everyone, even the Careers. She had no bad blood with them, always with the mindset that they were once brainwashed children as well. She had actually met Cashmere a few times back at the hotel when she used to have clients. Although they never became close, there would be times when Nova would offer her aid kit when Cashmere had a rough client.

By time Katniss had finished shooting, she looks up to see most of the victors gathered watching her. But what caught her eyes was the young girl who was actively conversing with the Careers. 

She watches as Johanna walks up to Nova, and as the girl turns around, Katniss can't help but overhear the teen's next words. "Fuck off Mason!" What's up her ass?

***

"Good news. At least half the tributes want you as an ally." Haymitch announces. 

"I want Wiress and Beetee." Katniss answers clear and definitive in her answer. 

"Johanna calls them 'Nuts' and 'Volts'" Peeta adds, clearly having had spent time with Woof and Johanna at the painting station. 

"Well, ok, good. Now, who else?" 

Katniss seems hesitant, still unnerved at the idea of having allies. "Mags."

The two male victors stand shocked at the girls' options. 

Then, the girl on fire loses patience, "Ok fine then, no one."

"I'll tell them you're still making up your mind." Haymitch says, unsure. 

Peeta chimes in, "what about Novalie? Eight? I saw you talking to her and Mags?"

Katniss shakes her head, pretty definitively. "I thought maybe, especially since she volunteered for that woman, and was friends with Mags. But then she started calling me 'Katshit', and she talks to the Careers. So no."

Haymitch immediately lets out a chuckle, which slowly turns into a laughing fit, as he basically bends over, having to support himself using the backrest of the couch. 

"She's not being hostile. If she insults you, she likes you sweetheart." Haymitch finally says after he stops laughing. 

Katniss immediately furrows her eyebrows, showing her confusion. 

"She calls Finnick 'fishfuck'," He continues. Katniss remembers the teen shooing away the man from bothering her. "She calls me 'Haybitch', and she calls you 'Katshit', hilarious by the way-"

Katniss recalls Nova's snarl towards another victor. "How come she calls Johanna 'Mason' then?" She asks, the curiosity getting the better of her.

"She used to call Johanna 'Jo'. But that's complicated history. What I mean is, she talks to all the victors, and her nicknames are said lovingly, ironically. Besides, she's actually younger than you two by a few months. Give her a chance."

"...Fine."