𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 | Finnick Odair

𝐢𝐱. strategy sets the scene for the tale

Genevieve fidgeted nervously as she waited to be called for her individual assessment. District one and two had already been called, she'd wished Rex and the district two tributes; Marla and Pertan good luck. Since Finnick had convinced the careers districts to form an alliance, she'd gotten to know the rest of the careers pack better apart from the district one girl Seraphina who had rejected any attempt she'd made at small talk or pleasantries. Her leg bounced anxiously as she tapped her fingers on the chair.

A million ideas raced through her head at once, surely the game makers had seen it all before she would need to do something really unique to impress them. She'd run over a couple ideas with Haven in the morning but they hadn't been able to decide on anything truly special.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, her name was called.

"Genevieve Coppergrove, district four." she took a deep breath before standing, tightening her ponytail, and rotating her shoulders. The automatic door slid open when she walked towards it and she stepped into the newly renovated gymnasium.

They hadn't just gone over things to do that morning, Haven and Finnick had also given them some tips. Whatever they did needed to be remembered, and Haven had also warned Genevieve that she would have to perform well to be welcomed in the career pack but if she scored too high she would be considered a threat.

As soon as she stepped in the room the gamemakers turned their attention towards her. She was sure that some of them already knew that she was a past victors daughter so the expectations were pretty high already.

She took a moment to survey the giant room, the climbing ropes on one side of the room had been severed and Genevieve wondered if that had been a district one tactic. Since they went first they would damage a lot of the equipment on purpose so the other tributes got lower scores. There was also a dent in the floor not far off from where she was standing.

Somebody had probably been throwing the weighted balls around. She also noted that a bow and arrow had been used but she didn't feel very threatened by this. After all, you couldn't really do much with a bow and arrow if someone was three feet away, charging at you with a knife.

Genevieve jogged forwards and scanned the large selection of weapons before grabbing six throwing stars and making her way over to some mannequins. If district one we're going to play dirty then she would as well. The other tributes would have to find something else to destroy.

The human-shaped dummies were lined up in a row, military-style; like they would be at district four's academy.

She stood about fifty yards away and twirled the first weapon in her right hand, the others clenched in her left fist. Getting a grip on the star in her throwing hand and drawing her arm back, without thinking, she launched it toward the middle target.

It landed directly in the centre of the heart. She smiled slightly before readying her stance again. Genevieve threw another star and heard the satisfying thunk of it hitting the target, she didn't bother seeing where it landed. This was so second nature to her by now she could do it blindfolded

Rolling forward and bringing herself up on one knee, she threw two more stars, one after the other. Then, for the grand finale, she chucked another at the light hanging over the targets and watched as sparks rained down. Grabbing the last of her stars she threw it at the rope holding up a target - figuring she might as well go all out. The rope severed and the target fell to the ground with a crack, crushing a shelf of arrows as it fell.

Next she grabbed a couple of katanas and began severing what was left of the climbing rope with a series of long distance throws and slashes. She walked over to the camouflage station and painted a target on the table. The game makers look intrigued as some shuffle forward in their seats. After that she grabs a throwing knife and a strip of cloth. Genevieve noted she's already used more than half her time and hurries towards the last bit of climbing rope. She tied the cloth round her eyes like a makeshift blindfold and placed the handle of the katana in her mouth before biting down to hold it in place. She would need both of her hands for what she was about to do next. She reached out both hands and smirks as they come in contact with the rope and hoisted herself up dangling precariously above the ground.
There was a couple of gasps and hushed whispers from the direction she assumed the game makers were located in but they did nothing to deter her from her goal.

Shimmying gracefully to the very top she took one hand of the rope and grabbed the katana from her mouth. From there she angled her hand and lobbied the spear in the direction of the camouflage station directly towards where she painted the target. Jumping down from the rope she dropped into a roll to cushion her fall and pulled the blindfold off. Genevieve almost jumped for joy when she realised she'd hit the bullseye dead on.

Looking up at the clock she noticed she still had a minute left so she jogged over to the knowledge station.

The game makers valued logic and intelligence as much as strength as long as you could keep things interesting. She wizzed through the quiz incredibly fast— growing up in a massive house with a library that held no end of books about poisonous plants and animals had definitely helped her out.

The timer blared out just as she finished and she grinned maliciously, proud of her performance. The game makers wasted no time in clapping politely before the head game maker dismissed her. She then turned on her heel and walked out of the private training room with her head held high and shoulders back. She'd done well.