𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔢 ✩ 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔨 𝔬𝔡𝔞𝔦𝔯

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CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

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Surprisingly to the masses, an elevated number of allies did not automatically increase the levels of paranoia one should experience in the Games. Since Eleven's tributes had arrive within their little circle, Odelya had felt more reassured for her personal safety than ever before.

As one may have not expected, Apollo had no issue with said tributes after the encounter of which they had with little Florence. In actuality he had welcomed the two especially with open arms. Personally, Odelya figured that her brother was grateful for the prospect that her and the Flower had the chance of protection when he soon would meet his foreseen death.

However, as one could imagine, levels of sustenance had dipped since the introduction of Blaise and Clementine and the necessity for hunting was becoming ever so more prominent. Whilst Eleven's male headed off into the forest on his preferred lonesome in hopes of finding some source of food. If the odds were in their favour, a wild reindeer could meet its ultimately end at Blaise's hand. If not, then a hare or merely a handful of squirrels would satisfy their mutual hunger.

Preparing for the worst possible scenario of which no food was retrieved, Odelya was teaching both Clementine and Florence the means to carving out a section of a frozen lake where one could practice the art of fishing. A circular shape had been removed from the ice by the girls hands and positioned it hand they just at an angle to their fishing hole and back home it would typically have been used as a seating area for those fishing into the dead of night. In the situation of today, it was just to mark out where such a hole was under the dreaded circumstances that someone were to fall in.

Returning just as abruptly as he had departed, Blaise thundered happily back into camp, ignoring the trail of frozen footprints of which he left behind.

"Stupid reindeer never had a chance," He cheered, "Odelya, can I have a hand to bring it back."

Of course, Apollo would have been Blaise's original choice for an assistant in such a matter, yet his deteriorating state would make such a task impossible. Therefore,
Odelya nodded without hesitation, the prospect of a warm meal stirring up a lovely sensation in her heart.

Following the footprints back to the scene of where a once mighty reindeer now lay murdered in the snow, Blaise's knife still remaining in its throat. No sense of upset was brought to Odelya, despite such a sight, as the essential nature of this animal as a food source so greatly outweighed the poor creature's untimely death.

Pulling the creature by its so delicate antlers, Odelya and Blaise conversed in a lighthearted manner as they retreated back to their shared camp. Spoke did they of their respective homes and the people of which they longed to see.

Apparently Blaise had numerous siblings, his obvious favourite being his sister of whom he was the closest in age to. Such a girl christened with the darling name of Rue.

Oh, how such a glorious victory was a rarity in the arena and yet even this moment was martyred by the devastating sight of which they returned to camp to witness.

Clementine had fallen into the darkness of the fishing hole.

"Clem," Blaise muttered repetitively under his breath at the sight, abandoning his newly slain reindeer at the edge of the camp and hastily moving towards where Florence and Apollo lay on the lake. Moving their arms wildly through the water in means of attempting to rescue the poor girl.

Apollo had turned into the colour of death, yet that made no such difference in his continued struggle to save the girl. Pulling Florence back, Blaise and Odelya took her place in rescuing desperately through the iced hole.

Mere seconds prior to Blaise diving into the frozen depths to recover Clementine in whatever form she now was, Odelya stopped him in his tracks with her words.

"Nothing can be done for those trapped under the ice. You'll merely die also, think of little Rue."

Oh, such a cruelty was it to use her newfound knowledge of his sister against him but necessary was it. Such a lake had frozen so thickly that Clementine was not visible underneath it and there was a nonexistent chance that even if Blaise were to find her body, that he would find his way back to the fishing hole without drowning himself in the process.

His contemplation of the matter lasted just long enough for a stream of water to fill Clementine's lungs and sunk did she down to where Four buried their dead at sea.

A cannon sounded and no words could be said that would be of any comfort to Blaise, who blamed himself for leaving Clementine without his oversight.

"You know," Apollo spoke through any strength of which remained in his bones, "Back in Four, we bury our dead at sea. So at least she is resting now."

Such words were of a cruel irony as a Capitol issued aircraft pieced itself through the lake to retrieve poor Clementine's body from her grave. Ultimately, the control of the dead resided in the hands of the Capitol, not those who truly cared for them.

Nightfall came and Blaise lay silent in the snow, his mind processing the days traumatic events and all of the beloved memories her shared with his counterpart.

Odelya's priority in that moment however still remained with Apollo's health, so prepared did she by stealing all the flesh from the insides of the reindeer's carcass and stored all of said meat in the way of which promised its longevity. Following this, the dead creature would be the home to Apollo's weakened body, in attempts to contain his bodily heat to prevent a hypothermic response in additions to his death promising stab wound.

Prayers were once again projected to Finnick and Mags, in hopes some lifesaving medicine could be sent from the heavens to save what was left of Apollo's body. Once again, such prayers were not answered.

Only a miracle would ensure Apollo's survival through the night.

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Fly high baby Clementine. We barely knew you.

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