"Saleah Barnette, winner of the 72nd Hunger Games,.known as the Butterfly in the Capitol for her gentleness, and her love for the winged creatures. She won her games at 18 and then proceeded to live in both the Capitol and District 11."
"She doesn't...
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THERE WERE TIMES IN LIFE THAT SALEAH HAD FELT FEAR...when she'd hit one of her siblings a little too hard in a fight, when she turned 12 and attended her first reaping, when a peacekeeper looked at her too long.
None of those things compared to the fear she felt in the games.
She couldn't even tell how long the games had been going on. It might have been four days, a week, or even two weeks. She had completely lost track of time after Craig's death.
Neither her or Feather had left the cave. They were tired and hungry. Luckily, the ice in the cave would melt in the evening when the sun was out, so they kept their flask under the dripping ice, providing them with water.
Saleah and Feather both knew that sooner than later they would have to fight. The game makers wanted a show, and two kids sitting in a cave all day was not very entertaining to watch.
The two were currently sitting against the rocky walls of the cave, talking about random things.
"You know, you'll have a pretty nice scar when that heals." Feather remarked, gesturing to Saleah's eye, still patched up.
"If I even survive long enough for it to heal." Saleah replied, her tone tinged with pessimism.
She hadn't meant to be so negative, she wanted to have hope..but it wasn't easy given their situation. She was surprised that she had made it this far. She thought she would've died in the bloodbath.
Feather broke the silence, turning to Saleah. "Want to hear something interesting?"
Saleah nodded eagerly, turning to face him.
"My mom was in the games a while ago. She won."
"Really?" Saleah tilted her head.
"Yeah. She won by hiding the entire time." He chuckled softly. "After the games, she became addicted to Morphling. She didn't even know she could get pregnant while on the drug, but then she had me. She managed to control her addiction to take care of me. She was always worried that I'd be put into the games, so she and my father started training me when I was young, so that I'd be prepared."
Saleah's face scrunched up in confusion, "How'd she know you'd end up in the games?"
"Children of victors often do, it's more entertaining I guess. Most people expected me to win by hiding like my mom, but I don't want to win that way. I'm not sure that I'll win at all...but either way, I want to be known for my strength, my fighting.. I don't want to just sit and wait for death, or even victory."
"I get it. If you die you want to at least put up a fight.. And if you win you want to win by trying."
Feather nodded.
"Well since you told me something about you, I have to tell you something about me." Saleah tapped her chin in thought. "Okay, I got something."
