Roots of Destruction 𓅫 Finnick Odair X OC

☆9☆

Fauna shakes Briar's sleeping form as she softly says, "Briar, it is time to wake up. We have a few hours to get you ready before you head into the arena."

The girl grumbles, her eyes opening just a slither to see the woman above her. Hunger Games day one is here, and Briar did not expect to feel as sick as she does. Her heart is pounding in her chest, beating so loudly that she is surprised Fauna can't hear it. There's a hot, sickly feeling settling in her pit of her stomach, putting her off of the idea of breakfast despite knowing she needs it, and she isn't ready to say goodbye to Johanna. Not yet. Not now. But she doesn't have a choice.

"I'm up," she manages to croak as her eyes open fully, "how long do I have?"

"It's nine now, so about an hour and a half before we need to get you to the hovercraft. From there you'll be transported to the arena and meet Lysa. She will get you into your outfit, then there will be an announcement where you enter your lift to the arena."

"Alright," Briar swings her legs over the edge of her mattress and sits up, "I'll change now and come out for breakfast." The woman simply nods in response, exiting the room and leaving Briar alone to her thoughts.

Knowing she is soon going to be covered in sweat, Briar forgoes a shower and instead just changes into a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie before walking out to the kitchen and dining area. Wordlessly, Briar gives a brief look at Oakley and Blight then sits beside her twin. No one wants to be the first to speak. No one wants to be the first to bring up what today is and means, but Blight eventually breaks the nauseating silence by mumbling, "we know you're both going to be nervous for today, but you're both going to be fine. We will do anything and everything we can to help you whilst you're in there."

"Blight's right," Johanna speaks, her voice cracking ever so slightly, "stay alive as long as possible, both of you." Whilst her words are directed at both tributes, no one is oblivious to the fact that Johanna wants Briar to live. What the tributes don't know is that Blight is also routing for the younger Mason twin, meaning that neither of the mentors are truly fighting for Oakley when he enters the arena; Blight would never allow it to get to the stage that his tribute is completely neglected, but he knows that the odds are not in the boy's favour but they could be in Briar's.

Oakley looks between the two mentors. Although there is a smile adorning his lips, it's easy to read the anxiety and trepidation in his expression. "We will. We promise."

"Oakley, when we're in the arena please feel free to try and find me. I'll do whatever I can for you, okay?"

"You don't have to," he shakes his head, politely declining the girl's offer, "you need to fend for yourself, Briar. I don't want to be a burden."

"You wouldn't be– but, it's entirely up to you. My offer stands."

Breakfast, for Briar, doesn't consist of too much but is high in protein. She's aware that for the foreseeable future she is going to have a restricted amount of food whilst she fights for her life, so she doesn't want to overeat now and regret it later. Moreover, she doesn't want to risk making herself sick with the nerves she knows will hit her like a tonne of bricks sooner or later. After finishing their food, the Mason twins head into Briar's bedroom to allow Blight and Oakley some final time alone, and to allow themselves a proper goodbye with one another. The girls sit side by side on the edge of the mattress, Johanna clinging onto Briar's hands with a vice-like grip. "I-I can't– I c-can't lose you, Little B-Bird."

That one sentence breaks Briar's heart. Johanna is her other half, the one person in life that she knows she can count on for anything, and Briar doesn't want to let her down or see her upset. "I know, Jo. Trust me, I know. I felt the same watching your games, but we have to be realistic."