Spark to Flame: A Finniss Story

Pt II: Storm to Flood

They take some supplies from the Cornucopia and retreat back to the beach after they decide it's safe to do so, none too keen on formulating a plan on a surface that could start spinning again at any minute.

Finnick keeps a close eye on Katniss as they toss ideas back and forth, worried that she's not doing as fine as she says she is. Try as he might, he can't get the image of her near-lifeless body out of his mind, the way she just floated in the water, not moving...he feels the urge to cringe and shiver, suppressing it as he shakes his head to will the thought away. Katniss sits beneath the canopy, conversing with the others while he stays silent.

"Okay, so aside from Brutus and Enobaria, who's left?"

"Maybe Chaffe?" Peeta suggests, though he's clearly unsure. "Just those three, I think."

Just barely keeping himself from rolling his eyes, Finnick speaks up. "Look, they know they're outnumbered, so I doubt they'll ambush us again. We're safe out in the open here on the beach."

"So what do we do, then?" Johanna snips, challenging him as she crosses her arms. "What, do you expect us to just hunt them down? We can't just-"

She is interrupted by a piercing scream, loud and clear and crisp, and they all look towards the jungle where it's coming from.

Finnick grabs his trident and holds it tightly, preparing for whatever's coming, when Katniss whispers, "Prim..."

He looks at her, confused, and she yells the name again.

"PRIM!"

She dashes off into the trees before anyone can question her, and he grabs unsuccessfully at her arm to try and get her to stop.

"Katniss, no!"

But she isn't listening; she's already meters into the jungle, running and running with a new-found energy he hadn't known existed within her. 

He doesn't hesitate to follow her, he just does. He bolts past the tree-line after her, hearing her call for her sister over and over again. He's surprised at how deep into the jungle she's gotten, and he's pretty winded by the time he reaches her.

"Katniss!" He calls, slowing his pace as he comes up behind her, breathing heavily. "Are you okay?"

She whirls around to face him, eyes wide with horror. She begins to answer, but is cut off by the sound of another piercing scream, this one more deep and matured. In fact, it almost sounds like-

"Annie."

His stomach drops and he's moving forward before he can even catch himself, and Katniss puts her hands on his chest to stop him from going any further as he frantically searches for the source of the sound.

"No! Finnick, it's not-"

"Annie?!" He screams, waiting to see if she'll answer him. "Annie!"

Was it true? Had the Capitol gotten a hold of her? Was he finally being punished for his actions? For his thoughts and feelings towards Katniss and his betrayal of Annie? Was this Snow's way of mocking him?

"It's not her!" Katniss says insistently, eyes pleading for him to understand. "It's just a jabberjay! She's not here!"

He's finally able to stop searching and look at her, and though her explanation makes sense, it does little to comfort him. "How do you think they're making that sound? Jabberjays copy!"

Her own face pales then, and another scream shreds through the air, calling for help, this one male.

"Gale..." She whispers, eyes glistening with tears.