"We are simply ash."
•••
It had been five years since Autumn's Hunger Games. She now lived with visions and voices that haunted her every night, watching her district partner die right in front of her eyes. Only one good thing came out of the Games...
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•••
Autumn and Finnick insisted they sleep in the same room. After much arguing from Amethyst, Autumn rolled her eyes and walked off to a bedroom with Finnick trailing behind her.
They didn't feel the need to watch the Reaping as they both knew all of the victors pretty well already. It was the day after the parade and the first day of training.
Autumn rolled over over in Finnick's arms, placing her hand on his cheek. He opened his eyes at her touch, giving her a small smile.
They soon got up and out on their training outfits, consisting of red and black joggers and tank tops of the same color.
Autumn had spent a lot of time throughout her five years since the seventieth Games continuing to train, so she wasn't rusty. Part of it was out of fun because she truly liked knife and spear throwing and combat as a hobby. But the other part of it was paranoia that someday President Snow would come to take her or Finnick.
They entered the training room to see that not many people were there yet. The quietness made Autumn uncomfortable as her training in her last Games had been very noisy and full of commotion. We're some victors really but training?
Finnick and Autumn went their separate ways to train on their own in their own skills. Autumn warmed up her knife throwing on a few targets before entering a room of holographic tributes.
She threw knives left and right at the fake people, drawing the attention of the tributes who were training to her.
Only Finnick had seen her train outside of the Games. Watching the assumed to be crazy tribute become deadly was strange for many of the victors. Including Katniss and Peeta. Many of the victors just now realized how deadly this small girl truly was.
When Autumn left the room, Katniss came up next to her, just about to go into the room herself.
"That was impressive," Katniss spoke. Autumn nodded at her in appreciation, watching as she walked into the room, a bow in hand.
Autumn watched from the outside as Katniss shot at all of the holograms just as Autumn had done with her throwing. People began to gather around, curious. They wondered just how good the Girl on Fire really was. And she was damn good.
Wiress began clapping for Katniss as she finished and came out do the room. Autumn smiled at Katniss.
"That was impressive," Autumn repeated Katniss's words, earning a smile from the girl.
Autumn headed over to a different station where you made different things from your nature surroundings.
Autumn got straight to work on making a fish hook with some wood, feathers, dried seaweed, and sharp rocks.
Katniss walked up to Autumn, watching her work on the fish hook. Autumn looked up at Katniss with a smile.
"I can teach you, if you'd like," Autumn spoke. Katniss nodded with a small smile.
Autumn taught Katniss the different types of fish hooks and what fish they catch. She then showed her what materials she'd need and taught her how to make the final product.
"What is the deal between you two?" Katniss asked, nodding over at Finnick as she tied her fish hook together. Autumn looked over at Finnick who was staring at her.
Autumn smiled as she looked back down at her fish hook that she was working on. Autumn had long since gotten use to Finnick's eyes on her back. He was very protective and constantly kept his attention on her when they were separated, often glancing her way.
"I never thought you'd be curious of others relationships," Autumn joked with Katniss.
"I normally am not," Katniss admitted. "But you two seem different."
"What do you mean?" Autumn asked Katniss, watching her work on her fish hook as Autumn was already done.
"You two seem very observant of each other," Katniss shrugged. "Always watching one another to make sure neither one was in danger. And the way he looks at you aren't watching. He did that especially before the parade, Peeta noticed."
"Oh," was all Autumn said. She hadn't really noticed. It was just normal for her. To always feel Finnick near her. "Peeta does the same to you, you know."
