The Future Mockingjay🕊️

Chapter Nine

▫️Willow▫️

I mimic my daddy, dipping rolls into a cup of warm and soothing hot chocolate. I had loaded my plate with butter cake, my favourite, and a bowl of stew. On second thought, some healthy fruits.

Soon, it'll be time for training. I looked at Thyme. He looked...excited. Which is impossible. We are going into the arena in a few days.

"Mom? Will you be in the Training Centre too?" I asked.

"No, darling. I'm not allowed in there. So is Uncle Haymitch. " She says. "Try to...get to know the other tributes, I guees. And learn to rig up some snares or something that you don't know. Stay clear of archery. Don't show any skill that you are good at."

"Sure"

"Okay"

"And you'll be fine. I'll see you through the interviews. I love you, both of you." She says with a big smile.

"I love you too, mommy" I say, laughing. "Of course I love you"

Even Thyme is smiling. "I love you too"

▫️Thyme▫️

I walk into the training room, holding Willow's hand tightly, as I could feel her shaking a little with fear.

"So...let's get training."

We are late. Very. Everyone is already here.

"I'm sorry we are late. Can you tell us what we missed?" I say, making an apology.

The woman in front of us scowls for a moment, then explains a few simple rules, and instructs us to train.

"Thyme! Can we try the snares?" Willow asks. I can tell she's excited at the chance of learning about survival skills.

"Of course. Come on, then." I reply, patting her hair, plaited into her usual braid.

We were at the rope station for about an hour, soaking up the precious knowledge about ropes and snares.

Then, we decided to move on to the edible plants station and did the test. I finished it without problems, as mother and father taught us all we need to know. Willow, meanwhile, is a whizz at it. She completed the test faster than most tributes, including me.

We move on again to the camouflage station this time, and had some fun swirling clay and who-knows-what onto our skin.

Willow wanted to try out the knife throwing, but I reminded her about what mom said. She pouted a little, but accepted it, and we joined the tributes from District 1 to learn about building fires.

I don't know much about The Hunger Games, but I knew my father and mother called the tributes from District 1, 2 and 4 The Careers.

"Hi! My name is Willow. You are Perla, am I right?" I ask her brightly.

"Hi...?" She seemed surprised. Surprised that we are even talking to her. Why? It's a mystery I have to unravel myself.

I looked back at Thyme, who is staring at his shoes, then back at Perla, who was glancing shyly at Thyme. What is going on?

I cleared my throat to get their attention, and addressed Perla again. "And this is...?" I say, pointing to the male tribute of her district.

"Oh...! Um, this is, uh, Mark. Mark Parsley." I finally got a good look at him as he looked up from struggling to start a fire.

I inhaled sharply. He looked about as attractive as Perla, only as a boy. With brown hair. He smiled at me, and the whole world spun out of control, but I managed to smile back.

"Need some help...wi-with the fire?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah...not too good at this stuff."

I taught him how to start it, and sat back on my heels, watching him as he try by himself again.

"You're really good at this. How did you know about these...type of things?" He asked, laughing.

I laughed too. "Oh, my mom taught me how to. It's a basic survival skill."

I could use you as an ally, you know, that is...that is if you-you know, want to...?" He asked, staring at my face intently.

He's not serious. Is he? No, of course not. Why would he?

But I answer anyway, blushing lightly. "Yes, I would like that, if you could add my brother into the pack as well"

"Of course. Would you mind if I add Perla too?" He asks.

"No, of course I don't mind. Thyme and Perla are inseparable anyways." I say, looking at Thyme talking animatedly to Perla.

What do you get when you put jewels, or diamonds in flames?

You get us.