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"Ready?" Caspian asked Athena as the first chariots began to make their entrance.
"Oh, you best believe it." The victor replied, grabbing Caspian's hand tightly and raising it above their heads. "Let's show them who their true victors are." Athena commanded with a victorious smirk.
Their chariot jolted forwards and the screams of the adoring Capitol citizens became more and more prominent. Athena could feel her cape lifting and flowing in the wind, and as Johanna said, she felt like royalty.
"Athena! Athena! Athena!" The crowd cheered. This was all wrong. They were cheering for the 23 possible tributes that would be left for dead.
In response, the cold woman gave one of her icy stares at the civilians, which just resulted in louder screams of encouragement. Athena could sense the District 12 tributes a few chariots behind theirs stealing her thunder, with their signature flames, which the Capitol ate up.
"Katniss! Katniss! Katniss!" Their cheers changed into, which Athena was not happy about: she needed as many sponsors as she could get.
President Snow stood on his podium in a navy suit with a white rose situated in the lapel. He gave some sort of acknowledging wave and began his speech.
"Welcome. Welcome. Tributes, we welcome you. We salute your courage, and your sacrifice. And we wish you happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favour." The crowd cheered yet again at this talk, these games meant everything to them.
Athena and Caspian noticed that he was staring daggers at Katniss the entire time, maybe because she was the spark that resulted in the fire of the District 8 riot.
.+**+.
A few avoxes assisted the District 8 tributes in leaving their chariot, and guided them over to the elevators, hoping they would go straight into their floor. Instead, Athena did the opposite and made a beeline to Katniss and Peeta who were with their mentor, being introduced to Chaff & Seeder. The District 8 woman had always admired Seeder's kindness, similar to Cecilia's, and knew she would be gutted if the District 11 victor died.
After Athena won, Seeder had gone over to her and offered her condolences about Clementine, seeing as she was her mentor. "Congratulations on your victory Athena," The older woman had said. "I'm so sorry about Clementine, I also know that she had a heart that was worth dying for. I want you to remember that if you ever need some support or comfort, I'm only a call away."
"Haymitch." Athena pulled away the District 12 mentor to speak to him on the quiet.
"Athena. How lovely it is to see you again after what? Four years?" The drunken mentor spat out.
"It was six months ago. When I punched Peeta. Remember now? What I did want to ask you was if I could enter the queue to speak with your two beloved victors." Athena shot back.
