"A Phoenix must burn before it rises."
OR
In which two tributes not only find their way back to the Hunger Games, but back to each other.
Finnick Odair x Fem OC
Catching Fire
Book 1 in the 'Phoenix' series
Started...
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Phoenix walked between Johanna and Katniss, with the steady sound of the coil unraveling filling the silence around them. Her eyes never stood in the same spot for long. Every shadow, every moment of the jungle caught her attention as she stayed alert for the Careers or the jungle itself. They were close to the end now, and Phoenix knew they couldn't afford to lose anyone.
The three girls made their way through the thick vines and uneven rocks of the jungle. "Come on." Johanna urged, climbing over the large boulders in their way. She glanced back at Katniss and Phoenix, her eyes restless. "I wanna put as much distance between me and this beach as possible," she muttered, sounding both uneasy and frustrated.
Phoenix nodded at Johanna's words. "Frying is definitely not the way I wanna go," she mutters, staying close behind Johanna as they push through the jungle. The sound of footsteps suddenly stopped behind her, and Phoenix turned to see Katniss tugging at the coil. Her eyes widened, realizing something was wrong with the wire.
"It's something," Katniss said, her voice low as though she was trying to make sense of what was happening. Phoenix kept her eyes on her for a moment before following her gaze, searching for whatever had caused the coil to stop. A heavy silence settled between them, each girl beginning to brace themselves.
Johanna and Phoenix locked eyes, both knowing what had to be done. They looked at Kantiss, then back at each other, unspoken words passing in the silence. Phoenix mouthed "Get her tracker," and Johanna gave a small but deliberate nod, both understanding there was no room for hesitation.
Turning her head back towards Katniss, she watches the wire snap, the coil slipping out of her hands and landing beside Phoenix. Extending her neck, Phoenix catches sight of Brutus, Inobaria, and Cassian stepping out from behind the rocks. Panic overwhelms her, her heart pounding so fast it feels like it could burst. Her breath quickens, shallow and uneven, as her eyes lock back on the coil at her side. Her body wants to freeze up, but she forces herself to push through it. She knows what has to be done, and if she hesitates now, it's over.
Phoenix reaches down and snatches up the coil, squeezing it so tight her knuckles burn. She takes a deep breath, winds her arm back, and swings. The coil cracks against Katniss's head, and the sound makes Phoenix's stomach turn.
"Oh god," She whispers, her voice breaking as Katniss falls straight to the ground. Phoenix drops to her knees beside her, eyes wide, watching the girl whimper and struggle to stay conscious. Her hands shook inches from Katniss, terrified she had done more harm than she meant to.
Phoenix looks back at Johanna, still hoping she hadn't hit Katniss too hard. "Johanna, go!" Phoenix whispers, practically forcing the words out. She pulls a knife from her belt and tosses it to her. Dropping down, Phoenix presses a firm hand over Katniss's mouth, holding her in place as Katniss squirms. The blade cuts deep into Katniss's arm, and Pheonix cringes as she watches the blood pour. However, her grip on Katniss stays steady, forcing her to stay in control.
