Night fell quickly but the climate remained relentlessly humid, providing the dehydrated group with little to distract from their thirst. Sweat drips uncomfortably down their skin as Dahlia and Katniss sit in silence. Their postures stiffened, arms crossed and shoulders tensed. A far cry from the relaxed bodies of the boys sleeping peacefully not too far away.
Dahlia is the first one to put her pride aside and break the awkward silence, "How's Peeta?"
Katniss lifts her head, surprised by the softness in the woman's voice. It takes her a few seconds to muster up a reply, "He's okay, I think. Just dehydrated like the rest of us."
The Panem anthem interrupts their civil conversation, the dark arena lighting up with the faces of the fallen Tributes. The booming music startled the rest of their group awake, all their attention turned to the sky to assess who was left and who was dead. Katniss notices the relief on Dahlia's face as the presentation skips past her district.
Once the music comes to an end, Katniss doesn't hesitate to question the girl, "You looking for someone up there?"
"My district partner, Alaric." Dahlia replies wistfully, missing Alaric's guidance more than ever. "First time I've been grateful not to see his face. Means he's still alive out there."
"You two are close then?" Katniss asks curiously, unaware of how close some of the Victors can be.
"He's the father figure I never had." Dahlia answers with a small smile on her lips. When Katniss doesn't speak again, Dahlia looks up to find the girl staring at her with inquisitive eyes. "My father died in a work accident when I was young. Alaric's been the only father I can remember."
Katniss stays quiet for a moment, digesting the new information she'd learned. "My dad died in a work accident too." She reveals lowly, recalling how broken her family was after the incident. "I had to grow up quickly, to look after my sister, Prim."
"Curse of being the older sister, I guess." Dahlia mutters, knowing the burdens they face as both females and older siblings. They tend to take on the roles of mother to the younger children and carer to their parents. There's no rest for them. "I had two sisters to take care of. Lavender and Rosie."
"I remember one of them died in the Games... Lavender, right?" Katniss questions as delicately as she can, not wanting to cause the woman any pain. The image of Lavender's decapitated body flashes in her mind briefly, but Dahlia forces a nod of confirmation. "What was she like?"
A melancholic smile tugs at her lips as she remembers Lavender before the Games destroyed their lives. Childish giggles ring in her ears like the haunting melody of a song she can no longer hear. The carefree laughter of sisters who didn't know how cruel the world could be.
"Happy." She finally managed to respond, her throat tightened by suppressed emotions and unshed tears. "She was happy. Not all the time, even less once she got older... But that's how I choose to remember her." Dahlia refused to remember Lavender for how she died, deciding to remember her for how she lived. Even when the memory of her sister has been plagued by heartbreak and strife, Lavender's beautiful smile would always outshine the darkest moments. "She could've changed the world if she was given the chance."
The admiration Dahlia had for her sister was clear in the way her features lit up while discussing her. The sight sparked a feeling of warmth in Katniss and she couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face. For that moment, Dahlia felt like an older sister to Katniss, one that she'd always wanted. But that was all destroyed when she asked her next question, "What happened to your other sister?"
Dahlia gaze seems to become drained of all life, turning cold and dull before Katniss' very eyes. The smile is dropped instantly and her voice is bitter as she spits out, "Snow had her and my mother killed when I stepped out of line." Katniss had no response for that. What could she possibly hope to offer? There's nothing you can do to comfort someone who has experienced so much loss. It is only then that Katniss begins to understand why Dahlia is the way she is. "Did you know I volunteered for Lavender?"
Katniss' eyes snaps up to the woman at that confession, realising how little she knew about Dahlia. "No, I didn't." She admits solemnly with a shake of the head.
"It was only her first year as an eligible candidate and I assured her they wouldn't call her name." Katniss' head droops in realisation as Dahlia's lifeless eyes follow her every move. "Sound familiar?" Feelings of dread began to flood Katniss' body and she suddenly felt as though she was staring at what she could become. Dahlia's sisters had paid the price for her rebellious outbursts and now Katniss worried that Prim would face the same. As Katniss' face contorts in concern, Dahlia can see each and every emotion swimming in her eyes. "Maybe you and I aren't all that different."
Dahlia leaves Katniss to contemplate her words in peace, but the silence doesn't last long. An electronic chiming from above alerts the group to a parachute floating elegantly to the ground. This makes the two girls immediately hop to their feet, eagerly rushing to where the parachute landed. Katniss reaches it first, ripping it open to reveal a thin metal tube with a note on top.
"'Drink up'?" Katniss reads in confusion, quickly dropping the note in favour of picking up the strange contraption.
"What is it?" Dahlia asks, having never seen something like it before.
"It's from Haymitch." Katniss replies, tilting the tube to inspect it from different angles before coming to a thought. "I think it's a spile."
Katniss is already striding away as Dahlia mumbles a perplexed, "What?" Hurriedly, the woman has no choice but to follow Katniss as she approaches a tree. "Finn." She calls out to the man as Katniss uses a rock to hammer the spile into the wooden trunk. Mere seconds later, Finnick appears attentively at her side with Peeta scrambling not too far behind.
Together they stare at the tree with hope shining in their eyes, waiting for something, anything to happen. Then their prayers are answered and the odds turn in their favour. They all gasp out in delight as a steady trickle of water begins to seep from the tree. Katniss wastes no time collecting the precious liquid in her mouth, feeling her dry mouth become soothed as the cool water slides down her throat.
"You're kidding me. You're kidding me." Finnick softly exclaims in wonder as Dahlia steps aside to let Peeta quench his thirst. "Have a drink, Lia." Finnick insists, pushing the girl forward once Peeta has finished. She is too dehydrated to argue, positioning herself under the tap and savouring each drop that washes into her mouth. The water is crisp and refreshing, like the first drop of rain in the driest desert. The greatest relief in this sweltering arena.
She doesn't drink for too long, ever aware of Finnick's selflessness in ensuring everyone else got water first. He's the one who deserves it the most. Pulling away, she pays little mind to the water dribbling down her neck as she urges Finnick to take her place.
"I'm gonna get a leaf." She mumbles to him, barely receiving a reply from the boy before she takes off to find a suitable drinking vessel for Mags. No sooner had she plucked a large leaf from a nearby plant than Finnick strolled up behind her.
"I'll get some for Mags." He offers, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead as he takes the leaf from her hands. Dahlia nods, clambering back down to their makeshift camp to alert Mags of their discovery.
"Mags." She whispers soothingly, gently maneuvering the older woman into a sitting position. "Finnick's coming with water." A relieved grin spreads across her dry cracked lips, her breathing already laboured from dehydration. Thankfully, it doesn't take long for Finnick to carefully make his way down the slope to join them. "Here you go, Mags."
The poor woman takes a long drink as Finnick tips the leaf to her mouth, more than grateful for the revitalising water. Dahlia and Finnick lock eyes, exchanging a small smile between them as they huddle in their small group. Mags reaches up to cup Finnick's cheek in appreciation while squeezing Dahlia's hand which rests on her shoulder. The only people missing from this family moment are Johanna and Alaric. But Dahlia remains hopeful that they will all be reunited soon enough and they can escape these horrible Games for a life of freedom.
"Want some more?" Finnick prompts his former mentor, keeping the leaf lingering at her lips. Mags nods eagerly, quickly returning to sipping up the water. "I'll take the watch with Katniss." Finnick speaks up, staring intently at Dahlia even while Mags was drinking her fill. "You need a rest, Lia."
"So do you, Finn." She argues, desperate for Finnick to recover from the exhaustion of the day. He swam out to help Peeta in the bloodbath, carried Mags on his back all the way and brought the District Twelve boy back from the dead. No one needed a break more than him. "I'm fine."
"What happened to taking turns?" Finnick points out with a teasing smirk, making Dahlia avert her eyes to avoid his gaze. Maybe if she just ignored him, he'd drop the subject? "Lia." He coos, drawing out each syllable of her name to taunt her. He tilts his head with an adorable pout to try and catch her eye but she just looks away. Realising this wasn't getting them anywhere, Finnick decides to change tactics. With a feigned stern tone, he firmly states, "Blossom."
But Dahlia is quick to retaliate, whipping her head round with a smug grin to reply, "Odair." The man's face morphs into a disapproving glare as Dahlia dissolves into muffled giggles. She never thought she would find something to laugh about in the arena, but Finnick always had a way of bringing her light side out.
Katniss regards the pair from afar, growing fascinated by their dynamic. She watches as a smile spreads across Finnick's face at the sound of Dahlia's laughter, an adoring gleam present in his eyes. They look at each other like life wouldn't exist without the other. Even at a distance, Katniss could feel the unyielding connection they shared just by the way they gazed at each other. It was almost like she could physically see the string tethering their hearts together. What a beautiful sight to behold, pure love in the most unexpected place.
"Katniss," Finnick calls out, breaking the girl from her observatory trance. "Dahlia's swapping out. I'll take the next watch with you." As Katniss nods in acceptance, Dahlia's eyes narrow at Finnick for making the decision for her. The boy just grins innocently, immune to Dahlia's intimidating glare. "What?"
Dahlia doesn't respond but her eyes seem to soften the longer she stares at Finnick. Eventually, she shakes her head with a sigh and declares a reluctant, "Fine." Finnick's grin widens at her compliance, glad the woman will have a chance to rest. "But I'm staying close to you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Finnick concedes, more than happy for Dahlia to stick by his side. Mags, who had been watching the pair with amusement present in her eyes, waves the two away so she can rest in peace. They bid the woman goodbye and leave her to sleep, heading up to join Katniss. As they settle in for the night, Finnick strictly instructs Dahlia to get as much rest as she can. "I'll protect you while you sleep."
Despite his assurance, Dahlia finds it difficult to relax in the tense environment that is the Hunger Games arena. Every little noise has her body tensing in anticipation of an attack, one eye constantly flickering open to check her surroundings. Once Finnick noticed her restlessness, he was quick to gather her into his arms and allow her body to recline on his. With her back leaning on Finnick's chest and her lower body stretched between his legs, she finally feels secure enough to drift off into a light sleep.
No sooner had she slipped into dreamland than she was awoken by an unusual sound. A rhythmic noise, like the beating of a drum, echoed throughout the arena. It acted as an alarm clock for the group, who were quickly roused from sleep and glancing around in confusion. Finnick's arms remained tight around Dahlia's body as they waited for the chimes to come to an end.
"I counted twelve." Katniss states assertively, mind whirring as she tries to decipher the significance of the alarm. The gamemakers never do anything without reason, everything has a purpose. So why were the chimes necessary?
"Midnight?" Finnick suggests, which Dahlia thinks is the most likely explanation.
Then Katniss adds her input, "Or the number of districts."
Their discussion is put on hold as there is crackling in the distance and thunder rumbling overhead. The trio watch as lightning strikes a large tree across the arena, lighting the sky with flashes of blue.
Once it has come to an end, Finnick tiredly turns to Katniss with a sigh, "Well... If you're not gonna sleep, I will."
"Okay." Katniss complies, nodding in acknowledgement to the pair. Dahlia sluggishly pushes to her feet, holding her hand out to help Finnick up as he collects his trident. Their hands stay interlocked even as they flop to the ground in fatigue. Clenching tightly to their weapons, they nestle into each other's bodies with their entwined fingers between them. The last thing Finnick feels before he gives in to his exhaustion is the squeezing of his hand three times. He just about manages to return the silent expression of love before sleep takes its hold.