Disclaimer: I don't own H20 or the Hunger Games
She didn't know how or why but Emma eventually managed to fall asleep in her bed on the train because she awoke to a pounding on the door.
"Get up! You have a big day ahead of you!" Apollonia shousted gladly. "Finnick and Ash are already here eating breakfast!"
Emma stretched and got out of bed, before changing into the same tank top & trousers that she wore on the train yesterday and making her way to the dining room.
"Good, there you are Emma!" Finnick and Ash both looked at the female tribute who had just arrived. "Please have some breakfast because you sure will need to stock up on energy for the games."
Emma followed Finnicks advice and helped herself to some 'yogurt parfait'- she believed it was called. She was never an expert in dishes because while she knew District Four one of the wealthier districts most people still couldn't afford anything more than simple food, also the idea that they were allowed to keep any seafood the caught or harvested was ludicrous as she heard stories from her parents of people who had been executed for taking large amounts or doing it repeated.
"Now I said yesterday that we would begin to discuss strategy today," Finnick said to the two of them after clearing his throat. "Under normal circumstances the protocol states that the female tribute is to be mentored by a female victor but since Mags lost her ability to speak after suffering a stroke a few years back and Annie cresta is still struggling with mental health following her surprise victory, I have the honor of mentoring you both."
Emma remembered how a dam-failure caused the entire arena to flood and since Annie was the best swimmer she managed to outlast the other tributes who all drowned one way or another, so no wonder Annie was suffering from PTSD. Emma though hoped that she would never have to go through something like that, for different reasons.
"My first question is if I should mentor you two together or if you want to be mentored separately in private?" Finnick asked them.
Emma grumbled a bit at the question but she didn't have long to reflect before Ash responded "I say together it will make your job easier and I'd prefer if me and you are a team for as long as possible, you agree Emma?"
Emma was a bit surprised at the statement. Ash was willing to make a team with her. The only boys she had ever gotten close to where Lewis (who was more Cleo's friend) and Bryron who asked her to teach him how to beat Zane at the school swimming competition only for him to try and pursue a romantic relationship with her. If Ash was trying something similar now things would go south very quickly.
"Okay, I agree. But only because it will make Finnick's job easier." Emma responded to let Ash know that she wasn't in the mood for anything other than learning how to survive.
"Good, then I would like to ask if you have any special skills that will come in handy either in the games themselves or make you stand out and appeal to the capitol crowd? Because trust me when I say that sponsors can mean the difference between life and death so make sure enough people like you."
"Yea, I can bet the people who gave you that trident in the final round were quite wealthy." Ash replied, trying to sound happy.
"Let's just stick to the topic at hand. So what would you say the two of you are good at?" Finnick asked with a tone that said he was uncomfortable talking about his time in the Hunger Games. "So what are you two good at?"
"Emma used to be the best swimmer in school but she suddenly quit last for some reason I heard?" Ash started likely trying to impress Emma although it only reminded her of the 'special power' that she was trying to hide from as many people as possible.
"Well Bryron and Lewis both say that you are quite strong, that you can lift large containers of food at your parents convenience store with little effort if I am not mistaken?" Emma said, trying to return the seductive praise that Ash had given her.
"Okay I guess we could work with that." Finnick said, taking a sip of a dark smelly liquid called Coffee by Capitol folk. "Any weapon skills?"
"None." Ash nodded.
"Lewis tried to teach me spearfish once but I quit after being too slow in my strikes." Emma responded, wishing she had taken more time to enjoy water activities before her 'transformation'.
Just the outside went dark as the train entered a tunnel. Emma had learned in school that this was the mountain range that surrounded the Capitol and gave them an advantage over the districts in the rebellion.
"Good for you." Finnick smiled at Emma. "So now that we are almost at the Capitol I want you to smile at everyone you see. You will not like what your stylists will put you through but no matter how much you want to resist, don't! You'll need sponsors if you want to have any chance of winning."
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