Cashmere

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk

The sound was like music to my ears. My muscles strained and recoiled as the sharp blades sank into the wood. The moon washed the colours of the backyard away and replaced them with ethereal hues. My hair stuck to the nape of my neck and my hairline was slick with sweat. Still, it was nothing like what my brother will be experiencing. I narrowed my eyes. My hands flew to my belt and yanked the shurikens off my belt. With deft movements, I sent them careening into the targets. A faint thunk was my reward. My chest heaved from exertion, and my arms had taken on a leaden sensation.

I eyed my weapons to get a feel for my results. Three of them looked okay, but the third seemed slightly off. With quick steps, I made my way over to check. A curse slipped out of my mouth when my suspicions were proven correct.

I pursed my lips in distaste before yanking the weapons out of the boards. They rebelled, but with one last tug I was able to release them from their confines. My head tilted up to greet the moon, and I let the serenity of the night was over me. I was always more comfortable in the dark, despite my flair for attention. It made hunting easier, and it allowed me to become predator not prey I forced my eyes open and took in the majesty of the night. It reminded me of the dark velvet fabrics that decorated the stores on Gem Boulevard. The stars were like tiny gems strewn haphazardly across the velvet surface. Some of my tension eased when a voice in the back of my head reminded me that Gloss would be seeing these exact same stars. No matter the distance, the sky connected us. I just had to have faith.

"I will be here waiting for you when you get back, big brother. I have every faith." I said, reaching up to clasp the pendant I made.

The coolness grounded me. A single tear slid down my cheek, and I let it fall and soak the earth. I wasn't allowed to cry after this. This was my one moment. Gloss needed me to be strong and believe in him. If I was crying, that is giving up. I sighed, letting the wind carry it along with the rest of my secrets.

A dull clapping caught my attention. My body stiffened in reaction. I swivelled on my heel and held one of my knives in a perfect throwers position. The clapping stopped and Medallion stepped out of the protective embrace of the shadows.

"Wonder job, Cashmere. As always."

His honey tone made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My stomach swirled, turning into one of the whirlpools I made in the bath when I was a child.

"Thank you. Is there something you needed?" I asked, keeping my tone detached.

His expression darkened and his eyes trained themselves on the curves of my body. I was suddenly aware of how formfitting my black tank top was and how much leg my shorts left exposed.

He let his gaze drip down my body, before letting it trail back up my form. It took everything in me not to cross my arms and hunch over. Anything to keep myself from feeling the violation of his eyes. Still, it could be worse.

"Your mother wanted to know when you were coming inside." He said finally.

I raised a brow and swirled his words through my mind like they were a fine wine. Mother had never concerned herself with my whereabouts before, so I didn't believe his words for a second. Still, it was better to play the game. Never let your enemy know you can see through them; they had hammered into me at the training centre.

"Tell her that I will be in soon. Just have a few more things to do."

His eyes narrowed at my reply. I saw his jugular quiver as he tensed his jaw. Oh, how easy it would be to impale it. The aromatic metallic smell would fill the air as his blood dripped out of him and fertilised the earth. A much better use of it then keeping this vile being alive, I thought.

"I will do that. Don't stay up too much longer, Cashmere." He said, speaking my name as if it was a sinful delicacy.

I used all my training to stop myself from wrinkling my nose. Instead, I forced a smile and nodded. He stood there for a few more moments, just drinking in my form. I allowed a flicker of annoyance to cross my features before I removed all emotion. "Anything else?"

He clicked his tongue. I kept my stance, not trusting him enough to lower my guard. He may have a rounded belly and the grace of a bumbling 12, but he was still trained.

"No Cashmere, not right now." He said.

I stiffened at the word now, but ultimately nodded. "If that is all then, I'd like to get back to my training."

He pursed his lips at me but retreated into the shadows. I peered into the gloom and didn't relax my stance until the click rang through the air like a Hunger Games Cannon. Relaxing, I walked back to my position and narrowed my eyes at the target. I lost myself in the rhythm, the coil inside my loosening with each throw. By the time I slipped back inside I was coated in a thin layer of sweat and had lost count off all my throws. I kept my hand firmly around the hilt of my knife as I scrubbed myself clean. My eyes were glued to the door, and my muscles coiled in anticipation of an imaged attack. Clean, I scampered across the hallways and into my brother's room. I moved the desk chair he had under the doorknob, and finally allowed myself to relax.

I slipped into bed and pulled the blankets up. I snuggled in and moved one of his pillows to my chest. I didn't let go of the hilt of my knife, just kept it tucked under the pillow on top of me. My brothers scent surrounded me, and for once nightmares of fat hands violating me were replaced with visions of my brother returning home, and the two of us living in his home, far, far away from here.

Gloss

My eyes kept flickering to the District 7 pair all throughout training. Every time I started to head in their direction, they would be joined by another tribute. Either that, or they would leave due to the heavy weight of my gaze on them. My hands remained busy, but my mind was occupied. My allies kept giving me pointed looks and I had to pretend I didn't see them. I knew they wanted me to go and speak to them, but I had to time it right. These people wouldn't trust us at the best of times, and after Enobaria had tortured their female tribute the year before, earning their trust would be harder than a 12 staying clean.

I dragged my mind back the present in time to avoid what would have been a painful jab to my face. I jumped back and put some distance between the trainer and myself.

"You need to focus. You get distracted in the Games and you may as well dig your own grave. You here me?" The trainer said, his tone as hard as diamond.

"Yes, sir." I said, ducking out of the way of his next punch.

Glimpsing the gap in his defences, I clenched my fits and drove my hand upwards in an uppercut. The trainer let out a winded grunt as my fist sank into the soft flesh of his ribs. Not wanting to lose momentum, I positioned myself under him and drove up using the strong muscles of my legs. He grunted as I used my momentum to list him, so he was over my shoulders. I spun in a circle, before throwing him down so he splattered onto the mats. A wet crunch was my reward, and I stood back with a satisfied grin on my face.

The trainer plied himself off the floor and managed to say surrender around the mouthful of blood he was dealing with. I walked over and offered him my hand. He balked at my sudden appearance, but the surprise morphed into a faint smile as he took my hand. I quickly pulled him up, and despite the blood decorating his face, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and clapped me on the back.

"That's what I'm talking about. Fight with that energy and you may come out in your own steam and not a body bag."

I chuckled and shook my head in amusement. "Only one of those is an acceptable option, so I appreciate that."

He grinned, his mouth looking like a miniature Bloodbath. "Practice some more of your holds and I think you have it down." He paused to wipe away some of the blood welling up in his jaw. "I heard your sword skills are increasing; keep focusing on short range and you'll be good."

I nodded my thanks and smiled as he clapped me on the back once more. He turned and made his way over to the medics who flocked over to him like a horde of mutts. I turned and caught Cordelia's gaze. The girl grinned at me and gave me a thumbs up. I fought the urge to grin back and instead offered her a half smile and inclined my head in a show of thanks. I had to keep repeating to myself that she was an obstacle. Nothing more than a temporary ally.

I pulled my gaze away and searched the training center. Grunts and the clash of weapons sounded through the space. Wade had vanished into the swimming pool half an hour ago and had taken Rarity with him. I berated myself when my mind conjured images of what kind of exercises the pair were likely to be doing. I forced myself to look around again and saw the Twos busy with instructors. My sweeping glance stilled when I noticed the Sevens holding the spears in an awkward angle.

This is my chance.

I stepped out of the ring and made my way over to the two of them. Bloods darted out of my way and I had to swallow the smirk that threatened to form at their reaction. The Sevens chatter dulled when I neared, and stopped completely when I stopped in front of them.

Acacia averted her gaze and nibbled her lower lip. Elaeis on the other hand stood firm like agreat Oak tree and crossed his arms, drawing emphasis to his already impressive bulk. "What do you want, One." He snapped.

I raised a brow and lifted my hands in mock surrender. "Honest answer? You both in our alliance."

Elaeis balked at my forwardness and blinked as if he had something in his eyes. "Our mentors mentioned you were interested, but we thought it was a joke." He said carefully, a look of weariness inching into his expression.

I sighed, as if the implication was a bother. If the roles were reversed, I would be wary as well. "Look, I'm going to be honest with you both. It was my idea to talk to you both and see if you wanted to join. I understand if you'd rather not join us, and there won't be any hard feelings on my part." I said, adding the last part on purpose. "However, if you both wanted to join then we'd be glad to have you."

Acacia straightened herself and pursed her lips. I felt her appraising me, and I had to wrestle down the urge to shift my weight at her inspection. "Why us? Why not just Elaeis?"

I had been expecting this question. "Honestly we were in two minds about whether to invite you both. However, I bet you have your own impressive skillset to add, and I didn't want to put you both in a position where you had to choose."

She took a step closer and folded her arms. She scrutinized me, as if her gaze could dig out all my secrets to weaponsise them against me. "Why are you the one whos asking us?"

I shrugged as if it was no big deal. "It doesn't matter why, but if you really wanted to know I suggested asking you both and so it became my responsibility to offer."

"How do you we know you won't turn on us and butcher us like your little Two pal did last year?" Elaeis asked, resentment coating his tone.

This time I didn't even try to stop my lips from curling and my nose from wrinkling. "Look, as you both know this is a Game. I won't make empty promises and say that I won't end up killing you both. Who knows, you two may be the ones killing me. " I said, forcing the words out. "But you have my words if I am the one to kill you, that your deaths will be quick and honourable, with the least amount of pain possible."

"Why?"

I looked Acacia right in the eye as I answered. "Because that is the way I'd want to go. My sister will be watching, and I want to do her proud. Butchering others won't do that." I paused and offered them a half smile. "Besides, I wouldn't be able to stomach it."

I held her gaze for what felt like hours. Eventually she nodded slowly, breaking our staring. "I believe him."

Elaeis pursed his lips and nodded slowly. "Do you need an answer now?"

I moved my lips from side to side as I thought. "It would be better, but I can probably get them to wait till after the scores are realised."

"But that opens us up to the risk that they won't want us if our scores are low." Acacia said, reading my expression perfectly.

I'll need to keep that in mind, I thought, filing that information away for later. I nodded, before offering them a half shrug. "Its up to you both, but know that no matter what you decide, I will treat you both fairly."

They shared a look and seemed to have a chat with their eyes. I averted my gaze—deliberately choosing the side Garrison wasn't occupying—to give them the illusion of privacy.

"Okay," Acacia said, and I swivelled my gaze back to the pair. "We're in."

I hope you all enjoyed this latest update! If you would like to leave a review, that would be amazing. Either way, I hope you liked it. Next chapter will be Gloss's assessment followed by the interviews.