Taking a break from the tributes while I wait for the District 3 tribute. Don't feel rushed, though. You have until the 27th and these chapters are fun. Just a slight warning, the first part of the chapter is very dark but it gives a lot of Ares and Luxen's backstory plus it has some hits at the story line. Enjoy this chapter, Fly Away.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

District One, Panem Six Years Ago

The sun spilled across the sky, blanketing District One in an orange glow, the small buildings casting long shadows across the floor. The soft breeze carried the smell of burning flesh and suffocating smoke. The dying screams of people caught in the fire echoed through the air from all ends of the District and bounced around Ares skull and tore at his emotions. Every pleading face at the shattered windows, holding their hand out to the small boy, the orange flames licking their skin and peeling their skin caused one more emotional scar. The boy tried to look away as he raced past but he was unable to tear his eyes away screaming woman as she was engulfed by the flames.

"Keep up Ares," his mother whimpered, trying to keep it together for the rest of her family. Their father, was not as strong, allowing the tears to fall as he carried his youngest son, Luxen in his hands. His large hand lay over the young boy's blue eyes, not allowing the six-year-old to see the war around him.

The family had narrowly escaped the fire that destroyed their house, they did not even have time to pick up the family dog or warm clothing before they were forced into the bitter morning air. They raced through the back streets of the District along with other terrified citizens as they aimed for the safety of the forest. It was the only place the attackers did not seem to be. It was also harder to find anyone.

Ares started to fall behind as he watched a middle-aged soldier pull a young girl from a burning house, kicking and screaming. A distraught woman, who he assumed was her mother, ran out of the house after her as the man lifted the young girl's dress. He stopped when he saw the move and shouted something towards three masked men who grabbed the mother and threw her back into the flames. Ares looked on as they cheered on the death of the burning woman, kicking the young girl repeatedly. Ares stood frozen in fear until his mother lifted him up and swung and placed him in the direction of his family. "Run Ares," she screamed as she pushed the young boy forward by the small of his back and turned to look back at the small girl. She was now crying for her mother, who had succumbed to the flames, as the men started to crowd her.

It did not take long for Ares to catch up with his tall, stocky father who now held a crying and shivering Luxen, his head against his chest, the boy's tears soaking into his grey vest top. He looked at Ares through teary eyes as his son started running beside him, his hands covering his ears as they passed more burning houses. He looked away from his son and behind him, catching his breath when he noticed the absence of his wife. "Ares, where is your mother?" he screamed but his son ignored him, only then did he realize why he was covering his ears. The screams of help from his mother.

He reached out his right arm and pulled Ares back, throwing him to the ground. Ares looked up at his panicked father as he placed Luxen on the floor and told him to keep his eyes covered no matter what. He then turned to his oldest son, tears streaming from his eyes. "Ares, take your brother and run to the woods, as fast as you can...don't stop for anyone, we will meet you there...understand?" he snapped, clearly terrified at the prospect of leaving his sons behind. "I love you two, always know that you always have a choice to stand up for what is right," he choked, helping Ares to his feet. The blonde haired boy grabbed Luxen's right hand, his little brother keeping his eyes tightly shut. He walked a few feet before turning around to look at his father, "Run!" he screamed. Ares gave a quick nod and took off, dragging Luxen behind him.

For the first time, Ares ignored the screams and pleas of his people and focused on the survival of him and his little brother. His green eyes staying focused on the forest that with each step came closer and closer. He wanted to look behind him but knew it would put not just his life but Luxen's life at risk.

The brothers got about twenty metres away when something exploded behind them. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. First was the sound of an explosion that seemed to explode inside Ares' ears. Then was the shock wave hit. It tore through the District, destroying houses, ripping up the ground, overturning it and threw Ares and Luxen into the air.

Ares was not sure when it happened but as he was tumbled through the air, the feel of his body tearing, he lost his grip on Luxen, his brother missing in the cloud of dust that obscured his view. His body twisted and turned in the air until he impacted with the ground, his collarbone shattering as well as his right leg. He seemingly bounced along the floor, tearing skin from his face and torso. When he came to a holt, he used the last of his momentum to roll himself onto his back.

Blood trickled from his ringing ears while his broken ribs restricted his breathing yet he didn't scream, he just looked at the sky in silence, his left eye too swollen to open. In that moment, he was not Ares Valor, the boy who got both of his parents and most likely his little brother killed. He was just a broken, bloodied boy who lay in the center of a Mockingjay graffiti, taking in how fragile life was.

After a few moments, he noticed something flying against the fire colored sky, hovering through the breeze. It's dirty, white underbelly and outstretched blue wings catching the light perfectly. "Go, it's not safe here," Ares said weakly, holding out his right arm towards the bird. "You have wings, you can fly away," this time it was more frantic, a plea towards the animal. A plea to protect itself from the bloody and cruel world below. "Fly!"

The Capitol, Panem

Ares woke up screaming, thrashing his hands. The sound that flooded through his ears was a welcome relief but he still clawed at his body in an attempt to wipe away the blood that once coated his body. His screams got worse when he mistook his sweat for blood, causing him to fall off the bed and hit his elbow on the bedside table, knocking a glass of water onto his head.

"Ares!" Zenobia screamed, kicking the covers offer her body and leaping across the bed towards the frightened man. She went to hug him but the man swatted her away and carried on rocking back and forth for a little while longer. When he started to calm down, he looked up at the blonde girl who looked at him with sadness. She gave a soft smile and offered out her hand but instead of taking it in his, he lay his head against it and started to sob.

Ares stood in front of the full body mirror straightening out his bow tie, Zenobia in the background dressing in a long, white dress with her curly blonde hair in a bun. She had recently put on a lot more weight and despite the fact he could see no difference, she could no longer fit in her tight dresses so while she waited for a new shipment from Eight, she had resorted to baggy clothing. She was even being forced to take a trip to District Eight for a wedding dress resize. Ares was not sure about allowing her to go by herself but she assured him that it was nothing more than a dress fitting.

"Zenobia," Ares said, slightly squeakier than he had intended. The blue-eyed girl looked over to him, the back of her dress only half zipped up. Ares took a deep sigh, his eyes drifting over to the black and white photo of his parents, all he had left of the two. "I am moving the date of our wedding forward,"

Zenobia smiled, a small blush forming on her cheeks as she looked at the nervous man, butterflies racing around her stomach. "Okay, but why?" she laughed, zipping up the rest of her dress as she watched Ares fumble over his words.

"Well, I thought we could move it to the same day as The Games-"

"You want our wedding day to be the same day that eleven innocent kids die?" she growled.

"Well it would certainly take the attention away from them-"

"And here I was thinking it was because you loved me,"

"I do-"

"Nah, I am pretty sure it is just a stunt to hide that fact a bunch of children are going to die-"

"Oh yes, I planned this three years in advance, took you from District Nine just to cover up my terrible mistake,"

"Wouldn't surprise me-"

"Ares, you ass-shat!" Luxen screamed, almost kicking down the door and intruding on the pair's argument. The two looked at the blonde, lanky male who held a script in his hand.

"Come in Luxen-"

"Yeah, yeah, what is this?" Luxen asked, waving the script in the air but Ares just gave a shrug. "Sunlight is important for growing children, I sound like a lunatic...not to mention the glitter and that fake smile!" he threw the script on the floor, sat down in the chair and leaned his head against the wall. The pair looked at him, their argument seeming pathetic as they watched Luxen bash his head repeatedly against the wall.

"I will leave you two alone to...whatever this is about," Zenobia sighed, taking a faux, white fur coat and walking out the door.

"Bye Zenaboobie!" Luxen called, his voice dull and droning.

"See ya Luxstar!" she shouted back, shutting the door behind her.

Ares scowled, his thick eyebrows knotting. "You have nicknames for each other?"

Luxen smiled thinly. "She is my future sister and I have nicknames for all my siblings, Airy-bery,". Luxen laughed at his brother blushing face. "Honestly, you should stop arguing, people like us hardly ever find someone who cares that much, she is something special,"

"I am trying to protect her-"

"Then stop thinking like a leader for a few seconds and think like her future husband, it might do you some good," he sighed, standing up and reaching for the door. "Oh, and could you sort these scripts out for me so I sound like me and not one of those fake smile Capitolites? Many thanks," and with that, Luxen vanished out the door, the three paged script floating towards the floor.

The thing was, Ares was not sure he wanted to marry Zenobia and start a family. He loved her, more than anything, but the last time he had a family, he got them killed. Luxen also had many close calls under his leadership. He couldn't stand to do the same to Zenobia. He just wished they could both see that the wedding, the script and even the Games was to keep them both safe.