Author's Note: My last chapter of 2022! The victors continue to prepare for the Quarter Quell, although there will be differences in how they approach things.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas/holiday period!

….

Training

They continued to train every day, each of District One's victors. But this time it was just Gloss, Cashmere and Gem left in the main gymnasium. Gem had been waiting to talk to the siblings and had sent Topaz and Luxor to work with the seventeen-year-old career candidates to ensure they were not feeling neglected.

Gloss and Cashmere were working with the knives, further developing their synchronicity whilst Gem sat sharpening the blade of one of her axes, waiting for the right moment. She watched as they finally put away the knives and walked towards her. They must have known she was waiting for them.

"What's the plan?"

"Well, I don't see anybody else volunteering," Gloss snapped.

"We will put on a show," Cashmere replied. "We'll be reaped, act appropriately surprised and get on with it. Put on the usual charm, our routine act. It won't be difficult for Topaz and Luxor to get us sponsors."

"We have the loyal fans, and I don't care if they fleece our regular customers," Gloss said.

"I will do what I can to help there. Let me know who you want to take money from, and I'll sort it." Gem replied. "But what about when you get to the arena?"

"Try not to die in the first five minutes," Gloss laughed. "This time most of us will go for the Cornucopia. It's not like any other year."

"Gloss, we'll last longer than that. The others would be stupid to try anything. We do what we need to at the start, team up with the Twos, probably the Fours, depending on who goes in for them and go from there," Cashmere replied.

"And towards the end?" Gem asked.

"We see off who we need to and ensure the alliance breaks down. If we get that far. It's what is expected of us," Gloss said.

"Do you want to get that far?"

"It happens when it happens."

"Answer me honestly, do either of you plan to come home?"

Gloss and Cashmere looked at each other, "Not without the other," Cashmere finally answered. "Other than you, who else can we trust? We cannot go on like this and given there's no way there will be a repeat of last year's drama, it cannot be both of us. There is no use in either of us being the victor of all victors. It doesn't appeal."

"I am sorry for you both."

"It is our decision. We will not disgrace the district with an early exit. We will go down fighting, but we won't let anyone pit us against each other. We have never done that," Gloss said.

"I won't question your decision. It saddens me, but I am not surprised, and I won't hold anything against either of you. I will help with Topaz and Luxor, pull the wool over their eyes as I imagine you won't let on to them?"

Gloss snorted and Cashmere spoke up, "They would not understand. They never do anymore."

"One day I will get through to them," Gem said. "I'll deal with them, cover for you. But you need to sort things out with Gus and Aria."

"I won't tell him. He's too far gone, too into Luxor's views," Gloss said.

"I'll tell Aria when it gets closer. I won't blindside her. I care about her too much. You will look after her, won't you, Gem?"

"Of course. Aria is the priority. In whatever comes next."

….

The cameras had arrived, and the reporters were speaking of the 'sudden improvement in the weather' on District Four's shores. There still wouldn't be any fish, but now they would need a different excuse for their district's lack of productivity.

Finnick and Noah had gone down to the beach to provide a distraction and to give the Capitol cameras what they wanted. Footage of the pair of them swimming in the sea, picking up their weapons for some serious training and then play fighting whilst their Capitol visitors swooned over them.

Finnick wielded a trident against Noah's efforts with a spear and was able to best his opponent before Noah went on to practice with the throwing knives he enjoyed using and was seen teaching Finnick some of the techniques he had mastered. They were putting on a show, keeping the reporters entertained, their cameras busy and detracting from everything else that was happening in Four.

Rowan and Song joined them too, in an attempt to keep the reporters away from the Centre. The four of them started running along the beach before setting up several races across the sand. Rowan then set up a contest with Finnick in fighting with the tridents they both favoured whilst Song and Noah jousted with their spears before seeing who could throw the furthest. Their observers were entertained and most importantly, distracted from their surroundings.

But they could not remain on the beach all day as the reporters decided to take their cameras into Victors' Village. Song decided to run ahead to prewarn their peers as to their impending visitors and ensure Annie remained hidden. Rowan, Noah and Finnick made the walk as long as possible, distracting their visitors with anecdotes about the places they were passing and taking them on a twisting turning route through the quietest streets of Four.

Ultimately, they arrived to a carefully cultivated scene in Mags' house where she and Shai were sat in her living room, blankets over their legs, drinking tea, apparently engaged in a jigsaw puzzle. They posed for pictures and treated their guests to some inane chatter about the woes of old age. Chloe and Coral dutifully fussed over the pair, arranging cushions, appearing with trays of biscuits, and topping up drinks. Mags and Shai were simply docile, elderly victors, intent on growing old gracefully in the care of those who loved them. They were in no way planning a district-wide revolt to kickstart a full-scale rebellion and would never dream of doing such a thing.

The reporters were soon bored of the scene of domesticity and were eager to leave. Noah and Finnick promptly responded and walked them out of the Village, straying wide of Annie's house to avoid any prying eyes. They ensured their visitors were delivered back to their escorts and went for a walk in the area to find out exactly where those who had travelled with the reporters had been and who they may have spoken to. It was all in a day's work for District Four's victors. The arena was only one element of their plans.

….

They were training in Seven too. Linden and Blight worked outside each day and Johanna joined them whenever she could be persuaded. Sawyer provided further instruction with the machete he favoured along with Linden, and Liev had since joined in too. The older victors were feeling the need to build up their fitness to whatever level their ages would allow. It was going to be dangerous in the Mentors' Centre once the arena fell and they needed to be ready.

Johanna would often venture out alone. She would spend nights in the place she had made her own in the forest, only allowing Blight to join when she could tolerate someone else's company. She would take her axe with her, leaving a trail of destruction in her path that meant any of Seven's victors could find her if they became worried.

It left Linden and Blight to train together much of the time and so during those sessions, many of the planning and strategy discussions took place.

"The plan, and Johanna, come first," Blight said.

"Agreed," Linden replied. "If all goes well and we're all in the right place at the right time, Johanna gets out first. If one of us gets left behind-"

"Then we suck it up," Blight cut in.

"Exactly. And if it's all gone wrong, Johanna comes home and whoever is left takes care of her as best we can."

"If it's me in there with her and it all goes bad, then you know what to do."

Linden sighed, "I know. It won't be easy, but Johanna comes first. I'll look after her too, as much as she lets me."

Blight laughed, "Then you'll truly understand how I feel. You'll be cursing me and my absence!"

"I'd miss you."

"Don't be getting all sentimental with me, Linden. You know we have a job to do. You've known the risks longer than I have and now it's time."

"We'll be ready. In shape enough for another arena, who knows? But we'll have Seven ready. I can feel the mood turning. People are angrier than ever."

"Conditions are worse than ever," Blight replied.

"Everyone has to hold out as best they can. We will help as best we can too."

"You going on another medicines and supply run tonight?"

"Of course. You'll cover for me?"

"You don't need to ask."

Linden nodded, "If it all really, really goes to shit and Johanna has gone-"

"Then it's Finnick or the Twelves. Then we regroup. If we're still alive."

"I couldn't abandon Finnick for the pair I don't know."

"Then it's Finnick," Blight said. "Repay the Fours for everything they've done."

"You're right though," Linden added. "If things go that badly, we might all be dead already."

"And isn't that a delightful thought," Blight laughed.

"Then Poppy is dead," Linden said, with a new seriousness behind his words.

"If it goes that bad, get her out. I know we discussed the possibility earlier, after the announcement, but now, I really don't think she will end up in the arena. Halley too. They'll get out of the Capitol. Help them. Heck, if you get half the chance, go with them! I'll be reaped, I'm sure of it, you'll have a chance."

"I'm not abandoning you or Johanna. And we've agreed, Poppy and me. Johanna and the plan come first."

"Well, it's your decision," Blight said.

"You can't tell me you're not planning on it. Sacrificing yourself to save Johanna."

"I'll probably just die before her. But you're right, if I need to I will, no question."

"Then we're on the same page."

….

They were doing their best in Twelve. Running, finding knives to throw, trying their best with hand-to-hand combat, and archery under Katniss' tuition. There were awkward hours spent with Gale too, teaching Peeta survival skills. Katniss and Haymitch revised their knowledge along with them, but they knew what they were doing from their time in The Seam.

Haymitch was improving. There were signs of his sixteen-year-old self when he got a knife in his hands and hit the target. The shakes were subsiding somewhat and his focus improving. Nobody would beat Peeta in a physical fight. It was a real weakness for Katniss. But nobody else was even remotely accurate with her bow, even with Gale offering his own bows for practice.

They were watching the Games nightly. It was a difficult watch. So much death and violence, whilst surrounding them, Twelve was suffering too. Tensions were high.

It was obvious that Haymitch was hurting too. Katniss was trying to ignore it, trying to keep focus. But Peeta could tell how much going through the Games was not good for their mentor. They were his friends, perhaps his only friends and it seemed cruel, but they needed to find out about their opposition. Doing otherwise would be foolish.

So Haymitch voluntarily offered up information on his friends whilst Peeta took copious notes. It was difficult realising that some of their opponents were going to be elderly. People who would not be a physical threat, but they could still be smart, they could be working to help a younger district partner, ready and willing to sacrifice themselves.

But there would be plenty of threats. The careers would be on another level to the ones in the Seventy-Fourth Games. They had continued to train and taught the careers Katniss and Peeta were familiar with. They knew the Games inside out. They knew who to target and when, how to control the narrative when the Gamemakers let them and had sponsorship connections Haymitch could only dream of.

Neither Katniss nor Peeta truly knew the Capitol. They knew fear of the Capitol, fear of Snow. But not how its people worked. They were going to be at a disadvantage in the arena and out of it. It would be what Snow wanted.

Katniss had no choice. The arena beckoned. But it was a fifty-fifty chance between Haymitch and Peeta. Peeta was preparing to return to the arena, but Haymitch was giving him mentoring and sponsorship tips to provide cover for his deal with Katniss. Both men knew what Katniss did not, however. Peeta would return to the arena alongside her. What Peeta did not know is that the decision was out of their hands. Plans that had been in the works, that Haymitch had been involved with since before they were born, were underway and those at the helm would remain in control.