finnick

FINNICK FLINCHED, as Liberty stirred restlessly in her sleep, her dreams disrupted by the deep, resounding toll of a bell.

BONG! BONG!

The sound echoed through the jungle, sharp and unrelenting, forcing her eyes to snap open. Beside her, Finnick also stirred, his body tense and alert. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and glanced around, noting that Katniss, too, had been awakened by the ominous sound.

Finnick turned his head toward the women, his voice low but steady. "I counted twelve," he informed them, his gaze flicking between Liberty and Katniss.

"Does it mean anything?" Katniss asked, her voice still rough from sleep, "Number of districts, maybe?"

Liberty frowned, shaking her head. "No clue," she admitted, her tone mirroring her unease. Finnick also shook his head, his lips pressed into a tight line.

As Liberty rose to her feet, Katniss followed suit. The three were drawn to an abrupt, crackling sound in the distance. Their heads snapped toward it in unison. Suddenly, a bolt of electricity tore through the sky, striking a massive tree and illuminating the dark jungle. The deafening boom of the strike was followed by an electrifying storm, the atmosphere heavy with danger.

Once the tree ceased its sparking and the air settled, Liberty turned to Finnick. She stepped closer, her hand brushing against his cheek as her finger gently traced under his tired eyes. "Finnick, get some rest. Katniss and I will take the next watch."

He hesitated, his brows knitting in concern. But Liberty's stern look left no room for argument. With a sigh, he relented, nodding reluctantly. "Fine," he murmured, his voice laced with exhaustion. Before moving, he reached out, his hand briefly covering hers in a silent gesture of gratitude.

Finnick settled himself near the mouth of their makeshift shelter, his trident gripped tightly in one hand as he drifted into a restless slumber. Liberty watched him for a moment, her gaze softening, before turning back to Katniss.

The two women stood watch together, the jungle eerily quiet save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Katniss, bow in hand, glanced at Liberty, who twirled her spear absentmindedly. Seizing the moment, Katniss broke the silence.

"Liberty, you and Finnick... How long have you known each other?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

Liberty hummed thoughtfully before replying. "Our fathers were best friends. We've been together since birth, really. Barely been apart."

Katniss nodded, her expression pensive. "That's a long time."

A small smile tugged at Liberty's lips. "It is. Of course, there was a time we weren't so close—after his Games. We stopped being friends for a while. But fate had other plans. First, he was reaped. Then I was. It felt cruel, like the odds were mocking us." She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her. "But after my Games, we reconnected. Since then, we've been inseparable. More than ever."

"Even needing to sleep near each other?" Katniss asked, her tone teasing but curious.

Liberty snorted. "Yeah, well, it helps with the nightmares. I can't sleep unless he's right next to me. For him, as long as I'm nearby, he's fine. But me? I need him close."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that, both careful not to divulge too much under the ever-watchful eyes of the Capitol cameras. Liberty, however, felt a quiet defiance. What more could they take from her, knowing she struggled to sleep?

An hour passed, the lightning storm subsided, and the sound of rain began to echo in the distance. The rhythmic patter of droplets on leaves was oddly soothing, yet the rain never seemed to reach them. Liberty leaned on her spear, her gaze distant as a cannon fired in the distance. She flinched but quickly composed herself. Please, not Johanna, she prayed silently.

Then came the fog. At first, it appeared as a soft mist creeping through the jungle. But something about its uniform progression unsettled them. Tendrils of fog stretched forward like ghostly fingers, curling and pulling the main body closer. A sickly sweet odour soon filled the air, making Liberty's stomach churn.

"Something's wrong with this fog," Liberty murmured, her voice low but firm.

Katniss nodded in agreement, her eyes narrowing. The fog was unnatural, its movements deliberate. Liberty's instincts screamed danger. She turned, shouting, "Finnick! Peeta! Wake up!"

The two men stirred groggily, but the urgency in Liberty's voice brought them to full alertness. Katniss, closer to the advancing fog, suddenly hissed in pain as droplets stung her skin like acid. Her warning cut through the tense air. "Run! It's poisonous gas! Run!"

What followed was a frantic escape through the jungle. Liberty and Finnick led the way, their weapons clutched tightly as they called out to guide the others. Katniss struggled to help Peeta, who was slower and stumbling. The fog advanced relentlessly, tendrils burning everything they touched.

Finnick and Liberty, realizing their companions were falling behind, doubled back. Together, they supported Peeta, their combined strength propelling him forward. The group pushed through the undergrowth, every step a battle against the searing pain and the encroaching fog.

The toxic fog crept closer, relentless in its approach, its sickly sweet odour clinging to the air and suffocating their senses. Liberty, Finnick, and Peeta scrambled to move faster, each feeling the searing pain of the vapour as it gnawed at their skin, leaving painful boils in its wake.

Katniss lagged slightly, wincing as she pushed forward, her arm blistering where the poisonous mist had grazed it. Liberty, closer to the fog's edge, bore the brunt of its assault. Her body felt like it was on fire, her skin crawling with unbearable pain, yet she gritted her teeth, biting her lip so hard it drew blood to suppress the screams threatening to escape. She reminded herself that she had endured worse. Or had she? For a fleeting moment, even she began to doubt her resilience.

Their chaotic sprint was abruptly interrupted by a sudden drop—a slope concealed by the dense undergrowth. The group tumbled helplessly down, limbs flailing as gravity dragged them into an uncontrolled descent. They landed in a heap at the bottom, bruised, scraped, and gasping for air. The fog loomed above them, momentarily halted by what seemed like an invisible barrier.

Katniss was the first to rise, shakily getting to her feet and glancing up at the impenetrable wall of vapour. She exhaled in relief. "It can't reach us," she muttered. Turning her attention to the others, she saw Peeta disentangling himself from Finnick, who lay sprawled on the ground, his face twisted in agony. His muscles barely responded to his will as he weakly reached out. "Liberty..." Finnick croaked, his voice laced with desperation.

Liberty remained motionless, lying flat on her stomach, her laboured breathing the only indication she was alive. Peeta, still relatively unscathed compared to the others, crawled toward her. "Lib—" he called softly, his voice breaking. He used what strength he had to roll her over gently, cradling her as he tried to rouse her. Relief flooded Finnick's features as he saw Liberty's chest rise and fall, albeit shallowly. Katniss knelt beside Finnick, helping him sit up despite his trembling limbs.

In the eerie stillness, Katniss and Peeta exchanged a glance, their attention drawn upward. High in the trees, the shadows of monkey mutts shifted and twisted, their red eyes gleaming menacingly. For now, the creatures seemed content to observe. Wasting no time, Katniss and Peeta hoisted Finnick and Liberty between them, staggering toward the sandbar for refuge.

Once on the sandbar, they carefully laid the two down. Both were alive but writhing in pain, Liberty's injuries clearly worse. Finnick, while less burned, hissed sharply with every movement, his tolerance for the agony wearing thin. Katniss, desperate for a solution, crouched by the water's edge. As her hand dipped into the cool liquid, a milky substance began leaching out from the burns on her skin, and with it, the pain lessened.

"The water," she murmured, almost in disbelief. "The water can heal us."

Peeta caught on quickly and helped drag Finnick and Liberty toward the shoreline. Together, Katniss and Peeta worked to submerge the injured pair, holding them steady despite their thrashing as the water burned before it soothed. Finnick's trembling subsided first, and he managed to open his eyes, groaning softly as he pushed himself upright. "I'll take it from here," he said, his voice rasping but determined. He reached for Liberty, pulling her into his arms and cradling her close.

Katniss and Peeta stepped aside, taking a moment to cleanse their own wounds. The water worked its magic, washing away the grime and burns from their bodies. Liberty stirred moments later, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked groggily, her gaze focusing on Finnick's face. "Hey, Liberty," he whispered with a wry smile. "Welcome back from the dead."

She chuckled weakly, leaning against him for support. "Not quite the comeback I had in mind," she muttered, her voice raspy. She winced as Finnick prepared to lower her head underwater. "This is going to hurt, isn't it?"

"Only for a moment," he assured her, holding her hand tightly as she braced herself. She gasped as the water stung her skin, but soon, the pain ebbed away, leaving her feeling lighter. When she resurfaced, she let out a sharp hiss. "Awful. That was awful," she groaned, but there was a flicker of relief in her tone.

Finnick chuckled softly, leaning his forehead against hers in a brief, tender moment. Liberty glanced past him, her lips quirking into a mischievous grin. "Feel like scaring Katniss?"

Finnick raised an eyebrow but played along as Liberty suddenly dunked underwater. He followed suit, both disappearing beneath the surface. Their prolonged silence sent Katniss into a brief panic. She rushed toward the water's edge, her heart pounding—only for the pair to pop up suddenly, grinning like children.

"Don't do that!" Katniss scolded, her tone sharp with irritation.

"What, come up or stay under?" Finnick teased with a cheeky grin.

"Either. Neither. Just behave!" she snapped, her frustration tempered by relief. "If you're both feeling this good, let's go help Peeta with the water."

Liberty and Finnick exchanged amused glances before following Katniss. As they approached the jungle's edge, however, Katniss stopped abruptly, raising a hand to halt them. "What is it?" Liberty asked, her voice tense.

Katniss pointed upward, and the three froze. High in the trees, dozens—no, scores—of monkey mutts clung to the branches, their red eyes glowing ominously as they observed their prey below. Liberty's breath hitched as Finnick gripped his trident tightly, the air growing thick with tension. For now, the mutts held their ground, but the silent threat was impossible to ignore.

The three stood motionless, their hearts pounding as they braced for whatever came next.

The jungle seemed to tighten around them, the air thick with the weight of an unspoken threat. Katniss's voice cut through the stillness, sharper than she intended. "Peeta," she said, her bow already drawn and aimed toward the canopy above. Her gaze stayed locked, her muscles taut as if even the slightest relaxation would trigger an attack. "I need your help with something."

Peeta, just a few steps ahead, paused mid-stride. His expression shifted from curiosity to confusion as he turned back to face her. "What is it?" he asked, his tone casual, oblivious to the rising tension around him.

Finnick moved closer to Katniss, his trident at the ready. His body language was taut, a coil ready to spring. "Don't come any closer," Finnick said, his voice low and urgent, his eyes scanning the branches.

"Peeta," Liberty said in a harsh whisper, taking a step to the side to give herself room to manoeuvre. Her spear glinted in the dim light filtering through the trees. "Look up."

Peeta hesitated, his brow furrowed, but when his eyes lifted to the trees, his face turned ashen. Dozens of glowing red eyes stared back from the canopy, unblinking and cold. Sleek, muscular monkey mutts clung to the branches, their sharp claws scraping against the bark in an unsettling rhythm. Their lips curled back, exposing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and their bodies shifted, every movement brimming with predatory energy.

Katniss's voice dropped to a whisper, every word measured. "Don't move too fast. We don't know what will set them off."

Peeta's hand instinctively went to his belt, fingers curling around the handle of his machete. His steps were slow and deliberate as he edged closer to the group. "How many are there?" he asked under his breath, though the answer was already evident.

"Too many," Finnick muttered, his jaw tight. He adjusted his grip on his trident, his knuckles whitening. "We can't stay here. The longer we do, the worse this will get."

"They're watching us," Liberty said, her voice steady but grim. Her eyes darted between the mutts and the narrow path ahead. "They're waiting for something."

Katniss's heart pounded as she weighed their options. The beach was so close, but the narrow path forced them to stay dangerously close to the jungle. "We move together," she said firmly. "Slow, quiet, no sudden moves." Her voice dropped even further. "If they attack..." She didn't finish, but the unspoken command was clear.

The group moved as one, their footsteps barely making a sound against the forest floor. Katniss led, her bow raised and ready. Peeta stayed close behind her, with Liberty and Finnick covering the rear. Every creak of a branch and rustle of leaves made their breaths hitch. The mutts followed, their glowing eyes fixed on the group, their snarls soft but persistent.

Then, with a sudden screech, the silence shattered. The mutts exploded into motion, orange fur and gleaming claws descending from the trees in a frenzied wave.

"Move!" Katniss yelled, losing an arrow at the nearest mutt. The projectile buried itself in its chest, sending it tumbling to the ground, but another took its place immediately.

Finnick lunged forward, his trident skewering one mutt mid-leap. He pulled the weapon free with practised precision, the creature collapsing at his feet. "Keep going!" he shouted, positioning himself between the others and the advancing swarm.

Liberty fought with ferocity, her spear flashing as she slashed at a mutt that lunged for her. Its claws scraped her arm, drawing blood, but she spun and drove the spear into its side, shoving the dying creature away before it could recover. "There's too many of them!" she shouted, kicking another mutt back.

Peeta, less experienced with close combat, swung his machete wildly, his movements powerful but lacking finesse. A mutt leapt at him, its claws raking his side. He stumbled but managed to drive the machete into its neck, sending it sprawling. Another mutt latched onto his arm, its teeth almost sinking in.

"Peeta!" Katniss yelled, firing an arrow that hit the mutt's hind leg, making it release its grip.

But before Peeta could react, another mutt lunged at him, teeth bared. Time seemed to slow as a figure burst from the undergrowth—emaciated and trembling, the morphling from District 6. She threw herself between Peeta and the mutt, her thin arms outstretched as the creature's claws tore into her chest.

Peeta stared in shock as the mutt ripped into her, her body crumpling beneath its weight. He roared, yanking his knife free and stabbing the mutt repeatedly in its back until it finally fell limp. He kicked it away, his chest heaving with rage and grief. "Come on, then! Come on!" he shouted, bracing for another attack.

But the jungle grew quiet. The mutts, as if responding to an unseen signal, began retreating. One by one, they disappeared into the shadows, their glowing eyes fading into the darkness.

Katniss lowered her bow, her hands trembling as she watched them go. "What just happened?"

"Gamemakers," Finnick spat, his voice cold. "They've decided it's enough."

Katniss knelt beside the morphling, her breaths shaky. "Get her," she told Peeta, her voice soft but commanding. "We'll cover you."

Peeta gently lifted the morphling's broken body, cradling her as if she were made of glass. Blood stained his hands, but he carried her with care, her head lolling against his shoulder.

The group made their way to the beach, the waves lapping at the sand a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped. Finnick and Liberty stood watch, their weapons ready, but no more mutts appeared. Only the orange carcasses on the ground remained as a grim reminder.

Peeta waded into the water with the morphling, her shallow breaths rattling in her chest. Katniss knelt beside him, her hand brushing the morphling's face as she whispered words of comfort. The woman's lips moved, a faint smile forming as she gazed at the colours of the sunset before her eyes closed for the last time.

The cannon's boom shattered the fragile silence.

Liberty hissed, cursing under her breath. "Damn them all," she muttered, her voice tight with rage and sorrow.

Finnick stepped closer, draping an arm over her shoulder. He didn't speak, just offered a quiet presence as they both watched the hovercraft descend, its claw retrieving the morphling's lifeless body.

Katniss and Peeta stayed by the water, their grief heavy but silent, as the waves washed away the blood and the jungle loomed ominously behind them.