As always, thank you so much to the readers that are following this story:) 

Please remember to comment, like, and share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you! Let me know if you are liking what you are reading or if there are things that don't make sense (PLEASE)

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Take care and stay safe!~CANGEL

***

District 4: The Tour

Scarlet Wolfe

     If Scarlet's intention was to have her visit to District 4 cut short, she would have been sorely disappointed. It was a good thing that it hadn't been her intention at all. Though after meeting their Mayor, Scarlet had wanted nothing more than to leave the fool behind and never look back.

     Unfortunately, just as she was preparing to turn her back and march back to the train, was the moment that Finnick had chosen to step forward and intervene, offering to take Scarlet on her tour of District 4 while the feast was prepared.

     Somehow, this was how Scarlet had ended up floating in the middle of the damned Ocean with only Finnick and a rickety old raft preventing her from being shipwrecked and drowned.

     "Are we even allowed to be out on this thing?" Scarlet asked as yet another wave crashed against the side of the small little raft they were in. Honestly, it was more than a raft, but every time a wave crashed against the side, she swayed and tipped in the small boat, and she had to clutch both of the sides to prevent herself from being tipped off the side.

     Meanwhile, Finnick lounged back in the boat, eyes closed as he soaked up the sun, not a worry or care to be had. Must be nice. Only his slightly growing smile gave away the fact that he had even heard her.

     "Since when are you worried about breaking any rules?"

     "Since it might lead to my death." She hissed back at him, eyeing the distance to the shore. Unfortunately, it was far too late for her to call it quits and head back under her own power. She would drown before she made it even a quarter of the way back.

    No, the only way she was getting back to the shore safely, was when Finnick decided to take her back.

     "That's a bit dramatic of you, don't you think?"

     "I. Can't. Swim. Finnick. And this boat is one slightly bigger wave away from tipping over." The words admitting to weakness tasted bitter in her mouth, but she would rather make it back to shore alive than keep her pride intact.

     Finnick's mouth curved upward, and instant regret filled her. She should have chosen her pride.

     "But I know how to swim."

     "Good for you." She stated flatly, glancing back at the shoreline. Perhaps by now Penelope would have noticed her and Finnick were no longer in the Marketplace where they should have been and were looking for her. As much as she disliked Penelope, perhaps her presence could now serve a useful purpose.

     As soon as Penelope located her, she would extract Scarlet from this mess that Scarlet had gotten herself into.

     It wasn't as if she could place the blame entirely on Finnick. He hadn't exactly kidnapped her from the Marketplace or forced her on the boat. She had chosen this.

     But when she had wandered into the store to look at more of the little white beaded necklaces that had caught her eye at one of the markets stands out front, she had been completely caught off guard to see Finnick walk through the back only minutes later.

     His bright-eyed and enthusiastic excitement had been contagious and without a second thought she had taken the chance to leave the Marketplace behind, following him out the back of the store, pausing only for a moment to remove her heels from her feet.

     For just a little bit, it had felt like being back home in District 14—minus the cold and the snow of course—but the familiar thrill of running through the back alleys of the District, either running from a place you shouldn't have been or to a place you shouldn't go.

     Finnick took the lead, of course, not only because he was the one who knew where they were going, but because his legs carried him further faster. If they were the same size, she knew she would be faster, but often times, nature wasn't fair so Scarlet tried not to be bitter about the fact that she would probably never be faster than him in a straight race.

     It was different, running in District 4. The air was thicker here than in District 14. The air didn't freeze your lungs as you pulled in air, but instead, the warmth wrapped around your skin. Beads of sweat formed on the surface of her skin. She felt the drops trailing down her back and her face and even though she was sure that her makeup was getting more and more ruined, she couldn't bring herself to care.

     Finnick hadn't seemed to care either, whenever he looked back as they had run, there was nothing but pure childish excitement on his face that she felt reflected on hers.

     It had been thrilling and freeing to escape the Tour and the cameras with no one the wiser.

     Of course, it had ended suddenly and abruptly when Finnick had run to the docks, stopping in front of the little raft she was trapped in currently.

     Much to her displeasure, it had only taken a few little words from Finnick questioning her bravery and courage before her ego had her stepping willingly into the death trap. Manipulated by the golden boy.

     She had been too embarrassed to say anything until they were too far out. Until she couldn't take it anymore. There was so much water surrounding her. When she looked down, the surface of the water was so clear, yet she could just barely make out the bottom shaded in shadows. It was so deep.

     A hand lands on her shoulder, drawing her attention back. She jerked back slightly at Finnick's closeness, but her fingers didn't release their hold on the side of the little boat.

     He took a seat in the middle of the boat, a grin still on his face. His eyes were still bright and excited, but now she knew better than to follow him blindly. Finnick had terrible ideas, and she should have known better than to think their definitions of fun would be anywhere near the same.

     "What I meant was, that you have me with you. And as long as I'm here, you don't have to worry about drowning."

     "What are we doing out here, anyways?" Scarlet asked, trying to change the subject away from her fear of drowning or his gallant words. She wouldn't need saving if she were on dry land.

     If Finnick didn't realize that it was an irrational fear that held Scarlet near paralyzed and clutching tightly to the sides of the boat, then he wasn't paying attention or she was more self-aware than he gave her credit for. She knew that Finnick could swim and that he wouldn't let her drown. If only because the punishment would fall back onto him and his District. But still. She knew that she was relatively safe on the boat with him.

     And yet.

     The feeling of being near-drowned in icy water that stung her skin and stole the power of her body was one that she could not shake. She should not have gone near the water, let alone gotten in a boat and allowed herself to be rowed out into the middle of it.

     A hand waved in front of her face and Scarlet looked back at Finnick. He raised a brow. "If you ask a question, you should at least pay attention to the answer."

     "Sorry." She muttered. Normally, she would. But the water was distracting her and muddying up her mind.

     "I'm here to get you a gift from District 4. And teach you about pearls. If you called them little white beads one more time, the store owner was going to string you up outside his shop."

     Anger flickered inside her at the thought of that grumpy old man in the stand. How dare Finnick bring that up. Scarlet had offered the man so much of her money that it had nearly made her sick, and yet he'd had the gall to get angry with her? To call her cheap and a scammer.

     Then she processed his words, and her anger was stemmed for the moment as she caught on one word. She eyed Finnick curiously. "Pearls?"

     "Yeah, the necklaces you liked so much. They come from the sea."

     "They do? How?" Scarlet leaned forward as she soaked in the new information.

     "They are found in clams. Deep down in the Ocean."

      Scarlet's eyes trailed to the ocean and she cautiously leaned her head over the side as she tried to stare down to the bottom. Unfortunately, Scarlet didn't see anything that was close to resembling the pretty white beads—pearls—that somehow grew deep in the sea. How could that be possible?

     She settled back into her seat and eyed Finnick dubiously. Was he teasing her? Mocking her lack of knowledge?

     "You don't believe me?"

     "I don't understand how they just grow in the water. They aren't alive."

     "They grow inside the clams. From the sand at the bottom of the sea."

     She eyed the sea around her again. Was it possible? It sounded so crazy. More likely those beads were made in a factory of some kind and Finnick was just—

     Water splashed across her face and Scarlet whipped around. Her breath caught her in her throat as she stared wide eyed at the spot in front of her.

     The empty spot.

     Because Finnick was gone. The boat shifted in the water but it didn't stop her from lunging to the middle where he was supposed to be and leaning over the edge. But she saw nothing but the bubbles from where he had plunged into the water.

     Her heart raced with fear and panic took over. Why would he dive down into the water? What type of dangers live in the water? Aside from drowning, which she was near certain Finnick couldn't do. Weren't there animals in the water, aside from harmless fish? The animals with sharp teeth and liked to eat humans? What if he got stuck on something down there, or lost in the darkness? How could he even be such a fool?

     Anger licked at her insides, replacing the panic. Her reflection showed her face twisting into an ugly scowl as she searched the waters down there for any sign of Finnick.

     Nothing.

     Fine.

     She fucking hoped Finnick drowned down there.

    She shifted back into her seat and seethed. Let him die down there. See if she cared or lifted a finger to try to save her.

     Only, the longer he stayed down there, without a trace or a sign that he was still alive, worry started seeping back in. She leaned over the side of the boat, holding tightly to the edge as she stared down into the water. It had been so long.

     Once more the feeling of the icy cold water surrounding her and forcing her head under and stealing the air from her lungs filled her mind. Her fingers shook as she moved to the other side of the boat, looking once more into the water.

     Finnick would be fine right?

     What if he wasn't?

     If he died, how would she not be blamed? No one would think he could ever be so stupid as to drown in the Ocean. It was Finnick. He was often described as being part fish.

     But Finnick wasn't a fish, and he couldn't breathe underwater so if he didn't come up for air soon, he wouldn't likely be coming back up ever.

     "Finnick?!" She called out, looking out away from the boat. What if the boat had moved. The waves were still pushing it around, though not as much as they had when they were coming out here. What if Finnick couldn't find the boat?

     The boat rocked sharply suddenly. Scarlet's legs gave out, as she clutched the side of the boat. She screamed as she squeezed her eyes closed, sure that the boat was going to tip over completely. Finnick was dead and she would be too. This was her punishment for being so damned impulsive and trusting Finnick in the first place.

     But as quick as the boat tipped, it leveled back out and a bit of water touches her feet. She peeled her eyes open and looked over.

     Finnick stood in the middle of the boat, water dripped down his bare chest and his soaked pants.

     A pleased smile on his smug face.

     "You weren't worried about me now, were you, Little Wolfe?"

     Scarlet stood up on shaky legs and closed the distance between them. And she shoved him out of the boat and back into the water.

     "Do you know how long you were down there?" She snarled at him as his head broke the surface, laughing as he easily treaded the water to keep his head above surface. Scarlet really wanted him to drown now. Consequences be damned.

     And how dare he have the nerve to laugh?

     He swam to the side of the boat, his arms over the side as his body stayed in the Ocean. She sat back down against the opposite side as his heavier weight tipped the boat down slightly. How was he not worried at all about what could be right beneath him?

     "Probably five minutes, maybe a little bit longer." Finnick said, resting his head on his arms.

     "You should have warned me, Finnick. People die in the water!"

      Finnick raised a brow at her, his lips curling. "You were worried."

     "Sure, I was." She snapped at him as her anger got the better of her once again. "I was worried about being stuck out in the middle of the Ocean with no one knowing where we were, and about what would happen if they did find me out here with you no where to be found because you drowned or were eaten by some kind of freaky sea creature!" She flung her arm out in his direction. "And could you please get back into the damned boat!"

     His grin widened maddeningly and Scarlet just wanted to leave his ass out in the sea. If she could make it back to shore on her own, she would. If she was on land and Finnick was found dead in the Ocean, no one could blame her...right?

     "If I get in, will I get pushed out again?"

     Probably.

     She watched as Finnick laughed at whatever mutinous expression her face held, her mask sitting abandoned on the floor of the boat offering her no protection, as he pulled himself easily over the side of the boat without an answer from her. He sat in his middle seat with ease even in the rocking of the boat that nearly sent her over the opposite side, while he pulled back on his shirt.

     Once the boat settled, Scarlet crossed her arms and leveled a glare at him. "Take me back to shore."

    "I will, Little Wolfe. I will." His eyes danced and shined under the sun, and he looked so alive and full of energy. He looked so free and at peace here on the boat in the middle of the sea, wet from the salty water and glistening from the sun. He was full of life. It was impossible not to be captivated by him at this moment. "But aren't you a little bit curious as to what I was doing down there for five minutes?"

     "No."

     "So, you don't want me to prove that pearls come from the sea?"

     She paused. Her eyes scanned over him again, her curiosity undermining her anger once more. How was he planning on proving that to her? Did he go all the way to the floor of the Ocean? Was that where he found the pearls?

     Where would he keep them?

     Her eyes fall to the little pouch at his waist. She reached for him, but he shifted away from her before she could grab it.

     "Ah, ah, ah."

     She glared at him as she sat back in her seat.

     Finnick reached for the small pouch hanging from his side. Scarlet shifted closer to him, watching him as he pulled out a...

     A rock.

     Scarlet raised a brow at Finnick, who held the rock in between them, gesturing for her to take a closer look. Scarlet leaned in a little bit.

     She reached out to touch it, jerking back slightly as her fingers brushed the hard and rough looking surface, half expecting it to shock or cut, or hell, bite her. But it did none nothing at all. Disappointment flickered in her. It was just a rock after all and Finnick had just been messing with her.

     She raised her eyes to his face, ready to give hell for teasing her, but stopped herself as she looked at his face. He didn't look like he was messing with her. Finnick wasn't laughing at her or giving her an insufferable smirk. He was watching for her reaction. Studying her. Like he was waiting for her to figure it out, or at least see if she could.

     Challenging her.

     Scarlet looked back down at the rock he held in his hand. It was a little bit bigger than the size of his fist. The outside of it was rough textured to her touch and an off white color to look at. It was all plain and boring to look at. No matter how Scarlet tried, she couldn't find anything interesting or any sort of clue. This was certainly not a pearl in any case. Unless they carved pearls from these rocks?

      Like Scarlet carved the crystals?

     No. That didn't make sense.

     Scarlet could carve the crystals, but she couldn't carve rocks or make the crystals. She looked at the rock again.

     Maybe it wasn't just a rock. Scarlet thought about the special geode rocks that could be found in the caves of District 14. They were rare and far too precious to keep in District 14. But if they were more common in District 4 or could be found by anyone at the bottom of the ocean...It could be a more common commodity. Were the pearls found inside the rock?

     "Break it open." She said finally. Sitting back and looking at Finnick expectantly. He raised a brow at her.

     "Are you sure?"

     "Of course." She said, despite the doubt that tried to wiggle itself in. "It's just like the geodes found in District 14, right? The pearl is inside it?"

     Real surprise flickered in his eyes for a brief moment, before amusement mixed in.

     Her brows furrowed. "Is it not inside?"

     "It is." He admitted. She smiled, sitting back with her chin up. Pride for herself filled her. At least until Finnick opened his big mouth again. "But it's not a...a geode... it's a clam."

     "Geode... Clam... Who cares what you call it?" She said back impatiently. "Just break it open, Finnick."

    When he made no move to do anything, she grabbed for it again. He raised it up higher than she could reach without getting up. There was no way that she would be standing in this rickety old raft. She leveled him with a glare.

     "It's a clam." He repeated with a touch of exasperation. "A geode is a rock, Scarlet. This is a clam."

     She begrudgingly put her arm down on her lap and waited. Once she was no longer actively reaching for it, he lowered it back between them. There was an added tension though, like he was prepared for her to launch herself at him.

     "A clam isn't a rock, though it is similar to Geodes in that the pearl is inside of it."

      "It looks like a rock." Scarlet commented. It probably was a rock.

     Finnick flipped it over and she leaned forward. Excitement flickered in her. It wasn't a rock. There was a wavy crease along this side of the...clam. A dark wet...slim?... coated it. She hadn't seen this part of the rock—clam before, or she'd never have argued that it was a rock.

     "You purposefully didn't show me this before." She accused him, while staring at the clam. Not allowing the jerk to respond.

     She saw him reach for the pouch at his side and watched as he pulled out a knife.

     Finnick pressed the knife into the wavy crack of the clam. She smiled as she watched, her interest increasing a thousand times fold as he worked the knife between the curves skillfully, leaving a trail of slime following in its wake. It was gross, and wicked cool. Scarlet leaned even closer to him and the clam to get a closer look as he pried it open with a hand on each half of the clam.

     The inside was flesh and goo. She couldn't help the laugh that escaped as she wrinkled her nose at the grossness of it all. It was like an explosion of snot covered Finnick's hands and the inside of the clam.

     Finnick wasn't dissuaded at all by the goo and reached into it. She half expected it to clamp closed on his hand, but it didn't. When his hand left the goo, he leaned over the edge and washed his hand in the water.

     He set the open clam down between them, tossed the knife to the bottom of the raft next to her metal mask and then held his hand open between them.

     And even though she knew what it was that he held, she still can hardly believe it when a pearl, no bigger a frozen drop of rain, rests in the palm of his hand.

    Finnick grabbed her hand and placed the pearl in her hand. She stared at it for a moment, before looking up at him.

    "For you."

     "Why would you just give me this?" She asked, suspiciously. She recalled the price of the pearl necklaces from the shop and couldn't believe that a single pearl—while clearly not costing as much as an entire necklace—was of so little value that he could just give it away. How could he not want anything for it?

     Or did he?

     She eyed him over the pearl in her hand. Did he expect a different kind of exchange? A little fear shot through her suddenly as she remembered where they were. Out in the middle of the sea. Alone. If they were on solid ground, she wouldn't feel as uncomfortable. But here, on the rickety old raft in the middle of such deep water, there was no way she could fight off Finnick if he chose to attack her.

     She forced her discomfort aside. If it was Finnick's plan to hurt her, he could've done it so much earlier and he had little need of it. He could go to the beach and snap his fingers and flash his smile and five people would faint from his attention alone.

     "You're really giving it to me?" She asked him, trying to gauge his reaction.

     "Just say thank you, Little Wolfe." He said with a frown. His easy expression was wiped away by whatever he read on her face. Did he know what she was thinking? He couldn't, right?

     She forced her lips into a smirk. "Why would I thank you for being so stupid?"

    Her fingers curled around the pearl at the same time his face lifted into the air. He said something that she couldn't hear and when he lowered it, she could see the dissatisfaction and frustration in his own glare.

     "Do you think you should insult someone who just gave you a gift, Little Wolfe? Especially since I am the one that made it possible for you to be here in the first place?"

     Despite everything, his words eased the worry inside her. She relaxed in her seat.

     Her smirk softened into a teasing grin as she clutched the pearl tightly in her hand. Scarlet reached into the coin purse sitting next to her and grabbed the crystal carving out of it.

     "It is stupid to give something away for free." She told him, unable to resist pointing out the fact that she was right. She brought the pearl to her chest. "But it's mine now that you've already done it."

      With her other hand Scarlet tossed the little crystal carving toward him, watching him catch it against his chest with ease. He used his fingers to feel it, his eyes staying on hers, before slowly, he lowered them to the item that he held.

     He stared at it for a moment, his fingers running along the fine edges and carefully carved point. He looked back at her, his brows up.

     "You made this?"

     "Yes." She answered, nodding and feeling a little embarrassed. She knew it was a good piece—great, even. But she couldn't help the little flicker of doubt in the back of her head. What if it wasn't up to standards here? Crystals were so far less valuable compared to gems or jewels or even pearls. Carved crystals and geodes were more popular, but would it even compare?

     A teasing smile played on his lips as he glanced back down at the carving, before looking up at her. "I'd say thanks, but really, how can I thank you for doing something so stupid because honestly, don't you know better than to give anything away for free."

     Scarlet rolled her eyes at him. "It's not for free. It's payment for saving my life in the arena." Then she wouldn't feel like she owed him anymore. And then she could forget about him.

     "Ah." He said softly, rolling the crystal carving between his fingers. "Well, in that case, I'm afraid I have to decline." He closed the distance between them with his hand holding the crystal.

     Scarlet made no move to grab it from him.

     "Why?" She asked after a bit of silence, when it was clear that Finnick wasn't going to change his mind or elaborate.

     "Don't get me wrong, Little Wolfe, it's a beautifully carved crystal and you could probably sell it for a thousand coins here easily—but your life is worth more than that."

      She opened her mouth to argue, but of course fell short. Because really...he did have a point. Even if she didn't like the fact that he had a point.

     She looked away from him, staring at the sea. The little raft rocked back and forth in the waves, but the sea looked steady. Calm. Like there wasn't a whole unknown world underneath the surface.

     "I hate to owe anyone anything. So, what is my life worth to you?" She said finally, turning back to him. "What would repay the debt I owe?"

     "Only a life can repay a life, don't you think?"

     "So...you want...?" She said, getting more and more frustrated by the second. What he said made sense. But she still didn't know what he was after.

     "Well, I'll be a dear and not ask for your life. But how about a steady supply of these?" He held up the crystal carving in his hand.

     She paused. "You want more carvings?"

     "Mmm." He nodded, eyeing the carving in his hand. "I really like this one. Of course, they all have to be different."

     "How many do you want?"

     He chuckled. "Why do I feel like I'm making a deal with the devil."

     "I'm fairly certain I'm the one who should be saying that." She answered drily.

     "How about you bring me one every time you go to the Capitol for the Hunger Games each year? Not too hard or strenuous. And leaves you time to make enough to sell if you want to do that."

     "Alright." Scarlet said, although Scarlet wasn't sure she should. Repaying him was supposed to end everything between them. Not continue it. But how hard would it be to make him one crystal carving a year? And honestly, there was a lot more that he could ask for. He had saved her life after all. And he'd probably forget about it in a year or two or hell, maybe even this next year. "Do you want a say in what you get, or do you want me to make you whatever comes to mind?"

     "I want a wolf from the Wolfe of District 14."

     Her lips curved upward in genuine anticipation already seeing different ideas flash in her mind, wondering what color, shape, style, or feel would work best for the piece. "And then?"

     "Creators choice."

     "For how long?"

      He laughed, his eyes were bright in the sun. "For a lifetime, of course."

      His green eyes meet her golden ones and neither of them look away.

----------------

First off!

Real quick check in. I want to be clear that there is absolutely NOTHING romantic between Scarlet and Finnick. There is supposed to be a lot of them kind of feeling each other out and getting to know one another (Scarlet is pretty closed off, and honestly, so is Finnick, though he's much less obvious about it). 

If you are getting a romantic vibe from them now, PLEASE TELL ME, because I need to change something. Scarlet is 12 and Finnick is 16. That would be super gross and Finnick is NOT that person. 

Second, how are you liking this story so far? Hopefully, I've done a pretty good job of keeping you engaged. There is so much more to come. If you are reading for the Romance, I promise there is romance coming, but give Finnick and Scarlet time to grow up some first before we get to theirs. 

Thirdly...Well, that's really all I had. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. I can say that of all the chapters that I've written, this is by far one of my favorites. Other's maybe more deep, drawing, and more emotional, but this one just makes me laugh and genuinely happy to read. I hope you enjoy it too. 

And remember, we still have one more update at District 4. What do you think will happen at the Feast? Thoughts? Predictions? What did you think of the tour? Did you like it? Hate it? Meh...

Anyway, that's all for now. 

Stay safe and take care!~ CANGEL

Oh, yeah. Remember to vote if you enjoyed and to comment!