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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗

    𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 the table for supper, patiently waiting for the female tribute to join them even though it seems she has locked herself in the bathroom in her room and is refusing to come out. Bird has returned every five minutes to try and hurry up the girl, but Sage would simply snap at the overbearing escort and say she will be out when she is good and ready.

    Sage was not sick, not physically anyway. She was just wrestling with her mind about what occurred on her first day of training. After helping Lorcan with the plants, the two seemed to go their separate ways, but it left Sage wondering about everything he told her. About how he doesn't believe he will stand a chance at surviving because he doesn't believe he has it in him to kill. You don't necessarily have to kill to win the games, just run and hide until everyone else is taken out. But still, it is very rare.

    Take Walker's games for example. He almost won by not having any blood on his hands. If it weren't for the fact that the Capitol did everything to push the final two together so they were forced to end it quicker, then he would have. Instead, Walker was forced to kill and it haunted him deeply. Sage knows what she said to him this morning was a low blow. Honestly, she admired that he did his best to get out of there with the least amount of blood on his hands as possible. He ran so he didn't have to fight, so he didn't have to witness any deaths. He ran because he knew if he saw someone in trouble, he would feel obligated to help.

    So he shielded himself from it. He chose not to go into the games with any alliances and just ran away. Sage couldn't help but think it was hypocritical that he advises both his mentee's to do the complete opposite he did. It clearly worked in his favor.

    Sage has never been good at letting people in, especially now, but a part of her is realizing that maybe she might have the ability to do something right in her life. Sure, volunteering for Adrian may have been the first step, but Sage is more determined than ever not to come out of that arena alive. She will not become a victor and be another trophy to pass around and exploit. She will not be a symbol for the Capitol to parade around as a reminder of the children who were lost. She will not carry the weight of their deaths on her shoulders.

    Adrian is safe. She has her parents and an entire District who love and adore her by her side. Hyacinth was sent to live with the Pine's. With her memory only getting worse, it won't take long for her to forget who Sage is. They do not need her. She is irrelevant in their lives. A thorn in their side. Her District has never seen her as anything more than her mother's daughter, which was a sin in itself. She was nothing more than a bastard child. A Capitol baby, if rumors are indeed true. She has nothing.

    But then there is Lorcan Ellison. District 4 male tribute, volunteers for his visually impaired twin brother though it was obvious that he might be the only provider keeping his family afloat with his father no longer in the picture. Someone who, in just a short amount of time spent in his presence, found a way to make the scary, brutally honest and mysterious fifteen year old from District 9 who mastered the art of not giving a shit about anyone else, feel the biggest amount of empathy and concern for how he will do in these games.

    That is why she locked herself in the bathroom. She washed her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She could see her mother staring back at her, the same condescending smile on her lips. Sage has not thought about her mother so much before. She had a master blocking out the woman's face, avoiding mirrors so her resemblance doesn't trigger the reminder. But since the Reaping... since being put in this room at the Tribute Center where Deirdre Rowan once stayed- it's like her mother was piggybacking with her this entire time.

    When another set of knocks sounded on the door, Sage groaned and slammed her hands down on the side of the sink. "Damn it, Bird! I'll come out when I'm ready!"

    "It's Walker." The sound of her mentor's voice caused the redhead to run a shaky hand over her face, looking back at the door.

    After a moment, Sage straightened up and walked to the door, unlocking it and swinging it open, revealing the older male on the other side. His eyes were softened as usual. He really was a very handsome man... she wonders what price he has had to pay for being a victor. Did he have to do what her mother did? He wasn't as popular as her, but he is known for his kind soul. Honestly, he seems very put together. Hardly drinks, pretty much a level headed man. But of course, Sage knew better than to judge what she sees on the outside. Her mother had the entire Capitol convinced she was perfect and sane.

    Sage pushed past him and went over to the bed, grabbing the jacket she had tossed when she returned, feeling chilly all of a sudden. Walker watched her cautiously, noticing the distant look in her blue eyes and cleared his throat. "I realized I owe you an apology."

    Sage glanced over at him with a frown. "For what?"

    "For not doing more to help you."

    The redhead became very confused by his words. "I still don't understand."

    Walker scratched his stubble beard, the other hand shoved into the pocket of his very nice blue trousers. "Deirdre was very good at keeping her composure in the Capitol. She was very skilled at putting on a smile and masking the reality going on. But there are times where she would slip... where she wouldn't make any sense. At times I was her favorite mentee, the next she was calling me Oliver and immediately tried to keep me away from her."

    "Oliver?" Sage whispered in such a timid voice, knowing that name instantly. "Just Oliver?"

    Walker nodded shortly. "Yes. I assume because I look the most like him. Lake had darker skin, with dark brown hair. She saw them all the time, like they were right beside her. I would often find her talking to herself, but it didn't take a genius to understand she was talking to them."

    Without another word, Sage slowly sank into the side of the mattress, staring at the wall across from her. Oliver and Lake. The two boys Deirdre seduced and manipulated in the arena. The two boys who couldn't fight against her charms. The two boys who Sage has caught her mother speaking to many many times as if they were as real as she was.

    Walker moved closer, taking the spot next to the redhead, continuing his explanation. "I knew it was bad. I knew she wasn't all there mentally. I regret not reaching out to you. I can only imagine the effect it had on you at such a young age. And when she-"

    Sage didn't let him finish, just stood up and shook her head. "It's done. Past is in the past. Can't dwell in it forever. Now, let's go eat. I'm starving."

    "Sage-" Walker tried to stop her but she was already opening the door.

    "I will not talk about this!" Sage snapped harshly, glaring back at him. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for, Walker. You had zero obligation to me. What you think you know, you don't. What you think my mother was like, you don't know the half of it. I will not discuss my traumatizing childhood with you or anyone. You know nothing, and it will stay that way."

    With that said, Sage left the room and joined the group at the table, who seemed to have stopped waiting for her and had started eating. She was a bit surprised to see the stylists there, but she guesses they are a part of their team so it makes sense. Chance was sitting with his stylist, who Sage recently learned is named Zamir. She didn't really have an opinion of him, and honestly she didn't really care enough to form one.

    "Finally!" Bird expresses when she saw the redhead enter, watching as she went to take a seat next to Tatyana, as far from the escort as possible. Walker wasn't too far behind her, taking his normal seat at the end of the table. "What in the world were you doing in there, child? We could not wait for you any longer and I for one was starving-"

    "No one cares!" Sage snapped, causing the table to become silent.

    Bird placed an offended hand over her chest, her mouth ajar. "Excuse me?"

    "I really am not in the mood to listen to you ramble on and on. Can we just have a meal where you don't have to speak every five seconds? Or how about at breakfast when you were nowhere to be seen, that was even better."

    Tatyana's eyes were wide, subtly sipping her wine while trying to cover up her amused smile. Zamir seemed to be just as stunned as Bird, while Chance and Walker were exchanging worried glances. Bird seemed like she was smacked in the face and set down her glass of wine.

    "Well... I've never been more insulted." Bird breathes out, picking up her napkin from her lap and slamming it on the table before standing up abruptly. "I can see when I'm not wanted."

    "Bird, don't leave-" Walker tried to stop the escort but she seemed like she was trying not to cry. Sage did her best to not roll her eyes at the overdramatics and bit down on her tongue.

    "No, I can't look at that ungrateful child for another second. I'm at my wits end with that one. She is beyond help." With that said, Bird stormed out of the room, leaving the redhead with her eyes closed, listening to the sound of her heels clicking away. She knew she should feel bad... but she doesn't. She can't bring herself to. Bird Winders is part of what makes the Capitol so terrible... She believes what they are doing with these games are just and fair and even fun.

    Walker let out an exaggerated sigh, turned to look at the redhead with a frown. "I understand if you are upset with me, but please don't take it out on Bird."

    "I'm not upset. I'm frustrated." Sage mutters, grabbing some grilled chicken and mashed potatoes to add to her plate.

    The table remained silent, until the beautiful stylist from beside her started giggling, sipping from her wine. "I think you might be my favorite tribute I've ever worked with, Sage Rowan. I've been wanting to tell that crazy freak to shut the hell up since we sat down. It's like she has no off button."

    Sage couldn't help but chuckle as well, the two are the only ones who actually found it amusing. Chance was looking towards Walker, who just rolled his eyes, instructing him to eat before announcing he was going to make sure Bird was alright.

    He returned about ten minutes later with Bird at his side, the preppy escort returning to her seat, eyes puffy from crying. Sage felt a twig of empathy, she wasn't trying to make the woman cry. It's been a very trying day and Sage is just frustrated and confused and tired.

    "How was day one of training, Chance?" Walker questioned, trying to make conversation once they were nearly done with their supper.

    Chance looked up from his plate, an easy smile on his lips. "Uh, great, actually. I did what you said, focused on things I'm not so skilled with and avoided really showing off. Spoke to a couple people as well. Don't think it was enough to lead to any alliances, but it might."

    Sage glanced up at the brunet male, remembering how he saw him speaking with the male tribute from 2. They seemed to really hit it off. Careers don't normally associate with the lower Districts. They are very territorial with their own people and their main objective is to win. She hopes he isn't talking about Dick... she hopes he is at least smart enough to know Dick won't hesitate to literally stab him in the back the first chance he gets.

    "That's good to hear." Walker nodded his praise, before shifting his eyes to the redhead at the table. "How about you, Sage?"

    The redhead shrugged, finishing her vegetables before answering. "It was fine. Focused a lot on the surviving stations, but I knew most of them so they were kind of tedious."

    "Any possible allies?" Walker pressed.

    An image of Lorcan volunteering for his brother replayed in her mind quickly, then again in the training center with the fish hooks. Her earlier thoughts resurfaced as she tries to figure out her game plan for the games. Before this, Sage would have immediately said no and there won't be. She would be preparing for how she will allow someone to end it for her as quickly as possible. But things are different... she may not know why, but they are.

    So instead, Sage simply shrugged her shoulders passively. "I have two more days to really decide that."

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    "𝐒𝐎 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍'𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 tried any of the physical stations yet?"

    Sage looked over just as Lorcan suddenly joined her at her side. It was day two of training and Sage had just completed the shelter making station, which by no surprise, she mastered easily. It helps when you spend a year without a roof over your head, you learn to become really creative to stay out of the rain.

    "Because I don't want to." Sage replied bluntly, slowly walking beside the boy as they stopped in the middle of the training center as the two were now watching Lorcan's District partner, Azebel, who is sparring with one of instructors the Capitol allows the tributes to train with, seeing as how they weren't allowed to train with each other. Save the fighting for the arena. "Besides, I was on the rope course earlier because no one was using it. That's a physical station."

    "Fine, I take it back. You went to one physical station and repeated every survival station at least twice now." Lorcan stated. Sage shouldn't have been surprised he sought her out once again, but he seemed to have done so halfway through training. Against her better judgment, Sage has been keeping an eye on him. She found him the gauntlets where he struggled severely the first try as well as attempting ax-wielding, which he wasn't terrible at but he wasn't exactly skilled and had obvious tells when he was about to swing, mainly in his footwork. He is very, very clumsy, apparently. He struggles with balance and footwork.

    It may be true that Sage has refused to try any of the physical stations, it's mainly because she was taking advantage of the open survival sections and using them as an excuse to get a read of her fellow tributes. She was doing exactly what she told Walker she is skilled at, finding their weaknesses and tells. A lot of the tributes who are not really skilled in a lot of things were easy to pick up. Like Claroline from 5... she is very easily startled. She jumps whenever someone even walks behind her and she clearly doesn't like to be touched. That might have to do with some psychological issue in her past. Possibly just hates germs and the feeling of another person's skin.

    Then there is Ember and Tavis, both from District 7. Ember spends most of the time trying not to burst into tears while Tavis definitely reveals he is a lefty trying to pass as a righty in order to throw people off. He is a pretty large male and he is clearly acting weaker than he is. He is obviously avoiding the axes, which he is clearly going to use for his individual training. District 7- lumber. Makes perfect sense.

    Then there is Turner from 6. It was clear as day what his weakness is... more like who. It was the twelve year old innocent child who has been glued to his side since the moment she was reaped for the games. It is very obvious to anyone with eyes that they knew each other in their District and are pretty close. The fact that they were reaped together was pretty horrible. If Sage didn't know any better, she'd say that it was a big brother protecting his baby sister. But with the two having different surnames, it was easy to rule that notion out. Bobbi's weakness is simple... she's utterly petrified.

    Sage isn't exactly sure what the point of analyzing her fellow tributes is. Not if the original plan is to be taken out quickly. She won't need them, not really. Maybe it was instinct? Maybe she has watched and studied people for so long that it is just a habit, like she doesn't realize she is doing it? Or... Or maybe the thought from last night was starting to get to her. Especially when watching Lorcan's tells.

    As well as his terrible balance and footwork, he runs a hand through his luscious locks whenever he is nervous or anxious. He's strong, but clearly second guesses himself. He also tends to get frustrated when he can't pick things up quickly.

    "Have you ever danced before?" Sage randomly asks the boy, whose face scrunched at the random question.

    "Uhh... not really. Why?"

    "Ever heard of the box step?"

    Lorcan shook his head. "No."

    "It's simple really," Sage stepped back from him, deciding to demonstrate the short simple dance. "First start with the right foot, crossing it over the left. Then bring your left leg back and then the right back. Then bring the left leg over, crossing with the right, then repeat until you've completed the box."

    Lorcan was staring at her like she had gone mad, wondering why the hell was she demonstrating random dance moves he has never heard about. Sage could feel the other stares she was receiving, they were exactly in a corner or anything. She stopped and placed her hands on her hips. "Do it."

    Lorcan's eyes widened. "What? Why would I do that?"

    "'Cause I want to see if you can. Do you need me to show you again?"

    Lorcan ran a hand through his hair, chuckling awkwardly as he was trying to see if she was serious. "You can't be serious?" When Sage just stared back at him expectedly, Lorcan shook his head in disbelief. "Wow, you are serious. Uhh, okay... yeah, show me one more time."

    So Sage did, going slow and showing him step by step. Soon, Lorcan was following along, the redhead having to reach out and grab his arm when he almost lost balance but when he finally got it, she made him do it at least six more times until he didn't mess up.

    After the sixth time of not screwing up, Sage nodded in approval and patted him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Lorcan. You just learned to properly balance on those clumsy feet of yours."

    Lorcan gapped, looking down at his feet, completely dumbfounded. "How did you know I was clumsy on my feet?"

    Sage shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm very observant. You didn't know what to do with your feet when you were handling the ax. You stumbled a lot too. Knowing something as ridiculous as an old fashioned dance can mean a big difference the next time you are fighting for your life. Will keep you from falling on your ass if you are not tripping over your own feet. I read it in a book once."

    The male from District 4 was staring at her with a look she had never seen before. It was with so much admiration and amazement. It made her squirm, especially when he chuckled, shaking his head. "You are incredible, you know that?"

    To say the redhead was stunned would be an understatement. Now she has been called a lot of things before. A raging bitch, ungrateful shit, know-it-all freak, Capitol baby, death incarnate, soul sucking monster. She was used to it, she grew a reputation around those names. It was fine, at least that is what she always told herself. Because her own mother didn't deem her worthy of love and affection either.

    Never in her short fifteen years has she ever been called incredible. Sure, Adrian complimented her. Called her crafty, creative, a freaky genius. But something was different with this. It came from someone who didn't know her, didn't know her life in District 9, who doesn't seem to care that she is the daughter of one of the most hated victors in the Districts. Hell, Lorcan has not even brought up her mother once, which might be another reason why she gravitated towards him.

    Before Sage could respond, the sound of loud clapping interrupted them and the two looked over to see both the tributes from District 2 as well as Blaine from 1 and surprisingly, Chance. Sage furrowed her brows at her District partner, who seemed to look a bit nervous and shrugged his shoulders when their eyes met.

    Dick seemed to be the only one clapping, but his partner, Gertie, was giggling at his side with a hand over her mouth and Blaine had a wide, amused smile on his lips. Dick stood tall, just as tall as Chance and grinned down at Lorcan like he was some child. "Impressive dance moves, Lorcan. Are you going to sing for us next?"

    "You know, I would, but I've been told I have the voice of an angel, I might just bring you to tears. And we wouldn't want to ruin this whole macho masculinity you have going on here by having everyone see you cry."

    Sage had to contain her smile, but it was definitely noticeable to anyone who was looking at the way the corner of her lips tugged back slightly. Dick chuckled humorlessly. "Azebel's right about you. You really are a smartass."

    "Oh, you are asking around about me? I should be flattered." Lorcan commented, not backing down from the older male. During her time, Sage was able to piece together Lorcan's age. As predicted, he was only a year older than she was. Sixteen. Making Dick and his band of idiots older than both Sage and Lorcan.

    "I like to know my competition." Dick stated, looking the male up and down. "Though, if you are planning on dancing your way through the games, I'll be sure to kill you quickly and put the viewers out of their misery." His eyes then drifted to the shorter redhead, who did not flinch or falter at his scrutinizing gaze. "I have heard you are something to worry about."

    Sage shifted her eyes to Chance, sending him a terrifying glare that made him quiver. Her intense stare never left her District partner when she answered. "Have you?"

    "Oh, don't blame him. He didn't tell me much. Just that you are a little unpredictable," Dick reassured, smirking sickly down at the redhead. "I have heard a few things from my mentor and team, however. I hear you are the first progeny tribute. Daughter of the great Deirdre Rowan."

    Dick took a step forward, trying to intimidate her, but Sage held her ground. She wasn't scared of him at all. He was one of the first one's she targeted in her quest to decipher everything about the tributes. He favored a mace. Took out a few practice dummies before nearly injuring an instructor pretty terribly. He is very strong, and quick too. It wasn't surprising. He's been training since he was a child. Where Sage went to school to learn about the work of District 9 and Panem history, all the careers were in an academy, training. Most of the Peacekeepers came from Districts 1 & 2, which is why they are taught to fight so young. But it is also to prepare them for their time in the Hunger Games.

    But she knew his weakness. It was hard to conquer, he is very skilled at concealing it. Probably years of training. It was an interesting one too, and made her question what happened to cause it. It was a piece of information she knew will come in handy at a later time.

    "Your mother is quite the legend. I didn't even know she had a daughter. Now you volunteered? Makes sense you would want to follow in her footsteps. I applaud you. Truely."

    Gritting her teeth, it took everything in the redhead to contain her anger. After attacking Tatyana, she realized she had gotten lucky. If anyone has seen it, she didn't even want to know what would have happened to her. The rules were simple... no fighting other tributes until the games. It didn't stop her blood from brewing, curling her fingers into her palms to form a tight fist. She didn't want him to know that he got to her, but Sage has always been an aggressive person. It wasn't hard to get a reaction out of her.

    Fighting against her entire instinct to smack that smug look off his stupid face, Sage forced the best sarcastic smile up at him. "I heard there are rumors like that spreading around about why I volunteered. Not to ruin all the juicy gossip, but the thought of wanting to be anything like my mother makes me want to stick a hot iron down my throat until I choke and throw up blood. Sorry to disappoint, but the reasons I volunteered are the same reasons anyone from a lower lining District would sacrifice themselves... to save someone I care about."

    Dick looked slightly disturbed. "Wow. That's actually very specific that I feel inclined to believe you."

    "What about the rumors that you are a Capitol baby?" The District 2 female, Gertie, spoke up. She had her arms crossed and she was grinning as she asked her question. "That your mother whored herself through half the population, she has no idea who your daddy is."

    Sage reacted. It was instinct, fueled by years of hate and torment and self-loathing that it was impossible to contain. Thankfully, the blond male beside her seemed to sense the trigger that was just pulled and immediately blocked the girl as she leaped forward, holding her back by his thick bicep above her chest.

    Gertie smirk was easily wiped away by the look in the redhead's face. It was dark and twisted and filled with pure hatred. It was a look to kill, one that not only Gertie saw, but Chance and Lorcan as well.

    Still holding onto her, Lorcan leaned into her ear, whispering so softly that only she was able to hear. "She is not worth the consequence that would come if I let you do what she deserves. Take a deep breath, and rein it in."

    Nostrils flaring, teeth clenching together, it took everything in Sage to muster any resemblance of control over her short fuse she could manage. Crystal blues meeting spring sky, Sage let the way he was staring at her be what she needed to step back and take a deep breath like he suggested.

    Dick seemed to find this whole thing insanely hilarious, as he laughed obnoxiously with Blaine. Gertie stifled a small chuckle, still looking a bit unnerved. Chance, however, looked like a cross between guilty and nervous.

    "You are a feisty little thing, aren't you?" Dick said, amusement dancing in his forest green eyes. "It's very adorable."

    A loud grunt came from her right, causing the redhead to look over to see Zahra, the girl from 12 get bested by an instructor in the sparring station. She knew it was against everything Walker told her not to do... but Sage needed to hit something that won't result in punishment. She also needed to wipe the smug look off this asshole's face. 

    Looking back at the male, Sage was able to form a smirk on her lips. "You know, I'm starting to understand why you call yourself Dick. A nickname worthy of the personality."

    Lorcan had to bite back a chuckle as Dick looked only a little annoyed. He is definitely a dominant male, someone who thinks women are beneath him and the world revolves around him. Sage was not scared of him. She refused to let him believe she was scared of him, even if it would give her an advantage over him. She thinks knowing about his weakness that he clearly didn't want anyone to know about would be enough of an advantage. If she chooses to use it.

    "How clever. Maybe you are just like your mother. Is that why you are cozying up to Lorcan here? Gonna use mommy's tactics and make the poor kid fall for you just to protect you in the Arena. 'Cause if that's the case, sweetheart, you need to aim a bit higher than this loser."

    "You know, Dick, ever since I met you yesterday, all you've done is talk shit. Do you ever just shut up? Are you even capable of it?" Lorcan snapped at him, letting his own anger out. Whether he was defending himself or Sage, the latter didn't really care. She had to shut this asshole up.

    Dick just chuckled. "Just saying what everyone is thinking."

    "You know, my mother only did what she did because she knew she wasn't strong enough to handle anyone who attacked her. She knew she would never win in a fight. She did not have the upper body strength and didn't know how to punch properly." Sage explained, gaining the attention back from the careers. "I vowed at the age of six that I would never be like her."

    Dick raised his brows at her words. "Oh really? I haven't seen you at any physical station once. If that bullshit is all true, then by all means, prove it."

    Sage cocked her head to the side. "Happily."

    Without another word, Sage turned and headed towards the sparring station which was now vacant given Zahra's injured wrist. The dark haired female frowned when she saw the redhead coming, a look of pure determination and hatred. Chance had immediately joined her side, grabbing her arm and stopping her. "You can't do this."

    "What? Train? Of course I can, that's why we're here, isn't it? To train and build up skills for the Games." The Rowan girl replied bitterly.

    "No, you can't do this," Chance said, gesturing around the mat and the instructor who stood off to the side. "Walker said we shouldn't show off our best skills, to save it for individual training."

    "Yes but how are we supposed to prepare for the individual training if we don't practice our so-called special skills?" Sage commented, looking down at the older male. "Relax, Chance. I'm not going to do anything stupid. Besides, since you seem to be telling our competition everything about me, I might as well just give them all a show."

    Chance shook his head. "That's not what I was doing, I swear. They asked me about you, if I knew you, but I didn't tell them anything serious because I really don't know you that well and-"

    "I really do not care." Sage snapped at the male, glaring up at him. "Now let me go."

    Reluctantly, Chance obliged and backed away, allowing Sage to head onto the mat where she met the instructor. He wasn't much taller than her, but he was a little bigger and had more padding on him to avoid serious injury.

    Sage tried to forget she had a small audience watching, smiling and laughing like they thought she was about to be destroyed. Sage needed to prove to them that just because she did not go to a special academy that trains you to fight and kill, doesn't mean a damn thing when you are bored and determined not to be anything like the one person who makes you feel inferior.

    Sage approached the instructor, who had been standing by the wall next to all the weapons. Nodding his head at the girl, he motioned towards it, his head high and expressionless. "Choose a weapon."

    Looking over her options, which weren't really much. Just a sword, an ax, daggers and what looks to be ring daggers. She noticed that the instructor had two medium size swords already in his hands, ready for a match each time. That's when Sage got a stupid idea.

    "That's alright, I'm good." Sage said, earning a weird look from the Capitol's instructor.

    "We can't train in this station unless you have a weapon." The man said, almost persistent.

    "Don't worry, I'll have a weapon, I just don't need one right now," Sage tried to explain better, which earned a hesitant nod from the man as he joined the girl in the middle of the mat.

    Lorcan seemed surprised by her choice, looking over at Chance who was right by his side, leaning in towards him. "Has she always been this reckless?"

    Chance only shrugged. "I don't know. I only met her three days ago."

    Sage pretended like she didn't hear their little exchange, focusing on the man before her who spun the two swords in his hands as they started circling each other. She focused mainly on the man who looked like he was ready to attack at any moment. She quickly did a once over, the only weakness she could find was that he seemed a bit tired. Fighting tributes for hours would definitely be exhausting, even if they do have shifts. It wasn't the most easy to exploit weakness, but Sage will use it to her advantage nonetheless. She always will.

    The instructor swung at her, which Sage immediately ducked, causing the other to twirl round, shock spreading across his face with how quick the young girl moved. This only caused the instructor to run at her, swinging both swords at her head, for which Sage ducked again by leaning back and blocked the second swing by taking a hold of his wrist, and punching him hard in the chest. The instructor stumbled back by the surprisingly powerful hit, holding his chest brief before easily recovering.

    When he went to swing again, Sage was able to grab his wrist again, this time twisting his arm around until it couldn't go anymore, punching him in the throat and kicking the back of his leg until he was brought to his knees and the one sword dropped from his hand that she kicked out of his reach before he was able to pick it back up.

    With one quick movement, Sage somersault on the mat and grabbed the sword as she went, getting in a defensive stance on one knee, pointing the sword at him. The instructor took a moment to figure out exactly what happened, his hand placed on his throat from the blow, choking a bit before getting back up into standing position. Looking over, he was astonished to see the girl in a fighting stance, holding the sword, ready for advance.

    The instructor is used to this form of fighting from the career Districts... but this is the first non-career tribute he has seen with skills familiar to the ones he had learned himself. He was not at all prepared for it when she stepped onto the mat. "Where'd you learn to do that, kid?"

    "Who said I learned it?" Sage smirked, causing the instructor to shake his head before attacking once again, but this time, Sage now had a weapon.

    All Sage did for the rest of the session was let the instructor make all the first moves. When he lunged, Sage dodged. When he swung, Sage ducked. She mostly just allowed the man to keep coming at him so he could tire himself out, using the fact that he was already tired out from the previous fights he's been in today, this way all Sage had to do was get one really good, hard hit in to get him down. And that's exactly what Sage did.

    Their swords connect, the instructor pushing hard against the girl, not holding back. Sage wasn't the most skilled with swords, but she managed with the help of her hand-to-hand combat tricks up her sleeve. Sage managed to kick him in the stomach in order to push him back, before twirling around and swifting him under his leg, causing the man to go down, a loud thud sounded around the room. Which is how she was now leaning over the man with a sword pressed against his throat to keep him from moving an inch, cause even the shake of his head would cause blood to be drawn.

    Noticing how silent it was, the redhead looked up from her position to see every single tribute from each District had stopped what they were doing and were gathered around the sparring station, watching with interest and shock. Feeling a bit overwhelmed and exposed, Sage backed away quickly from the instructor, helping him back on his feet before tossing the sword and handing him his sword back.

    The instructor gave Sage a proper smile. "You're good, kid. Strong too."

    Nodding in recognition, Sage tried to get control of her heavy breathing as she walked off the mat, meeting Lorcan who was stunned beyond all belief, as well as Chance who could not believe what he just witnessed. Sage ignored them both and looked right at the careers, mostly the certain sandy blond male whose earlier smug expression was no longer there, instead replaced by shock and hatred.

   Sage let out another deep breath, her breathing slowly settling but her heart rate still racing. "I think I can handle myself just fine. See you in the arena... Dick."

    Sage knew she was going to get an ear full from Walker, but at that moment she didn't care. If she continued with her plan to be taken out quickly in the bloodbath, at least she had this opportunity to wipe that smug look off of that stupid narcissistic face of his. And it felt so good.

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Soooooo... I'm terrible at coming up with fighting scenes and writing them down. It's hard to explain, I realized, without seeing it unfold. I hope it wasn't too horrible and cringy as I feel like it is. I know I would have only made it worse if I kept changing it. Sorry guys... it's not my forte.

Other than that, I loved this chapter. I love Sage bonding with Tatyana, I love Walker feeling like he needs to apologize for not looking after her, I love Lorcan and his adorableness.

Hope everyone enjoyed!