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The knife sailed through the air, embedding itself in a crate about a foot away from Daphne's head. And far missing the target scrawled upon several stacked crates in the center of the ally.

Daphne glared at Sylla, yanking the knife out of the wood. "You did that on purpose."

Sylla smirked. "Perhaps, or maybe you're just a horrible teacher."

Daphne debated what Makani would do if she picked Sylla up and hurled her at the stacks of crates, seeing how strong their makeshift target wall really was.

That morning, Rye had instructed them how to shoot a crossbow with accuracy and speed. Daphne had never fully gotten the hang of it, her shots mostly going wide.

After a few hours of that, when Daphne's arms were sore from shooting the heavy crossbow so many times, it was Pavel's turn to mentor in hand-to-hand combat. Judging by Pavel's small stature and frail-looking frame, Daphne was skeptical at first by how good he really was. Skeptical enough to volunteer to be his first challenger.

She should've remembered that looks could be deceiving. She'd barely managed to throw a single punch before Pavel was gone, suddenly appearing behind her and hooking a foot around her legs. Before she knew it, she was on the ground, Pavel crouched triumphantly over her with a hand on her throat.

It had brought back foul memories of Mellie nearly strangling her to death within minutes of the Game beginning. She'd thrown him off of her, but it was a lost cause. Pavel was deceivingly quick and strategic.

Thoroughly humiliated and beaten up, Daphne had done her best to soak in every tip and instruction that Pavel had given in his lesson in hopes that at the end of the day, she would manage to best him in a skirmish. His fighting style reminded her somewhat of Caelum's in the Training Center, swift and fleeting. Daphne would've paid good money to watch a duel between Pavel and Caelum.

It was late afternoon now, and Makani had put Daphne in charge of teaching the tributes how to wield knives. Most of the weapons that were to be used in the attack were knives distributed from Daphne's and Sylla's belts. Sylla still had all six of her knives, and Makani had managed to convince her to loan five of them to other tributes, keeping one for herself. Makani herself, Rye and Azalea were each given one of Daphne's knives instead, meaning Daphne got to keep two of them.

"How do you have a belt of knives and not know how to throw any of them?" Daphne scowled at Sylla as the District Three girl hurled another one. This time, she actually aimed for the target, but it bounced off the wood harmlessly.

"Sorry I'm not a blade-obsessed weirdo such as yourself." Sylla scoffed.

Daphne scowled at her. "Being a 'blade-obsessed weirdo' is what has kept me alive in this damned arena."

"Well, I'm also alive. There are seven others here who are also alive, and clearly none of them are all that good at throwing knives either. If you've got a point, I don't see it." Sylla made an effort to gesture to the other tributes, all lined up in front of the makeshift wall of crates, hurling knives. Most were to no avail.

"Would you like to shut up and let me help you, or would you like to walk into the attack not knowing how to use the weapon around your own belt?" Daphne snapped.

Sylla grumbled a mantra of rancid words beneath her breath, consisting of 'foul easterners' and 'conniving animals.' Daphne gritted her teeth, anger boiling deep within her core. She whirled, hurling a knife.

The knife nicked Sylla lightly by the ear, sinking deep into a crate behind her. Daphne had her second knife drawn and pointed straight at Sylla's chin as the other girl blinked, her amber eyes wide with surprise. A trickle of blood welled up by her ear.

"Say that again, you racist bigot, and the next one goes through your throat." Daphne snarled.

The other tributes had paused, staring at the confrontation. Makani sighed through her nose, prancing over and placing a hand on Daphne and Sylla's shoulders.

"Relax, you two. We're going to go attack the Careers tonight, and you would rather waste energy quarreling with each other?" Makani said, her voice strained with the hints of exasperation.

"I'm surprised you let someone so prejudiced into your squad, Makani." Daphne said simply, sheathing her knife. She didn't break eye contact with Sylla, nor did she step away. "You should probably keep this one in check."

"Keep me in check?" Sylla nearly squawked. "It's her who's-"

"I don't want to hear it," Makani pushed Daphne and Sylla away from each other. She then nodded up at the sky, at the sun slowly easing its way towards the horizon. "We've got a couple hours before sundown, we should start traveling soon. Hopefully we won't run into any Career patrol groups."

That signified the end of the standoff, though Daphne and Sylla parted with venomous glares. Rye patted Daphne's bristling shoulder, but Daphne didn't turn without one last sneer. She retrieved her knife embedded in the crate and stalked away.

She approached Azalea then, watching the other girl hurl a knife. Not only was her aim atrocious, her throw wasn't strong enough for the knife to travel in a straight line. Instead, it curved down before striking the ground in front of the target.

"Adjust your grip, like this," Daphne shifted Azalea's hand into the proper position. "Keep your wrist tense, too. You're never going to kill anyone flopping like that."

"Just because you can use a knife, doesn't mean you have to act all superior." Azalea scowled, shooting Daphne a surprisingly sharp glare.

Daphne blinked, taken aback. What was wrong with Azalea? Daphne thought they were becoming quite friendly, but suddenly Azalea was going back to the way it had been just a couple weeks ago. Seeing Daphne's brows furrow, something like guilt flashed across Azalea's eyes. Azalea turned away before Daphne could be sure.

"I'm just trying to help you survive the attack, idiot." Daphne growled. "We're allies. That's what we do."

Azalea's fists tightened, but she still didn't look at Daphne. Her gaze was trained down on her feet.

"Just remember what I said about the grip and the wrist." Daphne muttered, leaving Azalea and moving on to helping Pavel with his form.

Daphne gritted her teeth, her heart sinking a little. As much as she wanted to hate Azalea, to hold onto those bitter feelings that had brewed between them, she couldn't help but admit that it had been good having Azalea around. It was nice to have someone to look after her back, and she theirs. They'd shared laughs, discoveries, experiences. Daphne realized that it had finally begun to feel like the old days, before the bad blood had been spilled.

And she'd really, really missed the old days.

But now, she didn't know why, but Azalea was retreating back into her shell again. Rebuilding the spiked walls between them after all the progress that had been done to break it down. And Daphne did not know why. She never knew why.

After another half an hour or so of knife-slinging and Daphne brewing in her own thoughts, Makani decided to begin traveling. Though the group had moved as they trained, there were still a couple hours to go before reaching the cornucopia.

"Hey," Daphne said softly as she strolled next to Rye. "Have you noticed that Azalea seems a bit... weird and withdrawn, lately?"

Rye shrugged. "A bit."

Daphne wrinkled her nose. "Do you have any idea why?"

"Maybe she's just stressed about the attack."

Daphne frowned. She'd been so caught up in training, or perhaps it was because the time was drawing closer and closer, but either way the fact that fighting the Careers face to face was terrifying seemed to hit her like a brick wall. Not all nine of them were going to walk out alive. She might not even survive. She'd come back because she couldn't bear to have Rye and Azalea participate in the attack without a chance to protect them. Even still, death was still possible. Death, that will definitely happen tonight.

For some reason, the realization struck Daphne like a gong.

Daphne didn't talk much for the rest of the trek. The moon was high in the sky as they alas arrived at the cornucopia.

They stopped a couple alleyways away, separating into pairs and Makani pointing out where each pair was to charge in from. Daphne's heart was hammering, her hands beginning to shake. Maybe it was the hushed way Makani was speaking, knowing that even the slightest sound would give them away. Maybe it was the way everyone's hands twitched nervously around the knives they'd been given. Maybe it was because this was actually about to happen, and Daphne knew that this was the last time she'd see some of these tributes again.

Each pair dispersed into separate alleyways, preparing to charge at the Careers from every direction. Rye would shoot one Career with a poisoned bolt, then everyone would attack. Each pair would target a Career and work together to take them down. Since there was an odd number, Pavel volunteered to fight solo. Daphne didn't doubt for a second that he could fare pretty well on his own.

Daphne had been assigned to pair with Azalea. Azalea didn't cast Daphne a second glance as they took their position.

Before the group separated, Daphne had bid Rye goodbye. She'd hugged him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Daphne," He'd whispered as he'd held her tight. "Please, you've become like a sister to me. I can't lose you just yet."

"You won't," She'd promised, trying to stifle her trembling. "Rye, I will not lose another brother. We will get through this. Promise me?"

"I promise."

She'd cast one last, long glance at him as he'd left with Makani. "Don't miss."

He'd winked at her. "I never do."

Now, Daphne was pressed against the wall, peeking around the corner of the adobe building. The only thing separating her from the Careers. She could spot the cornucopia, the gleam of weapons and supplies inside. Nerves wracked her hands as she brushed away a drop of sweat rolling down her forehead. Azalea set down her backpack. It would be impractical to fight with it on. Daphne just hoped they remembered to pick it up on the way out.

There were five Careers, two lounging on top of the cornucopia. Two more were on the ground, rummaging through backpacks and munching on some sort of food. The last one appeared from inside the cornucopia, seeming to be polishing a wicked trident.

Daphne tried to take deep breaths, attempting to calm her nerves. Most of the Careers were dressed in metal armor. All of them had weapons strapped to their bodies.

She saw a flash of orange hair, her fingers tightening around her knives. Glory.

The only thing that kept Daphne from bolting was the prospect of getting the final stab at Glory once and for all.

Suddenly, a powdered crossbow bolt shot across the plaza, striking one of the Careers sitting at the base of the cornucopia. He cried out in pain, the back of his neck splattered with red. He continued to scream, the other four letting out shouts of surprise. Rye and Makani exploded out of an alleyway on the opposite side of the courtyard from Daphne and Azalea, knives flashing. The two tributes from District Seven pelted out of another alleyway soon after, followed by Sylla and Lua, then Pavel.

The four remaining Careers soon forgot about their friend, who had gone limp with skin now rapidly turning black around his neck, and drew their weapons, charging for the incoming tributes.

Daphne took one glance at Azalea. Azalea met her gaze, giving a tiny nod.

They burst forward, together, a force to be reckoned with, screaming a ferocious cry as they charged straight for the heart of the battle.

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