Hunger Games
Katniss doesn't know what scares her more; the ease at which she shoots the boy from 1, or speed of which Fitimtar jumps on his dæmon. The snake can't react in time, trying to protect her human from the arrow, unable to even try to bite the panther as he snaps her neck.
Fitimtar slicks back to sit next to Katniss as she cradles Rue. Fitimtar lightly picks up Pattu, the unsettled dæmon currently a skylark and cradling him in his paws, like he used to do with Hostet. Rue asks Katniss to sing as she does, slowly murmuring Prim's favourite lullaby. Fitimtar hums along, her nose softly pressed against the bird's wing as he disappears into Dust.
Then Katniss is crying, losing control and Fitimtar is just sat there, looking at Rue's body. Since their father, his mother, died, he has been devoid of emotion, unable to express any feeling, even if they appear. So he just collects the flowers for his human but doesn't comfort her, nor share in her grief.
They leave her a hour or two later, Katniss saluting the camera as they do. But Fitimtar just stares ahead, ready to fight and win the Games.
Peeta hates watching Ahara since their stay in the Capitol and their high-jacking. Although he knows his own emotions and thoughts are just as messed up, his duck dæmon has always been the more emotive of the two of them. It is quite scary how quickly she can go from calm and collected, simply sitting next to him as he kneads bread, to manic and angry, flying around the room and screaming as he throws something at the door.
For the first time in his life, he is happy with her non-threatening state because, when his mind is clear, he realises he would hate it if they hurt anyone. Of course, when they are angry, he wishes she was bigger, faster, so she could get the retreating therapists before their dæmons leave the room.
Ahara has changed since the Capitol, physically, but he refuses to admit it although the black feathers are difficult to ignore. When a therapist mentions it, Ahara flies at her squirrel dæmon, who scurries away before he can see the feathers up close.
Overall, he hates his dæmon since the Capitol. But, mostly, he hates the way she looks at the mutt's panther dæmon.
Pyktis has to restrain herself everyday around Fitimtar, especially after he and his human win the Games. Not just because he seems so much older now but because of the brown duck that sits on his back. Ahara glances at her and tilts her head, the cougar snarling just out of principle. It should be her pressed up against Fitimtar's black fur, not Ahara.
Later, when Gale visits his 'cousin', the two dæmons crash into each other so fast, Hostet and Ahara have to jump away with a loud squeak and an indignant squawk. But it doesn't matter because Fitimtar is resting his head on Pyktis' neck and Katniss is clinging to Gale while Peeta and Prim can only look on, Ahara resting on the boy's lap, looking jealous.
The four of them go hunting later, like before the Games. Pyktis and Fitimtar run after several larger animals; badgers, foxes, etc, while Gale and Katniss take down some smaller birds and squirrels. Pyktis takes great joy in biting down on the neck of a duck but loses some joy after Fitimtar refuses to look at her game.
They return to Victor's Village in silence. Then Fitimtar is gone, maybe forever.
'Eyes open, Mitchie.' Sakra says, nudging her human. Haymitch scowls at the nickname but shakes himself awake, looking at the screen. There's meant to be at least one mentor awake at all times and since he is the only mentor from Twelve, he has to keep his eyes open throughout the whole games. He takes short naps when Peeta and Katniss are sleeping but never longer than an hour.
Sakra climbs closer to the screen, the koala swaying slightly on her feet. Just because they are busy, doesn't mean they can't have alcohol. They always have alcohol.
'At least I got you to keep me awake.' He mutters, eyes rolling in their sockets.
'You'd be dead without me.' Sakra says, leaning on the screen showing Peeta. 'He'll be dead in a bit.'
She turns, eyes wide but he shakes his head. 'Not enough sponsors. They'll give stuff to her but not him. They don't think he has a chance.'
'So they won't give him one.' Her eyes travel to Katniss, crying over the loss of her ally. The new rule they've talked Crane into will help but Rue's funeral is hard to brush over.
'We're in trouble Mitchie.'
Haymitch snores.
Hostet learns to heal just as quickly as Prim does. While she stitches a cut on a human's arm, he will take a bandage in his mouth and wrap it around their dæmon's wounds. The mouse will run across the room when Prim needs medicine, getting it quicker than the other medics would.
Hostet sits on Prim's shoulder as Peeta, Johanna and Annie are brought into the medical room. Due to their 'emotional connection' with these victims, they are forbidden to help and are shoved backwards, scowling all the way.
'Look at Ahara.' Hostet whispers and Prim turns, watching the duck being dragged along next to Peeta. She is squawking and screaming, trying to lash out at the dæmon holding her. Johanna's bush baby and Annie's small bird are being carried next to their unconscious human's but Peeta is screaming and Prim has to leave.
Hostet digs his claws into Prim's shirt as they run. They enter their rooms, thankful to find it empty. Prim taps Katniss' Mockingjay pin as Hostet runs down her arm.
'They'll be okay, right Prim?'
There is no answer and Hostet raises his head.
'Primrose?'
She blinks, smiling at him. 'Of course. So will we.'
Jublio looks down at District Twelve, perched on Effie's shoulder. The swallow's wings ruffle slightly as she sees their grim faces, knowing this wouldn't look good for the camera. The children from District One always smile at the camera and some from District Four even wave for Panem. Why couldn't this district be the same?
'Calm down, Ju.' Effie whispers.
Jublio nods. 'Smile for the camera, Effie.'
The two of them straighten up, Effie grinning out at the crowd, Jublio moving his wings in a greeting wave. No dæmon, not even the mayor's raven responds and Jublio has to keep his beak closed.
Finally, after the Capitol video and the speeches, Effie walks over to ball of slips, Jublio rocking side to side on her shoulder. She makes a good show of choosing the slip, trying to make this district slightly more interesting. Jublio looks down as she opens the slip and they speak the name together.
'Primrose Everdeen.'
A young girl steps out, terrified. Before Jublio can pass judgement, another girl is running forward, her panther dæmon shouting about volunteering. Jublio wings ruffle at the display. It's sloppy but it will get them noticed.
Maybe they have a chance.
'You are an idiot Cinna!'
Kubuni almost shouts as they enter the room. Cinna just smiles at her, sitting down in the bed and winking. After Katniss' interview, they both know they're in trouble but he doesn't seem to care.
'This isn't a joke, Cinna.' The tiger growls, the golden flecks in her black stripes flashing in the light.
'No, it's a rebellion.' He said, flicking off his shoes and lying down under the covers. 'Like you didn't think we'd getting involved after what happened to mum and-'
She growled again, jumping onto the bed and standing above him, teeth bared just in front of his eyes. 'Don't talk about it like that! Like it was nothing!'
Cinna's head tilts and he raises an eyebrow. 'Careful now, Kubuni. Sounds like you've got something against the Capitol.'
Her body shivers and she collapses, her head resting next to his. One hand lazily strokes her back.
'We'll win this, Kubuni. I promise.'
Her tail wraps around his ankle and his arms wrap around her back. Her paws rests under his shoulders and they stay still.
'What if they kill us?'
'They won't, I promise.' He smiles into her fur. 'We'll be fine.'
Finnick lets one hand carefully rest against Esclava's back as they playfully flirt with their latest 'client'. She has already paid Snow to have him for the evening but he at least has to pretend he wants her.
The Capitol woman- he can't even remember her name- strokes his arm suggestively while her dæmon- a bright pink cat- rubs up against Esclava. The crocodile grins, her tail whipping round and lightly running along the cats side.
The woman grins, whispering something before walking off. Finnick stays where he is, knowing she'll be back but leans forward, letting his hand rest above Esclava's jaw.
'Brilliant performance Clava. Five stars.' He whispers. She opens her mouth slightly, biting down in his finger lightly.
'They all know we're acting. I don't see what the point is.'
'The point is to keep Snow happy. As long as he's preoccupied with us-'
'-he won't go near Annie and Cerritus. I know, Fin, I know.'
He leans down, pressing a kiss to her head. 'Just think of them, Clava. Think of them.'
They straighten up as the woman comes back. They follow her into the bedroom, mind back in District 4 with their poor, mad girl.
Cerritus rests on Esclava's head as the wedding goes on. The small bird, an Egyptian plover, is struggling to stay still, his wings twitching every so often. When Annie and Finnick are finally married, he can't stay still and flies off, swooping around the room, letting out a long thrill.
As he flies, trying to shake the cloud from his mind, and Annie's, dozens of other dæmons join him, District Thirteen's children having fun for the first time in their lives.
He swoops down to land on Annie's shoulder, next to Finnick's hand. They are having their first dance, a slow number and Finnick reaches a finger to Cerritus as the two of them sway, Esclava sat at their feet.
Cerritus reaches out a wing, brushing Finnick's finger while Esclava's tail touches Annie's leg. Both human's smile as the wedding is finally finished, District Four style.
Later, Annie and Finnick continue to move, surrounded by others smiling and dancing. District Thirteen seems overjoyed to be able to let their hair down and Cerritus is happy to give them that.
They are sat down as Finnick dances with Johanna. Annie's hand goes to her stomach.
'I can't wait to tell them.'
Roja slivers along Coriolanus' arm, heading towards Seneca. The snake opens her mouth, her fangs dripping with poison. The edge of the fangs are just inches from Krijues, Crane's spaniel dæmon, who recoils back into her human's lap, trying to curl closer to his body.
'Will that be all, sir?' Crane says, managing to keep his voice even despite Krijues' obvious distress.
'Yes, Seneca. You may go.' Snow says, nodding as the Gamemaker stood to leave, clutching his dæmon to his chest.
'Well, that was interesting.' Roja said, wrapping tight around Snow's wrist and looking up at him.
He smirked. 'Seneca is young. We can accept a few mistakes for now.'
Roja nodded. It was Crane's first year as Head Gamemaker and they liked to be lenient to start with, give them a false sense of security.
Roja began sliding up his arm again, emerald scales glinting in the sun. 'The uprising in Five was easy enough to stop.'
Snow smiled. 'Of course. One small spark won't start a rebellion. We contain it.'
Roja grinned, the poison they had long ago drunk dripping off her fangs. 'Nothing will make us lose control, will it, Lanus?'
'Of course not. That's impossible.'