Yes, I'm updating because of COVID-19. No this wasn't beta read. Maybe I will finish this story.

Even if she was playing by Coin's rules and had agreed to the camera crew following her to 9, Azalea refused to acknowledge the crew that had so far been bothering poor Katniss beyond a courteous nod and a mumbled hello. Not that the team seemed to mind, rather more than content to get footage of the hangar around them while occasionally panning back to her and the small group that had gathered to say good-bye to her. Finnick and Johanna, she had expected but Katniss had almost timidly tagged along, and Azalea saw her faithful friend Gale lurking awkwardly by the hangar door.

"Do you have to go?" Finnick whispered to her, between the little space of their arms as they hugged, Azalea could feel the slight tremble to his frame. She knew training for him, and the other victors had begun and Finnick had yet to receive good marks. "The Capital isn't going to bother with 9, not until its too late to even do anything."

She sighed against his shoulder and squeezed him a smidge harder, trying to ensure a sense of calm in him. The worst part is she knew he was right, knew that Coin was training her like one would a trick animal. Making her jump through that flaming hoop for nothing other than some entertainment and because she could.

"Yes, I'll back before you can stop Johanna from stealing more drugs." She teased just to get that scorching glare from the woman, whose drug problem they had all been ignoring. She pulled back, not even pretending to smile as she looked upon her worn lover. Taking in his tired gaze and she cupped his face and felt her heart clench at the way he seemed to silently beg her to stay with him. Azalea pulled him down and kissed his forehead, smoothing the worry wrinkles with her lips. "I have to get on the carrier soon." She told him to get him to let her go.

He pulled away like a hurt animal, slow and weak. While Johanna came up in replacement, griping the fellow victor in a vice grip. "You better come back and without a new look." Johanna gave a pointed look to the gray eye that Azalea rolled in return.

"Yes ma'am." Azalea sighed in the bruising grip. Somehow it was comforting that Johanna hadn't changed much since coming to 13. "Look after Finnick, please."

Johanna's smirk was a fake copy of the real one. "Yeah, yeah. But I don't recall it being the maid of honor's job to look after the groom." She was referring to the wedding that was finally going to take place since Finnick had given her the ring in what seemed like years ago. Azalea had refused when the suggestion of filming it had come up and Johanna had been right behind her, threatening to break all cameras if there was even a flash.

"Thanks." Johanna had pulled away to gather up Finnick and act as a support pillar to the man.

Behind her, the camera crew had packed up and were waiting on the ramp for her. The pilots and crew were ready to go. Katniss slipped forward, quiet and quick and Azalea knew the girl was bound to sneak off into the night while she was away.

"Good Luck," Katniss said quietly and looked ready to bolt, and Azalea couldn't blame her from being awkward around good-byes.

"Stay Safe Katniss." The girl looked up at that. Azalea tried to convey every worry she has to the girl. "We tributes need to stick together and keep a strong alliance." Katniss understood her hidden message because while the girl wasn't the most expressive, she also couldn't hide anything worth hiding. She was an open book. Azalea decided that was a good thing in the teen.

She turned then and like walking into her first games she doesn't look back because they will only see how scared she was.

The flight over was near-silent, Azalea doesn't know if she's thankful or upset that the camera crew doesn't want to interview her or film her. Instead, she's left with her thoughts and knotted stomach. She turned the gold ring on her thumb and thought back to Dael, Laine, and Edan, the latter two who waited for her in 9.

"Nine is pretty big." She comes back to the present as she turns to see the crew filming out the window of the landscape of 9.

"So I've been told." She says, knowing from that comment they are going to be landing soon.

There are no Peacekeepers at the landing pad or even anyone to stop them. Azalea steps out first and it feels like she is like sacrificial lamb if someone took a shot at the copter. She can hear the tiny whirl of the cameras warming up behind her and knows that its showtime.

She's in fitted black armor and even has a few collapsible spears-a new invention of Beetee-on her belt but she had forgone the helmet. She would just look like another Peacekeeper if no one could see her face and they would be more likely to attack her. Her director had agreed with the idea although it felt like it came from a purely artistic point of view. She pulls a spear out and steps out into the open.

Its winter here in Nine and the land around her is beautiful, white, and pure, undisturbed by man or machine. She can hear birds hiding in the surrounding trees. The wind howls in greeting at her. Ripping her hair around her face. The silver tip of the spear shines in the sun. She feels strange like she's home but not.

Nine, except for the reaping, was always ignored by the Capital. They were always on time with deliveries and were perfectly behaved caged animals that Azalea could name every Peacekeeper that had come through Nine on her hands. But the masters have abandoned their pets and now Nine was silently waiting for the return with bated breath and the thoughts of ill-intent.

The director doesn't bother to direct her at this point, instead, Azalea sets off on her own, not caring if they are following. They are all like tiny black bugs creeping across a blank canvas because that is what Nine has turned into.

Azalea doesn't possibly know what they could be getting on film except for some pretty scenery shots. Snow has blanketed the land in a way that makes it all look like a soft fluffy cloud and Azalea is freezing and aching from walking and they look inviting enough to want to lay down and nap. But nature would only kill her for her idiocy. Typically, in Nine winters meant a lot more time indoors but still, there was always someone who had to leave the house, but streets were undisturbed by people and the snow was fresh and clean. No one had left their houses in a while.

Azalea stops in the middle of a road leading to the victor's village. It was lined with houses. Smoking coming from some of the chimneys, but the curtains were drawn in every window and if she strained her hearing over the whistling of the wind, the victor couldn't hear anything. It sent a spike of fear down her spine, the feeling of deafening silence.

"Is something wrong?" The cameraman closest to her whispers, perhaps not sure why but instinctually feeling the need to.

She huffs out a few breathes and gazing into the blinding snow around the street. Glancing around the small gapes between houses, her spear arm is taut.

"Let's move on." Despite not wanting them there, Azalea couldn't help but feel responsible for the crew that had come along with her. They were armored as well, with the helmets, and were even given firearms. They had handled the weapons and assignment with confidence and pose of people that had seen the danger and lived but they hadn't lived through a Game before and she saw that clearly in their faces and actions. The uneasiness that they picked up from her, their shifting gazes, and puffing breathe that matched the steady stream of smoke from the chimneys. "I've got you." She told the crew that huddled close to her now, not caring for the perfect shot for a propo that wasn't worth dying for.

They make the short walk from there to the victor's village longer by stopping often. Azalea listens but hears nothing, the houses become fewer until there are none left. The gate to the village is closed and chained shut. Azalea grabs the lock and tugs, but it doesn't give. She looks back at the crew. The walls surrounding the village are made of a sheer stone that's at least six feet tall with no shrubbery or trees to use as a ladder and she doubts that even if she could climb over if the team could follow her.

"Why is it locked?" The director asks, her gun is in its holster and her arms are wound tight around herself. They are appeared to have given up on filming altogether now. "Is there…something inside." The metal gates aren't large or grand in design and snow has piled up making it harder to see anything inside.

"I doubt it." Azalea looks back at the lock, it's frozen solid and along with the snowbanks being as high as they are. The gates have been locked for some time. "We've never locked them before." Azalea can't imagine Edan or Laine locking themselves up inside the village. Despite it all, they were still all apart of Nine and remained in contact with its people. "It's not usual for people to shut themselves in this time of year." She doesn't explain further than that, no need to frighten them. "We won't be able to get in this way."

She recalls an old oak behind Dael's house that had long thick branches that went beyond the confines of the fences. She signs. "We're going to need to go another way." She points her spear towards the forest just beyond the village that looks dark and deadly at this moment.

The crew looks like scared animals facing a predator and the victor wonders which one of them is thinking of how quickly they can get back to the landing pad. She starts forward without them. "Night will be here shortly and that's when it will be dangerous." She looks back at them, her spear posed in the snow, and is shocked to see one of the cameramen filming. "Let's go."

Stay Safe and Home!