fairy floss high {Clio/Corvan}

c o r v a n .

There’s never been so many people in District Ten, this I’m certain of. It’s kind of bugging me, if I’m being honest. Usually these streets are deserted and I’m free to wander them alone until the sun sets. I prefer those days; I’m a fairly private person, forced to play family with another ten or so travelling ghosts on the house on the hill, but it’s a small price to pay for somewhere to call home.

So being surrounded by families of screaming children and couples holding hands isn’t exactly my idea of enjoyable. But I’d heard whispers through the town that this was going to be a big event – like nothing we’d ever seen before. And with those whispers came rumours of events and prizes and animals and foods from all over Panem.

I’ve accepted there’s not much hope left for me. But that won’t stop me from trying to bring a little more light to the lives of the other children living in Julia. It’s the main reason I’m even here, trying to navigate through the crowded streets. It’s never for me; it’s always for them.

“This is crazy,” a girl next to me gasps, and I turn my head in time to see her spinning around in awe at the fairy lights, breath mingled with the cool air of the afternoon.

I wonder what it must be like to still find beauty in the world. I miss knowing the feeling.

I’m deciding between the idea of replying or moving away to avoid conversation when her small hand grasps onto my arm to steady herself, making the choice for me.

“And this fairy floss stuff? Bloody delicious, have you tried it? You've got to try it!” I feel my eyes widen as I take in the sight in front of me. She’s a foot shorter than me, yet the stick of sugar makes up the difference in our sizes, it’s as big as her head! She’s already on her second stick, pink and sticky, artificial and bound to give her a cavity, but that’s the least of her concerns.

I see some of Zariah in her – that overly excited energy of a girl trying to hold onto her youth.

I decide I like her immediately.

“No I haven’t!” I laugh at the joy enveloping her face and feel my own smile widen. Her energy is infectious, even if I can’t quite grasp onto the feelings she’s harbouring. “I’m not really a sweet tooth,” I confide in her. “But I am on the hunt for some snacks for my family back home.” Family, the word snags my heart and I smile even wider.

“I’m guessing you endorse this… fairy floss snack? Or maybe there’s something else around here that’s even better?” Yet something in my chest tells me we’ll be hard-fetched finding anything more enjoyable than this.

c o r v a n .

The exciteable girl continues to snack on her sugary treat as I speak, and I watch her eyes widen in disbelief as I admit my own indifference to sweets. She recovers quickly though, and it isn’t long until she’s taking my bait, looping her arm through my own and pulling me deeper into the throng in search of more food.

“Yes! I love meat!” There’s nothing wrong with being a vegetarian, but I couldn’t live that lifestyle. There’s a vague memory edging forward in my mind of Zariah trying out a herbivore diet for a few days, before I caught her late one night digging through the fridge for leftover mince. I can’t help but laugh again, grimacing slightly at the unfamiliar feeling in my chest, but I don’t try to stifle it.

I’m grateful to have her guiding me through the crowd. I can barely see straight on my own, the faces and stalls blurring together as we’re jogging through the street. Eighteen years I’ve lived in this place, and yet I still manage to feel out of place.

“You seem to know you’re way around here pretty well,” I remark. “Do you live in Ten as well? Or are you just a foodie?” I smile and look down at her small face, her large brown eyes scanning the market, glittering with excitement and wonder.

We come to a stop much too soon, with the new smells of barbecue hitting my nostrils at full force. I feel my mouth salivate instantly and I’m already trying to calculate just how many free samples I’ll have to scrounge up to feed all the littles back home.

Ah well. If it came down to it, there’s a few coins in my front pocket saved for a rainy day emergency.

c o r v a n .

I can’t match this girl’s energy – there’s no point even trying.

“Just a simple girl from nine who loves her food.”

I blink at her a few times, mulling her words over in my head. District Nine. Weren’t they notoriously known for the largest number of gangs and highest crime rates in Panem? This girl doesn’t seem like the type to get mixed up in any of that – but I shouldn’t be so close-minded. After all, District Ten isn’t just a town of cowboys and farmers.

Still, I find myself becoming all the more invested in the exuberant girl beside me, wanting to know more about her life back in Nine. I don’t know how to feel about it.

I don’t have the time to ask any more questions, as she’s taking two sticks of fried food from the vendor and turning to face me.

“Are you feeling daring?”

It’s a solid five seconds before I realise she wants me to try the food. And well, I guess I should have expected this.

“Oh, I wasn’t– the food wasn’t meant to be for–” I stutter my words as she looks at me, one eyebrow raised inquisitively, one small hand outstretched towards me.

I observe the sign in front of the stall more closely, eyes bulging slightly when I finally comprehend the words stamped on it: deep fried bull balls.

Okay. Maybe I could take this one for the team. I take one of the sticks of food from her, giving it a tentative sniff.

“On three?”