Sugar,Spice and Everything Slice

Hey,This is my own version of Clove's story and I will be using OC's,the book and the film to help me fill in details. I see Clove physically looking exactly like she does in the film and mentally she seems quite psycho but I wanted to do something different than the usual Clove fanfiction which was deeper. Hence the young more innocent Clove in this chapter and the lack of Clato overall. Sorry,I do love Clato but it's overwritten and often too gushy or dark however there may be feelings between some of the characters which you'll have to read on to find out.

Please if you feel free to pms,review,suscribe and give constructive critisism. May the odds be ever in your favour :)


Just after 65th hunger games!

A new year, another batch of potential victors. The hot sun trickled through the skylight in the dark ceiling of the district academy, casting a spotlight on the group of six to ten year old recruits ready to be trained to fight for their district. Commander Henderson groaned as he carefully analysed the children. Teaching kids to be killers was definitely beneath him. In his short ten year career, he'd been a leader on the front lines, fighting against terrorism in the districts. A personal bodyguard on President Snow's protection detail.

Hell, he'd even been asked by Enobaria herself to help prepare the district 2 tributes for the games just gone by. Man that failure of a job.

How was he supposed to teach them to stop that pretty boy from district 4. The guy was an unstoppable force of nature, a deadly typhoon once he'd received the trident from his sponsors who just happened to be the entire female population of Panem. And now he'd been "reassigned" here at the academy. Indefinitely.

The children stood still in military formation, forced to ignore the blinding light in their eyes. "Good to see the schools are keeping up discipline" thought Henderson as he scanned the row of students. There was about thirty in this age group though only the elite few would be allowed to volunteer.

Some were more noticeable than others whether because of their looks,charm,grace and size. On the end of the row, stood a boy of about eight, tall for his age with dark blonde hair and cold gray eyes matched to his demeanour. You could tell he was going to be a heart-throb when he was older. Next was a brunette who stood with perfect poise for a seven year old. And so on and on along the ranks. The academy only accepted children who had potential and all too often who had parents with power and influence in the district.

Near the end of the row, he suddenly stops in his tracks.

The girl stood there was a head shorter than the rest, which was unusual enough. Olive skinned with soft brown eyes with caramel flecks, which gazed into the distance blankly.

He'd recognize those eyes anywhere though he hadn't seen them for six years, the girl's age. Regaining composure he coldly said, "Positions please, follow me." Leading them through the basic nuances of handling a knife. Some of the tributes fared better than others. The boy with steely gray eyes who he learned was called Cato proved he was a natural and surprisingly the sweet looking girl with her caramel eyes also held her own, showing a tenacity he hadn't expected. "Serves you right for assuming" he thought, underestimation of your foes always lead to death. After he decided to introduce them to basic sparring with wooden knives. Not the real thing just yet. Curious he decided to pair the girl and Cato together to test them both. In district two, the warrior's lifestyle was introduced early and it was thought advantageous to pair up recruits of different ages. After all you might have to fight older and stronger tributes in the arena and age was just a number after all. They both turned to face each other as Henderson focused his attention solely on the pair leaving the others to their own devices.

They both circled each other wielding the short knife blades. "Correctly" Henderson added. Cato, the more direct one attacked first stabbing his knife downwards at her, aiming for her left cheek. Quick as a bullet she dived under it, stabbing towards his ribs. He simply dives backwards and uses the momentum to slash at her right arm, attempting to disarm her. Again she notices it and her caramel eyes glimmer as she sweeps under his arm, jabbing wildly at his back. A small smile dances upon Henderson's face, the girl had the fire for sure. However the boy was stronger and she was no match as he grabbed her wrists, spinning round and tackling her to the floor. Tears fell on her face as Cato laughed sadistically at his fallen opponent. "Is that it? Is…I mean Clove." Still remaining wary in case she tried to get out of his hold. "Really? That boy practically came out of a district two textbook" thinks Commander Henderson,biting his lip as he approaches Cato. "Very good, now recruit I want you on a punch bag. Stat!" he shouts. The boy sensing the irritation in his voice can't resist chuckling childishly as he walks over to a large punch bag. Henderson's heart hardens as he sees the tears in her soft caramel eyes, struggling to maintain proper composure. "You fought well." Offering her a hand, he pulls the girl back up. "What's your name…Recruit?"

"Clove, I'm called Clove. Just Clove. Nothing else and don't listen to what that meanie Cato says!" growling as if daring anyone to challenge her. He cannot help but chuckle slightly. She had inherited the family fire after all. "Is he going to get in trouble?" she asks curiously, a hopeful smirk dancing on her face. "No, That's what people will be like here. It's best for you to forget friendship, or you'll get hurt. From now on, your knife will be your best friend. You cannot rely on anything or anyone else. Except me."

"Aren't girls meant to be sugar, spice and everything nice? How can I be nasty to everyone and ignore them?" she retorts, tears finally drying on her olive skin, her eyes hard as cold steel. Henderson pauses for a second, staggered by her knife sharp intellect. "She won't take any prisoners when it comes to it." Normally he'd put on a fake smile, the kind adults use when talking to younger children but he was intelligent enough not to,instead managing a reasonable poker face.

"Go on and train. And don't let that boy intimidate you…you're faster than him and if you don't teach him a lesson, he'll do it again. Now show me what you can do. Show no mercy." He says,flashing his solid blue eyes that contrasted with his sun-kissed olive skin.

The girl merely nods and silently walks over to Cato, training on the punch bag. He has no chance as she suddenly tackles him to the ground and holds the wooden knife to his throat,taking advantage of the element of surprise.

"Sugar, spice and everything nice?" Henderson scoffs," more like sugar, spice and everything slice" he thinks, feeling a small sensation of pride as the girl smiles hungrily, enjoying the sweet taste of revenge with an attitude bitter as Cloves.

Clove. That was the first time he had ever spoken to his daughter.