Gale sits at the kitchen table, waiting for Mum to wake up. I sit there with him, asking all sorts of questions about what it was like as a kid, how he met Mum and so on. I learn a lot about her that I never knew, like, she is a sucker for rules – we have about 50 just for inside the house – and when she was younger, she used to do heaps of illegal things, like hunting in the forest… wow, I never would have expected that from her.
Then, the door creaks and opens, "Daddy!" I yell, leave my seat and rush towards him, jumping on his shoulders just like a two year old, "Something happened to Mum, she's in there with a man named Gale." I inform him, pointing at the kitchen. He drops his stuff,
"Katniss," I hear him call, running through the kitchen door and slamming it closed, leaving me locked out. "Gale, what happened?" he asks, and I hear a chair being pulled out from under the table. Gale explains the entire story. "Oh shit, they're bring them back!" he exclaims. At that moment I hear a groan, and a voice softly saying, "Peeta, don't swear, the kids could be listening."
I laugh, she's awake, and just like before, chastising Dad for everything. I open the door slowly, "Mum, you're awake?" I ask.
"Yes Isabelle, I am, but I have some very bad news to tell you. You need to sit down," she replies, her grey eyes locking onto mine. "Ok, do you want me to get Xander?" I ask.
"No sweetie, this will only affect you. Now, remember how I told you about the Hunger Games?" she asks. I feel six eyes staring into my soul, and know what this is about. I could be reaped, and end up going to the games. "Yeah, what 'bout them?" I stammer, now feeling really nervous.
"Well, as you might already know, Gale here," she looks at him and he smiles and waves, "is a TV presenter. And… he'd be best to explain it," she says guiltily, not wanting to be the one to break the news. "Hahaha, thank you ever so much Katniss," he smiles sarcastically, "now, as you have learnt, the Hunger Games is a fight to the death in an arena, and the last person left wins, correct?"
"Yep, that's what I know. And that one male and female tribute from each district is reaped from a bowl to participate, I know the deal. But can someone please tell me what it has to do with me?" I cry, now panicking. "Good, well, our government has been overtaken, and the old Capitol citizens demand that we return the Hunger Games again. You, could be chosen to participate, and you need to be prepared…" he stands up, tucks away his chair and turns to face the door, "I need to be getting back, if they knew I told you, well, let's say I would end up like Seneca…" he grimaces, before abruptly leaving.
"So, you mean I could end up in the games?" I look first at Dad, then Mum. They nod solemnly.
"So that means you need to train!" exclaims Mum, she then leads me out to the shed, which is strictly off limits. "Now," she states, "You are not to tell anyone about what I am going to show you. These are my private weapons, from my hunting days. If you can master these, you will at least have a chance at winning the games. I don't want to lose my kid because of them!"
I get to take the next week off school, and Mum teaches me how to use a bow and arrow. I get taught how to grip the aging wood in my hands, and pull and release the wiry string. She instructs me to load the arrows, and how to aim it properly. I can get them to fly majestically through the air, only seeing their brightly coloured feather tips. I fail to miss a target, and it turns out I'm a natural, and I got her ability to have amazing accuracy.
"I'm amazed Isabelle, you really are good for a beginner."
"Thankyou Mum" I beam, delighted to be compared to her.
She continues helping me with shooting, and I eventually progress onto moving targets. This is a lot trickier, as you have to predict where the target will be, and at what speed it will be travelling, and aim to hit it there. I select an arrow from the quiver – a nice light-weight one with a yellow feathered tip – and string it into place on the bow. I hold the bow up and have the arrow at eyelevel. I pull back on the wire of the bow, and nod at Mum. She throws some fake birds up at the sky, and I aim.
I release the string, and watch, the arrow flies through the air at lightning speed, before piercing the plastic bird and shooting towards the ground. I hear Mother clapping, "I'm very impressed, it took me ages to master that, but I think you have the knack of it. Let's try some more!" We continue to practice, her throwing these bird things in the air, and me shooting them down. Then, after hitting ten out of ten, she progresses onto two birds at once. I have to re-string quickly, yet with accuracy and aim all within the space of two seconds. It is actually a fair amount of time, and I hit every single bird she throws, including three at once.
"I think you have that all down pact," she rejoices, and pats me on the back.
"Hell yes!" I reply, jumping up and down.
"Now, it is time for you to learn about snares and trapping things, as well as what plants are edible. These will come in handy, not only in the games if you ever do go, but in real life as well. In school, you will learn about plants, and you will be able to know all the different types of plants. Understand?"
I nod, and we move on.
She teaches me how to set up many snares, ones to trap animals to use for food, and even ones to catch humans, and leave them trapped in a net, or left hanging from tree branch. I listen intently, knowing that if it comes down to it, this stuff will help save my life. I grip the ropes firmly, and tie them together in a solid knot, checking to ensure that they will not fray or come undone on their own. Then, I tie a noose in the bottom, and scramble up the apple tree, tying expertly to high up branch, and hiding the noose under some leaves. " Dad! Come look at this!" I call, and beckon to for him to come over. Mum is in the corner, burying her face in her hands to keep herself from laughing. "What is it?" Dad asks as he approaches the tree, he keeps walking, and, as planned steps right on top of the noose. He yells, and is flung up into the branches of the tree, cursing at me for being such an idiot. Mum kills herself laughing, before running to help him. And I giggle quietly to myself, this really is hilarious.
"Hahaha, very funny, not!" he says, before chastising Mum for teaching me this.
"Well, she had to learn, and for you to test it out, was brilliant!" she screams and runs away, having
Dad chase her. Seriously, they act like two year olds sometimes.
After regaining her composure, Mum returns to me. Saying that there would be no more snares, and that there is always training at the games if I ever go. So we move onto plants. "Sit on the couch," she orders, and I do as I am told. She reaches up to the top shelf of the bookcase, and pulling down a dusty, hardcover book.
"Now, you have to be very careful with this. This book has been in the family for years, and is a documentation of every plant known to mankind. Your grandfather started the edible plants bit, and your other ancestors did the medicinal plants. I continued on both, from what I learnt, and your father drew in the diagrams," she states, looking lovingly at the book.
"Wow," I gasp, astounded by how old this thing is.
"You will need to study this, learning each plant from another. And also learn the difference between god and bad ones, such as Nightlock and Raspberries. I will leave you be, yet will be back to test you in a couple of hours. Ok?" I nod, and bury myself in the world of plants. Turning the yellowing pages as delicately as possible.
I am there for hours, completely mesmerised by the intricacy of everything, and the specific healing qualities of each plant. Then I hear a shout from the kitchen. "Isabelle, come here now, there is something on TV you should see…" I enter the room and look at the glowing box on the wall. I gasp, it's Gale…
Heeeeeey guys! I hope you enjoy this so far. Hehehe. Can you guys please review and favourite more? Pretty please with cherries on top? It would mean alot to me! Anyway, guess what the announcement Gale is giving is about exactly! hehehe.
Anyway, thats all for now, and I shall see you guys later. Byeeeee
Minnie xx