4 – Temporary Alliances

I woke up and glanced at the alarm clock. It was only 6:24, but I knew that everyone else was probably already enjoying breakfast before our first training session. I slipped on a plain cotton t-shirt, cotton sweatpants, and slippers.

At the dining table sat the District 4 crew. Sicilia was nagging my father for who knows what. Mags was giving Hurley advice about what to do at the Training Center. Pax and Ulysses had hardly touched their breakfast and instead were deep in a conversation about our interview outfits.

I waved an Avox over and ordered a District 4 favorite of mine – a lox and cream cheese bagel. I listened in on Mags' instructions while I ate bagel after bagel.

"Focus on the non-combat stations," she was stating, "Death comes in many forms; food poisoning, disease, hunger, or a many of other things. You can use whatever weapon you favor in the private sessions. You don't want anyone… even your closest allies knowing your strengths."

"We already know that the other Careers will be trying to scare the other tributes," I joined in to the conversation, "Can't we do this a little?"

"If your strategy is to reveal your strengths and weaknesses to everyone in hopes that they give in to their fears, go for it," Mags replied, "However, the Gamemakers will not be the least bit surprised in the private sessions. They have seen you doing this before, therefore that leaves them unimpressed."

"Should we stick together?" Hurley asked, "I mean, like, us and the other Career tributes?"

"Is your wish to ally with Zale and the others?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay, so introduce yourselves to the other Careers as soon as training begins. The more experience you have with them the better. Involve yourself in activities with the others and here and there do exercises on your own."

Father joined in, "Eat lunch with the other four. The Career pack will make you look stronger to the other tributes and the observing Gamemakers. Got it?"

We replied simultaneously, "Yes, sir." I had eaten five lox and cream cheese bagels along with two glasses of protein-enhanced milk. I was ready to go. I had to prove that I was not a Career sidekick, not my father, and not my brothers. I was proving that I was Zale.

Sicilia rode with us in the elevator until we were below ground, in the Training Center. It was just like the one in District 4. Our district had replicated it and I had used it as my training grounds and home away from home for years.

"Listen to the instructors. Impress the Gamemakers. You know the drill."

The twenty-two tributes that occupied the gymnasium had their eyes focused on us. Some looked impressed, some looked terrified, a few (I assumed them to be my so-called allies) had smiles plastered on their faces.

I heard one tribute whispering to another, "He didn't look that tall on television."

The other one replied, "Or that muscular."

We gathered in a circle around the head instructor – a fit, bearded man named Abraham. He looked like a lumberjack from District 7. He was burly and thick with harsh, dark eyes.

"Listen up! Above you-" he points upward, "are the Gamemakers. Around you-" he spins around and points, "are the various stations to help you stay alive in the arena. If you have any questions, look for me or any of the other instructors that run the stations. Enjoy!"

Hurley had already walked over to a group of four tributes, so I jogged over. She had already introduced herself to the other Careers.

"I'm Yttrium, District 1," said a skinny, but well-built tribute, "Back home, they call me Rum." I sized him up. He was about six-foot. He had long, blonde hair and dark eyes like Abraham. I wasn't sure if he was my friend or my enemy yet.

"I am Magenta, District 1," said another tribute. She had strawberry blonde hair like Pax and midnight blue eyes. She was likely five-foot-eleven and fast.

A tanned tribute with muscles larger than my own began, "I am Victor, District 2." His parents wanted him to be a victor that bad. I decided right then and there that he was an enemy. I judged him to be vicious and greedy; killing anybody that got in the way of his crown. His hair was buzzed, but it appeared dark brown. He had darker eyes than Abraham, Rum, or anyone that came to mind.

"Valentina, District 2," she was the shortest of the group, the only one shorter than five-foot-six, "You can call me Tina or Val." She was only person to flash a smile to the lot. I decided to trust her for now. She struck me as a caring person. Her hair was toe-head white and her eyes were blue.

I introduced myself with confidence in my voice. I didn't smile or express emotions. They were not going to judge me yet. They would learn in good time.

Victor glanced around the gymnasium for a moment or two. His eyes caught what he was looking for and he directed our attention to the boy, or should I say man, from District 11. He had skin the color of teakwood and dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail. He was benching by my count 405 pounds.

"We could use him," Victor stated. Everyone else shook their heads in agreement. I just stood there with my eyes focused on his work-out.

"I can handle this," I said, as I walked over to him. I shook his hand, "My name is Zale. Do you need a spotter?"

"Douglass. I know what you want. I don't want to be in that group of show-offs and muscle-heads. That means you, too."

"I don't really want to either. I'm sticking with them in training, but I am breaking off when the gong sounds. Mind if I do a set?"

"No, go ahead. So I can form a temporary training alliance with you and the others?"

"They would love that. I couldn't care less."

"I heard you are a victor's son. I heard your brothers died in the Hunger Games."

"And this is why I doubt I will remain in their super-group. They will dub you and I the sidekicks, even though we will be the core. Their backbone."

We worked out together for another half-hour. The Careers had dispersed and were doing activities of their calibers. I was dripping in sweat and we called it quits.

"I have decided to join this alliance temporarily," Douglass said, shaking my hand. Victor was obviously eavesdropping because he came over and introduced himself. The other four came over and did the same.

Victor went back to using a sword in each hand and decapitating over fifteen dummies in about thirty seconds. Valentina was nailing a dummy in the bulls-eyes painted on its chest every single time with her bow and arrows in hand.

Rum had selected a mace. He took over for Victor and slammed his weapon into the dummies with such force that they flew through the air and landed at spans of ten to fifteen feet away. Magenta took over for Tina and starting throwing knives rapidly at the dummy. Seven hit the bulls-eye on the face, two hit the bulls-eye on the chest, and one cut off the dummy's hand.

I joined Hurley and Douglass at an edible plants station. The instructor was helpful and made buzzing noises when one of us selected a poisonous snack. It was the most fun I had had since I arrived in the Capitol.

We ate lunch in the Training Center at a banquet set up in the middle of the gymnasium. The seven of us sat at a table together and scarfed down heaping amounts of food. We spoke of our plans for the afternoon work-outs. Against Mags' wishes, Hurley would learn to use a bow and arrow. Tina would teach her. Rum and Victor invited Douglass and I to attend the wrestling station with them.

I paired up with Douglass. We were both well over six-foot and strong. He would pin me and I would pin him. We went back and forth until the other two ditched us. I wanted to test my abilities against one of them.

I walked by Hurley and Tina several times throughout the afternoon. Douglass and I did our own thing. We attended the camouflage station, the snares station, the water and other drinking sources station, and others. I was exhausted when I got into the elevator at the end of the day.

It was myself and the girl from District 10. I smiled at her and she gave me one back. She introduced herself as Lucy. I headed out of the door on level four.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Zale-"

"I know who you are." The door closed and the last thing I saw was her stunning smile and a wave good-bye.