Chapter 4:
AN: R&R.
Disclaimer: Suzanne Collins owns the Hunger Games Trilogy.
And with all your magic
I disappear from view.
Coldplay - Magic.
Katniss P.O.V:
A scream tore through my throat and my eyes popped open. I sat up and the sheets pooled around my waist. I glanced at the window and noticed the light the light streaming in, mostly from the clouds. It's still early morning, I thought after I glanced at the clock which read 05:39. I grimaced as I realized my nightgown was sticking to me and I was drenched in a cold sweat.
I slowly got up and made my way to the en-suite bathroom, and quickly stripped and got in the shower. A sigh of relief left my lips as the scalding water cascaded down my shivering form. I took the pink loofa and scrubbed every inch of my body. I picked the woods scented soap and shampoo, and proceeded to thoroughly scrub the shampoo in my hair.
At least I could smell like home, I thought as I slowly washed it out.
I stepped out of the shower and dried myself with one of the big towels then wrapped it around me.
I sighed and approached the mirror situated above the sink.
I stared back at the girl in the mirror. She was either constantly frowning or angry (usually the latter). I had dark long hair which was always in a mess of curls, and big grey eyes. Seam eyes. I tried to rub away the creases on my forehead but to no avail. I had a small straight nose and full pink lips. I don't really pay attention to looks and besides having a lean body, I was as average as it gets. And I was more than okay with that.
I quickly dried my hair then braided it back to its usual braid. I walked out of the bathroom and into my now warm room. I noticed a folded pile black clothing on my bed and a pair of comfortable looking boots.
I veered off towards my bed and picked up the first article of clothing. A cotton sleeveless shirt. I dropped my towel and pulled it over my head. Exactly my size. It was soft, I'll admit, and clung to me like second skin. I took the black tight yoga pants and put them on followed by the boots. At least the clothes stretched and were easy to move around in.
I didn't bother looking at the mirror and left my room. My stomach grumbled and I quickened my pace to the dining room. Effie and Haymitch were already seated, and eating their food. They looked up when I entered.
"Katniss darling! You're up so early!" Effie exclaimed. "Not that I'm complaining. Why don't you join us dear," She gestured to the seat across her.
Only when I finished my breakfast did Peeta finally show up. His tribute training outfit was slightly designed similar to mine, the sweatpants and the running shoes being the only difference.
"Good morning," He says with a small smile. Effie greets him back with the same enthusiasm to match his, then scolded him for being late for breakfast. Effie continues to chatter away and when his eyes meet mine I roll my eyes eliciting a chuckle from him.
After Peeta is done eating and Effie has left, Haymitch calls us to the lounge so we can watch the recap of the Victors' reaping before we go down to the training center.
Peeta and I sit side by side as Haymitch paces in front of us. A few seconds later he clicks a button on the remote.
"District 1," Haymitch says and draws our attention to the two tributes on the screen. "Cashmere and Gloss. Siblings. Gloss volunteered for his 63rd Hunger Games and Cashmere volunteered the following year. Both highly skilled in knife throwing." He explains. We nod for him to go on to the next tributes.
"District 2, Enobaria and Brutus. Hand to hand combat," He says pointing them out. My eyes narrow at the sight of her sharp teeth.
"What's with her teeth?" I ask.
"During her games, she ripped a tribute's throat out using her teeth. After she won she had them filed into sharp points and had gold inlaid," I grimaced as Haymitch explains.
"She's committed, I'll give her that," Peeta says. Haymitch rolls his eyes and moves on.
"District 3, Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters, but very intelligent. Beetee won his games by electrocuting the remaining tributes," Haymitch says. Impressive.
"District 6, the morphlings. They spent their hunger games hiding until everyone was dead," He explains. "They now spend their days consuming large amounts of Morphling, as you can see. They are definitely not a threat."
They kind of reminded me of Haymitch; Switched to a substance to try and forget the unforgettable.
Haymitch pressed a button and District 4's reaping appeared on the screen.
"Finnick Odair," I state. I ignored Peeta's eyes on me and looked straight ahead.
"Ah yes, Finnick Odair. District 4,"He continues. "Won the 65th Hunger Games at the age of 14. Youngest ever. He won by getting a lot of sponsors who sent him a trident towards the end. He trapped people in nets and finished them off with the trident afterwards. He does have a weakness though, Mags, his mentor. She volunteered for Annie Cresta. He's extremely lethal yet humble. Watch out for him."
I snorted when he described Finnick as humble, both Peeta and Haymitch looked at me, the latter raising his eyebrow. I shook my head and told him to continue.
But he was stopped by the sound of Effie's heels. She appeared in a matter of seconds.
"Children, I need to take you down to the training center soon. You two need to be there by 10:30. We need to be early this time so we'll go at 10," Effie continued on. Haymitch held his hand up for her to stop.
"While that is very thoughtful of you Effie, you can't take them this time around," He says. Effie immediately opened her mouth to protest but Haymitch continued. "They need to appear strong, and showing up with their babysitter won't exactly be considered macho." He put air quotations when he said macho. Effie huffed then turned to us. "Be there by 10 on the dot. If you are late it will affect us all," I bite my lip to keep from laughing and nod my head. Satisfied, she finally leaves the room.
Haymitch sat down on the coffee table and leaned towards us. "Okay you need to listen to him carefully," He says.
"Today, in training, you've got two jobs. One, stay in love."
"Obviously," I quipped.
"And two, make some friends," says Haymitch.
"No," I say stubbornly. "I don't trust any of them, I can't stand most of them, and I'd rather operate with just the two of us."
"That's what I said at first, but-" Peeta begins.
"But honestly sweetheart, it won't be enough," Haymitch insists. "You're going to need more allies this time around."
"Why?" I ask.
"Because you're at a distinct disadvantage. Your competitors have known each other for years. So who do you think they're going to target first?"
The answer is obvious. Peeta and I.
"Us. And nothing we're going to do is going to override any old friendship," I say and lean forward. "So why bother?"
"Because you can fight sweetheart. You're both popular with the crowd. That could still make you desirable allies. But only if you let the others know you're willing to team up with them," Haymitch says and grabs his hair in frustration.
"Are you trying to tell us you want us in the careers pack this year?" I ask, unable to hide my distaste. Usually the tributes from District 1, 2 and 4 join forces, possibly taking in a few other exceptional fighters, and hunt down the weaker links.
"That's been our strategy since the beginning, hasn't it? To be able to train like Careers?" counters Haymitch. "And who makes up the Career pack is generally agreed upon before the Games begin. Peeta barely got in with them last time."
I remember the loathing I felt when I discovered Peeta had joined the Careers during the last games. "So we're to try to get in with Finnick and Brutus?"
"Twisting my words sweetheart," Haymitch warned. "Everyone's a victor. Make your own pack if you'd rather, choose who you like. I'd suggest Chaff and Seeder. Although Finnick's not to be ignored." He says.
"Find someone to team up with who might be of use to you. Remember, you're not in a ring full of trembling children anymore. These people are all experienced killers, no matter what shape they appear to be in."
I was beginning to see the angle Haymitch was looking at all this. Only, who could I trust? Possibly Seeder. But do I really have to, just to kill her later? No.
"Fine I'll try, but I'm not making any promises," I say and get up.
-U-S-
Effie finally lets us go in the elevator, after fussing over our hair, and pushing the button for us.
It's such a short ride that there's no real time for conversation, but when Peeta takes my hand, I don't pull it away. In training we had to appear as an inseparable team.
Effie needn't have worried about us being the last to arrive. Only Brutus and the woman from District 2, Enobaria, were present.
By 10:30, only about half of the tributes have shown up. Atala, the woman who runs training begins right on times, unfazed by the poor attendance. Maybe she expected it. Atala releases us to train after running through the list of stations, which is includes both combat and survival skills.
"We should split up," I say to Peeta. At his confused expression I explain. "So we can cover more territory."
He nods his head and after squeezing my hand, wanders off to chuck spears with Brutus and Chaff. I head over to the knot-tying station, where hardly anyone bothers to visit it. I like the trainer and he remembers me fondly, probably because I spent time with him here last year. He's pleased to see I'm still able to set the many traps that leaves an enemy dangling by a body part from a tree.
As we progress, I ask him to review every kind of knot that might come in handy and a few I'll probably never use. I'd been content for about an hour and a half, when someone wrapped their arms around me from behind.
I froze. From the bronze skin and muscular arms, I had an inkling to who it was. They'd been put on display yesterday, their owner had been offering me sugar cubes. His fingers easily finished the complicated knot I had been sweating over.
He leans in closer after he's done and I subtly sniff him, his sea and sugar scent clouding my thoughts. He presses his chest against my back and brings his lips close to my ear.
"Hello Katniss," He greets me huskily.
Finnick.
AN: Thank you for reading. And please review. :)