A/N: I was in a writing mood, so I went ahead and wrote the next chapter. And why hold out on my followers if I have the chapter? That's why I'm posting the second chapter the same day. So, I hope you guys like it! If any of you have any ideas for me, feel free (more than free, please do!) tell me, I love hearing ideas from other people. I'm also going to reply to all my reviews (as long as I can) from now on, you guys deserve to know how much I appreciate you all. Enjoy!
"Up up up! Come on, Miss Fox, up and at 'em!" I groan at the voice. Ina's words are enthusiastic, but they have a sarcastic edge to them. I grumble something that makes no sense, but is loud enough for her to hear. Then I pull the covers up over my head and attempt to fall back asleep.
"Wahhh!" I cry as I tumble to the floor. Then I feel the mattress fall on top of me. I manage to crawl out from under it and hop up, ready to fight. What I find is a much pleased with herself Ina smirking at me, arms crossed.
"I said up," she says sweetly, then laughs. I glare at her as hard as I can, then glance at the clock. She had given me 15 more minutes to sleep. "Better hurry with your shower and changing. Be at breakfast within half an hour," I growl at her and she laughs again, saying something about foxes. I roll my eyes as I get some clothes. I head to the bathroom, slamming the door. I have since learned that the tile closet I discovered on the train is called a shower. Ina found it hilarious when I called it the tile closet, cracking up for at least 5 minutes. I press a button with what looks like raspberries on it. The water smells sweet and slightly tart. I love it, and find a soap setting that matches the scent. I get out, use the dryer thing and get dressed. I make it to breakfast with 5 minutes to spare, getting an approving look from my mentor. I glare at her and sit, still sulking. The stylists show up a minute later, followed by Adam, and finally Kander shows up, clearly sleepy still. I continue to pout and fume through breakfast, still mad about the mattress incident. Ina smirks at me a lot, Fire pouts back, and finally Ice asks the question on everyone's mind.
"Okay, what on Earth is her issue? Actually, what's even her name? Shouldn't I know that?" She asks, glaring weakly at me. I shoot her an angry glance but don't answer.
"She's Foxy, and I bet she's mad that she's gonna get her butt kicked in training today," Adam states, looking smugly at me. I glare at him and his smile wavers.
"Yes, yes, she's attractive, but what's her name? And what's her real issue?" Ice persists. Fire laughs, as do Kander and Ina. I look sullenly at the food I'm diligently devouring.
"Her real name is Aurora, but she looks like a fox so most kids called her Foxy at home. She's just mad at me because I rolled her out of bed and flipped a mattress onto her this morning," everyone gapes at Ina's explanation. I take the chance to glower at her again, then turn back to my eggs and pancakes. "What? She wouldn't get out of bed, and I wanted to test my strength," Nobody questions it further, and we all continue our meals. After breakfast, Kander, Adam, Ina and I all go to the elevators to head down to training. "Remember; don't show all your strengths. Try to learn how to use a few weapons, learn about plants and knots and snares. Anything you possibly can. And try climbing as well," I nod at her. I also plan on examining the tributes further.
Man, this is easy. I think to myself at the edible plants station. I know all of these, and complete the test in record time. The expert is impressed and commends me. I smile and nod and move on. As I head toward the climbing wall, I survey the tributes. Katniss and Peeta are still together at the camouflage station. Katniss looks impressed by Peeta's work. I discreetly look at it, and I must admit, it's amazing. I wonder how he knows how to paint such a realistic tree pattern. I can't imagine there are artists in 12. The Careers are at the weapons station, of course. Cato is showing off with a sword, decimating a dummy. Clove taps his shoulder. He whirls around, furious, ready to kill her. She quickly disarms him and scolds him. I stifle a laugh. I knew he was stupid and impulsive. Thresh is at the knot tying station, learning knots, I assume. I can't quite find Rue. Finally I spot her behind a beam that she's tiny enough to be obscured by. She's watching 12. Apparently she's as interested in them as I am, and I wonder if maybe she'll make an alliance with them. I briefly consider an alliance with her myself, but expel the thought. I refuse to have alliances. It would be too easy for it to come down to the two of us, and I wouldn't be able to kill my alliance partner. I couldn't kill anyone.
I make it to the climbing station and start the course. I'm better at it than I expected, finding the hand and foot holds with ease. I go from the rock wall part to the simulation tree climbing part. This is a bit more challenging, but I figure out a way to scurry up it. I finally make it to the top, but something unexpected happens. I look down, and start to get really dizzy. It feels like everything is spinning. I sit down on the top and stay there for a minute. It passes, and I scramble down. Nobody seems to have noticed that I almost passed out at 30 feet. I'm glad though, and hear the bell for lunch. Maybe I just need some more food.
I watch 12 closely. I know sometimes district partners are friendly, but this friendly? They spend every minute together, talking and sometimes laughing. Peeta takes all the rolls out of a basket and talks, holding them up one by one. He seems to gesture towards them. I creep a bit closer to listen in. He's talking about the characteristics of bread from District 4. I realize he must be a baker, how else would he know this stuff? That explains his well-fed look and strength. I continue listening to their conversation. Katniss starts talking about being chased by a bear. How on Earth would she have encountered a bear? Then she says it: she hunted 2 squirrels and 4 rabbits that day. She's a hunter. It must be illegal… But she's still a hunter. This knowledge brings all kinds of thoughts to my mind. She knows how to survive. She knows how to find food. She knows how to navigate terrain and find her way through nature. She has firsthand knowledge about edible plants and things of that sort, I'm sure. And worst of all: She can kill. She has to have some sort of weapon to hunt, and what she can use to kill animals she can use to kill humans. She instantly becomes my biggest threat in these Games. She's most likely to become victor. I have to stop her, because if I join her I'm sure to lose.
Katniss Everdeen has become my biggest threat.
