A reviewer (Josephm611) asked why they were trying to kill each other, and I think you mean Clove because she is the only one who outwardly express the intent to kill, and I think it was more tongue in cheek(?), although she wouldn't have any problem killing Peeta if it came down to it. I think the major thing between each tribute is that they don't trust each other on top of being confused. Some, as I hope I expressed clearly in writing, deal with this mistrust more subtle that others. Plus, although the Careers might not be able to 'recall' the purpose of the Academy. They still remember the experience they had training and it does still impact their behavior and attitudes. So although they aren't forced to kill each other, they are still trained Careers who would do anything to achieve their goals.
Also really appreciate all the reviews, I've been getting. I would honestly like to be one of those people who write for themselves and not for reviews, but to be honest I am not always like that. I am currently in college, and pre-med, and writing is what I do when I am bored, so having reviewers really motivates me to write, even when I am busy and don't feel like it.
"We're not allowed to send gifts?" Haymitch asked for the third time in five minutes. He was on his third drink.
"Something about triggering memories." Enoboria lifted her flask to her lips.
"This is such bullshit." Haymitch slurred.
"You're telling me?" The bitter drink sizzled on the tip of her fangs. She didn't like this. She didn't like this at all. The Games were supposed to be about killing and survival, but mostly killing. Not the "survival in the wild" bullshit the game makers were pulling.
She was bored out of her mind, yet she was at the edge of her seat. Despite having to ask herself if she was even watching the Games at times, she was engrossed in it. She was starting to understand why this Game had the highest rating ever in the Games' history. This was the kind of shit that the Capitalions eat up. It was almost like the start of one of those bad Capitol drama that came on during lunch time.
It was predictable. They wanted drama, that's why they put the boy from 12 and Clove together. The cold-hearted girl who would do anything to win, and the warm-hearted boy who would do anything to not win, so that the love of his life, the girl from 12 could win. However, judging from the Games so far, Enoboria was really started to doubt the boy from 12 actually had a thing for the Fire Girl - Girl on Fire - whatever. She wasn't one for names. But it could also be the mind wiping thing.
The game makers really weren't making any sense, but predictable none the less.
"What are you doing?" It came out as barely a shivered whisper, but she could tell that he heard her. That was how small the cave was. Small, dark and cold, but it sheltered them from the colder air outside. She could see the sea from the small opening of the cave.
He looked over his shoulder to her. "I don't plan to get hypothermia."
The other boy looked over at her before standing up. He had to lean slightly forward so that his head didn't hit the top of the cave.
Both boys took off their clothes so that only boxer brief was left. Katniss kept her eyes on the raging sea, shivering in her drenched, frozen clothes. She could feel the ice crystals starting to form around her hair, but that was the only thing she could feel. Her hands along with most of her body have started to go numb.
"If you die from hypothermia, we'll just dump your body in the sea, and I won't even feel guilty about it." It was the tall guy who spoke, and Katniss took the time to glare at him, before attempting to stand up. But her feet was numb causing her to stumble around trying to find her balance on two legs that she couldn't feet. A hand gripped her shoulder helping her stand still. His hand was cold, yet second by second , the contact warmed her skin.
"Turn around." She commanded. His hand still on her shoulder, he turned his body and face from her.
The blonde boy was at the opposite corner of the cave, and it wasn't until Katniss stared at him for a few seconds that he too turned around.
If she wasn't freezing, she would not be doing this. She took off her shoes.
She shrugged off the hand on her shoulder, placing all her weight against the cave wall. As she took off her blouse and pants, she watched the tall boy walked towards the bag that laid in the middle of the cave.
It was the blonde boys. They left theirs in the forest when they ran, however, this fact didn't stop the boy who was now searching through the backpack.
The other boy- the blonde, buff one - turned around at the unzipping of the bag. And although he was clearly staring down the boy who was looking through his bag, he said nothing.
Apparently, the bag was waterproof because a dry sleeping bag was taken out and laid on the cave floor.
"Get in." I didn't move, although it was clear that he was speaking to me. My eyes moved to the blond boy. It was his sleeping bag technically, and something told her that he wasn't really planning to share.
"Fine." Her eyes moved back to the tall guy. "Both of you can just freeze to death then." He crawled into the sleeping bag.
The blond guy eyes drooped and Katniss didn't miss the look of annoyance as if silently questioning himself if this was really happening. He walked to the middle of the cave and nudged the sleeping bag with his foot. "Get out."
It was unclear if the other boy heard him since his eyes were closed, but a second later the seemingly sleeping boy turned so his back was to the blonde boy. He clearly had no intentions to get up despite it not being his sleeping bag.
"There is still enough space." He murmured in a low voice, shuffling to the edge of the sleeping bag.
The blonde guy sighed and stood there staring down, until he gave in and got in, sticking to the opposite side of the sleeping bag. There was still room between them.
Katniss stood against the cold cave.
"So, where are you from?" Glimmer trudged across the forest. She was few steps behind them choosing to stay feet behind for a reason.
They didn't respond. Again. At least for a few seconds. They did, however, do the weird side-eye at each other. She didn't know if they realized how much they looked at each other. As if they were having secret conversations with each other with their looks.
"Five." The red-headed girl murmured first.
"Ten."
They were from different district. Why weren't they at least interesting in that fact? Instead, they just kept walking in silence.
Glimmer found herself getting annoyed. Were they mad that she came back after running away and threatening them? She apologized about that.
Maybe they just didn't want her around? The thought came to her despite Glimmer knowing that she had not done anything to make them dislike her (except for the incident yesterday which she apologized for and explained herself).
The experience of being given a cold shoulder was foreign to her. Everybody liked her. She was beautiful, charming and warm to people (unless she was in a bad mood).
But the silence and looks between them made her assume that they would prefer to not have her around.
"Do you guys not want me around or something?" She asked with hesitation.
For a second she thought that they were going to ignore like how they have been doing, but a few seconds they both slowed down and looked back at her.
She anticipated it. So much so that before their head could turn towards each other, Glimmer shouted, "Stop looking at each other."
The froze, all their attention now on her and only her. "If I didn't know better, I would think that you two are both secretly planning to murder me and stash my body somewhere deeper into the forest."
The small smile that she almost missed on Chen's face made her rethink her thought of saying that as a joke. "You aren't planning to are you?"
Yeah. Because people usually tell their victim when they were planning to murder them. Glimmer took a step back.
Again, with the silence. Oh, my god, why didn't she realized before that they were the classic case of sociopaths (or psychopaths). She didn't really know the difference, but either way, they were both quiet, sneaky and outright strange, so they were probably one of the two.
"I can out run both of you." Shit. It's not a good plan to tell people you are trying to get away from that she was about to run, was it? Plus, that was only half true. During their walk, she noticed that the boy walked with a limp in his right foot. She could out run him. It was the girl she wasn't sure about.
"We weren't planning to do that-" Chen spoke. "-but interesting idea."
See? Sociopath. Who else would think that the thought of murdering her was interesting? Either that or he had a very sick, twisted sense of humor. But sociopaths mostly have dark humor, didn't they?
"You guys need to talk more." Glimmer looked between them, but like before they still said nothing. And Glimmer sighed a long, and loud sigh as they started to look at each other.
He should leave. If he left now, he wouldn't feel guilt, compared to before when he thought about leaving her alone in the forest.
But also, he is realizing the that she wasn't as helpless, as he thought. He didn't miss the purple bruises on the tip of every finger, while they were drinking from the river.
"Your arm is burnt." He pointed out when they were still in the water.
She ignored him as if she didn't hear. He reached out to her arm, but she sharply moved away and glared at him, ask if she was silently asking how he dared to even touch her.
"Your arm-" He set out to repeat again, but she cut him off. "You think I don't know, idiot?"
He was gradually getting used to her snarls and insults. Probably a sign that he has been around her for too long. Yet, he also didn't miss the brief glimpse of pain in her expression when she moved her arm.
Ignoring her, he reached for her arms again. This time, he gripped tight enough so that she couldn't shrug him off, without it being very painful for her.
The skin was scribbled and slightly peeling off. He was impressed at how easily she made it seem as if it was painless, trivial burn.
"Are you done harassing me now?"
He raised an eyebrow at her. A bit confused. But hell, confusion was the status of his mood since yesterday.
He ripped the bottom of his shirt. He considered ripping her's since it was her injury but realized that he was on the very thin ice with her at the moment and didn't want to apply pressure in any way possible. He took the small piece of cloth and wrapped it around her arm.
He didn't expect her to thank him, and she didn't.
So in my mind, Cato is really complicated. Probably, the most complicated characters in my story. I am well aware that many fanfiction authors like to write him as extrovert, and possessive which works well in some stories and not so well in others. But personally, I actually think that Cato and Katniss have a lot of similarities personality- wise. I don't think that Cato would be a talkative person. Reflecting on the movies and book, Cato seemed to always be played as a leader and a strong person, and most of his dialogue and action reflect around winning the games. I see him as someone who is really focused and diligent of getting what he wants, without saying more that he need to say. Like Katniss. I don't think he would ever joke around much. That's more of Marvel's thing. Or expression feeling or emotion.
But I am curious, how is Cato like in your head?
