Training Day Two

-Abigail Macbeth, 13, District 5-

I used to wonder if the tributes had any fun before the Games. I knew that it was probably pretty scary for them, knowing they were going to get put in an Arena and have to fight to the death there. But the rest of the process always looked like fun to me. The chariot rides, the interviews... Even training.

All my life I imagined what it would be like to see the gym in person. They never filmed while tributes were in there training, but they always gave a shot of the empty gym. It always looked so big to me. I always wondered if the tributes had fun running around there. It was so expansive, it looked like the perfect place to play. Surely, I thought, even if they were going to die, they would have fun with their last days.

Python always told me I would never have to worry about that. I wish he was right.

I realize that it's far easier said than done. It's far easier to say that we'll go down smiling than to do it.

The first few days I was here, I was riding high. I finally had a cute boy of my own, and we were enjoying being together. We wore crazy hats, we played games together. We had fun on the chariot, glowing and waving, and we talked to some of the other tributes. I thought for sure I'd love training, being in that giant gym and having a whole course to run all by myself... Walls to climb, a big space just to twirl in, and try new things.

I was wrong.

Training was sort of fun that first morning. Ez and I raced on the agility course and talked to some new people there. We tried the climbing wall, but neither of us got too far without any help.

That afternoon, I watched the girl from District One destroy a dummy with her sword. I realized quite suddenly that the dummy could have been me... Or Ez. After that day I haven't been able to stop imagining ever dummy to be myself, or Ez... I don't want to watch him die... I don't want to die.

"Oh Turtle, let's go see if we can identify bugs! Maybe there will be some samples for us to try!" he grinned at me. "Are you up for it?"

I try my best not to frown. "I think I should actually learn some things today," I say quietly.

"Oh." He blinked. "I guess that would be smart. Um... Are you okay?" He frowned slowly.

"Um..." I watched the boy from one shoot a dummy straight in the heart and couldn't stop wincing, my chest thumping as if the arrow had already landed there. "I just think we need to focus, that's all. On how to survive."

"I suppose so," he said quietly. "Maybe we should split up?"

I nod and try a tiny smile. "That sounds like a good idea. Then we can cover ground more quickly."

"Alright, let's reconvene for lunch then!" He reaches his fist out and I bump it. "Agreed," I say.

Ez goes off to the berry identification station, and I go to see if I can build a fire.

I try to focus on what's in front of me. One of the tributes from District Nine is beside me, but I'm not even looking over at them. I really need to learn how to make this. Python said I've always been good at making things, so I know I can do this.

I listen to everything the instructor is saying and copy. After what feels like forever, I finally start to get somewhere.

Sparks start flying and beside me I hear a surprised squeak.

"Sorry," I say, glancing over at the timid tribute from District Ten.

"You got that fast," she said, offering me a small smile.

"It doesn't feel fast," I say. This process is indeed taking forever.

"Well you're on your way. Took me about a million years yesterday. I'm trying to get faster."

"I see. That's a good idea."

"I'm Inari," she says. I recognize her as the tribute in the cow costume. She stayed pretty close to her cowboy when I saw her.

"I'm Turtle."

"Turtle. I like that. How'd you get that nickname?"

That word makes me stop cold, even though the tribute next to me had already started their fire.

"It's not a nickname. That's my name," I say, scowling.

Inari's full face goes bright red in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said quietly, and quickly turned back to her own, twisting the stick as quickly as she possibly could. I frown, wondering if I shouldn't have sounded so cold... I quickly leave that station. I've learned enough about fire-making for now.

I go to another station that involves making things: trap-making. I'm sure Ez won't want to want to be offensive either, so if I can trap tributes or animals it'll make it easier for us to operate.

I hurry over, but stop in my tracks when I hear someone say forcefully, "Hold it!"

The boy from Six who was working at that station looks up at me. "Watch your step."

I realize I was about three steps away from a pile of leaves, which I assume is a trap in the works. It looks pretty complicated to me.

"Thanks," I say, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "I almost went flying high!"

"Well it's not done yet," he said, rolling his eyes slightly. "I was just saving my trap from you breaking it."

"Oh," I say. This is probably karma coming for me after I was rude to that girl from 10.

"But once it's done, you would go flying."

"Think you could show me how you make it?" I ask.

"Nice try," he says. "I have better things to do then try to teach a little kid a big kid trick."

I cross my arms. "I am not just a little kid. I have my own dildo!"

That makes him break his apathetic mask and look genuinely startled. "What?!"

"Oh I don't use it. I just like to look at it."

"So you're one of those."

"I was really missing my dildo, luckily I have another dick to look at," I say, taking a seat beside him and greeting the instructor.

"You just don't stop, do you?" he asks, the smallest hint of a smile touching across his face. "Being reckless like that is just gonna get you killed."

My confidence deflates like a balloon. "It will not," I say, looking at the ropes and twigs set out.

"Will too," he says, going back to what he was doing before.

"Will not," I say. The instructor explains the first step, and I work hard trying to copy her.

"Will too," he mumbles under his breath.

"Klaus, focus on your own," the trainer scolds.

I giggle, trying to hide it. "Who's the little kid now?" I ask, which makes the instructor shush me too.

"Still you," he mumbles.

As much as I don't want him to get the last word, I know that I really need to focus on what I'm doing, so I drop it and work on the trap.

The lunch bell rings just as I'm starting my last few knots. The other tributes start moving, but I want to finish before lunch so I keep going.

By the time my trap is finished and has been tested by the trainer, the line's completely cleared out.

I go to the buffet and get my tray of food, then look around the lunch room.

What I find is not what I expect. Instead of finding Ez alone, he's sitting at a table with two other girls.

I approach slowly. Ez's smile widens slightly when I approach. "Hi Turtle!" He says.

"Um... What...?"

"This is Brialle and Melanie! They're really cool!"

"Um..." I don't know what to say. The girls both smile at me.

"Nice to meet you," Brialle says. "We're making an alliance of younger tributes, and well... The more the merrier, right?"

"That's right!" Ez said, smiling. "Melanie is really good at identifying berries that are edible, and Brialle is really, really smart!"

I should be nice to them... Ez seems to like that. But... Brialle looks so unique, with her light hair with a white streak in it. And Melanie has black hair that is long and looks silky, and olive skin. Why am I even here, I can't compare to them... It was ridiculously stupid of me to think that the kind attractive boy was actually interested in me above all other girls...

"Turtle?" Ez said.

"I don't think this is a good idea,' I say quickly, heading off to a table that's empty and sitting alone.

I'm no stranger to eating alone. I always ate alone at school, the other kids thought I was weird and they didn't like me. They thought they were being "nice", but I saw their smirks behind the scenes. I saw them laughing behind my back. That laugh that is malicious, smirking and looking at all their smirking friends. I guess I couldn't even escape it here.

I suppose that's for the best, though. I can't afford to make any more friends than I already have. After all, I really don't want to die. I want to get back home. I wish I'd realized it earlier, so I didn't waste a whole day of training doing nonsense.

I won't let myself look over at them. I don't need them coming over here.

Python always said that there was truly no such thing as a friend. Everyone wanted to get to the top, even if it meant crushing each other. Even those popular kids, they're not friends. They'd eat each other if it meant they survived. The world didn't care about anyone. There was no such thing as love, outside of family. He always said there was something special about family.

As much as I hated to even think about Python right now, I knew he was right. Especially in the Hunger Games. How was I so stupid to believe there would be friendship in the Games? Everyone just wants to leave alive. And that means killing me. There is no such thing as friendship, or love, not in the Games. I was a fool to think there would be.

I know, it's not a big deal. He's just talking to a couple other girls. Still though. The Games aren't a place to make friends. I should have known better.

The lunch room clears out as the tributes go to training one by one. The Careers are the first to go, other tributes following. I watch Klaus head back to training. On his way past my table, he ruffles my hair a little. "You're a good kid," he mutters as he walks past. Great, even the dick is pitying me.

I realize I'm getting up to leave at the same time as Ez and his new pretty allies. I sit back down, letting them go first. I don't even want to be near them.

When I get up, I realize that Ezreal is still sitting. I try not to look at him.

"Turtle wait," he says.

"What do you want?" I ask, turning back around.

"Well... I just wanted to see if you were okay."

"I'll be fine alone."

"What happened to you? I... I thought we were going to enjoy this time together..." He frowned.

"I thought so too," I said. "But... You know where we are, don't you?"

"I do!" he says, but I don't think I believe it.

"I want to get home to..." I stop mid-sentence. I don't even know who I have to get home to. Do I even have a family? "To sort things out. I can't just die here without getting answers... Reconciling with my brother. It's too soon for me."

"I made us more allies."

"I can't afford to make any more friends. They will only break your heart when they leave."

"Turtle..."

"I thought we were going to stick to each other. But now you're just talking to everyone you meet, making friends with them! That's dangerous, Ez... Each person you befriend is one more tough step between you and District Five. Don't you realize that?"

"Turtle, please-"

"I need to be allied with someone who is taking this seriously, Ez. I don't need a bunch of dead weight that will become my friend and then I'll hurt to lose. I'm already attached to you, and I can't afford a big alliance like that. Do they even have skills?"

"They have skills..."

"Like what? Did you see them do anything?"

Ez looks at the ground. "I... No."

"You have to take this seriously, Ez. Don't you want to go home to your family? Don't you want to get home to May?!"

Ezreal glances up at me. "Turtle... I'm not getting home."

"But..." How can he say this?! "But May! How can you leave your family and all your friends behind!?"

"I'm not going to hurt anyone, Turtle. I already know that. I'm just trying to make the most of my last days."

I can't control the tears that pool in my eyes at the thought of Ezreal losing his life. I've been trying not to think about it...

"You can't just... Give up."

"I'm not going to kill. There's no way I'm going to win. I want to make a bunch of friends and have the greatest time with them!"

I sniffle, knowing that I'm embarrassing myself by crying. My cheeks heat up at the thought.

"I refuse to give up on myself. There's too much at stake for me getting home."

Ezreal frowns. "I understand."

"You have plenty of other girls prettier than I am and more fun to be around. You'll have no problem replacing me."

I clear my throat to try and get the tears to subside.

"Oh, Turtle... I could never replace you." He reaches out and takes both of my hands. "You're the most unique person I've ever met. I've never met anyone like you."

"Everyone tells me that. It's just their polite way of saying I'm messed up."

"No! That's not what I meant at all! What I mean is... Well, you're something special, Turtle D'Angelo. You always make me laugh. We always have a good time together. I could never find anyone that cracks me up like you do. And I'm just glad that I got these few days of awesome-ness with you."

Through the tears, a smile spreads across my face. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better..."

"I would never lie to you. I will hold the memories we made together in my heart forever. You're rad. I mean... I'm used to living every day like it's my last, because that's what I've always done. But it wasn't until I spent time with you that it really felt like... I got to live. So thank you."

I can't hold back a smile. He's really such a great guy. He leans in with a small nervous laugh and kisses my ear.

"Sorry," he says, blushing. "I meant to hit your cheek."

I can't control the grin that spreads across my face. "It's okay." I giggle a little.

"You're right, though, Turtle. You need to focus on yourself, getting out alive. You have a shot, you really do. You're one of the most ingenious people I know. You could be the youngest Victor in history! But... You don't need any dead weight. I know I'm not going to hurt anyone, I'm going to die... You need to focus on yourself so you can win, not me. So... I think you're right. It's best that we just leave each other alone. I can't do anything for you."

I try to stop the tears from coming, but he gently reaches up, spreads his fingers across my head and uses his thumb to brush them away.

"I'll learn as much as I can so that I can win. For both of us."

Ez smiles, but I can see his lip quivering a bit. "Thanks Turtle."

I throw my arms around him and he hugs me back tightly.

He lets go after a short hug, wiping my cheeks again. "You need to get back out there."

I nod a little. "Yeah. You're right." We put our dishes away and leave the room together.

~.~.

-Nebuchadnezzar Spiros, 18, District 2-

It wasn't a hard decision that the untrained boy from District Four wouldn't be a part of our alliance this year. It was also smoothly agreed that it wasn't worth replacing him. After all, the best choices besides little Ott were the guys from Ten and Three, and neither was the type that I'd want to trust while I'm sleeping.

The boy from Three was intimidating as well, but I'm confident in our alliance just how it is. We had a strong showing for volunteers this year. Besides, One and Two are the important Districts. Four's just an added bonus.

The first day of training was the single most frustrating thing I've ever experienced. For some reason everything I did was just horrible. I couldn't hit a dummy straight and I always just missed the right spots. And the more frustrated I got, the worse I trained.

I just don't understand. That was the worst showing I'd ever done! The Gamemakers were probably confused as to why District Two even sent me. I humiliated myself. I hadn't trained that poorly in years.

This morning, I went into hyper-focus. Every shot had to be perfect. But it seemed that the more focused I was, the worse it got. I'd gotten so used to training without focusing on it. But... What was I focusing on then?!

I throw a spear crooked that hits the arm. Dammit, the arm! How could I possibly have hit the arm!? If Horus were here he wouldn't have hit the damn arm...

Wait, that's it! The reason I trained so well was because there was always someone right next to me that thought he could do it better. Maybe that's what I need... All I need is some good healthy competition.

But who...? Hm... Lori is old news. I've already beat her at every station under the sun, there's no way she could possibly take me here.

I head to where Zuli's been working at the sword station, but when I get there I see the girl sitting on the floor, reading a book.

"Zuli?"

She glances up over the pages at me. "Hey."

"What are you doing?"

She raises an eyebrow and holds up her book. I walked right into that one.

"Why?"

"I'm freshening up my memory."

When I read the cover of the book I find that it's about finding water in different environments. Well, at least it's productive reading. But still, useless for any kind of competition.

"We'll have free reign in the Cornucopia, but I guess it can't hurt," I say. Then, I turn around and leave her be. When I glance back, I notice Lori trotting over to her. When she says hello, Zuli closes her book and puts it on the floor beside her.

Of course only Lori can get her to do that. I wonder if it's just a girls thing or what. Although if I were a girl, I doubt I'd care much for Lori's constant fashion advice. Unless she only gives that to guys. If I had a nickel for every time she told me to tuck in my damn shirt. Or, half-tuck, because "that's totally in! Or, well, it will be, sometime, soon."

I head over to where Neapolitan is training with a bow and arrows. That's not my best weapon, but maybe I can convince him to meet me at the hand-to-hand combat station.

Neapolitan is one person I haven't really gotten a read on yet. He's been so focused talking to the girls that I haven't had much one-on-one conversation with him. He's played some flirting games, unfortunately Lori is a lesbian, and his District partner wasn't interested.

I wonder if Garrett has talked to him.

Anyways, maybe this will be my chance to figure out if he's just an okay person who tried and failed a strategy or a total douchebag. He could go either way.

He looks up when I approach and gives me a nod of recognition before turning back to his target and letting an arrow go. It hits the dummy right in the neck.

"Nice shot," I say, causing him to look over. I pick up a bow and stand beside him. "Is this your weapon of choice?"

"My weapon of choice is my versatility," he says, smirking and winking at me.

I can't control the eye-roll at that statement. "Nobody can be a master at all weapons," I say, matter-of-factly. "I know because if they could, I would be."

"Maybe I'm just more dedicated than you are, Loch Nez Monster."

"Excuse you!" I say, feeling heat rise to my face. "It's Nez or Neb, or you should just call me by my full name! Nebuchadnezzar!"

"Oh, so you're one of those." He focuses.

"One of what?!"

He lets the arrow sail into the dummy's heart. "One of those ultra-masculine Careers."

"I am not! It's the principle of the thing! Call me by my name!"

"What, is Nebby too girly for your taste?"

I can't control the disgusted face I make. "Of course it is. It's too cutesy. And we're not friends. We're strictly allies."

I pick up the bow and aim it. The device feels foreign in my hands. Too bulky, too awkward. It doesn't come naturally to me because that's not the weapon I've perfected.

"So you're Mr. Business then," Neapolitan says, as I shoot my arrow and it lands in the dummy's thigh.

"We're in the Hunger Games. Friendship doesn't exist here."

"I suppose that's the smart thing to do. So, Mr. Business, how about some good old fashioned... Business competition?"

I smirk. He's got me fired up, surely this will motivate me to show my skills better than him. "Oh, you're so on!"

The trainer at the station keeps track of our shots based on how they hit the targets. We agree to fire twenty shots each and then get our final score. Neapolitan hits the target on the chest every time, and during our competition he doesn't stray from that. I aim for different places (mostly because my bow usage is a matter of trial and error. If I can't get it to hit the target on the chest, maybe I can hit the stomach target. No. Head target? Big no. Throat target? Oh, I've hit the chest target!)

Neapolitan finishes his firing before I'm even on the twelfth arrow. I take my time to finish my shots, trying for accuracy over speed. Unfortunately, compared to him I have neither.

One more shot to make this count. I aim my arrow, making sure it's trained on its target. I want to end on a good note, even if there's no possible way I can win.

Suddenly, a big clatter happens right beside me, which causes me to jump and release the arrow into the ground right in front of me.

Neapolitan laughs, and when I look over I see that he pushed over the display of bows, which made all the noise.

"What the hell was that for!?" I ask, throwing my bow down in frustration.

"A fight is never just dead-silent, Nebby. You have to be prepared for anything." I look up, noticing the Gamemakers talking amongst each other, and knowing that the damn bastard tricked me. Dammit! I can't let this punk-ass bitch outscore me!

"Who do you think you are!? We're allies! You shouldn't be sabotaging me!"

Neapolitan shrugs, which makes me clench my teeth tightly. "I wasn't sabotaging you, I was helping you."

"Fine, let's go to the hand-to-hand station then! See how you like it!"

I turn around to head off, not caring to hear the scores because I know he demolished me. After a few steps I notice that he isn't following me.

"Well?" I ask. God, I wish we could fight in the training center.

"I think I'm going to pass."

"Pass!? What?! Why!? You can't just pass!"

"Yeah I can. I don't want to lose to you in front of the Gamemakers. That's just embarrassing."

What the fuck!? That little bitch, just taking advantage of me like that!

"How dare you make a fool of me!" I shout, lunging for him. I can't take this anymore, I have to teach that little bastard a lesson!

"Woah, wait a minute!" Garrett hurries over as trainers step in. Quickly, I step back from Neapolitan. I wish I could just toss him out of the alliance, but honestly I need him. Fractured Career alliances are good for nothing. I need him to be on my side for as long as possible. Especially because having someone with long-range weapons is important. And as far as I can throw a knife, arrows have the potential to strike from alarming distances.

"Master of everything, my ass," I grumble, still feeling the anger coursing through me.

"Let's just stay focused," Garrett says, looking between the two of us. Neapolitan scoffs, that bastard, and walks away, back to the one thing he's actually good at, I'm sure.

"Did you want someone to practice with?" Garrett asks. "I've been looking for some motivation myself."

"That didn't go so well for me the first time," I grumble. "He doesn't understand that losing is what motivates you to get better, so next time you'll win. He'll understand, next time we're against each other I'll be the victorious one."

"Truthfully, I've been looking for someone to keep me focused while moving from station to station. I'm always so... Alert... That sometimes I can get pulled out of the moment by all the chaos. What do you say?" He gives me a small business smile, which I return.

"I think we'll both be able to help each other."

Garrett and I move the hand-to-hand station, where we spar a few rounds in protective gear. I would never wear anything like this at the Academy. At the Academy, we never wore armor. If you got punched, you got a bloody nose, period. The Capitol has great technology to absorb the force, but keep it somewhat realistic to what a fight would be. Garrett is comfortable in the armor, and moves well in it. I bet they use this in District Four Academies. I'm not used to this armor, and my rage at Neapolitan still simmers, causing me to attack rashly and try to be on offense when my rational brain knows I should be defending myself. He gives me a final blow and I hit the floor, knowing I've been defeated.

The trainer at the station blows a whistle, meaning that the time for fighting was over.

God, I hate losing. When I look up, Garrett is holding a hand down to me. I graciously take it and allow him to help me up. This armor is good, but the blow still knocked the wind out of me.

"Thanks," I say.

Garrett smiles at me. "You're welcome. What do you say? Another round?!"

I grin at him. "Oh, you're going down! I'll get you right back!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

We fight again. As I feel more comfortable in the armor, I start to learn how I can move best to get in some extra hits. I am victorious for the second fight. I feel bad, because Garrett is a good guy, but he beat me once and I couldn't lose to him after that!

By the end of our twenty-one fights, I've won thirteen and he won eight. Once I learned to adjust to the armor, and figured out his fighting style, I was able to predict him better, and be more agile and defensive.

Now that our battles are over, I can tell him the mistakes he made, and give him some advice from what I've learned back home. District Two is known for rearing good fighters. And unlike some people, I actually want to help my allies succeed. With my advice, he easily takes down a trainer.

Afterwards, we go to the station with swords and staves. My sword skills are better than my bow skills by far. Unfortunately for me, Garrett is a master at the quarter staff. He's faster, and he has my moves figured out within the first five fights. By twenty, my score is pitiful. Two to eighteen. There was no way I was going to beat him, no matter how hard I tried. That only motivates me to try harder!

Garrett gives me some advice about using staves, just in case I would ever need to. Using a quarterstaff isn't something a lot of Academies teach in District Two, so the knowledge is deeply valued.

I realize how hard I'm laughing when the lunch bell rings and I'm practically doubled over.

Oh no. This is dangerous.

Garrett and I walk to lunch together, but only with the promise that after lunch we're going to throw knives so I can really school him. (He doesn't exactly know that yet, of course. I'm sure he'll realize quickly once we get there.) Then we decide we'll do something that we're both mediocre at to round out the day.

By the time we get our food and head to our table, I'm feeling good. So good that I can sit across from that little bitch Neapolitan without wringing his throat.

This was going to work out just fine.

~.~.

A/N: Sorry for this shorter chapter with not as many tributes featured. It's been a while since I've updated this story so it was a little tough to ease back into it. Regardless, I hope you liked this chapter!

If you haven't already, vote on the SYOT Awards! Link to the forum that's hosting them is on my profile. There are only two more days to vote, as it closes on January 10th!

Also, the D3F slot for my full SYOT Whims of Fate is officially re-opened, so if you're interested info for that is also on my profile.

CQ: I don't know what to ask and I'm kind of burnt out for ideas so... Who are your favorites of the eight featured tributes so far?

Sorry for the lame ending to this chapter, I just didn't want to leave it sitting around. I'll see you again, hopefully sooner than a whole semester, lol.