Training Day 2

I'm running out of ideas here... gonna go ahead and skip straight to training scores next chapter. Besides I've kept you all waiting for a while now, might as well speed things along a bit eh? I'm gonna see if I can't get these ideas flowing, as we get closer to the games themselves. Hope you all had a merry Christmas.

Amelia, D2

I'm the first one here. Again. Not even sure why I bother showing up, none of these stations are challenging enough to meet my standards. And when Ryak and I started fighting for real, it was quickly broken up by the staff members. Fighting to the death is as good as practice gets, don't they know that? Anyways... Point is, I'm not really sure what to do from here. I could stir up some trouble amongst the other tributes, or bully one of the weaker ones if I was bored enough. If I was REALLY up to the challenge, I could try and get 11 to change his mind. Chances are I get thrown across the room, but it'd definitely be worth a try.

I get to thinking about the other members of my little team. That other girl, Kayli... I don't know about her. She seems alright, but I kind of doubt her ability to make cold, calculated decisions in the arena. She'll probably be the first career in our alliance to go.

Rowan doesn't count, that little brat won't make it very far. She thinks she's a lot bigger than she really is. I admire her bloodlust though, It almost rivals mine. Almost.

Lance is a classic career, ready to kill anyone at a moments notice. He relishes the oppurtunity.

I don't know much about the pair from four. They've been kind of off in their own little corner. I'll have to confront them before the day's over.

Ryak... He's sadistic, vicious, verging on insane. The ideal pawn.

I'm not really sure what to think of this group. They'd all have their uses, but the question is: who can stand the test of time and still be of use? People from One have a nasty reputation of losing it the moment someone else takes the upperhand. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with killing 'em all off. But there's an unusually high amount of threats from the poor districts this year.. So far I've seen that ranger girl from six, the sword fighter from seven, and the muscle giant from eleven. The guy from ten doesn't look like much of a pushover either. Twelve's tributes look like competitors as well, but I don't think they'd be the ones to actively seek other tributes. No matter. Someday, I'll look back in awe remembering how each and every one of them met their fate at the hands of Amelia Steelheart.

Ryak, D1

Hmm, my comrades from Two are here already. Good to know I'm not the only one who wants this. Kayli stayed up in the room... She's awake, said she'd be down in a minute. Probably putting together a plan of action for the day. Or plotting our deaths... You never know.

I think it's time to try my luck with some of these other weapons. For all I know, there won't even be a flail in the arena. Definitely not gonna waste my time with the bow and arrow, my previous attempts confirm that's a bad idea. Throwing knives aren't really my forte' either. I can throw with accuracy, but my throw always makes contact with the handle side. I think I'll leave it to the pros. Spears are new though. I'll mess around with those for a while.

Saffiron, D6

Athena's got a pretty crafty little plan. She's gonna pal around with the careers for a while, then when she gets the chance she'll load up on supplies and come find me. I don't think she's bringing Alden along. That's a shame, he seemed like a real nice guy. I'm still kind of surprised, the idea that someone would willingly leave the career alliance hadn't really occurred to me. But hey, I'm not complaining! She's a crack-shot with a bow. *Almost* as good as I am. We'll be a force to be reckoned with for sure.

But what I've been thinking about is, what am I gonna do while she's in with the careers? I thought about just kind of lurking nearby, and keeping a close eye on them while they're hunting for others. Or maybe I could do a little hunting of my own in the meantime, and salvage what they've got. If I was quiet enough, I could just steal from the careers cache of supplies. It happens every freakin' year, the careers gather ALL of the supplies left behind after the bloodbath and stow it away, usually in some extremely obvious hiding spot. Sometimes they even leave it ungaurded.

I worry about Titus, He hasn't been himself lately. I mean, to be scared would only be natural but there's something else going on here. He's been a little.. vicious lately. I watched him attack the girl from five when she tried to say hello. She was perfectly fine, the trainers pulled him off of her before he could do anything. But I don't think it would have been pretty, had there been no one there. I'll be keeping a close eye on him from now on, I don't trust him.

Dmitri, D12

I can feel the tension in this room starting to build. These people aren't conditioned killers, they're just kids. The careers may think they're the baddest people around, but deep down they're surely terrified. They may have trained, they may have prepared, but they don't have what I've got. I've been fighting for survival my entire life, true first-hand experience. And raised several younger siblings while I was at it. It's no contest.

I do have a feeling about some of the other outland tributes though. The two from seven, big man from eleven. District six got into some kind of fight earlier, but I don't know much about that. District ten seems like tough contenders as well, and I don't mean just the giant. That blind girl... I'm willing to bet she's got something up her sleeve. If she didn't, someone would've volunteered for her, am I right? Maybe she can smell us? Ugh, I hope not. I wouldn't wish that fate upon anyone.

I've also started to pick up on who's with who, as far as allies are concerned. Aside from myself and Serena, Ten's together, seven's together, and I think the girls from four and six are palling around too. Just a hunch. I've been considering reaching out to one of these other guys that are going solo, but I don't really like what they have to offer. The guys from six and eleven attacked someone before the games even started, so they're out of the question. According to Serena, anyways. Guy from seven is a little mysterious, don't trust him. Guy from eight hasn't displayed anything useful. The two from nine are straight up useless. So is the girl from eight. She's fast, though. She could probably run right up and steal from you if you weren't careful.

But right now, my training score is what's on my mind. I'm real good with scythe's and sickles. Maybe I'd have the gamemakers set up some sort of launcher, and I'd slice apart whatever it was they sent my way. Or I could keep it basic, do some sort of strength display. Don't wanna get a score that is TOO high, or else you're made a target. That's the last thing I need.

To be honest, I'm kind of looking forward to the arena. We've got a lot of promising contestants. The audience will get to see what the REAL survivalists, such as myself, have to offer. The careers are the sideshow this year.

Willow, D7

Revo wants the little rascal from eight. I agreed so I could avoid any sort of conflict. It's a good thing I'm not sticking around after the bloodbath, she'd be nothing but a dead weight. Granted, she was fast.. faster than me... but she'd probably do something stupid and wind up dead before long. Good luck to him though, he seems like a man who isn't without honor.

I only wish I had more time. Because even though it may not show, I'm starting to get nervous. I've got all the experience in the world when it comes to surviving in the wilderness, but what if someone found me? I'll try and get my hands on a weapon of some kind during the first few minutes, bow and arrow maybe. I know how to use one of those. but what if that doesn't happen? The bow is usually the first thing to go. I could just offer some food and hope they weren't hostile, but that wouldn't be ideal either. I'd be down a meal, and they'd probably want to be allies. Psh, I think I'll just spend the remainder of my training learning how to fight with an assortment of weapons. Revo looks like he knows his swords, I'll start by asking him for some help.

Lily, D11

Zach and I have been talking about things like strategy and the other contestants for most of the morning. We haven't said anything about an alliance, but I think it's kind of implied at this point. Neither of us have anything to lose by dying, so there's no pain in teaming up. Just because that's the case, doesn't mean I trust him either. So that's why I allied with Crow too, so he could keep an eye on him. Zach understands two basic things. Fear, and good reason. I figured his fear of Crow would be reason enough for him to keep his cool. Crow's got this weakness for innocent children, and as long as he thinks I fit that category he'll have my back. Oh, I'm so clever!

"Lunch time, maggots!" Shouts the elderly head trainer over the noise of the room. Atleast the old fart takes his job seriously.

Rowan, D3

"Dibs on the brute from eleven, I owe him for his actions in the training room." Mutters Ryak through gritted teeth.

"And I want the boy from seven, he's been fun to sword fight with. I can't wait 'til it happens for real!" Says Lance in a cheerful voice.

"I get my district partner, his very existance is disgraceful." I say.

Kayli responds, "I heard him say he wants in on the alliance, and that he has a lot to offer."

"Nope, he just wants us to do the fighting for him. He's as useless as the mud on our shoes." I assure them.

"Should I tell him then, that he's out?" Asks Lance.

"Nah, let him think he's one of us. I'll kill him in the first few minutes though, don't worry." I say.

The group goes back to eating from the different stacks of food lined up on the table. Ryak shifts his attention to the two from four, who have been awfully quiet so far.

"You, Alden right? Who are you planning on killing first?" The boy from four ponders this for a moment.

"Probably the girl from six. She's too big of a threat to leave unadressed." This earns him a funny look from his district partner, who clearly disagrees.

"That's an excellent point, lets see if we can't get rid of her first." Says Ryak, who is clearly pleased with Alden's answer.

I wonder why Athena reacted the way she did?

Calypso, D5

We're a group of four now, Imogen, myself, and district seven. Revo's good with swords, Imogen can navigate tree tops like stepping stones, and willow's our survival expert. I'm nothing special... but I can certainly contribute to the group as well. We're a force to be reckoned with for sure! In fact, now that I think about it.. How hard can it be, to shoot a bow and arrow? Or throw a knife, or project a dart?

I've overheard a few things about this years arena. So far the words rain, forest, and water have come up a lot.

I take a quick look around the room at the other tributes. I don't think there's anyone left on their own... except for Titus. But he's a psycho, so that's understandable. He even LOOKS insane, now that I take a second to look him over. He's just sitting there, smiling to himself about something. He keeps glancing over at the two kids from nine...

Ugh, I'm glad I'm not going into this thing alone.

Kayli, D1

I decided not to eat anything for lunch. I find that it's much more effective to train on an empty stomach. You're more focused, more alert. These other guys seem not to realize that, or they just don't care enough to be at the top of their game. Oh well, there loss. I got an offer from that girl Athena, she said she was branching off of the career group to team up with the girl from six, and that I could join them if I wished. While anything would be better than the group of cutthroats I'm currently running with, I don't know... they're definitely the most feared group here. I'd be much less of a target if I were to stay with them. I'm open to the idea, but I don't know... I'll have to think about it. Best of luck to those two though, if the champion were to be anyone but me I'd rather it be one of them. They are like me, true warriors. Not lapdogs of the capital like my allies.

Kyle, D10

I've been discussing the bloodbath with Ann. She keeps telling me she wants to go for the center and pick up something, anything. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna allow that. I've told her to run as far as she can off in the other direction, and if she can to leave a trail of some kind. I'd run in and grab what I could, then find her during the night. Besides, who in the right mind picks a fight with someone a foot and a half taller than them? Oh right, careers... I'll just avoid them, no big deal. Maybe I could just wait for one of the better tributes to die, snatch up their weapon and take off. I don't know, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. She said she's got a real talent for ranged weapons, so I'll try and pick up something for her. In fact, I think that'll be my first priority. Because if someone catches me unarmed, I'd have a much better chance of survival than her if she were caught unarmed. Ugh, I don't even wanna think about it... If she died, I don't know what I'd do. Probably go on a killing spree until someone or something finally stopped me. The odds most certainly aren't in our favor...

Imogen, D8

"Closing time, children!" Shouts one of the funny looking staff members. I'm not trying to be mean or anything... but they DO look funny. I've never seen someone with green hair before. Huh, maybe we look funny to them though?

I'm glad that Calypso got district seven to join up with us. The boy is a really good fighter, and I like Willow. She's almost as good at climbing trees as I am. She can't jump from tree to tree like I can though, atleast not without trying really hard. I think we make a good team though, we all have something we're good at.

I start to feel an overwhelming hate for the capital. Who were they, to force children to turn on one another? We're all human beings, they have no God-given right to call themselves superior. Are they just to stupid to see that? No, I don't think that's it. It's because they've got more money than us. It is afterall, the root of all evil.

I wonder what it'll be like, one someone in our group dies? I've never seen someone die up close before... And what if I die, what will it be like? Is there a white light, like they say in the movies? Or is it just an everlasting darkness? Maybe there is an afterlife... I'd like that. I'd be able to see my deceased family members, or other tributes that die in the arena. And I wouldn't have to fight them, we could all just be happy.

Slowly but surely, people. Slowly but surely.