Sorry for the long wait. HUGE writers block. Anyways, enjoy!
Max's POV
Breakfast the next morning was less uncomfortable than any so far. I was able to enjoy the food, as I was now used to the richness of it. I had managed to put on a few pounds since we left home, which was good because I would need the extra weight in the arena.
"Right" Haymitch said. "Training starts today, so if any of you have any particular strengths, I need to know."
Katniss shook her head at the same time as me.
"No, not really" she replied.
"That's not true."
Everyone looked round in surprise at Peeta who was staring determinedly at Katniss. Haymitch blinked at the unexpected outburst.
"Oh, do tell" Haymitch leaned forward, hands under his chin.
Peeta blushed furiously.
"My father buys her squirrels, she gets them in the eye every time." He fiddled with a bread roll. "She never misses with a bow and arrow."
Katniss was taken aback.
"Max sometimes puts a knife in their tails, too."
My head automatically snapped round to glower at Fang, but he carried on.
"People at the Hob are always going on about how good they are."
Anger flared up inside me and, without realizing what I was doing, I retaliated.
"Fang's a pickpocket. He could rob the tail off a cat without it noticing."
He looked as shocked as I felt, but I kept my face impassive as I stared him down. Katniss followed my example, though I'm not sure why.
"Peeta can lift fifty kilos easily. I've seen him at it in the market with bags of flour. That's not nothing."
Peeta snorted. "Oh, yeah. I suppose there will be loads of bags of flour in the arena for me to throw at people."
Katniss huffed and glanced at me.
I couldn't believe it. We had kept track of these two boys, whom we barely knew, or at least thought we barely knew.
"There is one more thing to Max's advantage." Cinna said slowly.
I sighed. "Are you sure?"
Cinna nodded. "They're going to find out anyway, plus Haymitch will need to know. It might scare them a bit though."
I chuckled and nodded.
Earlier that day, I had put slits in the back of my brown top to make more room for my wings so they were less cramped. Put a black jacket over that and I looked no different than normal.
But now, I slid the jacket off and fully extended my wings, showing them in all their glory. The reactions were hilarious. Effie shrieked and fell off her stool in a very un-lady like way. Haymitch started and then began laughing, truly laughing. Portia, Fang and Peeta gaped openly.
"Close your mouths, unless you want to catch a fly" I giggled.
I reached over and pushed Fangs hanging jaw shut. Effie managed to pull herself back onto her seat and straightened her ridiculous wig.
"Well," she huffed "I think the odds are going to be in our favor this year."
Katniss and Cinna doubled over with laughter as I tried to keep a straight face. It was, and wasn't funny.
When everybody calmed down, I lowered my wings and carried on eating. I didn't bother putting my jacket back on, there was no point in being uncomfortable when I didn't need to be.
Haymitch scratched at the rough stubble on his chin. "Turns out we got a talented bunch this year. We might just be able to bring one of you home."
We all became very somber very fast.
"So here is the strategy. Avoid the stations you are good at. Learn to throw a spear, or set a snare. But what you must do, is stick together."
That didn't sound like fun at all, spending all my time in the presence of Fang. Katniss began to protest.
"Ah, ah, ah" Haymitch waggled his finger. "I want you to be friends. Or pretend to be, it doesn't matter. It will throw the opposition off."
I sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.
