(Thanks to angie2282, AlexTheMortal, Mulligatawny, and Ryukisu for your reviews! Okay, time for the Second Day of Training! Read on!
Sabrina Brooks
How did this happen? I'm surrounded by five scared kids. They came up to me yesterday when I was at the camouflage section of the room, and asked me to help them, god knows why. I thought I had a plan before, stay away from other until the end, and then hopefully surprise attack whoever it is. But something... something in me made me want to stay with them, help them, at least for a day or so when we enter the games. I suppose its official now. I'm their ally.
So when I get there after a good night's sleep, all five are waiting for me. Four girls, one boy, all thirteen or twelve.
The boy's name is James Total. He small, stutters a lot, and is on the chubby side. However, he is very useful, as he knows everything needed to know about plants and the like since he is from Agriculture. I know about tree bark and stuff, but not about plants and possible poisons in them.
One of the twelve year old girls is Bonny Cutter, from District 10. The unfortunate girl is from the same District as that freak Xavier, and the difference is striking. Bonny is small, with baby blue eyes and blonde pigtails. Way too innocent to be in these games.
The other twelve year old is Olive Holiday, from District 6. Thankfully, she knows a lot about medicine and healing, being from the medicine district. Her ebony hair tends to cover her eyes, but when I catch a glimpse of them, they are the same colour as Bonny's.
Poppy Yussa from District 3 is thirteen, and has a pure face; however, it is almost always etched over with anxiety and fear. If I was her age, I would be too. But despite being so young, Poppy is hell of an intelligent girl. She works with electronics, and has been for a long time. She knows about signals, maths, and is basically the planner of our group.
Finally, the last thirteen year old girl is Lacy Neem, from District 4, fishing. It's funny, this group seems to be filled with child genius's, and Lacy is no exception. She knows all there is to know about fishing, and water temperatures.
But despite them being so intelligent and useful, they need a leader, and that role seems to fall on me. In a way, I feel good helping them. If I can just get them to survive the bloodbath, I would feel I can let them deal with themselves. I know I'm not going to kill them, I can't. Twelve and Thirteen? They shouldn't even be in the games. I think Bonny would be able to lead them, if they stay as a group.
They are already there as I come down to training on the Second Day, all staring nervously at Lewis Gem. Lewis Gem is also from District 6, like Olive, but he is... odd... to say the least. I can see why the children, since that was what they were, were looking at him like that. The thing with Lewis is that he always seems to be smiling, no matter the situation. When he was on the chariots, he smiled, when he was chosen, he smiled, even when Xavier tried to argue with him at the end of the training yesterday, he just took it and smiled. I guess optimism can take you far in this competition. Or it will get you killed, no one really knows, do they?
"Hello Sabrina." Olive says, smiling at me. I smile back. God I'm so weak to their hopeful smiles.
"Hey Olive. So, what should we do today then?" I ask.
"Umm... I-if it's all right with y-you..." James starts nervously. "I-I don't know much about fighting... like with swords... and stuff..."
The girls nod, and I agree. In fact, I've been meaning to go there yesterday, only it was already full with like five people.
Sword craft actually comes quite easy for me as I spar with a partner supplied by the Capitol. The partner cannot be a Tribute, due to the fact that the Capitol would rather us survive to actually die in the games. I twist and parry with the sword as the Trainer gleams at me approvingly. I don't usually get acknowledged for things, that was usually Bridgette.
The others aren't quite as good, though. Poppy dropped the hilt of the sword on her toe, Olive tripped up and hit the floor hard, and worse of all was James, who swung the sword with such ferocity it went straight out of his hands and almost decapitated the Trainer, who ducked just in time.
All three were red-faced when it was finished, and we moved on to archery, another thing we lacked.
I know that when the games start, my trust goes straight out the window. That's the rules in the games, don't trust anyone. Ally with them, fine, but don't get attached. So, despite helping these kids, I'm wary. Especially of Lacy, who has this sort of... gleam, in her eye?
I need to watch her, for sure.
Tilly
No partnerships. No allying. I'm smart enough to know I'm going to get stabbed in the back if I do. It's going to happen for everyone. Aron and Sina will confront each other eventually, and that brother and sister will soon break up, if they haven't already. I saw that argument; everyone did.
No. I'm concentrating on getting my abilities up to the best I can do. I need to impress. I need to win for Cherie, my mother. I need to win for Lily. I need to win it to prove my dad wrong. Yes, no attachments.
Thankfully, no-one has tried to ally with me yet.
"You're Tilly? From District 5, right?"
Guess I spoke to soon. I turn around, and see Lotta Obi, from District 9. She is tall and slim, but not in the 'I'm showing off my figure' kind of way, like that Sapphire does. I see in her eyes sadness, but determination. I only wonder what she has been through. "I am." I say. Keep it short and firm.
"Right. You're intelligent, and that is good, very good for the Hunger Games. I'm going to go straight into it and offer to be an Ally."
I don't reply. I'm going to decline, of course. I wonder what she'll say to support what she says.
"Don't get me wrong. You and me, we are enemies in these games." Lotta says, stroking her hair from her eyes. "It's a fight to the death for everyone. But, consider this. Your intelligence combined with my determination can take us to the final two. Once there, we can fight fair and square for the right to win."
Hah. What a joke. "To be honest, Lotta, I think you are using me as a stepping stone. Why would I help someone else get to the finals? I'm sorry, but I am only going to help myself. It's not selfish; it's just to get through these games." I shake my head, and turn.
"Don't you understand?" Lotta walks in front of me, preventing me from moving forward. I now see desperation in her eyes. "I volunteered! I damn volunteered because I need the money to survive! I will die if I don't have the chance to win! I'm not physically strong; people like Xavier will rip me to pieces, possibly literally!"
Trying to play the guilt trip on me, huh? That will not work. "I'm sorry about that, Lotta, I really am. But I am not doing this for me. My mother's got cancer, and will die if I don't win. So, to cement in, I am not going to ally with you." I turn, and this time Lotta lets me go.
I spend the next few hours, training with a sword and a mace. They are too heavy for me, though. Even archery doesn't feel good to me. This isn't good. I need to be good with something. I look around the training room, and see a knife stand, but for some inexplicable reason Xavier is there. Why would someone as big as him want to train with knifes? Ah well, he doesn't bother me.
When I get to the stall, the Trainer starts talking, but Xavier stops him with a glance. Xavier turns to me, and I stare into his eyes.
"You. What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to train, of course. You know, for the Games?"
Xavier scrutinizes me. "Are you playing with me, girl? Are you trying to make out I am stupid?"
"Of course not. I just thought you'd be aware of the Hunger Games." I say. To be honest, he IS an idiot. All brawn and no brains. People like him think they'll win, but the god to honest truth is that he will die quite early. No doubt.
Xavier grins, his pearly white teeth showing. "Hah! You do... you do think I'm stupid!" Xavier leans down, so his nose is centimetres from mine. "Tell me, girl. Are you scared like your District partner? The fool tried to ally with me! ME! But I saw the fear in his eyes! He will die, like everyone else. Like you. But I am not stupid, girl. There are two hundred and six bones in the human body. They are made up of calcium, phosphorus, sodium and a number of other minerals. I will crack each and every one of your bones, girl. I will keep you alive, though, to see you scream, to see you writhe in pain!
"And then, do you know what I will do? I will grab a stick or a stone, and I will gouge out your eyes, and then I will rip out each of your teeth, one by one. Then your fingernails, and finally I will skin you like a rabbit. I will wear your skin like a fur coat! I am not stupid, girl. Each part of your brain, from the cerebrum to the thalamus, will scream in pain and fear when you meet me in the games. But maybe I won't torture you. Maybe I will break your legs, and your arms, and then tie you and drag you with me. I will let you survive, until the final. And then, I will sit, watching you, until you die of hunger, or of thirst. I don't care what age people are! I will snap the twelve year olds in half! I will break the fifteen year olds necks! I will mutilate everyone! I am the winner here!"
Xavier let of a laugh, and shook his head, madness in his eyes. I mean it, pure madness. You know I said I wasn't worried?
For once, I admit I am wrong.
Lazuli Pyre
Yesterday, I brushed up on my skills, but not showing off too much. You need to make sure that you don't show your best skills; otherwise they know what's coming. Katniss told me that when she was in the 74th Games, no-one knew much of her archery, and this predominantly helped her win the games, in her eyes.
We are still sticking with my strategy of allying with people and leading them to their deaths... that sounds bad, I know, but how else am I meant to express it? Katniss and I talked last night, before I went to sleep, about who was good to ask, and who wasn't. A typical example is not attempting to ally with Xavier, but trying to do it with the little kids. However, I quickly found people were allying fast, and all the twelve and thirteen year olds were stuck to Sabrina Brooks like glue. Even the 'careers' have been formed, although I'm not sure that's what they should be called. Since there are people who have been chosen.
They consist of that Ryder guy, Vera, Lotta, who I witnessed be rebuffed earlier, Dan, and rather surprising to me, Aron and Sina, the couple. No idea why they would want to be in a group like that. They were also dragging Sapphire Iot with them.
Zebediah, my District partner, I had already denied when I first mentioned my plan with Katniss, simply because I don't want to lead someone from my District to their deaths.
Amber was also a no. She is very... how should I put it... fragile? Maybe? With her brother, Jasper, who is following her like an abandoned dog. That only leaves me six people possible to ally with, and I've already been denied by the ever-smiling Lewis, the smaller, scared fifteen year old Timothy Vent, a person who I consider a 'friendly giant', Cole Roberts, and Tilly, who is determined not to partner with anyone, I think.
That leaves me Jacob Dareet, and Tobias Joker. And I only got one hour until we have to go to our rooms. I look around for Jacob first. I remember him from the Chariot Rides with beads in his hair, making it look like the flowing ocean. I finally spot around the same length hair by the camouflage stand, and make my way up to him.
I tap on his shoulder, and he turns, his face covered in murky green paste. "Hey. My names Lazuli, from District 12?"
"What do you want?" Jacob asked, eyeing me suspiciously. I know that's the look as I've given others that exact same look.
"Well, that camouflage looks great, by the way, and I was hoping you could teach me how to do it? I was never good at it myself, you see."
Score. Jacob smiles, and he instantly teaches me about the various pastes and camouflage, from snow over the face or plants wrapped around everywhere but the eyes. While he teaches me, I chat to him, about our strengths and weakness'.
"Okay." I say, my face covered In mud, for the night and it also helps you keep warm. "Jacob, I like you, you know. Your abilities are everything I don't have... and from the sounds of it, I have things you need. Tell you what, do you think we can ally together? At least for a moment?"
Jacob looks at me, and then begins to laugh.
"What is it?" I ask, slightly insulted.
"It's... It's just..." Jacob clutches his chest. "You've got a patch where no mud is by your eye, and It kinda makes you look like Xavier..." He lets out another laugh.
I swat his arm, not insulted now. I know I've caught him. "I'm not sure if that was a compliment, but thanks anyway. So, how about it?"
"Sure! Sure!" Jacob says, smiling. "You're nice, I think we'll work well together. I reckon we'll be able to take anyone down!"
In the end, I'm caught up talking to him for the rest of the half an hour, and don't get around to talking to Tobias. We're dismissed, and Jacob insists on taking me to the elevator, and stays in until the fourth floor, where he has to get off.
When he gets off, I breathe a sigh of relief. I can't believe it! I think... I think I somehow made him be attracted to me! That's great, just great. I need a bath, in fact. This stuff itches.
After my bath, I get dressed into my plain underclothes, and sit on my bed, unable to sleep for some reason. I just think, on how I'll get rid of Jacob. I don't particularly want to leave him with someone attacking us. I think it will be best if I leave him in a pit of something... no, wait, that won't work... damnit!
A knock on the door brings me from my thoughts. "Hello?"
"It's Katniss."
"Come in." I say. Katniss is great, and isn't just a mentor. She's a friend, and someone I'm able to talk about important and personal things.
Katniss walks in, dressed in a plain crimson dress, her hair in her usual plait.
"You look nice."
"Thanks." Katniss smiles. "But I don't want to hold it in any longer, Lazuli. When you were chosen, all the mentor's were given the history of who they were mentoring. And I couldn't help but read about your parents..."
I stay silent, feeling something rise in my throat. What's Katniss thinking? I don't want to think about my parents, not now.
Katniss looks at me. "Here. I got a surprise. Marcus, Raven. Come in."
Marcus? Raven? No way... no way in hell did she... Two people shuffle in, they hair cut short, but never the less... I know them... I can't believe, I really can't... no...
"Mom... dad..." I mutter, feeling my eyes grow hot. The two people... no, my parents, look at me, their eyes alight. They look the same as ever! My mum's eyes, my dad's broad jaw... my parents... I stand up, and my parents approach, nervously. "Are you... really... my parents?"
They nod, and I feel tears slide down my face. Mum and dad hug me together, and Katniss nods. "I'm going to leave you now, Lazuli."
"T-thanks... Katniss..." I manage to choke, and Katniss leaves. My parents let go, and I stare at them , disbelieving. I can't believe it! Six years of living with Onyx, of being independent, and my parents... I thought I'd never see them again. They were taken by the Capitol, I knew.
They don't talk, just smile, mum crying and dad's eyes glittering.
I feel something jolt in my chest. A fear. The Capitol didn't... "Mum... say something."
Mum shakes her head, looking sad.
"Dad? Dad, please... can you..."
Another shake.
"No... no no no..." I sit down on my bed, as do my parents, putting their arms around my shoulders. "They... your... avoxes... aren't you?"
My parents nod sadly. I want to feel sadness, but instead... I feel rage! Why the hell did the capitol do this to my parents! In that moment, I know it. I hate the Capitol with all my heart, hate them! Hate them for what they did!
"Dad, mum... I can't believe it. What they've done to you..."
My mum shakes her head ferociously, and pulls out a pencil and paper from her pocket. She writes 'Onyx?' on it.
"Onyx is fine... she's great... she raised me all these years... we've never forgotten about you... never."
My night quickly melds into me telling my parents about mine and Onyx's lives. Every aspect, from being friends to Nathan and Marina, to sustaining a small cut when I was thirteen. They listen. After all, that's all they can do.
I hate the Capitol! The Games is hard, but cutting people's tongues out! It's horrible, letting them live to suffer! If I win... no, WHEN I win, I will bring my parents back to District 12, let them live free. I don't care what the Capitol have to say about it.
