Thank you guys so much for the help with Finnick's poem. They're REALLY good and I have so much trouble making choices, so I'll probably flip a coin to decide. I stink like that. Also, I won't be posting often because I've got a whole bunch of projects followed by exams. Bummer.
The Alliance
It's around ten in the morning when we reach training. I'm exhausted and hungry, having only consumed the breakfast of champions this morning: a glass of bourbon.
Atala, the head of training, starts yapping at ten o'clock sharp. I ignore her, as do the vast majority of the other tributes. When she's done, I go over to the edible plants station. Gloss is there, too.
I'm gnawing on a flower root that tastes like raw fish when Annie creeps into my thoughts. If she were here, she'd be absolutely terrified. I wouldn't even consider sacrificing myself for Katniss or Peeta. And I'd have to choose my allies very carefully.
"So," Gloss says, drawing me back to reality. "Got any ideas who you'll ally with?"
"Are you asking me if I want to be allies?" I say.
He shrugs. "I think it's a good idea."
"What about Mags?"
"I've got no problem with that," he says. "But I'm not sure about my sister or Two."
"That's why I'm gonna say no," I say.
We look each other in the eye for a second and understanding passes between us. Neither of us wants to kill the other, but we will. We fill the next hour or so with small talk. When I get bored, I get up and go look for something fun to do.
That's when I spot Katniss making angry faces at a piece of rope. Because I am weak in the way of temptation, I creep up behind her. I wrap my arms around her and replace her hands with my own. I polish it off in an instant.
Katniss turns around and looks up at me with annoyance all over her face.
For fun, I pick up a piece of rope, tie it into a noose, and pretend to hang myself. She rolls her eyes and walks away.
After lunch, Mags and I catch up with Katniss at the fishing area. "Katniss, this is Mags. Mags, this is Katniss."
"Hello," Mags says. "It's nice to meet you."
I can tell from the look on Katniss's face that she's having trouble making out what Mags said. At some point while we make fishhooks, I see something change on Katniss's face. I can't pinpoint exactly what though.
After a while, she heads off to the archery station. I have to say, she's pretty damn good.
We agree that if she gives me an hour of archery lessons, I'll give her an hour of trident. I suck at archery. Twice, I shoot myself in the shoe (but thankfully, my foot isn't damaged). And Katniss isn't a great teacher. She won't stop shouting. "Suck in your gut! Elbow up! No, other elbow! Suck in your stomach!"
I try to be patient with her. I do a good job of it for the most part, but Katniss is a truly awful pupil.
Over the course of the next two days, I start panicking.
What is the arena going to be like? Will it be a barren desert, or a frozen tundra? Perhaps a swamp? Volcanic island? How long will we be stuck there for? Hours? Days? Weeks? Will Mags die? Johanna? Blight? Beetee? Me?
The last day of training ends with the private sessions where we have to show off for the Gamemakers. I'm seventh to go.
"What are you going to do?" I ask Mags while we wait.
"Fishhooks," she says, shrugging. "You?"
"Tridents. Knots. The usual," I say.
She cracks a smile. "No archery?"
"That's not funny," I say. "I could've lost a toe. Some say my feet are my finest quality."
She snorts.
"Finnick Odair!" Atala calls. "You're up."
"Good luck," Mags says.
"Thanks."
As I enter, I catch eyes with Plutarch for a brief moment. Then I take a deep breath and leap into action. Toss tridents left and right. Tie knots, including a noose. A long time ago, Annie taught me how to throw a knife because I begged her. So I do that, too. And then I'm dismissed.
By the time the elevator doors open to my floor, Broadsea is already walking towards me. "Catch," he says, tossing something at me.
I grab it in my left hand and begin to inspect it. It's a golden bracelet with a flame-pattern printed on it. I turn it over in my hands. "What is it?"
"Haymitch gave it to me. He said it'd be some kind of sign to Katniss in the arena." He shrugs. "I don't know. Something like that."
"So I'm definitely in with the lovebirds?" I ask.
"Yep. And she wants Mags as an ally, so that's a plus."
I nod and run my thumb over the flames. "I'll wear it when we go in, then."
"Plutarch helped me and, um . . ." Broadsea inhales sharply.
I make my way into the kitchen and pour myself a drink. "And what?"
"I talked to Dodge."
My heart stops beating for a second. A thousand questions start spilling out of my mouth, all about Annie. "Is Annie okay? Did you talk to her? What did she say? Did she ask for me? Did she sound upset? Is she staying with Dodge?"
"Let me talk," he says. "Dodge said Annie was really messed up after the reaping. They had to bring the doctor over to look at her. She won't eat or talk or sleep. He says she just sits in front of the television, watching the Games."
I realize that I'm shaking. I put down my glass and grab the counter to try and steady myself. "Is she all right, though? The Peacekeepers were pretty pissed off when they" – I swallow – "when they took her . . ."
"Did they hurt her, you mean?" Broadsea asks. I nod. "No, they didn't."
I just nod again.
The thought of someone hurting Annie because of me is enough to make me sick. That's why I'll never be able to repay Mags for volunteering.
The elevator doors open again and Mags comes in. Broadsea tells her the good news about the alliance and we sit down to eat. We don't really talk.
I think about Annie.
When we're done, we go and see our training scores.
Districts 1 and 2 all receive either tens or elevens. Beetee and Wiress get seven and eight, respectively. I get eleven. Mags scores eight – which is pretty damn good for a woman her age.
"Damn," Broadsea says. "How'd you get that?"
Mags shrugs. She looks just as shocked as we do. "Fishhooks."
Johanna and Blight score nine each. Cecelia gets eight. There's nothing too interesting. Not until they get to District 12.
They each score twelve. Same number as their district.
They're not going to make protecting them an easy job, are they?
