Chapter 14:
When I walked into the training room I instantly spotted Nightly. He was almost in the middle of the large room talking to Silverest. I start to walk over them, but stop to observe the vast room. It is broken off in to little sections. Each section is a different weapons or study spot. Almost everything is silver. Nightly and Silverest are standing in the knife throwing knife sections which is surprising empty. I quickly start walking again because I notice District One has stopped playing with the swords and started watching me like vultures looking at their next meal.
Once I reach the two boys I let out a sigh and smile. But I don't stop to talk I go to pick out a knife. There is racks and racks of knives. A young man that looks to be in his twenties is stationed here and is glad to see a newcomer. He starts explaining how to throw a knife, but I stop him. I pick up a plain looking knife and send it sailing straight through the dummies heart. I smile at him and his jaw drops a little.
The young man then shows me more knives. There is more knife types then I knew ever existed. There is about fifteen basic looking knives that are all just shaped a little bit differently from each other. They all have different uses too. Then he comes along my beloved and favorite knives. They are small only about 4 inches long in total. The blade is 3 inches and then there is a ring at the bottom. They are perfect for me.
The man and I discuss ways to throw knife and how certain knives are better for certain uses. Then he shows me a knife that he says is brand new for the Games. It is larger. At first glance its just a handle to a knife. I give him a confused glance and he hands it to me. He lets me play with it then suddenly a blade pops out and I drop the knife. He laughs and picks it up. He showed me that I hit the button on the side. He called it a Multipurpose knife.
I take a scan of the room. Not all the tributes are here. All of District Four is missing and so is Zinnia, Bellthoria and Easton. Leaving only fifteen tributes to train. I look around to see the kids I am suppose to get as allies. Well I count out the District Four tribute that I'm suppose to recruit leaving three of the kids here. I spot Pravala and Imperial. I also see Cedar who is foolishly trying to throw an axe. He has missed every time.
Then I spot her. It's Galerie! I forgot that she is in my alliance! I quickly stride over to her. She gives me an odd glance. Her eyes dart from my head to my feet and back up. She looks as if she is searching for something.
"Hi has Zinnia talked to you?" I quickly say and wait for her response.
"Oh are you Kliss?" I see a spark in her eyes. And I was wrong. Her eyes are a forest green.
"Yeah," I smile and kind of blush at her reaction.
"Yes she did. Thanks for letting me in your group. Zinnia said you are very kind. Is that true?"
I laugh because of this question because she asked it so seriously. "If you think so," I smile again "What can you do?" I ask her
Her response surprises me "Well I can throw an axe, throw a knife, throw a spear, shoot a bow and a slingshot, I can also use a sword and throwing stars. Is that good enough?" She asks me as if I would say no.
"Yes it is perfect. Do you want to come by the rest of us?" I ask and she nods so I head back to Nightly and Silverest. I introduce her to the others and we all start talking about what each of us can do. Nightly can use a sword and spear. Silverest can throw a spear, he uses an axe, and can shoot a bow.
"What can Zinnia do?" I direct the question to Galerie. Her answer is, "Well this might surprise you because of how much she talks, but she is very sneaky. Like she could strip you naked and you wouldn't notice. Also she can us a mace. Deadly combo right?"
"Really? That will help us a lot! And a mace? Doesn't that seem a little vicious for her?" I ask.
"No she is actually pretty blood thirsty." Galerie replies. I leave it at that and then start talking about who I am trying to get. We all agree on getting Pravala next. This time I let Nightly go persuade her to come into our group. He brings her over in less than 30 seconds. This is going better than I thought it would.
"Do we really want Imperial? Doesn't she seem like weak?" This is the first question Pravala asked. Her voice is high and mousy. She is stunningly attract. Her eyes are a chocolate brown and her skin is darker than mine. Her hair is light brown and hangs between her elbow and shoulder. Her bangs are clipped over to her right and her hair frames her face. She is about 5'6" and has a curvy figure. Her is angular and sticks out. Her nose is longer and kind of pointy.
"Well she is skilled with a blow gun. She could help us. But the only problem is that I don't think District One will let her go willingly," I say and the group agrees to try and get her. We already have six kids. As much as District One. I think they are noticing our group because they all keep looking at our group. I spot Imperial. She is on the outside of the group and not really in with the group. I haven't seen her speak one word. They are standing in-between the sword fighting and sling shot stations. Most of District One have a sword in their hand, but Imperial is focused on shooting glass chunks at the dummy in front of her. I watch for a moment. Each time she shoots stuffing goes flying up. A man rushes out with a new dummy.
She keeps shooting. I notice she is aiming for the neck. Smart. Then on the fifth or sixth time the dummies head falls straight to the ground. She looks back at her group, but none of them are watching her. I see her frown and shoot one more shot at the dummies heart and then the dummy is taken away and replaced.
"Guys I'm going in for Imperial. Wish me luck," I say simply and head towards her. Then something stops me. District One starts glancing at me. I stop in front of the rack of spears. I pick up a lighter looking one and take stance. I stand it through the air and it lands into the wooden dummy's head. It wasn't a perfect throw but still would have killed whoever would have been hit. I throw a couple more but they land in the dummy's arm, leg and shoulder. I glance back over a District One. They have all looked away. Hex and Mock are in the ring with protective gear on. Blossom, Tiara, and Duct are cheering them on.
I dart in Imperial way. She sees me and her eyes widen. I stop next to her and pick up a sling shot grab an glass shard. As I take aim I say "Hi," then let go of the band and watch fluffing fly where someone's eye would be. She does the same, takes aim says hello and lets go. Hers hits the other eyes. I take aim again and ask "Are you looking for allies? I saw you chop the head of that dummy with five shots. It was amazing and my group would really like you on our team." I let go and it hits the arm.
"Um can we speak about this later? Will you be here tonight training?" She asks. I nod. "Let's meet at eleven tonight. Throwing Stars." With that she sends glass straight threw the neck of the dummy. I nod again and walk off. I don't make an immediate route back to the group I make a swervey one. I stop at several stations. I stopped at three, but soon got bored and left each on. Then I stopped at maces. Almost all of my allies use maces and I want to learn too.
I pick out a small one that has a metal handle with a rubber grip. The metal ball on top has 10 spikes hanging off it. The instructor shows me what to do. He taught me three different things to do with a mace. He taught me up close battle, how to throw one and that they can be used in a trapped. He showed me different types. There is ones like mine with different numbers of spikes. Then there is a different one that has blades that go up and down the ball in the center, but I wasn't a fan of those. Then there is my favorite. It is the one with a handle then a chain and a spiky ball at the end of the chain. You can swing the handle and the chain goes all over and the spiky ball is whipping all around. I spend about 5 minutes on each mace then head back to the group. They are all still talking about allies. I am sure they discussed me for awhile. Galerie and Pravala look frightened when they see me. This confirmed what they were talking about. For sure.