Chapter 21 - Posted ( 4/6/16)

Rowan Mattock

District Seven Male. 16 years old.

"Wanted something I can't take,

I'll be stronger once again,
Don't worry about me, trust me,

Please trust me now."

Rowan shrugged apologetically at the trainer, handing him back the sword he was trying to use. So much for that.

It was the second day of training, and he still hadn't found something he particularly excelled at. Even an axe, the weapon he'd used for years, was still hard to control in his state. All Rowan could do was stick with a knife and hope for the best. 30 minutes into Training and he had already failed at trying another weapon.

"Rowan! Hey, Rowan!" A voice called from behind him. Interested in who it was, he adjusted his position to face the person next to him. It was - thankfully - his ally, Celine Woodman. The redhead's face was already flushed from probably training more with the axe and running all the way across the Training Room to reach him.

Rowan smiled easily at the 14 year old. "Hey, Celine." He greeted her. They were, of course, from the same District and had saw each other that morning. But that didn't stop them from saying hi again. They had a special bond - it was almost like they were brothers and sisters already, even though they had only known each other for a handful of days. "Want to go try out the trap station?"

Celine stuck out her bottom lip in a mock pout. She was definitely a cutie - still like a little kid but a bit more grown up than that. Rowan wanted to help her win in some way, and protect her at any cost. "Why can't we just stick to something else?"

"We have to learn a little of everything." Rowan answered. "You never know what you might need to know in the arena."

After a few more protests, Celine finally agreed to the terms. The two of them walked to the next station down, which was the traps/snares station. Staring at all the ropes, sticks, bolts, wires, and bric-a-brac, the two District Seven tributes had never felt so lost in their lives. Celine tugged on Rowan's arm to get him to move, and the two of them began to creep away from the station. Unfortunately, those cliched actions never work. The expert there spotted them and waved them over.

Nowhere to run, they decided to just deal with it - and waste their time - at the station. The expert introduced himself and taught them the basics of traps and snares.

Celine and Rowan quickly discovered that it wasn't as hard, or quite as a waste of time, as they had thought previously. Though the former hated the prospect first, she swiftly learned that she developed a talent for the tricky skills.

They both learned everything - basics and advanced skills. From the trap that left their victim hanging from a foot and one that would trigger something, the duo learned it all. When they had eventually just about mastered everything, Rowan glanced up at the clock and decided it was time to leave.

"Thanks!" Celine called to the expert there. He gave a friendly smile and a wave - not all Capitol people were that bad, after all.

Rowan and Celine were now at another loss for where to go next. The older of the two glanced around furtively, before spotting the fire-starting station nearby. "Come on, let's go there."

Celine pretended to groan. But on the inside, she was smiling wide.

Kinsie Surge

District Five Female. 12 years old.

"I'm nuts, baby, I'm mad,

The craziest friend that you've ever had,

You think I'm psycho, you think I'm gone,

Tell the psychiatrist something is wrong."

Kinsie dipped her paintbrush into the cup of water. She got another color of paint - this time a light brown - and painted her left arm. Each brush stroke was precise and neat, delicate as a rose. The 12 year old was painting the bark of a tree on her arm, and was succeeding greatly. It looked like the real thing.

Kinsie had always enjoyed art. It was just...her thing she was good at. It was a secret talent, and she stopped doing it in front of people when her father had told her it was a waste. His words exactly: "Who wants to waste their time staring at a blob of paint when they can get off their rears and help pay off this house?"

She was only 7 years old when her father told her that. After that, Kinsie was absolutely mortified to express her talent to anyone else. She crumpled up her artwork - the one her father had called "a blob of paint" - and threw it out. Her art wasn't wanted anywhere.

The brown-haired girl hadn't drawn, painted, colored, or sketched in years. Her art was still a little shaky, but it was looking great, according to the trainer at the painting station (whose name Kinsie learned was "Magenta").

A gasp from next to Kinsie made her look up quickly. Standing beside her was Casey Taurus from District Ten, along with Rosemary Fields, Casimir Moretti, and Dylan Tweed from Districts Nine and Eight respectively. She had heard they had formed an alliance in the cafeteria. She knew because she was at a table near them. Kinsie narrowed her eyes at them. "Do you need anything?"

Casey covered her mouth. "I'm sorry! It just looks so realistic, I guess. It's better than I would have ever done." The Asian teen smiled a bit nervously at Kinsie.

Kinsie opened her mouth to say No, I'm sure your artwork looks good, too, before halting herself. She was about to admit weakness. She couldn't do that.

Rosemary, Casimir, Dylan, and Casey went to Magenta and consulted with her. Soon, all four of them were painting along with Kinsie. Casey was occasionally looking at Kinsie's artwork, and looked a bit more inspired each time.

The District Five girl thought, What's to admire about my work? It's just some bark. Casey's looks good, too. Then she had another thought. My mentor was talking about getting sponsors. Maybe if I join their alliance, if they would accept me...I'd betray them by killing them in the middle of the night, and I can get some kills! Kills means sponsors, and after that, maybe I can win!

Kinsie gathered the nerve and turned to them. "This is to whoever's in charge. Can I…may I possibly join your alliance?"

The potential alliance turned awkwardly silent, everyone looking at Rosemary. Just like Clarence was the "authority" of his alliance that everyone looked up to, they somehow looked up to Rosie. Rosie thought it over. She thought it over so long, that Kinsie was thinking, If she says no, then I'll just go ask to join another alliance. No big deal.

Rosie then laid out the verdict, which was good news to the 12 year old. "Well...sure, if you want to. Welcome to the alliance!"

Boy, if only Rosie knew what she had got herself, and her alliance, into.

Casimir Moretti

District Nine Male. 15 years old.

"Accustomed to the cataclysmic madness,

My daily life I mistake for peace,

As this rambling coaster jolts me back and forth,

What is it that I mustn't lose sight of?"

Casimir didn't absolutely trust Kinsie with his whole heart. He knew that there was something off about her, something he couldn't put his finger on. He didn't put two-and-two together quite yet. But there was something he couldn't deny.

But if he told Rosie, she'd probably just deny him. His District Partner had a bad habit of seeing the best in everyone. It wasn't necessarily bad sometimes, but seriously, she had to open her eyes and see the bigger picture. For example, at the moment she was probably thinking the strengths about Kinsie: She's young, so she won't do much harm. She seems sweet. She has a lot of spunk, and that can help us get farther in the arena and possibly get supplies. But the cons about Kinsie? She's young, so she can possibly deceive or manipulate us because we'll trust her. She has spunk in a bad way, which means that she can outlive us and probably betray us. She seems like a good liar, and she is stealthy. Kinsie is fire-y and dangerous; she can't be trusted. No doubt Rosie wasn't taking that into consideration, though.

Casimir noticed Dylan and Kinsie were having a discussion about their Districts back home, and decided to tune in.

"My mother and father are divorced," Kinsie was saying. "Now my dad lives on the other side of the District while I live with my mom. I have no siblings - well, I used to have a brother, but I don't really remember him. His name was Connor Surge - he was actually a tribute in one of the Games."

Dylan nodded. Casimir didn't even think Dylan was paying attention to painting anymore. "And you're a tribute now." The 13 year old confirmed.

Kinsie bobbed her head up and down, saying yes. "Exactly. So what's your story?"

Dylan shrugged. "There's not much to tell. I was adopted and…" He hesitated, and Casimir immediately knew that the younger boy was hiding something. "Well, that's pretty much it."

Casey jumped in. "I can kind of relate to you, Kinsie - my dad wasn't always there for me, either. But neither was my mom. They were both mean to me."

Rosie looked sympathetic to the other girl. "Well, if it helps to know, my family was poor. But at least I got to do something I loved, because I got to go to herbal school."

Casimir really didn't want to talk about his past, but he felt like he had to open up to his alliance. "Well, there's not much to tell for me, either." He said quietly. "My family was poor, too, and I had to work since I was really young. And my sister...Tessa...she…" He couldn't finish his sentence. Casimir knew if he talked more, he would start crying. Tears were already threatening to spill. He turned away.

Rosie put her hand on his shoulder and opened her mouth, probably to say something motivating, but Casimir brushed it off. "Really, I'm fine." He blinked back the tears.

And Casimir hated Kinsie even more for the fact that they had both lost someone important to them - in this case, their siblings.

Azalea Sequins

District Eight Female. 16 years old.

"Because I'm happy,

Clap along if you feel

Like a room without

A roof."

Azalea was feeling a bit bright today, even though she was going into the Games in a few days. The 16 year old had bet she would die at the bloodbath the moment she was Reaped, but with the Training days, she might stand a chance against some other tributes. She was at the knife station with a few others, learning the skills of the stiletto weapon, along with a shield. It was easy to control and use, and plus, it was lightweight and easy to carry. Azalea was close to mastering the stiletto and was in line to spar with the trainer. Currently sparring with the trainer was Roy from District Five. He was coordinated with the weapon, and he was very skilled at using it. A fine competition he would make - he'd probably even kill Azalea, anyway, if he kept up the great work.

When it was finally her turn, she stepped up to the designated area she was assigned to spar with the trainer. The trainer was a muscular and thickly-built man, who seemed strong. Azalea gulped. She was most definitely going to lose - after all, luck never really seemed to be on her side.

When they started to strike, she noticed that yes, he may he strong and big, but he was slow. Very slow, in fact. He was also going on defense more than offense. She could use these weaknesses to her advantage!

Azalea feinted, using an illusion to confuse him. Then she followed up with some strikes to the trainer's own knife, making him drop his sword. And finally, she held her stiletto at his throat.

She was panting and breathing heavily. Many of the tributes were looking curiously at her. Azalea herself was thinking: Whoa. Did I actually just do that?

An unfamiliar feeling filled her body - pride. She had actually done it. She had did the impossible - at least, in her perspective it seemed impossible.

The trainer even seemed impressed. "Well, let's try that again with your shield this time." He prodded gently. She was nervous to do it again, but only a little bit. Azalea was mostly confident.

She picked up her shield, which she had discarded on the ground before the fight, and assumed her stance. Then she and the trainer began to battle it out once more.

Slash, block, dodge, strike. Slash, block, dodge, strike. It was getting repetitive, like a pattern. The trainer was now going a bit harder on her, and Azalea realized that he was just going easy on her before. Now it was the real thing.

He was still on the slow side, though. She went on offense, slashing and trying to lower his defense. It didn't work. Sooner or later she would tire, and let her guard down. She couldn't allow that to happen.

The brown-haired female tried a new tactic. She dipped down low and spin beneath the trainer, popping up behind him. Then she dropped her shield on the ground so she could grab him in a chokehold. Azalea did this successfully, and once again held the knife up to his throat.

The room had gone silent. Everyone was watching her, studying her. They might've even been thinking that she was competiton. No, impossible. She was just...well, Azalea.

The teen decided to take a break, and stepped away from the trainer, going to drink some water from the fountain. Halfway there, someone stopped her. It was Quince Lazarre, District Eleven.

"Hi. You might remember me from lunch yesterday." The 18 year old told her. Yes, Azalea vaguely remembered sitting with him yesterday. She nodded, gesturing for him to go on.

"And well, I was watching you right now. So…" Quince shifted uncomfortably. "Would you like to be allies?"

Azalea's brain almost exploded. She thought of good things, like surviving longer and getting more sponsors. Then she also thought of bad things, like Quince betraying her. But no - he didn't seem like the type to do that. Then she got kind of nervous. "Um...I'm j-just wondering...why would you want me to be your ally?"

Quince answered without hesitation. "That's easy. You're strong, and you can help me survive longer by that. You can get sponsors, too, because of your looks." Was that a compliment or not? Well...I guess it was a compliment. She thought to herself. It was kind of awkward, with a boy complimenting her.

Azalea didn't want to overthink the alliance request, and get second thoughts. So she said, before she could change her mind, "Of course I would accept. Thank you for inviting me."

Quince visibly relaxed. "You're welcome. I think we'll do good together."

The 16 year old began to wonder something. "Who else is in the alliance?"

"Well, I did invite Lignite. You know, the District Twelve guy who also sat with us yesterday."

Azalea nodded. Lignite seemed a bit aloof, to be honest, but she guessed that he could be helpful if he tried. "So...we're all set. Thanks again."

As she walked quickly to the water fountain, she thought, Twenty four tributes, one person standing...and I think I might have a chance.

Isobel Wild

District Eleven Female. 16 years old.

"And now, I don't wanna take you if we fall down, don't get upset,

And now, is just the beginning,

And we'll figure it out somehow,

Right now, masquerade."

Isobel watched Quince happily walk off, away from Azalea. So her District Partner had found an alliance, and she had not.

Well, she had the opportunity to belong to the Career alliance, but she couldn't have possibly said yes. Just take Clarence, Vulcan, and Jayda for example. They were fighting machines. Skilled each with the swords, bow and arrow, knife, fists, and tomahawk respectively, just the three of them were unbeatable. And then throw Ebony and Hestia in, and they were even more unstoppable. That's exactly why Isobel didn't want to join them. When the Careers split up, and performed what everyone called the "Career Bloodbath", what if they ganged up against her and killed her first? Even with Seeder's training she couldn't stand against them. She still felt a bit guilty for turning them down, and knew she'd be a target, but getting killed at the bloodbath would be easier than getting brutally murdered by Clarence or someone like that.

Well, she didn't include Bay in the list. Bay was actually a pretty nice guy. He reminded her somewhat of Matthias, her friend from back in District Eleven. Hearing, or even thinking Matt's name had a pang to her heart. Matthias. She wished she could be with him now, listening to him as he rambled on and on about the importance of positive thinking. And she'd never see him again.

Snap out of it. Isobel told herself. Positive thinking, remember? You're doing the exact opposite of what Matt would do.

Isobel focused back on the trainer, who was attempting to teach her skills with a trident. Yes, a trident. It felt weird holding the weapon in her hand, especially since she was from District Eleven and the trident weapon was more suited for District Four tributes. But she was trying to find a backup weapon, anyway. It would all be fine in the end.

Tsk, tsk. Wrong. She had thought too soon. Isobel simply couldn't get control of the weapon and ended up almost slicing the trainer up into a million pieces - of course, by pure accident. The trainer seemed a little ticked off by her after that, so Isobel left, after apologizing that it was an accident, of course. She was better off by weapons that she could throw.

When she passed by the machete station while going back to the knife-throwing station, Isobel happened to look up and saw that Hestia was giving her the evil eye. The 16 year old shivered before moving on. She definitely made some enemies, and just on the second day of Training.

Song(s) Used -

Rowan Mattock: "Bury" (sung by Pay Money To My Pain)

Kinsie Surge: "Mad Hatter" (sung by Melanie Martinez)

Casimir Moretti: "Sugar Song and Bitter Step" (sung by Mafumafu)

Azalea Sequins: "Happy" (sung by Pharrell Williams)

Isobel Wild: "Masquerade" (sung by Nicki Minaj)

Hey again! April 6 is the one-month anniversary of this story. I can't believe I actually only had this story up for a month - that's crazy! Thanks so much for getting me to the 200 reviews point, and again, I only had this story up for a month. You guys are the best.

I promise I will show more of Annette, Celine's imaginary friend. I just didn't get around to making another Celine P.O.V, but I promise there will be one soon.

Alliances (so far) -

Careers: Clarence Reiss (leader), Jayda Newell, Vulcan Hardy, Hestia Gabbro, Bay Riverside, Ebony Williams

Alliance #1: Rowan Mattock, Celine Woodman

Alliance #2: Huxley Cathode, Eudora "Dora" Macintosh

Alliance #3: Rosemary "Rosie" Fields, Casimir Moretti, Casey Taurus, Dylan Tweed, Kinsie Surge

Alliance #4: Azalea Sequins, Quince Lazarre, Lignite Parker