Chapter 14: Training AKA Katniss meeting her final soulmate.
After another morning waking up tangled in a pile of bodies, something I was becoming increasingly used to, I decided that I should actually turn up to the training centre today. Whilst there was no chance I was getting rusty, I also had to make sure I was on the top of my game when we finally entered the arena in just four days time. Though the firm clamp of Johanna's arm around my waist was a tempting anchor to succumb to, I was looking forward to spending some time training with my other soulmates and bid the inviting pile on the bed goodbye before heading up to the twelfth floor to get dressed.
After a quick detour to get changed into my training suit, I took the elevator to the bottom floor, the majority of tributes turning to look at me when the door to the training centre slammed closed behind me. I payed them no mind and instead headed over to my careers, all currently cheering each other on as they took part in the obstacle course. Marvel was the last to finish, having almost tripped after being distracted by my entrance, and afterwards they all came to meet me, sweaty from the exertion and all pulling the look off incredibly.
"Well, now that you've seen us do it, how about you give it a go Kat? I bet you won't be able to beat my time." I knew Cato was baiting me and I could have easily said no, but the thought of winning this friendly competition was too enticing. "You're on." I said cheekily, throwing in a wink for added effect. I took my place at the start of the large course as Cato began to count me down, the noise of his voice barely reaching me as I focused on the lights above me, all turning red before they flashed green, signalling for me to begin.
I sprinted towards a steep parallel overhang roughly five feet above my head, using my momentum to vault myself upwards towards it. The impact of my landing was winding, though I carried on running along the raised platform until I came upon a series of ledges jutting out from a climbing wall. I didn't bother with the harness to save time, confident in my ability to keep my balance, and I began my ascent, jumping nimbly from ledge to ledge, keeping a firm grip on the handholds in the wall to avoid the possibility of falling flat on my back.
Once I finished the climbing-wall area, I moved on to a longer section that involved having to cross a thin stretch of runway whilst being attacked by trainers holding batons, swiping at your feet in an attempt to trip whichever tribute was taking part. I dodged their bludgeons as gracefully as possible whilst maintaining a swift pace, though the final swipe from a disgruntled trainer caught the front of my boots, sending me sprawling off of the edge of the platform. My fingers a hairs width from the rope that dropped down onto the finish line, but too far to form a proper grip, leaving me to tuck my chin and brace for the inevitable impact of my fall.
Whilst my landing was firm, it certainly wasn't what I'd been expecting, and I opened my eyes to find a pair of whiskey brown ones staring back at me. Though I was struck by his gaze, the clock on the wall counting down from 5 momentarily took priority as I leapt from his arms, my feet making contact with the pressure pad on the finishing line with half a second to spare. I heard cheering from behind me, mixed in with a healthy amount of teasing about the fact that I still beat Cato, even though I tripped. Though my initial instinct was to rejoin my soulmates, I was drawn to the boy who caught me in the same way I was to the pack, and I wondered, almost desperately, if he was the owner of the name coiling around my left ankle.
Our gazes met once again, only to break as I realised this was the first time I'd ever properly looked at him. He was both extremely handsome and muscular, he likely weighed the same as Cato, though he appeared bulkier as he was slightly shorter. His hair was jet black and cropped short, likely because it kept him cooler when he was working the fields back in district eleven, and his full lips and high cheekbones made his face almost feminine in a very attractive way. His mouth stretched into a grin as our eyes met once again, his iris's seeming almost molten in the glinting light, and I stepped closer to him, hoping that this would be my final day of searching.
"Hey, thanks for that, you're practically my knight in shining armour. I'm Katniss...Katniss Everdeen it's great to finally meet you." I said, eyes flitting from his own to where the cords of muscle in his bicep pulsed against his dark skin in response to my hand gently laid on his forearm. "You...I...We..." He stuttered, fingers fidgeting with a loose cord on his trousers and a light blush covering his cheeks, I had a strong urge to tease him, but I relented. "Yes, I am yours as I hope you will consider yourself to be mine one day. I do have to warn you though, I have multiple soulmates." "Honestly Katniss, I've waited my entire life to meet you, not having you to myself at all times is the least of my worries."
"Thank God, I swear I've been blessed to have such accepting soulmates, you really don't know how grateful I am. Now, I believe we have some introductions to get through, don't worry, I know they might look intimidating but they're some of the sweetest people I've ever met." I looked imploringly into Thresh's eyes, having seen him receding back into himself, only continuing towards the pack, who were looking towards us curiously, when he nodded and relaxed slightly. I interlocked my fingers with his as I headed over, his hand squeezing mine thankfully, as we came to a stop in front of Clove who, ignoring the large disparity in height, appeared to be sizing him up.
"Before anybody does or says something stupid, yes Marvel I'm looking at you, I wanted to introduce Thresh, the last of my soulmates." Understanding and compassion almost instantly took over their features, though Marvel was still mock offended, and before I could get a word in edgewise, they all jumped in at once, clearly eager to be as welcoming as possible to Thresh, though the periodic squeezes to our still interlocked fingers show that the adaptation wasn't instant for all of us.
As the conversation around me became background noise, my mind wandered to the topic that everybody around me seemed to have forgotten, the games began one week from today, and there was no chance in hell I was losing any of my soulmates. Ever since I arrived in the capital and met my soulmates, all time spent alone was spent plotting. Plotting how to win the games, plotting how to keep all my soulmates safe, plotting how to keep my family alive in the seam back home. Last night, laying awake in Johanna's arms, I finally figured it out.
In fact, I could see it right now, or rather, see him.
Above the training area stood a private box for the gamemakers to watch us train. And there he stood, with his sleek suit, clearly the latest in Capitol fashion, and almost suave appearance he was clearly the most important and influential of the group. Tomorrow I would set my plan in motion, whilst all other tributes were busy during training, I would seek a private audience with Seneca Crane and plead my case. And, well, if he can't be persuaded to change the rules, there are always far more fun methods to fall back on. Well, fun for me anyways.