Katniss and Clove: Chapter Ten
All the Tributes are afforded three days of 'training' before the Games in the training centre at the base of the Tribute Centre. What could they possibly learn in three days that could trouble Tributes from Districts 1, 2 and possibly 4. They call us careers because we have been training our whole lives for this, it's been our job. Professionals have studied the the history of the games, analysing every aspect and devising strategies and training programs for us for years. That's why we nearly always win.
We use these three days differently from the other Districts and I use this time differently to Cato. I get to know Cato better and the other Career Tributes, we form our alliance and strategize. While I carefully watch all the other Tributes identifying their skills, strengths and weakness and developing strategies Cato and the others flirt with each other and and show off. There is a psychological factor, we move as one formidable group hoping to intimidate and we hang out by the weapons that most of these kids have never seen let alone wielded.
The other Tributes are unlikely to know anyone at all, they barely know their co-Tribute, they would not have met their mentor or anybody else until the train. We hope to pick them off mentally, before we even hit the arena, by which time we will have a much better idea of who will run and who will be killed before they step off of their platform.
I watch her training, I can hardly stop looking at her, watching her. Katiss Everdeen is hot. She seems big, not fat, hardly anyone is fat except a few old men in the Capitol, maybe a few District administrators. No, I mean, she is not skinny or weak, she walks taller than most, she appears to have muscle tone, some upper body strength and is reasonably fit. Girls like her usually don't work outside the home; child care, cleaning and cooking, I am not convinced her body reflects that sort of experience.
She and her offsider stick to the survival tables; knot tying, camouflage, identifying edible plants and insects, trapping and snares, fire making, first aid, shelter. Now if either of them had a skill, I would certainly advise them to hide it, but is she hiding something or is she just trying to learn how to set a trap?
The other thing that sets her apart is that she volunteered. Almost unheard of outside of the Career districts. The name of her little sister was chosen from the bowl and in order to protect her, Katniss volunteered. This will endear her to the masses, her District will take a special pride in her, the general public will love to love her and Sponsors will be keen to back an upset winner.
Between being a volunteer and the girl on fire, I have to determine whether this is an accumulation of random events or whether this signals genuine danger. There is something about her physicality that I just can't quite put my finger on, and I need to. I also need to avoid raising the interest of my allies in my increasing fascination with Katniss Everdeen.