I know it's been a while. February/January was so busy. I was in a play and working on a presidential campaign. Way too busy, and taking 18 credits! :-D

Day one of Training

The blade felt heavy, uncomfortable in her hands. Sadira fingered the metal, watching the instructor.

"These are throwing knives," He launched one, the blade sinking into the dummy's chest. "They are highly effective in the arena. Especially useful in close combat."

Sadira nodded as the instructor continued, "Hold the knife between your thumb and forefinger." He placed a hand on her wrist, "Very good. Feel alright?"

"Of course," Sadira swallowed, "Can I throw it now?"

"No, find the right stance first," placing a hand on her shoulders, he twisted Sadira into position, "Left foot forward, right slightly back."

Sadira tensed, while the instructor continued, "Very good. Try throwing from a short distance," he nodded at where Sadira stood, "Keep your arm steady, and throw from your wrist."

Sadira hoped no one was observing her. She stared at the target, carefully placing her body in the correct alignment. Taking a deep breath, she attempted the first shot.

The knife clattered to the metal floor. "Don't worry, you'll improve over time. And loosen up a bit, no reason to give yourself a headache."

The trainer handed her a second knife.

Sadira carefully gripped the blade, once more following his instructions. The knife landed at the dummy's feet.

"Try putting a little more strength into the throw. Don't be afraid to use your weight."

Another knife. Sadira made certain her body was exactly as he told her. She threw harder, and the knife bounced off the dummy's torso.

The trainer smiled, "Very good, a little bit more force and it will stick."

Sadira's stomach was tight, "Thanks. I can just keep practicing right?"

"Absolutely, I will always be available if you should ever need assistance."

Sadira picked up another knife while the trainer spoke to a boy who had walked up. She hated the fact that she was actually learning how to kill someone. She let the knife go, it bounced off the dummy's shoulder.

"The trainer dude told you were something." A voice spoke behind her. Sadira glanced over her shoulder as the voice continued, "But you're really nothing."

Sadira felt her heart rate accelerate. Who was this girl to say something like that? "What makes you my judge?

The girl rolled her eyes, snorting. "Are you too dumb to know your fellow competitors?"

Sadira's palms were beginning to sweat. Her brain wracked for information. How was she supposed to remember all 23 names? "I know you'er from one of the Capitol's lapdog."

"What?" The girl stepped closer, "What are you calling me?"

The girl was close enough to practically tower over Sadira. Sadira was tempted to just walk away. This girl reminded her so much of the peacekeepers who had accosted her dad. Her dad might have been helpless but Sadira planned to not be vulnerable.

"I'm calling you the truth." Sadira swallowed, "I'm going to die. I'll not going to face death by lying to myself."

"At least, you're honest enough to know that you're dead meat." The girl chuckled, reaching for a knife. She studied it for a short moment, before throwing it at the dummy. It stuck into the neck.
She grinned and winked at Sadira before strolling away.

Felix ignored Alex for as long as possible. She stood just to the left of the training mat, arms folded, impatiently tapping her foot. After Felix successfully countered another punch from the trainer, Alex spoke up, "I'm not here just to watch you sweat. Can't you take a break?"

Felix frowned, "Sure, but why?" He jumped away from the trainer, stepping off the mat. "Why aren't you learning anything?"
"Learning?" Alex snorted. "This place doesn't have anything for me. I already know everything about winning these games."

Felix shrugged, itching to get back to the training mat. "Ok. So why are we talking now?"
"Hey!" The two turned to see Heath strolling over, "I was going to chat with you guys."

Alex's face loosened, her scowl softening, "Good to see you. Decided anything about these minions?"

He chuckled, pointing a finger across the room. "There's these two dunces. One of 'em is disfigured and the other can't talk."
"Isn't the ugly one from Twelve?" Alex pointed to the skeletal boy. The kid was studying plants, his face partly obscured by the hoodie he was wearing.

Heath nodded, "Pretty sure. So skinny he already looks dead. Don't they have a fairly young female tribute too?"
"I think so," Felix spoke for the first time, tired of the conversation. "What about our own alliance? Who all is included?"
"That girl from twelve is so full of herself. She called me a Capitol Lapdog." Alex's words were practically hissed. "I'm going to eliminate her at the start."

Heath and Alex dissolved into sardonic laughter. Felix glanced around, not finding any humor in the situation.

Heath rubbed his hand through his hair. "Silk's been chatting with the tributes from Four. It sounds like we have an epic team this year."

Alex's nose puckered, "But the girl? She doesn't feel like one of us."

"Have you gotten to know her?" Felix questioned, "I mean, you've only seen her on TV. And what does it mean to feel like on of us?"

"I thought she was pretty nice." Heath shrugged, "Kind of reminded me of my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Alex's green eyes widened, "You have a girlfriend?"

"Yep," Heath looked a bit proud, "I'm going to win these games for my babe."

"Gross," Alex muttered, "I still think the girl from Four is a dud. Which is why your girlfriend probably didn't volunteer."

Heath's face darkened. "What exactly are you saying?"

"If I had a boyfriend, I would join him in the arena." Alex placed a hand on her hip, enjoying the two inches of height she had over Heath. "Why didn't yours? Afraid to die with you?"
"We want to have a family together. We're not a killing team." Heath stepped towards her, his voice barely suppressing his anger. "No guy I know would trust you enough to even date you."

"Not true." Alex seethed, "No guy is worth my time anyway. Especially one that's such a brainless hulk."

"Come on," Felix attempted to speak, "We're a team guys, let's not start out like this."

Heath looked into Felix's face. He took a deep breath, "You seem like a good guy. I like you. But," his eyes briefly cut back to Alex's face. "Your partner is testing me. She's way out of her league."

Josu knew there were several tributes around his age. He didn't want to bother or run into one of the older tributes, so he stuck to the less popular stations. Sure enough, all the younger kids were over here.

"Ever started a fire before?" He spoke to the boy who was blowing at a crumpled pile of leaves.

The boy looked his direction. "It's harder than it looks on TV."
Josu sighed, "Everything looks easy on TV."

"Except the games." The boy straightened his spine from his scrunched position, "I give up. It was hurting my back anyway."

"You think you'll need it in the arena?"
"I don't know what I'll need." He looked towards Josu for a moment, "Have we met?"

"No, I'm Josu." He held out his hand. The trainer began to speak, but seeing the boys weren't listening turned his attention elsewhere.

The other boy took it, shaking it slightly, "Rust. Nice to meet you."
"Are you going to try out weapons stuff?"

"After the Careers are done assessing their own greatness. Tomorrow afternoon maybe." Rust stayed seated beside his makeshift hearth while Josu stood beside him. The two fell silent, listening as sword clashed from the weapons area. The trainer was now speaking to a girl and boy who had just walked up to the station beside theirs.
"You have older siblings or anything?" Rust asked Josu.

"No, I'm the oldest." Josu noticed his shoes had come untied. He sat on the ground beside Rust, working at the laces. The boots were a bit harder to work with than the tennis shoes he was used to wearing.

"I thought maybe that's why you wanted to chat with me. I don't have any siblings." Rust sighed.
"You know where those two come from?" Josu inclined his head towards the two who were learning how to construct a shelter from branches.

"I think they're from Eight. Just cause their names have something to do with cloth." Rust fiddled with his pile of leaves, "Hopefully the arena's warm. Fire is nearly impossible to work with, and it gives your location away."

"Are you partnering with your district's other tribute?" Josu couldn't help but wonder.

Rust chuckled. "Nope. I think she dislikes me." Dislike was an understatement, but he didn't want to go into too many details.

Josu nodded. He needed to get on to other stations, try to learn some new stuff. This guy didn't seem too friendly.
Standing, he cracked his knuckles. "Nice to meet you."

Rust nodded. Josu took a step away before he spoke. "Sorry, kid. I'm just a loner, not really ally material."

Josu lips curved, "Thanks for letting me know."

"But if we run into each other, promise I won't kill you."

Gemini couldn't follow the man's story. It was supposed to be some sort of funny tale, but with all his verbal tics the humor had dissolved into boredom. She leaned back in her seat, nodding at the chatter while her eyes scanned the tributes.e

Laughter erupted and Gemini joined in. She didn't care what they found funny but it was important to maintain appearances. She bit down on a lemon tart, enjoying the flavor. There was a slight lull in the conversation. Gemini swallowed.

"I don't like the girl from Two. She's agitating her potential alliance." Gemini swirled her wine, "That will work against her in the arena."

"Will you lower her scores because of that?" The questioner was speaking around the sausage roll he had stuffed in his mouth.

Gemini's nose wrinkled in distaste, but she stuck to her original topic, "Collaboration is key if you join an alliance."

"What about the kids from Eight? They haven't left each other's sides." A finger pointed to Nylon and Tricolette.

"That pair are goners." The same sausage stuffer was now speaking, he picked up a shrimp, sucking off the meat as he chattered, "Named after clothes and nonsense. They'll not last one day."

Gemini's brown eyes narrowed, "You seem relatively certain. Weren't you named after some sort of juice, Agave?"

Agave's face reddened, "I'm not fighting in these games, Gemini." He sputtered, wiping his oily fingers on his vest. "Our names don't judge our talents here in the Capitol."

"There have been several strangely named victors," Another voice commented, "The national gardens are named after that old one, what was her name?"
"Mags." Gemini picked up her tablet, annoyed they had brought up Mags, "That was her name."

"She died back in the last quarter quell, right? Well, not the last one, but you know what I mean." Sounds of consent answered the statement. Gemini focused on the media messages. Hadrian was concerned about a live interview that didn't go exactly right. Gemini clicked on the transcripts, unable to focus on an audible recording.

"Mags lasted pretty long if I remember right. I mean, wasn't she like 100 years old?" The strident tones grated on Gemini's ears.
"You must know," Someone spoke right in Gemini's ear, "You seem to remember everything about the Games."

Gemini's head lifted and her eyes glanced up from the tablet, "Mags was 84. She died two days into the 75th games. She was from District Four. The national memorial gardens were named in her honor after her previous victory, which was the 17th Games. Anything else you want to know?"

Someone whistled, "Told you Gemini Heavensbee knows everything there is to know about the Games."

Gemini scowled at the speaker, "If you ever decide to achieve anything, Cassius, you will also learn to know everything."

Alena swirled the liquid, enjoying watching the two liquids blend. The trainer nodded in approval. Alena was relieved that she had succeeded, "So, can this be used to kill someone?"

The trainer didn't look too surprised, "Medicines can be used for both benefit and harm. As a herbalist I hope you only use this skill to aid life."

Alena smiled, her eyes brightening, "Of course. But I want to be prepared for anything in the arena."

"Are you teaching poison stuff?" Silk spoke from behind Alena, "I didn't know you guys would teach this."

"Poison?" Alena turned towards Silk, "This is about first aid. One would have to be heartless to think something like that."

Silk studied Alena, "Really? I didn't know you learned to mix things in first aid class." She stepped to the table, picking up a bottle. "Iodine is relatively harmless. Unless you overdose." She chuckled.

Alena really wished Silk would walk away. She couldn't stand Silk looking over her shoulder. "You know something about poisons?"

Silk shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe. You're from District Nine, right?"

Alena nodded. Silk continued, "You're not hanging out with your district partner?"

"Why are you asking?" Alena bit her lip.

"Do you need a reason to be friendly?" Silk smiled, "Nice meeting you, sweetie." She patted Alena on the shoulder before strolling away.

Maxwell retied the knot. This is supposed to trap someone but Maxwell doubted it would do any good. Lucina stares at him from the other side of the table.

"You should stop pouting. We're stuck together."

Lucina rolled her eyes, elbows leaning on the tabletop. "Not my choice."

"You didn't speak up. It's your own fault we're stuck together" Maxwell tugged at the cord. "Looking better, don't you think?"

"I don't care." Lucina sighed. "Can we go look at something else?"

He set the bundle of ropes down. "Sure. How about edible plants?" He stepped beside her. They walked over to the station, but Maxwell stopped at the ropes course. "I want to speak to this guy, you go on."

"We're supposed to stay together." Lucina crossed her arms. "You've been telling me that all morning."
A tribute or two glanced their way as Lucina's strident tones had caught their attention.

Maxwell's jaw tightened and he leaned in towards her. "Are you trying to mess with me?"
She blinked her eyes, "I'm sorry, what?"

"I told you to go, now go and don't argue with me." He pushed her away from him. She stumbled, scowling at him.

He stepped away from her, eager to chat with someone whom he felt might match his own status. "Hey." He waved towards the ropes course. "You're Roran, right?"

The kid nodded, beginning to descend. "I don't know your name."

"Maxwell. You enjoy climbing?"
"It's what I do best." Roran jumped to the ground. "When you work in an orchard, you climb for a living."

"Nice." They shook hands before Maxwell continued. "I saw you volunteered. Kind of admirable."

Roran stared at him. "Most people here don't view it in the same light. Unless," He lowered his voice, "They're from one of the lapdog districts."

"Lapdog?" Maxwell knew people hated the Careers but he hadn't heard anyone refer to them as that. At least not out loud.

Roran raised an eyebrow, "You know they feed from the Capitol's hands just to get a few treats from the bag."

"They've figured out the system." Maxwell shrugged, "I guess we are all kind of envious."

"Envious?" Roran shook his head, "Look at them." He waved towards the careers. They were tearing apart a dummy. "If it weren't for their stupid loyalty the last rebellion would have succeeded."

"Rebellion." The words came out in a whisper. "What do you know of that?"

Roran stepped closer, his hands on Maxwell's shoulder. "I know the Capitol has tried to extinguish the fire. But the flames are going to ignite again."

"What?" Maxwell pulled away, glancing around nervously, "Are you nuts? They're going to kill you in that arena." He took a step backward, "I'm not going to be destroyed with you."

Roran sighed in frustration as Maxwell trotted back over to his partner. Everyone was so lifeless. Didn't they also want to overthrow the Capitol?

Ok, that sums it up. Your favorite character highlighted today? Who'd you like to hear from next time?