~Katniss~
The Hunger Games this year are at the final five, and a train was coming today to take me back to District Two. I sat in my room, stitches still in my back ready to come out in a few days, packing up my clothes for the trip. It's been three weeks since the Games have started and the District Two girl was still alive. When I was finished packing I carried my bags down to the main room of the house where Prim sat crying.
"I don't want you to leave again!" she cried throwing her arms around me. I hugged her back closely and sighed.
"I know Prim, I know. But I'll be back before you know it." I reassured. She sniffed and nodded.
"Promise?"
"I promise." I said back to her. I haven't been the same since my punishment, I don't laugh or smile as often as I used to.
"Katniss, the train will be here any minute." mother said from the kitchen. I nodded and the three of us walked out of the house with my bags in tow, Prim gripped my hand tightly. When we arrived there I saw Peeta, Madge, and Gale waiting for us with sad expressions on their faces. I hugged them all goodbye before a very green Effie pulled me on board the train and shut the doors.
"Now Katniss I know you're sad to leave but just think of all the training you'll get this year at the Academy." she said and without a word I nodded my head. "Oh before I forget Brutus is here to see you." she said and I looked up at her shocked, then at Brutus who walked through the door from another car on the train.
"What are you doing here?" I asked confused yet coldly.
"Wanted to check on you, Haymitch told me about what happened with the Peacekeeper." he explained.
"Why would he tell you?" I said sounding cold again.
"I asked him to keep an eye on you and make sure nothing happens, I didn't count on the new Peacekeeper. Now let's see them." he said gesturing to my back. I turned around and lifted my shirt up enough to see some of the stitches. Effie gasped in surprise while Brutus just grunted. "All of this just from hunting?" he asked and I let my shirt fall back down and turned to him.
"Yeah."
"But you've never been caught before?" he asked and I shook my head.
"I've been caught before but the Peacekeepers are mostly starving like any other citizen in Twelve that they buy my game and let it slide." I reply flatly and he nods.
"Well when we get back to Two we'll take you to the infirmary and get the stitches out. Now let's just get back to Two, when we started training we'll get to work on improving your stealth. It's good so far but it can be improved." he commented and I nodded. "Now why don't you go and get some rest." he offered and I nodded again.
"Okay." I said before taking my bags into the familiar bedroom I had the first time I was on this train to District Two.
~Cato~
It's down to the final five Tributes in The Hunger Games and I was waiting for Spitfire to come back. I stood at the train station and soon enough Clove walked up with a hopeful look on her face.
"I should have known you'd be here." she commented once she stood at my side, giving me a sideways glance. "Do you know what you're going to say to her?"
"I have an idea." I said with a tiny smile. She turned and looked at me for a further explanation but I just smirked and looked towards the train that had just pulled into the station. Clove and I weren't the only people at the station, others from the Academy wanted to see their friends arrive. One after the other, student after student came off the train but I hadn't seen Spitfire yet. I was getting worried that she wasn't coming back. Soon Luna jumped off the train and ran over to Clove, they hugged each other and stood waiting for Spitfire.
"Where's Spitfire? Is she not off yet?" Luna asked.
"No she hasn't come off yet. Did you see her at all on the train?" Clove asked.
"No actually I haven't" she said sounding a little confused, making my eyebrows furrow. We stood there for a long time as Trainees kept coming and eventually the three of us saw the person we've been waiting to see along with somebody we didn't expect.
"What is Brutus doing on the train?" Clove asked. I glared at him as he walked off the train with a hand on Spitfire's shoulder. Her expression was cold and distant, much different than the one she wore the last time I saw her. She held her bags as she walked passed the three of us, only giving us a glance before Brutus handed her off to some Peacekeepers who took her to the Academy.
"What's going on?" Luna asked watching two Peacekeepers take Spitfire to the Academy and Brutus walk towards us.
"Brutus what is going on?" I demanded of him.
"Spitfire is going to be unavailable for a day or two, she isn't in the best condition." he supplied, hoping that we'll be satisfied with his answer.
"Why what happened?" Clove questioned sounding concerned.
"I'll let her tell you when she's ready but for right now she's not so I'm telling you to give her some space." That statement had me worried. What happened to her back home? My mind raced with different scenarios. Did she come from an abusive family and get hurt? But I don't see any bruises unless they hurt her where you can't see. Did she get raped while she was home? That type of thing isn't uncommon in some districts, at least where the peacekeepers are concerned. My mind kept running until I heard Luna speak up.
"But what about me? I mean I'm her roommate, would she talk to me?" Luna asked hopefully and concerned.
"She might talk to you before anybody else here." he said before taking off after Spitfire. I turned and watched him leave, he finally caught up to Spitfire who was still with the Peacekeepers and a nurse from the infirmary?
"Guy something is wrong." I commented and when they gave me a confused look I pointed at Spitfire and the group of people around her. Something was definitely going on here, and it has me worried.
~Katniss~
When I walked through the halls of the Academy with Brutus and a medic from the infirmary I was nervous and scared. I have never been to this part of the Academy.
"So what happened that you need to visit the Medical Section today?" the nurse said looking at me, ready to write down any information on a clipboard.
"Back home I got in trouble and was," I gulped and sighed before continuing. "whipped, and I need my stitches out." I told her and she nodded.
"Well we'll take a look at them and see if they are ready to come out." she said and we stepped into a room that was nothing but white, white walls, beds, floors, lights, everything. She had me lay down on the bed on my stomach and lifted up my shirt, Brutus stood outside the room to give us privacy. "Well it looks like they can come out but it might hurt. Your skin has grown over them slightly." she informed me. "Who made the stitches?" she asked.
"My mother is a healer, the best one we have in my District." I told her.
"Well for District Twelve, she's done a good job, but the stitches were in a day too long. Of course that's what happens when spending time on the train here, no medical assistance." she ranted, I'm happy she thought my mother did a good job but I agree with her about the train not having any assistance. I gritted my teeth as she carefully took out my stitches and when she was finally done she covered them in bandages to stop any bleeding. "Unfortunately I don't have anything to get rid of the scars."
"It's fine." is the only thing I said before getting dressed and walking out of the room.
"Well?" Brutus asked expectantly, leaning against the wall.
"They're out but I need to be careful." I said and the nurse followed me out.
"Yes, because there was no medical help on the train her skin started to grow over the stitches, so she needs to take it easy with the heavy lifting so things don't get worse or infected. Spitfire here is a solvent to put on the cuts when you change your gauze so they don't get infected." she said handing me a tube and told me how much to use and how often I should change the bandages. Brutus and I walked out of the infirmary and he took me to my room where my bags sat outside the door, Luna waiting for me, making sure nothing happened to the bags.
"Spitfire are you okay?" she asked frantically when she saw me.
"I'm fine." I said and Luna looked up at Brutus.
"I thought you said she was unavailable?" she asked him.
"That was mainly for Clove and Cato. Spitfire when you are not training with me I want you back in your room resting so nothing gets worse." he ordered and I nodded. And with that he walked away and Luna and I went into our new room, it was much like our old one so it wasn't that new. I unpacked my bags into the closet and set my key down on the nightstand by my bed.
"Is everything okay?" Luna asked me concerned.
"Sort of. If I tell you will you promise you won't tell anyone?" I asked her and she nodded. So with a sigh I turned around and lifted up my shirt enough for her to see my back covered in bandages.
"Oh my god what happened?" she asked, I turned back around, pulling my shirt down, to see her gaping at me.
"I got caught hunting, there was a new Peacekeeper that got me that doesn't buy my game, so I got the punishment."
"How many lashes?" she asked.
"Twenty. Ten for going outside the boundaries, and ten for hunting." I explained to her and she nodded.
"So Brutus said that you were unavailable, but that was only meant for Cato and Clove. I think it's because he doesn't want Cato near you still."
"Well he and I aren't supposed to talk to each other until after the games. Why was he at the station today? It couldn't be to see me." I said and she shrugged.
"He was standing with Clove when I got off, and the more time that passed that you didn't come off he looked like he was worried or something. Then when he saw Brutus come off with you he freaked and got mad. Why was he on the train with you and not at the Capitol?" she asked.
"He wanted to check on me and make sure things were okay. And I guess since his male Tribute was dead then I guess he could leave when he wanted." I suggested and she nodded.
"Well are you hungry? They should be serving a late lunch today." she said and I nodded. We linked arms and walked out of the room with our keys and headed towards the cafeteria. We saw Clove and Cato sitting at the TTT and when Clove saw us she nudged Cato and they got up and started to walk towards us.
"I don't want to talk to then right now. I just want space and they're just going to ask questions." I said and she nodded, walking off to meet them half way while I get in the food line. I watched as Clove's expression went from confusion to understanding while Cato's went from confusion to concern to being upset. I sighed as I got my food and made my way to the usual table and wait for Luna to join me. I could feel Clove's and Cato's eyes on me as I ate.
"How you doing?" Luna asked as she sat down in front of me and I shook my head.
"They keep staring at me." I respond, keeping my eyes on my food and my face blank of any expression.
"They're worried about you. They know something is wrong and they just want to know what." she said.
"I understand Clove being worried but I don't understand why Cato is." I complain jabbing my fork at my piece of chicken.
"Maybe he really does like you." she offered and I just shook my head in denial. After a moment of silence being passed between the two of us, she spoke up once again. "So are you ever going to tell Clove?" she asked. I looked up at her and glanced at Clove who was still watching me.
"When I'm ready." I said looking back to my food.
~Cato~
Clove and I kept our attention on Spitfire for most of our lunch. Brutus said that she would be unavailable and yet here she is eating lunch with Luna. I wanted to know what was wrong, because something obviously was. And Spitfire knew that we were staring at her, because she deliberately kept her eyes away from us. When Luna came and told us that Spitfire didn't want to talk to us I wasn't happy, she just said to give her space and she'll talk to us when she wanted to or when she was ready. But I wanted to speak to her now, but I know that I have to wait and I'll just have to deal with it.
"I don't understand what could have happened that she won't talk to us." Clove said sadly with a heavy sigh, turning back to her food. "First she barely looks at us when she gets here but now she won't even speak to us."
"I don't know, Brutus knows something but he won't tell us either." I said looking at my food, my fork gripped in my hand tightly. Some short time later I looked up to see Spitfire and Luna leaving the cafeteria, when they went to the doors I saw Luna head towards the TR while Spitfire went in the other direction towards the dorm rooms. I left my tray at the table and trailed after her. She walked in a pace that I fast and far ahead of me. When I was in her hall I didn't hear a door close shut, she must've gotten there long before I did. I walked up to her door and knocked on it.
"One second!" she faintly called from inside and when she opened the door her face turned into one of shock when she saw me on the other side. "What are you doing here?" she asked almost coldly.
"What's going on?" I asked curiously but sounding concerned.
"Nothing, you and I aren't supposed to be talking to each other, I think you should go." she said starting to close the door but I put my foot in the way to stop it.
"The Games will be over soon so a few days won't matter. Now what happened? You aren't the same way you were when you left. Your attitude is different." I observed and she glared at me.
"Nothing happened." she said and I could tell she was lying. What would she be lying about? "And if something did happen it would be none of your business and would have nothing to do with you." so something did happen. "Now I seriously can't talk now so see you around." she said pushing the door shut even with my foot trying to stop it. Something did happen and she was angry because of it. Her demeanor has changed since I last saw her. It had to be something big because she was here in her room and not training. And after standing there outside her door like an idiot I walked away towards the TR where I knew I would find my Trainer with his other students. Once I saw him amongst the crowd of people I walked towards him with a questioning look.
"So why did I see Spitfire walk to her dorm after lunch rather than to training?" I asked him nonchalantly and he gave me a look.
"It's none of your business boy." he warned and I shook my head, I always had to change my attitude with Brutus.
"It is my business if she going to act like this during the Victory Tour. I don't want to be on a train for who knows how long with a grouch." I complained to him and he sighed.
"Like I said it is none of your business. And don't you even think about asking her about it because she probably won't tell you." he said pointing a finger at me and he's right did won't tell me because when I asked, she didn't.
"What can I do to make her feel comfortable for her to tell me?" I asked him and his eyebrows shot up.
"I don't know, that girl has a mind of her own, how am I supposed to know what she's thinking?" he questioned before turning back to the other Trainees of his, deciding to ignore anything else I say. I glared at him, stalking over to the swords rack, picking up the biggest one and swinging it around at the practice dummies. There had to be something that I could do to get Spitfire to talk to me. It'd have to be after the Games end of course, wait the Games. That's it! The only reason she won't talk to me is because she is still following Brutus's orders and not talking to me. Of course she won't say anything to me. So I'll just wait until the Games are over and hopefully, if District Two wins this year, I can try to talk to her on the Victory Tour. While I was chopping a head off of a dummy I saw a Peacekeeper walk up to Brutus with a telephone in his hand. When Brutus put it to his ear he got a hopeful look on his face, said a few things, then gave the phone back to the Peacekeeper, before walking over to me.
"Pack your bags boy, you're going on the Victory Tour." he said and I smiled.
"Seriously?" I asked surprised.
"Yes, they don't air it until tonight but I want you to go home and pack because we leave tonight for the Capitol." he said and I nodded.
"Do you want me to tell Spitfire?" I asked hopefully but he eyed me.
"No I'll tell her." he said and walked away, my shoulders slumped. I really wanted to tell her just to give me the chance to talk to her. I set the sword back down on the rack and jogged out of the Training Academy to my house where I packed my stuff for the Tour, after explaining to everybody that I was going they were happy for me, even though mom still didn't want me to train in the first place she was just happy that I was happy. After everything was packed I walked back to the Academy I saw Kairo, Clove, and Spitfire standing there with a bag of their own, waiting for Brutus.
"Hey wheres Brutus?" I asked walking up to them. I noticed that Spitfire was standing a small distance away from the other two but you wouldn't notice unless you were paying real close attention like I was.
"He forgot something so he went back to get it." Clove said with a wave of her hand.
"So what do you guys think? District Two won huh? Score one for the home District!" Kairo said raising his hand for a high five from anybody, when nobody returned the gesture he lowered his hand and looked at the ground briefly. "What?"
"It's not everybody's home District." Spitfire said finally speaking up.
"So what is the home District for you then?" he asked with a bit of attitude.
"Leave her alone Kairo." Clove defended.
"No, she's been here for a while and we're bound to find out eventually so why not tell us now?" he said walking up to Spitfire and getting in her face. She glared up at him with hate and disgust in her eyes.
"It's none of your business where I'm from." she countered with venom in her voice. I don't think I've ever seen her this mad before.
"It is when we have to go on this Tour with you." he challenged and she continued to glare at him. What was with his attitude today? I've never seen him like this either. "So go on. Tell us." he practically ordered. Getting slightly closer again, he got too close for her comfort because she jammed her enclosed fist into his stomach and when he bent over in pain she shoved him away from her and landed on the ground.
"Remind me to never make you mad again." Clove said trying to lighten the mood, Spitfire's glare reduced slightly then completely vanished when Brutus finally walked out of the Academy. He saw Kairo on the ground, trying to catch his breath after Spitfire knocked the wind out of him, and gave him a confused glare.
"What happened to him?" Brutus asked pointing to Kairo.
"He got too close for comfort and he pissed me off." Spitfire retorted and Brutus nodded.
"Now you know that when you mess with Spitfire, all you get is the flame. Come on the train leaves for the Capitol in half an hour." he says and we all walk off towards the train station together. Kairo and I are on either side of Brutus while Clove and Spitfire walked behind us. When we stepped on to the train all of us except Brutus and Spitfire look at it in awe, it's more lavish and grand than what we have here in Two, so we couldn't help it.
"May I go to my room?" Spitfire pipes up out of nowhere and Brutus nods to her, then Spitfire disappeared through a door to get to her room.
"She can't be tired already, it's barely time to eat dinner." Kairo exclaimed and Brutus shook his head at him.
"Lay off Kairo, with that attitude, if you ever go in the Hunger Games the Careers will kill you before the final ten." Brutus roared at him and Kairo shrank away like a scared puppy.
"She did seem upset about something." I commented to everybody out loud.
"I'll go see if she's okay." Clove said and she took off before Brutus could protest, leaving her bag where she once stood.