Marquette Tetra

Training- Day 1

That night I dreamt of me winning and my father being whisked off to the insane asylum. Apparently he had been so shocked when I came home, that he spiraled into a state of dementia. I sigh and think, If only…

Today marks the beginning of Training. The elevator brings me down to the dining room where my mentor, my escort, and my partner are waiting. The former two are arguing incessantly about how we should train. Gordon sat there looking like he would want nothing more than to crack their spines. What a great start to the morning, I say in my head

When my mentor, Kazz, saw me walking into the room, he stopped arguing, put on a large grin, and said, "Morning Marquette! Ready for Training?" I tried to take him seriously, but it's a bit hard when he smelled like blubber and had some lettuce stuck in his teeth. I replied, "Sure."

My escort clapped her hands together and said cheerily, "Splendid. You two will practice together then!" Gordon and I put on the most disgusted face we could muster, but I didn't seem like they noticed. That, or they didn't care. So I said with fake enthusiasm, "Of course! We'll stick with each other the whole time." As I sit down, I catch Gordon's eye. The two of us make a silent agreement to stay as far away from each other as possible. At least we agreed on something.

Kazz sent us down early, but apparently everyone had the same idea because only District 10 was absent from the Training Room. This woman, the training instructor, gave us information about the room. Archery, sword-play, survival skills, all that good stuff. Finally, we were off.

I immediately head the opposite direction of where Gordon and the other Careers were. After all, if I was going to be with them in the arena, it had to be on my terms. And one of them was I get to stay away from those brutes wherever I go.

Pretty soon, I find myself at the trap station. Easy, I thought, and in no time I've got a net trap set up. Back at 4, I used to weave fishing nets all the time. So in no time, I've got all the traps and knots down pat.

I decide to go to the spear throwing station, since I spy a pair of javelins. Surprisingly, only one other person is here with me. Of all the people I would have expected to be here, I never would have guessed Selene from District 3. But, despite that, she was here, holding a light javelin in her hands.

I stand next to her and smile. She returns it and says, "Hi." Then she raises the javelin over her shoulder and throws it. The point digs itself right in the bulls-eye.

My eyebrows rise in surprise, and I say, "Nice shot. You've done this before?" She shrugs and replies, "Nope. Never." I give the most sincere smile I can and say, "Well, you're a natural."

She tries her best to cover her blush, but when that fails, she says, "How 'bout you? I bet you're good." To answer, I pick up a javelin from the rack. It's a bit light, not like the one's back at home, but it should have to do. I raise it up, and let it fly. Bulls-eye. Not a surprise.

Selene claps and now it's my turn to blush. I tell her, "Well, I've had more practice at home. As for you, you're just a great shot." She gives another grin, and I notice her sparkling emerald eyes. The harsh reality hits me, and I realize that sparkle must be extinguished if I was going to win. But she was only twelve. Would I kill her? Could i?

I'm so deep in my thoughts, I almost don't even notice her walking off to the archery station. My eyes follow as she walks up to another and tugs on his sleeve. The District 3 boy, I think his name is Kodiak. I remember his name because it sounds so similar to Kory. Kodi, the one that I've fallen for, and the one that I hate for doing it. Especially since he has done it without even uttering a single word to me.

Selene points in my direction, and she begins to speak. I'm not the best at reading lips, but I think I can make out the word ally. My heart skips a beat. Allies? With him? But, how can I be allies with him if I'm not even sure what my feelings are for him?

He glances at me, but instead of the warm, comforting look I'm hoping for, all I get is ice. He turns his head back to Selene, and he shakes his head.

His attention is back to the range and his arrow launches its way into the dummy's heart. But what he doesn't realize is that the dummy's heart wasn't the only one he had pieced that day.

Kodi Nyquist

Training-Day 3

Contrary to what I thought, I haven't worn down one bit ever since training started. In fact, I think my nightmares are wearing me out more than training has. Last night was the generic Lynn nightmare, the one where the District 4 girl stands over her. I've experienced it too many times to count, and yet every time the scene feels fresh and new.

I'm the first one at the dining room, and I take my place in front of a large plate of eggs. Soon after I get my plate, Selene and Quid, my mentor, arrive. Quid still has the annoyed look on his face, but I've learned to ignore it. Selene sits opposite of me, but she remains silent.

She hasn't talked much ever since the first day of Training. I think she was still mad about me turning her request for the District 4 girl down. Selene said she was nice and good with weapons, but every time I looked at her, all I saw was the bloody face of the brute that killed my sister.

"You still mad about Marquette?" I asked, not knowing how I remember the 4 girl's name. Silence.

Putting my fork down, I say, "I'm sorry Selene, but I think we'd be safer if it was just us." That was true. But what I failed to mention was that I didn't want Marquette with us because she was a constant reminder of Lynn's murderer. And I could never forgive a District that kills in cold blood. I think back to to Reapings, when Marquette said she was going to win. Typical Career. Arrogant and uncaring.

Surprisingly, Selene smiles at me, and remarks, "Okay, Kodi. I understand. You know I can't hold a grudge with you." She was so forgiving and innocent; I couldn't help but smile back. But at the same time, I let out a hefty sigh. We'll see how long that innocence will last in the arena.

Quid gets up to wipe his lap and says impatiently, "I believe you two should head down to Training. The Gamemaker session is coming up, and you two better make the most of it." Selene and I roll our eyes simultaneously, and we head to the Training Room. We couldn't help but smirk when he sits back down on the eggs we slipped onto his chair when he wasn't looking.

We were at the archery station when I decided to show the Gamemakers my archery skills. I was guessing I wouldn't have any electricity to show off my skills with gadgets, so I would have to make due with something.

Next to me a javelin sails straight into a dummy's head. I turn to congratulate Selene, only it wasn't her standing next to me. Instead, it was a red-haired girl with brown freckles dotting her face. Marquette.

I turn back to the archery range, my head pounding with images of death and blood. I know that she looks nothing like the monster that killed my twin, but no matter how she looked, all that I saw was the spear stuck in Lynn's throat. The pain stabs into my throat because of that telepathic sense twins usually share.

Marquette asks quietly, "Mind if I throw here?" I purse my lips and shoot my bow without saying anything, hoping she'd walk away. But instead she picks up another javelin and says, "Well, you didn't say no." I sigh and finally say, "Go ahead."

Marquette nods and throws her javelin, hitting the dummy a few centimeters above the heart. I can see her cheeks beginning to blush, so I say, "Good shot."

She turns her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. She says quietly, "Selene's a nice girl. You're…you're lucky to have such a great partner. As for me, I'm stuck with him." Marquette motions to her partner, a brute boy who looks a lot more like the girl in my dream than her. It takes me a while to realize that she was trying to make a joke.

I look at her questioningly, and I see her bright blue eyes. They were gentle, with no resentment in sight. And when she looks back at me, I see something else. Something I've only seen in the eyes of one other person.

I give a small chuckle, and she says quietly, "If you're open to any other allies, well, I'd be happy to…." She lets her words hang in the air unfinished, and I detect some uncertainty in her voice. I realize how much unlike she was from all the Careers I've seen all these years. Those soft blue eyes, that unsure tone, they belong to a regular girl, not some blood thirsty villain.

"I'll think about it," I tell her, nodding. Marquette smiles and I think she blushes again, but she turns to go before I can see it.

I can tell Marquette thinks I'm oblivious to what she really meant when she asked about the alliance. It was a seemingly innocent question, and I probably wouldn't have guessed it if I hadn't seen the look in her eyes. The same look Aurora has every time we kiss.

I know a lot more than Marquette thinks.

What...is...up internet? So, I'm thinking of skipping the Gamemaker session and just giving the scores, mostly because i want to do the interviews. Yup. That is all. No wait, almost forgot...

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