Sorry about the delay. I wrote an longer chapter as an apology! I'll try to update sooner, but with school and everything, well you know how it goes. You mean to get this chapter in today. It turned into next week, then next month... Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know if you have any ideas or contructive critism. Or just plain reviews. lesson one: I LOVE REVIEWS!
In school, being a mute isn't fun. In fact, it's down right terrible. Before Rosa's death, I had a few close friends that I'd hang out with during classes and lunch. We never really did much outside of school, but it was nice to play with some other kids when I couldn't see Rosa. Once I became mute however, people began to talk. They wondered why I never spoke anymore.
Eventually, I began to get teased about it. Only a little. It was just innocent teasing. I was strange and it was something to do. Still, it wasn't like I could tell them to stop or even rat them out to a teacher (not that I'm a tattle tale). Eventually, I came to accept it. It wasn't like they made it their life goal to ruin my day. They teased me when I walked by or when they were especially bored. I never told anyone about it. Well, I couldn't, but you get the point.
Then, I met Ash. I'd noticed him at school before, but we never talked (or signed in my case). After that day in the woods, school changed a lot. It was one of my first truly happy memories after the death of Rosa.
I was walking home from school when I saw this group of kids from my class show up. One of the boys, Russell Irving, was in the lead, laughing and talking with some others.
"Hey, I dare you two to go into the woods!" He yelled, pointing to me and a boy who had also just been leaving. Naturally, I frowned and shook my head. I was only nine and there were adults in the district who were afraid to go into the woods. Besides, I needed to get back to Willie.
Still, they led us to the fence. Two of the kids were on look out to make sure no peacekeepers were near. That would've ended terribly with we were caught.
"Come on," Russell called, frowning at us. He never was quite patient.
"Don't be babies!" another hollered. One of them tugged me over, a bit hard. Seeing no other option, I slid through the hole in the fence and into the woods of twelve. It wasn't as terrifying as everyone described it to be. In fact, it was almost calming. The tall Oak trees, the fallen logs and mossy ground. It couldn't have been all that bad. But you'd have to have been a fool not to know the dangers of the woods. There were rogue mutts, tracker jackers, wolves and who knew what else. Still, I liked the woods and couldn't help but take a few more steps.
The boy followed me. His eyes were on the way we'd came. Was he scared? Did he want to go back? Any normal kid would have. I guess I wasn't normal then, but I'd already known that really.
"They should be gone in a little bit." He told me, his eyes lingering on the bushing we'd entered from that happened to hide the fence. This boy wasn't scared. Maybe he was different too. He turned back to me and I was suddenly taken back by his eyes. Not the normal Seam gray. Silver. They weren't exactly like Rosa's sparkle eyes, but it'd been so long since I'd seen someone with eyes just slightly different from the usual gray.
We stared at each other, taking the other in. He had dark brown hair and the usual thin frame.
"What's your name?" he asked, curious. There was no small talk with him. As always, I signed. He didn't understand. Then again, I didn't really expect him to either. Who would? "Can't you speak?" I shook my head, frowning. Then, an idea popped into my head. One I'd actually never had before.
I knelt down to the dirt and traced down a message into it with my fingertips. It basically said: My name is Lynnia, but call me Lyn. The boy looked down at my reply, and turned to me.
"I'm Ash." he replied, holding out a hand. I took it graciously with a small smile on my face. Ash didn't seem at all bothered by my lack of speaking. In fact, he didn't treat me even the slightest bit different!
We started to walk through the woods, him talking and me occasionally kneeling down to reply. I discovered that Ash was ten and I wrote about how I'd always wondered about the woods.
"I go a lot." he replied, his hands in his pockets as he stared at the woods around him. The boy didn't seem the least bit scared by the nature around him either. In fact, he showed less fear than some of the men who went into the woods, to the field to pick fruit in the spring time. A light smile played on his lips. "My dad taught me how. He can't go much this week, but I'm keeping an eye on his traps until he can. He's been taking me for a few years now and he even taught me how to hunt. We do everything together."
I couldn't help, but watch at how his head lifted just a little higher, his eyes gleam and his voice become full of pride as his talked about his dad. It was clear that they spent a lot of time together. This almost reminded me of my own relationship with Rosa.
'My sister was always curious about the woods.' I wrote in the dirt. He read the message and looked back up to me.
"Well, now you can tell her what it's like, I guess." He told me. I frowned and shook my head. No, I couldn't. Not now. I'd never get to talk to Rosa again. Ash gave me a puzzled look.
'She died two years ago.' I scribbled onto the ground. It still hurt to talk about her. Those memories still so painful. I thought of her everyday.
"Oh." He frowned, looking away. That was all he said, nothing more, nothing less. We fell into silence as we headed back to the fence. The sun was beginning to set as we slid through the fence. How long had we been in the woods? It had to be hours. I hoped my parents weren't getting too worried. My head turned to the direction of my home.
"Hey." Ash's voice made me pause and turn back to him. He bit his lip, a little hesitant. "I was wondering. Do you wanna come back? Tomorrow. I can show you some berry bushes." My eyes widened. He wanted me to come back? Did that mean he actually enjoyed having me in the woods with him? I beamed at him and I nodded. He smiled back at me and I waved as I left back to my house, happier than I'd been in the past two years. And it was all because of Ash O'Riley.
Even now, I smiled at the memory. It was one of my favorites. Ash and I began to spend all of our time together after that. I honestly don't know how I would've been if I hadn't met the boy in the woods. My hunting partner. My best friend.
Still, that had been when we were nine and ten. I was fourteen now and Ash wasn't going to be here as I faced twenty three kids who really did want to kill me. I took a breath and calmed myself. Fear would be the first thing the careers looked for. The easy fun kills during the bloodbath. I was not going to be on their target list.
"Remember don't show your strengths. Focus on your weaknesses and don't make anyone notice you." Katniss told me again before we headed down. "Keep an eye on the others too. Good luck." I nodded to her and we headed down to the training session. Haymitch would be coming with Russell in few minutes as well.
When we arrived at the training center, they had us wait at the door for everyone. Katniss told me she'd see me later and left, giving me one more worried glance before Haymitch came down with Russell. We glanced at each other momentarily, since we were the first two here. Silence.
The elevator opened again after a few minutes, revealing two moretributes with their mentors from Eleven. One was a small boy with brown hair and matching eyes. He had a happy smile on his face at the sight of more people. My blood went cold. Was he actually a tribute? He was so young, so innocent. How could the capitol force a little boy like that to fight in the Games?
I turned my focus to the girl. She was a little older than me, though we both had pale skin. Her eyes were silver, but they weren't like Ash, Rosa or Willie's. Then again, every pair of eyes were a little bit different. Hers were more metallic. Raven black hair swept down to her waist and her arms were crossed. She wasn't as happy as the boy, more refrained. Still, that was to be expected in the Games. A normal reaction. I could tell this girl wasn't going to go down so easily.
"Hi, I'm Mario." the boy grinned at me, hyper and bouncy. I gave a light smile to him. "What's your name?" I signed to him, but I knew he wouldn't understand even before I saw his confused expression. This was going to be more difficult than I thought.
"Her name's Lynnia." Russell mumbled, keeping his eyes to the ground. "She can't speak." I hated the way that was said, not that I blamed Russell. There was nothing that could be done. That was how things went. I probably should've been grateful to him even helping me.
"Oh." he frowned. "That stinks." I nodded. More people showed up and Mario began to introduce himself over and over with the same enthusiasm each time. I worried about how he would do in the Games. Please don't let him be killed brutally, I hoped.
"Alright, here's how training is going to." the lead trainer began once we were all here and all the mentors had finished giving last minute advice to their tributes.
"You are going to practice whatever you choose and will have a thirty minute lunch break at one. You will continue training and your mentors will pick you up for dinner at six.
Now here are the rules. You are not allowed to train on each other, nor are you allowed to inflict harm on any other competitors, including yourself. Also, you are not allowed to leave the training center until six. Any violation of these rules will result in severe punishment. Begin training."
Basically, there were various training spots around this large, gymnasium of a room. There was a healing class, an archery course, plant identification, swimming, fire starting, trapping, knot tying, combat stations, weight lifting, spear throwing, swords and water conservation. If something was capable of helping you in the Games, this place had it. I remembered what Katniss had said. Don't show your strengths.
I decided to start at trapping. I wasn't too skilled in that, but I wasn't a failure either. A good way to start. It was just me and the district eleven girl for the trapping class. The trainer seamed happy with us showing up to his first class. He taught us a simple trap for game. We both nailed it. Ember, the girl with me, had it done in about the same time as I had. Ash had taught me well in basic traps for game. I wasn't sure how Ember had learned, but she seemed to be looking curiously at me.
We didn't say anything, but I didn't mind it. After the class, Mario bounced over to her.
"Hey Ember to you wanna practice knot tying with me?" he ask, his eyes full of hope. The older tribute sighed, defeated. She obviously didn't mind him.
"Sure." she mumbled, following the hyper spurt of energy to the station. I considered following them, but I wasn't really in the mood for knot tying. The archery course gleamed with wonder in my eyes. The bows in the Capitol were bound to be specially crafted, probably with better aim than my own. Despite my love for my personal bow, I yearned to test them. To try out the numerous target and fling few straight at that target.
But I couldn't. It was against Katniss's advice and would surely expose my greatest secret. I frowned and walked away.
I went to swimming next. There were six lanes. The two district four kids were owning up the others, having been there since we came in. I switched into a swimsuit and went into the unoccupied sixth lane. I liked the water. It was calm, relaxing and a good way to exercise, though that was never really a problem in twelve.
There was a small pond Ash and I had found in the woods. Well, I showed him. Not many people in District 12 know how to swim, so I ended up teaching him. Let's just say it's quite interesting to follow instructions from a mute. After a long day, we trudged back home, completely soaked.
A bell sounded, signifying that it was time for lunch. After drying off and switching back into my regular clothes, I headed over to the small lunch space that had been set up for us.
Six tributes dominated one of the tables, glaring at everyone else. Clearly the careers. One extremely strong and serious boy sat alone at a table, though it porbably wouldn't be a good idea to go near him. Ember and Mario sat by the two district three tributes. I searched for a place to sit. A girl with light brown hair and green eyes gave me a small smile and and nudged to the spot next to her.
I sat down beside her and another girl, one with short red hair that fell a an inch or two short of her shoulders along with matching brown eyes.
"Hi, I'm Heather." The brunette gave me another warm smile. I turned to the redhead.
"Rayna." she replied with a playful smirk on her face. "What's yours?" Biting my lip, I signed. Again, two confused looks and neither of them understood. Rayna tilted her head slightly. "What's the matter? Can't ya speak?" I shook my head, frustrated.
"Lyn." Heather mumbled. We both stared at her, surprised. She simply shrugged. "I took sign language as an extra course in school. My mom... well, she couldn't speak either."
"Oh well, at least now there's no way you can bug my ear off. Some of these guys won't shut it." Rayna told us. "I don't blame the little ones, but come on, have some sense of survival." We picked through our meal while I listened to them.
Rayna was the oldest of three back in district seven. Her dad worked in the lumber company while her mother took care of her twin brothers. She liked to climb in her spare time and fling knives for target practice. She volunteered when her best friend was reaped.
Heather was an only child, but had always wanted siblings. She grew up in district nine with her aunt and uncle, since they had no children. Heather actually had a talent for spears and wasn't too bad at a bow and arrow.
"What really irks me is how those careers flash everything they have at us, just hoping to strike fear before the Games have even started." Rayna groaned. "Big egoed idiots."
"Hey, that does give us an advantage, right?" Heather replied, trying to stay hopeful. "We can figure out their strengths." I nodded at her statement. We leaned in a little closer and shared the information we had. I didn't say much, since well, I couldn't, but I'd gather a good amount of understanding on most of the tributes.
There wasn't a lot of stuff we could figure out about them yet, but it was still just the first day. All I knew was that I had made my first two friends in the past four years. And I liked it.