Beneath the Crystal Sky

by laptop246

Fawn Dogwood is 16. She lives in District 7. She is part of a prosperous scouting troop. She has two little sisters. She is learning a trade. She is being courted. She was never meant to be Reaped. "Scout. Sister. Performer. Tribute. What am I, now? Staring into my own brown eyes, I find that I can't tell anymore." High quality. Works very closely with the original series.

13. II DECISION

PART II. PREPARING.
CHAPTER 13. DECISION.

Merry Christmas! This is my Christmas gift to all of you - a long and good chapter. :) at least, that's my opinion. I hope you agree!

13 is an unlucky number, but nothing too horrible happens in this chapter. Nothing too horrible.

Anyway, I'm starting to get tired of this training stuff, even though it's my favorite part of the pre-Games. So, here's to finishing up the training sessions! I am starting to plan the Interviews, which I typically dread because there's so many tributes. This time, I'm going to try and make it build upon the characters themselves. And the wonderful plot.

~BTCS~

The final compulsory excercise is more demanding than the previous three. We are to dash and leap across slabs of metal while avoiding being hit by the spears that Trainers throw at us. I do fairly well with this excercise, ducking and dodging the spears while leaping like a cat. I place sixth, my lowest placement. Mason, Tide, and Gneiss use brute strength and speed rather than agility to get themselves through, and take the first three spots. Luster and Syren also place ahead of me, and Shyne behind me. October is the lowest of the Careers at 8.

Even though they are no longer my allies, I pay close attention to Maze and Raven's performances. Raven makes a respectable performance, landing himself directly in the middle as always. Maze is easily as agile as me, but a lucky jab by a trainer disqualifies her, and her ranking is 11th. I try to make eye contact with both of them, to convey my situation, but their eyes both pass cooly over me.

We Careers assemble for the afternoon's individual training, our last chance to really learn something. The Careers have the same plan that my alliance did. We are to review tomorrow morning. "Where haven't you two been?" asked Tide. "We can go to those stations." It makes sense. They will have already been taught everything here, and have reviewed what they needed and showed off where they shined. October and I are the ones that need to learn, and they aren't about to let us go off on our own.

"We were saving the rest of the non-violent stations for now," October tells them. "That's Knots, Shelter, Weightlifting, and Fires."

"And Concealment," I add quickly.

"Well, lead us," Shyne motions at me and October, and I smile slightly at my red-haired ally. October nods to the Fire station, and we walk over to it in a comfortable pack. As we move through the stations, I notice the ease that exists between us all. Blight was right. Being a Career isn't the worst thing in the Hunger Games. As we go through the stations, I prove wonderful at Knots and Fires and exceptionally at Weightlifting, Shelter, and Concealment. I give an air of coolness to all tributes that aren't Careers. And, somewhere in the midst of it, I realize that I make a wonderful Career.

Tide pulls October and me aside at the Concealment station. There is real concern in his face as he crosses his arms and asks, "What are you going to tell Raven and Maze?"

I glance at October, the question catching me off guard. His face contracts with inner conflict. I feel it, too. I'm not sure whose side I am on anymore. I consider my options, doing my best to think strategically, and the answer hits me. "We'll tell them that we're not really with you. That we're just pretending so we can run off with them." October sends me a startled look. Initially, this was what I had intended to do - pretend and run off with my allies. Over the course of the day, however... I wonder if October is thinking the same thing.

Tide's frown deepens. "How will we know who you're telling the truth to, then?" He gives a valid point. The answer is obvious, though October looks frightened enough to soil his pants.

I lean in closer to him. "You'll just have to trust us." Tide leans away as though stung. Slowly, acception filters into his gaze. He nods to us both, and I can tell he is suppressing a snicker on October's behalf. Slowly, he turns and walks away. I call, "Are you going to tell the others?"

Tide glances over his shoulder, a smirk filling his face. "There's still only one victor," he reminds me with an air of ease, "I intend to know all of the secrets. I intend to win, even if it means killing all of my friends."

~~BTCS~~

The elevator is calm; quiet. Raven stands beside me with his hands pressed tightly to his sides, and refusing to look at me. I know that he is angry I joined the Careers - I can feel it boiling inside of him. I don't dare explain myself, though, with the presence of Hestia, Cole, Barley, and Rye in the elevator. The moment we step onto the 7th floor, and the doors close behind us, his anger explodes.

My district partner rounds on me, a scowl etched in his face. "What are you doing, Fawn?!" he practically yells at me. Surprised despite myself in this change in personality, I stumble backwards. I have never seen Raven angry. Even when Tide and Syren taunted us, and pushed him, he wasn't angry.

"I ... I just ..." I stammer, struggling to regain my train of thought.

Raven advances on me. "Did you think that you could just take advantage of Maze and me? Did you think that you were better than us because you can run faster and throw knives better?"

"What?" Despite the situation, I am offended, and my face and posture must surely show it. "Raven, no! I would never - how could you ...?"

"Maze can climb faster than you and October," Raven rages. My back is against the wall now. There is nowhere else to retreat. "and you couldn't beat me in a wrestling match." He stops abruptly, as though realizing what he suggested - that he could kill me. That he may kill me.

My mouth is opening - to say what, I don't know - when Blight is suddenly there, pushing Raven away from me. Garnish is screaming at us from nearby, and Blight is speaking, but I can't focus on his words. My eyes are searching Raven's, trying to understand his transformation, trying to make him understand my own. The world around me falls silent, and I can't feel Blight's hands pushing me down the hall. His face collapses suddenly, his shoulders rolling forward and back slumping as all the anger washes from him. I'm thinking that he may cry when he disappears suddenly, as though he is a real bird.

Blight half pushes me into my room, shutting the door crisply behind him. The world comes rushing back to me, and I am now conscious of my mentor instructing me to sit down. I look at my mentor with empty eyes, stress returning to me with the world. I managed to forget my position while with the Careers, but I am now conscious of how much worse I have made it.

"Fawn, sit. You're going to fall over." There's a gentleness to Blight's voice, almost fatherly. It reminds me of my own father, spreading pine needles across the floor and laying down in them. I can nearly smell him - smell the pine, and the snow. Tears sting my eyes. I sit.

Blight takes the spot besides me, and stares at me a long moment before asking, "Fawn, what happened?" I glance at him, and it comes pouring out of me with the tears. I explain how we split up after the compulsory excercise, and how I went to the knives station to throw. I explain how after she saw me throw, Shyne cornered me and demanded an answer to the Career offer. I tell him how cornered I felt - feel - and how October and I had been forced to accept.

"Did you like it, then?" Blight interrupts me. "Did you enjoy being a Career?"

"Yes," I admit. The tears stop, and my mind leaves my father and despair, searching for words to describe the afternoon as a Career. "It was ... peaceful. Happy. Like I was accepting my destiny - whether it be to die or to win."

He nods, thoughtful, and I know he's thinking about Crimson, from his Games. "And what are you going to do?"

I close my eyes, thinking deeply. "I - that is, October and I, told Tide Playa that we would tell Raven and Maze that we would join them after the Bloodbath. We said it was a lie we would tell them. But I'm not sure if it is. I don't know whose side I'm on anymore." I look to him, hopeful that he will offer a solution.

"That's not a decision I can make for you," Blight pats my knee and I deflate a bit again. "and I'm afraid you don't have long to decide yourself. I'll need to know what you plan to do by tomorrow morning, before you leave for the last day of training sessions." I nod in agreement. I can't face the other tributes again without knowing.

Blight gets up, making his way to the door slowly. He turns abruptly, to offer me one last piece of advice: "Choose carefully, Fawn. Your decision may decide the fate of many lives, including yours." And then, he's gone.

~~~BTCS~~~

I go up to the roof, because I know it's the one place I can think clearly. conscious that almost all of other tributes have surely discovered its existence by know, I hide in the shadows of the trees, listening to the wind. The night air feels cool and clean, as though it is cleaning me of my doubt and worries, leaving me only with the truth. I suppose I've known my decision all along, in that moment when I said yes to Shyne, felt the power of being a Career, and quarreled with Raven. Here, in the clean air, it isn't hard at all to discover what I must do - what my heart is telling me.

I wait, keeping the entrance from the elevator in sight. The wind is the best part of the roof, I decide. It is the most lively thing I have seen in the Capitol since my arrival. I close my eyes and let it caress my face, whipping my hair into a tangled mess that would give Garnish heart failure.

I hear the elevator announce its arrival with a sharp ding, My eyes snap open to watch as he comes onto the roof. I keep quiet, eyes following him like a hawk as he slips into the shadows of the trees. He passes me without noticing me, and I stand silently and follow, a breath of wind in the night.

He stops in a shadow that casts itself over the edge of the building, and I know that he is staring downwards, at the people and their parties. I know that he is marveling at the largeness of a space bigger than he could ever have imagined. What is he thinking about the occurences of today? I wonder. What is he planning?

"I know you're there." his voice is loud - too loud - in the silent night.

I step out of the shadows for a brief second to cross to his side. "Was I breathing too loud? Did I make a wrong step?" So close to entering the arena, I want to know the flaws in my stalking.

"No," he says. "I just knew you'd be there."

"I knew you'd come up here," I tell him, softly.

He laughs slightly. "We know each other well, for two complete strangers." The comment has a sting, but it is true. We have only known each other a few short days. Yet, it seems like so much longer. I ask, "Have you made your decision?" and his breath stops.

October turns his face towards me. His orange hair is the softest shade I've ever seen it. His features, too, seem calm, and I wonder if I have that same appearance. "I have." A sudden, strong gust of wind knocks into us, and I shiver at the reminder. October and I may have chosen differently. We have to admit our choices to each other now, and trust the other to keep them secret. We may be enemies now.

"I've chosen Raven and Maze," I blurt, unable to contain myself any longer. "I feel like I'm not pretending when I'm with them. I feel safer with them."

"Why?" October asks, solemnly. "because you know that you're stronger than them and can kill them at any moment?"

Another sting. "What?" I ask. "No!" but I force myself to consider the comment anyway. Is that why I have chosen two weaker allies than six strong ones? Do I enjoy being the strongest person around, if just for my peace of mind? "What about you? Who have you chosen?" I can't breathe.

October looks at me for a long moment. "I've chosen you," he replies quietly. "I trust you to make the right choice more than I trust myself to. If you've decided that this is the right thing to do..."

"I have," I nod quickly.

"Then that's what we'll do." His tone is decisive, without regret, and I embrace him on a whim, whispering, "Thank you. Thank you so much, for not leaving me alone." He hesitates before embracing me back, and we stay like that for a long moment under the dark sky without stars.

~~~~BTCS~~~~

I'm not sure that Blight agrees with my decision when I tell it to him the following morning. He doesn't try to argue it out of me, either. He simply accepts it with a nod. We don't even discuss it. When Raven comes out, Blight instructs us on our morning session plans and our individual sessions with the Gamemakers. "Review your strengths," he tells us. "Fawn, that's long-range. Warm up the knives. Raven, that's hand-to-hand combat and wrestling. In the individual sessions, I want you to show your strengths last. First, show the Gamemakers that you've learned a lot. Be quick about it, but show them some plant knowledge, knots, and fire making. Survival skills are important in your training score." We both nod, careful not to look to each other, and for the first time, Blight sends us to training alone.

Once Raven and I are alone in the elevator, I know why. I am to tell him of my decision. Blight sent us early, so we wouldn't be interrupted. Even so, I know we don't have much time, so I turn to him and meet his eyes. "Raven, I'm really sorry about yesterday. They cornered me, and I didn't know what to do. I was scared they'd target me, so I -"

"Accepted," his eyes flash with slight anger again. "You left us because you were scared."

"No, I didn't really except!" I protest. "I just told them that." My district partner is staring at me now, and I take a deep breath to calm myself. "Listen, I met with October on the roof last night to make sure - and he agreed with me. We just have to pretend with the Careers a bit longer. After the bloodbath, we're to be alone with _ while the others go hunting. We'll escape then. If you're hiding nearby, or if you come back, we can find you, and then -"

Raven interrupts me, "How do I know that you're not lying to me. How do I know that you're not just saying that to make me come back and get slaughtered by the Careers?"

It takes me hearing this to realize how much I've hurt him by accepting the Careers' offer. My heart aches, but I have no other response for him besides the one I gave to Tide yesterday: "You're just going to have to trust me."

The elevator door opens and I turn away from my district partner, striding over to where Syren and Tide stand with pride. Tide gives me a knowing look, as if he knows what I was speaking to Raven about. I glance away from his dark features, uncomfortable, and to Syren's face instead. "What does Blight plan for you to do during your private session?" Syren asks me. It strikes me that she knows my mentor's name and speaks of him as though they are old friends.

"He wants me to use the long-range weapons and prove that I know some survival skills," I tell her.

Syren nods. "Just walk around like you know what you're doing. They'll send you away when they've seen enough, which is as soon as you look uncomfortable. Show them everything that you can." I nod again, thankful for the advice despite the fact that Syren and I have been knocking heads.

Luster and Shyne join us. I notice that Shyne's face has a thin layer of paint on it today. Clearly, her stylist thinks that it will be beneficial for the Gamemakers to think her lovely as well as deadly. I swallow. The knowledge of who I am picking makes me uncomfortable with the Careers. I push away the thought. I am a Career, even if I am a traitor as well. I watch as October abandons Maze and joins us, and give him a small smile.

Gneiss and Mason arrive just as Atala calls us to our half moons. Atala reminds us that there will be no compulsory excercise today, and the afternoon session will be reserved for the private sessions. Following our private sessions, she says, we are to report back to our mentors for instruction on the rest of the day. I see Gneiss smirking out of the corner of my eye, and know that she will not have any more instruction for the rest of the day - she has already been instructed on her strategy at the Interviews tomorrow.

That brings a sick thought. The day after tomorrow, we will be in the arena. Tributes will be dead, and I will be a traitor. The Careers will be out for my blood. And ... the thought is horrible ... it is very likely that I will be dead.

~~~~~BTCS~~~~~

I use the morning session to plan my private session. The Careers, having apparently decided that I'm not as important as preparing, leave me alone for the first time. I wander freely from station to station. Against Blight's advice, I decide to use the sword to show the Gamemakers that I'm not just a long-range fighter. I walk from station to station, practicing the order in my head and memorizing how to look purposeful. I plan to attend ten stations in all - four survival skills and six weapons.

At lunch, the Careers are louder than usual with laughter, with the exception of October and me. We aren't from Career districts, and have reason to be worried. The Gamemakers won't expect anything of us by the number on our sleeves. We have to prove ourselves. The Careers are practically guaranteed a seven, and they have been training their whole lives. They have no reason to fear the sessions, or the Games.

The other tributes don't touch the food before them. As I nervously eat, I marvel that the food has begun standard to me - normal. I don't stare at the vibrant colors and marvel at the strong taste and abundance. I simply eat, as I would at home. The thought of rabbit stew, which is standard fare back home, is a strange thought to me now.

Atala enters the lunchroom to remind us of the private sessions, as though we may have forgotten. "You will be called to the center by districts." she says. "Report quickly, as your time with the Gamemakers is limited." She wishes us all good luck, and returns to the Gamemaker's balcony. A strange, nervous silence is left in her wake. I swear that I hear Cabel Atom gulp, and I am sure that my fellow Careers can hear my heart pounding.

I know that, at home, the cameras leave the tributes for the first time in days to show interviews with mentors. My mother and sisters as well as everyone I know are probably watching the screen as Blight tells a strangely dressed reporter what Raven and my odds are. He will tell the reporters about my double alliance to spark interest in me. During the Interviews tomorrow, Ceaser will be eager to know all that I will tell him about this alliance, and I won't have to explain since Blight already has for me.

Luster's name is called, and he heads from the room with a cocky smile. The silence remains. The Careers, it seems, have subconsciously agreed that it is best to review their plans in their heads rather than laugh and joke. Minutes become seconds. I study the smooth and flawless surface of the table, just for something to focus on. I'm beginning to regret eating at all.

"Shyne Luxor," a cool female voice announces. Shyne pushes away her tray, wipes her face, and smooths her training outfit before giving us a curt goodbye and leaving us. I exchange a glance with October, and I can see the nervousness in his gaze as well. I shake my head, turning my face back to the table and my mind to my plan. I repeat the order to myself, determined not to forget anything.

One by one, the Careers leave until October and I are left alone. I look at him again, and he glances quickly away. I don't know what I expected - for us to have a heartfelt conversation about our loyalties with everyone watching, maybe. But he's just as worried as I am. Cabel enters the center, looking pale and ready to puke on the floor. I can feel my limbs locking up in fear. I won't be able to move from this spot when my time comes. I study Scarlett Wires, to enter next. Her hands are folded very tightly on the table. I remember her cleverness that I saw in her from the start. Will she show the Gamemakers mostly survival skills, or will she prove capable with some kind of weapon?

Ryder Wheel enters after Scarlett, looking as empty-faced as ever. Jet Rails straightens in her seat, looking determined and calm, and admiration wells up inside of me as she enters with her chin held high. A District 6 tribute has the same odds as a District 7 tribute - not very good odds, for either of us. She has her pride, and I have some skill, and who knows? - one of us may make it through this.

After Jet enters, my gaze finds Raven. He's to go in next. I can tell that he's trying to hide his terrified expression, but he is failing. I give him a supportive smile, but I'm not even sure that he can see me. His expression is empty, and hopeless. When the voice calls his name, he jumps and stands shakily. I try again to catch his eye as he walks out of the room, but his expression is fixed on the doors. I glance towards Maze, but she won't look in my direction. Has October explained our position to her yet?

Before I can ask him, though, the voice is calling out, "Fawn Dogwood." and I am standing steadily as though in a dream, walking towards the door. I vaguely notice that October is wishing me luck. I push open the doors, and a blast of cool air hits me. Goosbumps rise up on my arms. I'm not sure why it's cooler in here, but I appreciate the feel of cool air across my skin. I glance towards the balcony to find that all of the Gamemaker's eyes are upon me. A few have food beside them, but for the moment, I have their full attention.

The female voice announces, "Fawn Dogwood, District 7. Placed first in the running excercise. Placed fourth in the climbing excercise. Placed third in the hanging excercise. Placed sixth in the agility excercise." By the time that the voice has finished its announcement, I am in the middle of the room, at the place where Atala had us form our half moon circles. Atala instructs me to demonstrate my skills at several stations. I bow in the stiff manner of the Captiol, and walk to the station I had planned to do first - Bows.

There are several bows displayed, and I take the thinnest one. It is similar to the one I learned with on the first day of training. Taking a deep breath, I place a silver trimmed arrow on the bow and raise it to shoulder length. I close my eyes a moment, calming my heart, and loose the arrow. It lands just right of the center on a moving target. Quick as lightning, I loose another. This lands slightly to the left. The next lands on the center. Unable to hide I smile, I let four more go, and they all land beside each other, right on the center.

Panting, I lower the bow slowly, and glance at the Gamemakers. A few nod at me, and a few look thoughtful. Most are glancing at me between bites of food. I turn from them, and go to the edible plants station. A slight murmur rises from the Gamemakers - little grows in District 7. I chose this station so that I could show them that I learn quickly.

I know that my time is limited, and I work quickly as I sort nearly all of the models of plants by edible and poisonous. Then, without another glance to the Gamemakers, I move onto the Axes. I throw several different axes of many different sizes at targets, and then prove my strength and skill with it by swinging at the metal poles. When covered with a thin sheen of sweat, I throw my last axe. It beheads a target. I glance back up at the Gamemakers, who look impressed, but not surprised. Axes are the signature weapon of my district. Our seal even depicts two axes crossing a full grown oak tree.

I make a fire out of damp wood in thirty seconds flat, but I don't slow to see if the Gamemakers took note of this. I move to the Knots station and make several different snares to show that I can feed myself. Then, I demonstrate how to make a steady and good rope as well as several knots that are very hard to untie. I end this station with a noose, and leave it hanging eerily over the other knots.

The crossbows aren't my strong suit, but I decided to include them anyway. You never know what will be inside the arena, and I want the Gamemakers to know that I'll be capable no matter what they provide me with. After I hit the vital points of a target a few time, I grab the triangular sword I practiced with and spar with a few targets. I add a few spins, like I saw Syren do. When the targets around me are ruined, I straighten and glance at the Gamemakers. Again, they appear mildly interested in me as well as their meal.

I want very badly to shake my head at them, but I refrain, going instead to the camouflage station. I spend a few minutes camouflaging a bag to look like a forest under a canopy of oaks. When I finish, it is believable enough, so long as no one looks too closely. Then, I move to the Spears station. I display an acceptable show with the spears, though a nagging suspicion tells me that I could have preformed better.

The thought is forgotten, however, as I head with excitement to my final and most anticipated station, knives. The Gamemakers were watching me when I preformed earlier during the Training Sessions, but I now have the benefit of being the only tribute available to watch. I don't bother with the still targets this time. I walk over to the podium that Paxton used to make the clay birds shoot from the floor. I take a deep breath, studying the podium. No trainer moves to help me, and I'm glad. I want to prove my resourcefulness in this way as well.

I tap the smooth rock of the podium, and a clay bird shoots out. My hand flies to my knife belt, and the knife hits the bird directly in the eye. I glance back down at the podium, but the whizzing sound of another bird being released makes me loose another knife. Slowly, I back away from the podium to give myself maneuvering room. The birds begin shooting out, and I begin throwing. I duck out of the way of falling clay birds and roll around on the floor to get to the best aim at the birds.

I'm panting quickly, running out of knives. I snatch them from the fallen birds instead of my knife belt. This excercise is much harder than the one I participated in yesterday. I don't mind much, though. With the cool air on my skin, a thin layer of sweat covering me, a pant in my breath and a knife in my hand, everything seems right in the world.

When the clay birds stop appearing, I remain crouched for a long moment. Then I straighten slowly and turn to face the Gamemakers. Most of their faces are turned towards me, and they appear truly impressed now. I give them a deep bow, and Atala dismisses me.

~~~~~~BTCS~~~~~~

Look up the District 7 seal - I actually looked at the official one for the description in this chapter. There's seals for all of the Districts and the Capitol. I may continue to mention them, maybe not. All the same, it's interesting to look at them.

In Fawn's world, she lacks our vocabulary. In this chapter, an example is her use of the word targets. We would refer to them as dummies.

Oh, I want to be very clear about something right now. There is no Fawn-October romance going on. Sorry, but Fawn isn't the type of person to forget the guy she left home like Katniss. Not a dig on Katniss, just pointing out their differences. Fawn just needs the reassurance of having someone that understands her in a stressful situation like this.

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoyed my present to you. Now, for your present to me! Haha, didn't see that one coming, did you? It's simple enough - don't worry. Just review, put the story on alert so you can continue reading, and maybe favorite me and my story :) THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!