Part 1: Preparation
Chapter 2: Training Room
Day 2
"The very best piece of advice that I can give you for this is to not go looking for trouble. Trust me when I say; plenty of trouble is going to find you." Haymitch explains to them. Haymitch leads Robin and Killian toward an elevator.
"It's not dangerous enough for us to all be training in such close quarters?" Killian asked.
"No one is allowed to fight inside the training room outside of some light sparring. Peacekeepers are stationed in the room with electric rods." Haymitch said. "What the two of you are going to want to do is to get some allies."
"Allies? I thought it was everyone for themselves." Robin said.
"It is. However in the beginning everyone just wants to survive and the best way to do it is in a group. Usually they all come to an agreement that until everyone else dies out that they will stay loyal."
"How often do they stay loyal?" Killian asked.
"Let's call it 50%." Haymitch answers honestly. "That's why the people you trust don't come from District ` or 2. You will want to stick to somewhere that's close to home."
"You want us to ally with a poorer district like 12." Killian puts the pieces together.
"9, 10 and 11 are your best bets for that." Haymitch said. They step into the elevator and head upward.
"What did you tell your sister?" Haymitch asked Killian at random.
"About what?"
"About coming here." He says.
"I told her I wasn't coming back…" Killian says. "I told her to be strong and be brave."
"Sometimes it really is best to be honest. In the Hunger Games there is no hope, only survival." Haymitch says as they reach the top. "This is where we part ways. Before you begin to be sure to walk by your opponents… Make a mental note of their abilities and skills."
"Got it." Killian steps forward. Robin nods her head about to walk into a room of people that she was sure one would be her killer. They weren't the last to arrive. It gave them time to adjust to how many people would be out there as they came in.
The first group they came upon was from District 4. Jensen and Max were preparing a line of string and reinforcing it. It was fair to figure that they would be fishing and staying around water to survive. Jensen gets down on the floor with his belly down and begins to survey their opponents.
Killian backs Robin up because he wasn't sure what he was planning to do. Jensen's eyes stop when he gets to Henry from District 7. Henry is about to toss an axe when Jensen lets it the hook on the string fly. He hooks the back of Henry's shirt and jerks back. Henry is jolted back at the same moment he throws it making him toss it only inches away from decapitating Becky also from District 7.
Henry gets to his feet and turns to see the hook reeling back in. Henry picks up another axe and starts that way. "You think you're real funny don't you?"
"A little bit." Jensen jokes right before Henry socks him in the mouth with a closed fist.
"Hey!" Killian runs in right before the peacekeepers begin that way. He grabs Jensen by his shirt and pushes him back a bit. "Don't get yourself into trouble; it'll only make it harder on you." Killian was tasked with making allies and the best way to start was by choosing sides. He had to admit between the choices Henry was the better call. He was definitely a hot head but Jensen was a dick.
The peacekeepers arrive but Henry had already backed up. They keep an eye on them but decide to stay back. "I owe you one." Henry says. "My name's Henry."
"Killian." Killian offers his hand and Henry takes it. "That's Robin." Robin stays back and shyly waves in that direction. "Don't take that personally."
"If I were that age I'd stay far away from everyone else too. In these so called 'games' a 12 year old has lived a full life."
Killian turns to see what Becky was doing. After having cooled off from almost being beheaded she was now with Kael from District 8. Becky had was carving something from wood and instructing him.
"What's going on there?" Killian asked.
"It's a trade of knowledge. Let's say you know something like a survival skill then it can be traded like a broker." Henry explains. "Do you know how to make a fire?" He asked.
"Yeah, I do." He says.
"More than half of the people here don't. You can trade for whatever you want with that kind of skill." He says. "You'll want to be careful with it though."
"Why?"
"The moment you teach someone else a skill then they can profit off of it as well. Then that's less people for you to trade with and the more skills people have the longer they will survive." Henry says.
"Why are you telling me this?" He said.
"Because I don't know how to make a fire and you don't know which kinds of fruits that grow on what kinds of trees and bushes are safe." Henry smiles.
"You've got a point." Killian says and walks over to some lumber. Henry sits on the other side of him. Killian gets to work on making the fire. Henry looks over at Robin who is focusing on find effective ways to hide.
"Are you serious about what you're doing?" He asked.
"Protecting Robin?" Killian asked.
"Yeah, are you really prepared to lay your life down for her if it comes down to just the two of you?" He asked. Killian is silent for a moment and keeps working on the fire.
He thinks back to the last time he saw his sister. She ran into the small room and embraced him in tears. "You can't go!"
"Hey, hey…" He holds on to her and strokes her hair back. "Listen you have to be strong and be brave…"
"You're not coming back are you?" She asked. Killian drops his head and takes a deep breath and then looks into her eyes. In the present Killian turns his head and looks back at Robin as he remembers the last words he said to his sister.
"I'll come back to you. I will win and I will do whatever it takes…"
Killian turns back to Henry. "I'll do whatever it takes." He says not making it clear what he specified to himself.
They both hear laughing on the other side of the room. They turn their attention toward Scott Brimm and Valerie Jepson from District 1. Scott has a glove on and tosses what appears to be a fireball. As the fireball gets the ground in the middle of the dummies it expands. Smaller ember balls come from it and set the rest on fire causing the sprinklers underneath to go off.
"What was that?" Killian asked.
"It was a lot simpler that you might think but it's a time consuming art… District 1 uses it as an ambush technique." He explains and begins drawing it in the dirt. "They find sticks, leaves, rocks and whatever they can use to make something stick. They wraps the rocks with the leaves then get them all stuck together and wrap leaves around it. One of them will carry it until they find a sleeping or unexpected group of at least 2 tributes."
"So they set the leaves on fire and it spreads to the other leaves. They literally have seconds to throw it or it won't work…" Killian thinks. "Sure it might burn them a little but for all the work it's really not practical…"
"That's because the main idea is to burn them to get them off the guard and attack. If they were to really get away how far do you think they're getting with burns?" He asked.
"You've got a point…" Killian says.
"I'm surprised you don't know more about this yourself…" He says.
"Why would I know?"
"The technique was originated by a Tribute from District 12." Henry says. Killian was completely caught off guard. He didn't about that for a moment. He supposed the district that had the most luxury couldn't have thought of such a down and dirty technique.
Becky makes her way over to them and takes a seat. "I see you're getting friendly, aren't you 12?" She asked.
"It's all about survival; it's good to have friends." Killian says.
"You're not wrong especially if you can teach us to make a fire." She says as she sees the flame come up from the smoke.
"What's the story with that guy?" Killian asks about Kael.
"Kael Helmsley, district 8. He's always got a big smile on his face and he's a huge momma's boy." She says.
"That sounds like the exact opposite qualities you want to make known about yourself." He says.
"All I know is that he has this almost aggravating sense of child-like wonder. He's always going on about what his mother has taught him and crap like that. He honestly thinks that if he could win he could try to change the capitol from the inside."
"Can victors live in Panem?" Killian asked.
"I've never heard of one asking but I don't see why not… The winner is going to be rich." Henry says.
"What did you trade for?" Killian asked.
"He wanted me to show him how to carve from a tree properly." She answers.
"In exchange for?"
Becky takes out a cloth with had heavy stiches in it. "He doesn't appear too good with fabrics judging from where he's from." Henry says.
"He wasn't teaching me that, I know how to sew my own garments. He was reaching me how to stitch in case of deep wounds." Becks answers.
"That sounds like a useful skill…" Killian says.
"I guess you'll have to pick then… would you rather know what food is safe or how to fix yourself or her up?" Henry asked.
Killian knew that was going to a tough choice. They were going to need to eat in order to stay alive. However if one of them were to get injured the stitches would come in handy. She would need nutrition to keep up and chances are if someone was going to get hurt it would be him. He was stuck at a cross roads that would undoubtedly mean choosing him or her.
"You don't have to choose now." Becky says. "It's only day 1 of our training, we have 12 days before our final skills assessment before the games. Just let us know when you figure out which one you want."
"Or if you figure out something else worth trading for that is as useful as starting a fire." Henry says which was incredibly unlikely.
"Thanks." Killian gets back up to his feet and walks back over to Robin to see how she was doing. "How are you holding up?" He asked.
"I'm okay… I've been experimenting." She says and shows him the paint she made on her arm.
"What's that for?"
"Camouflage." She lies down on the ground and puts her arm over the dirt. "I don't know how to climb trees so it will be easier to lie down."
"Good thinking." Killian debates with himself whether to tell her about the trading deal or not. He was a hunter so he was experienced with getting his own food. Unfortunately the best he could usually do was a bird and it would only be enough for one of them.
"I'm going to teach you how to hunt." Killian says to Robin. "If anything happens to me you'll need to figure out how to get your own food without depending on the land. It's unpredictable."
"Alright." Robin agrees. Killian gets to work first on showing her what he knows about which trees make the best fires. The outskirts of District 12 didn't have many fruits so he wouldn't know which were okay. He gets to showing Robin how to make a fire first.
"What's the first thing that usually happens when someone makes a fire in the games?" Killian asked her.
"They usually die…"
"Do you know why that is?" He asked.
"The signal smoke?"
"Close, it's the light from the flames. He begins to build a small camp made of objects surrounding them around the fire. "This will close up the light and turn it into more like a fireplace. The fire will only come out of one direction and so will the light, there's a better chance it won't lead someone to us."
"I get it." Robin understands.
"Try making a fire by yourself." He says and hands her the stick. Robin gets to work on it. "Don't be afraid to add a little pressure and make your way down as you rub." He tells her.
The electronic doors open once again for the next group to enter. Killian needed to focus on their competition. He and a few others from sheer curiosity look. Entering the training room was none other than the tributes from District 2. They walked in side by side with a similar level of intensity that sent waves through the room.
Cole Mitchell was one of the 3 oldest tributes this year at age 18. He certainly groomed himself for an occasion that was far less violent. He had a dashing smile from ear to ear and his hair slicked back. If his arrogance were water all of the other tributes would have drawn the moment he stepped foot inside.
The only thing Haymitch told them about Cole is that he was a part of the Mitchell Family curse. He wouldn't go into any specific details. However for someone who appeared to be cursed he seemed to have no fear. He was confident that he would be slitting the throats of everyone in the room including his fellow District 2 tribute with a smile.
Next to Cole was the female tribute from District 2, Hael Reigns. When it came to her reputation her beauty was only second to her deadly proficiency. He had gotten even less information about Hael when he asked Haymitch about District 2. Her parentage was a mystery even to the Capitol.
Killian could only think back to their brief encounter. She had her eyes on him but didn't make a jester. He stared at her this time; he tried to tell himself that it was to test it again. They walk by each group slowly eyeing down each of the tributes.
Cole catches eyes with Killian first. His eyes widen and he grins with his teeth showing. It was like he had found his supper. Killian felt too uncomfortable to try staring him down and turns away from him. Cole chuckles and looks back forward.
Killian looks back up and this time he catches eyes with Hael once again. This time her expression doesn't change. It was cold and confident. He wasn't even on her level in any sense of the analogy. She looks back forward and they make their way over to the District 1 tributes.
"Killian?" Robin asked.
"Yeah?" He says still looking in her direction.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah." He turns back to Robin. "Why?"
"I looked like that once and my brother told me I looked 'smitten.'" She said. Killian pauses at the mere thought. That was the last thing he wanted or needed. He kept replaying their first encounter in his head. It was only a smile. He could have easily misread the kind of smile it was. The way she looked passed him as another tribute could easily mean he did.
He was slowly convincing himself of that. He watched Robin make the flame. He then signals for her to use something to fan the flames to make it bigger. While she follows his instructions his wandering eyes turn back toward the Career Tributes once again. At the same time he turns his head, Hael had turned back in his direction for a moment. This time as their eyes meet there was no emotion on either of their faces.
Somehow there was more going on in that moment that neither of them yet understood. As for now he needed to make new allies. The next reasonable ally was Kael Helmsley from District 8.
13 Days Until the Hunger Games Begins…
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