Chapter 4

**Dia's POV**

"You stay focus on the survival stations, in the end they will do you more good than the weapons, don't completely leave out the weapons though. Gale you need to stay away from the bows and arrows. Diamond you need to study the plants and try out the swords," Haymitch said as rode the elevator down to the training center.

"Why swords?" I asked looking at the drunken man.

"Just trust me on this," he said as I raised an eyebrow.

Haymitch dropped us off and we walked in. There were some people already here mostly the Career tributes. The guy from 2 was smirking at me again. Gale wrapped his arm around my waist, obviously understanding what was going on here. It didn't make the guy from 2 stop smirking. It didn't take long for all of the other tributes to arrive. Atala started explaining everything to us. Once she was done everyone dispersed and went separate ways. Gale told me he was going to snares, while I went over to the plants. Beside me was a girl with red hair, she looked like a fox. She glared at me before going back to matching. I was looking up all of the different plants.

After about an hour the girl that the Careers dubbed foxface was still going at the plants. I was getting a headache, so I moved on to fire building. I knew how to do it; it just takes me longer than Gale can.

"Hey how is your day?" Gale asked walking over to me smiling.

"Ok I guess and yours?" I asked.

"Ok I guess, so 2 left the sword station if you want to try it," he said.

"He'll probably go back, so there's no po-," I started.

"Nope you have to, come on," he said dragging me over to the swords.

Gale went to pick one out for me, while I looked around. The Careers were smirking up at us, probably making fun. Gale caught my attention and handed me a sword. It was thin and finely made; I moved it around getting used to it. The thing is, it felt natural to have it in my hand, and I can't explain it. Gale pointed me to the dummies and showed me a few things, before letting me practice. I was cutting through dummies in no time.

"Not bad, with practice you could beat even my mentor," the guy from 2 said walking over to us.

"Uhh thanks?" I asked unsure, he chuckled.

"I'm Cato from District 2 and you two are?" he asked.

"I'm Gale and this is my wife Diamond," Gale said shaking hands with Cato.

"Wow you two are married that's crazy. Anyway how would you two like to join the Careers?" he asked.

"Seriously?" I asked.

"Yeah, you two can handle yourselves very well and we'd like to have you join us."

"Can you give us some time to think it through?" Gale asked.

"Sure, no problem, would you mind if I showed your wife how to properly use a sword? I can't stand seeing so much potential being used incorrectly," Cato asked.

"If she wants to," Gale shrugged looking at me, I nodded.

Gale went to the knives station; I knew he could use those too. Cato picked up a huge sword and started showing me how to move and project my power.

"Here, I know Gale thought he found the right one for you, but you really need this one," Cato said handing me a sword that was a little thicker and a bit shorter. "That swords from District 2 it was crafted by the sword maker there. These are rare and expensive, but if you have one it's all worth it."

After a bit more I was chopping, I really had the hang of this.

"You know, I think you're in the wrong district," Cato muttered in my ear coming up behind me. "The things I would do to you if we didn't have to kill each other."

I shivered and turned around facing him. He had that smirk back on his face. I hung the sword back on the wall and went over to bows and arrows. I need to get away from Cato and I can't even tell Gale. He would try and kill Cato before the games and that's not allowed. I notched an arrow into place a practiced a bit. I'm no where nearly as good as Gale or Katniss. I mean I'm barely on the target.

"Come on Dia time to go," Gale said taking the bow from me.

I nodded and followed him to the elevators. We went up to the top floor. Effie was waiting to hear how our day went. Haymitch smirked when Gale told him about me with swords. He knows something I don't and I have no idea what it is. After dinner Gale and I went to bed. I was lying awake everything running through my head. Gale was sound asleep snoring beside me I knew he was tired. Everything was running through my head: the games, Cato, my parents, District 12, Gale.

"Go to sleep Dia," Gale muttered pulling me closer to him.

"Sorry, I'm thinking," I said snuggling to him.

"About?"

"My parents, Haymitch knows something and he's not telling me."

"Let it go, I know that you want to know, but Haymitch isn't going to tell you."

"True, I love you."

"Love you too."

===12

It's the day of our individual training sessions with the game makers and I'm nervous. I keep running things through my head. Nothing's changed and Cato certainly hasn't, I'm honestly surprised he hasn't tried to make out with me.

"Whatever you do don't use the bow," Gale said as we were walking the training center.

"Why?" I asked.

"Honestly Dia, you suck and you don't need me to tell you," he chuckled; I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Love you too honey," I said rolling my eyes making him laugh.

All of the tributes were already here, so we sat towards the end. The first few tributes went in and came out. Cato looked at us and I knew he wanted an answer. It wasn't long before the guy from 11 went in. I sighed, I was next. Gale rubbed my shoulder reassuring me.

Diamond Hawthorne