Training Day One

Kenna Ramirez, District 10

I jumped off the last stretch of the obstacle course, my chest pounding and my hands sore from pulling myself across the thick, coarse ropes. Even though it had been painful, I was still proud. I had just completed it in record time for all the tributes this year.

Several people had stopped to watch me, namely the girl from district 11 and the two from six. The careers were huddled in a corner, and I was slightly pissed they hadn't just witnessed my impressive feat. What I really wanted was to be asked to join, but turn them down. I wasn't one to willingly kill kids for sport.

I was kind of in desperate need of an alliance, and the usual safe bet of my district partner was out of the question. The minute he was reaped, I knew I was done for in these games. Since my dad is the mayor, I know more about the law enforcement in the district than most seventeen year olds. And I knew that one of district seven's greatest problems was Michael Barnes.

It wasn't that Michael was necessarily dangerous, just that he was really, really creepy. He'd been charged with stalking twice, but hadn't been convicted on account of mental instability. It's probably better now that he's in the games: He won't be able to kill anyone, at least in the real world.

Trust me, not everyone in our district is a crazy lunatic or a total hick. Well, it's true that I've spent my whole life wrangling horses on my family's farm, but I'm pretty kick-ass with a whip, and an attitude.

The tributes that had been observing me now dispersed, and I walked over to the water station to grab a quick drink. I still felt someone watching me. I looked around, but everyone was busy at their own stations, identifying leafs and shooting targets. No one was paying me any mind. I shrugged my shoulders and headed over to the spear station.

I picked up a midsized one, about the height of my hips. Just as I was about to throw it, I felt someone breathing on my neck.

I dropped the spear and spun around. There stood Michael Barnes, holding a knife. His eyes were wide and he looked about ready to pounce. I screamed.

Two trainings came over and took the knife from Michael. "You know you're not allowed to bring the weapons out of there designated stations!" one grumbled.

"I just wanted to play the game with Kenna!" Michael said innocently. God, this kid was creepy. One of the trainers was realizing this too, so she rushed to the door to get a peacekeeper. The other stayed and kept a firm grip on Michael.

"When the peacekeeper came over, he asked me exactly about what had happened. "Did he in anyway try to attack you?"

"No, but the little creep was just about ready too! If I hadn't turned around, he probably would have stabbed me in the back!"

"Well, we can't take him away because he didn't actually do anything. Just try and avoid him from now on." The trainer warily let go of Michael, and I stomped away. Now I wasn't going to be able to practice anything without constantly looking over my shoulder.

Just as I was walking up to the camouflage station, I head a maniacal laugh coming from above me. I looked up and say Michael hanging from a ladder 30 feet in there air. He wasn't carrying a weapon, but if looks could kill, I'd already be dead.

Carter Goulding, District 4

These careers were nothing like the people I'd trained with.

For one, the people I'd trained with had been my sisters. Pretty and privileged, they'd never actually planned on volunteering for the games. Most had aged out anyways, and they were training to support me, or in preparation for whatever the quell would be. We had, for the most part, been training in sport. Not training to kill. These kids were the complete opposite.

First off there was Jasper. He always seemed to have a far off look in his eyes, like he'd rather be anywhere but here. Like he was looking for something. Even so he was tough, and I'm pretty sure he could take me out in one blow.

Magenta had turned out to be our only girl, after Dawn had flat out dissed me on the train by saying she wouldn't dream of joining the careers. She was definitely tough, and Raiden had told me how she'd finished first in their class at the training academy. I had too, but then again I was the only student actually competed for the tribute spot at the special center for mayor's kids.

And then there was Raiden. He was the most career-ish out of all of us, and it showed. Even though his physical strength scared me, I knew I could take him on mentally any day.

We all agreed that it would be best to discuss an arena strategy over some casual trap building, so we wandered over to the nearly empty station. The only person there was the young girl from district 8.

"So obviously we need to get control over as much as possible at the cornucopia," Magenta said as she picked out some simple twine to begin a rabbit trap. "IF we get food there, then we won't have to worrying about hunting animal while we're tracking down tribute."

"What about mutts? We need to have a plan if we're attacked." Jasper said as he looked anxiously at the door. What was he waiting for?

"I vote for killing them." Raiden, districted by the thought of shed blood, accidentally crushed the trap he and Magenta were almost done building.

"You vote for killing everything," Magenta snapped as she tried to reassemble the crumpled trap. All this time I stayed silent. I had a different career strategy idea then most, but I don't think anyone cares to know about it. "What do you think we should do Carter?" Guess they do.

"I… don't think we should be the careers." There, I'd said it. There was no going back here. Either they accept my strategy, or I'll probably be kicked out of the alliance.

"What do you mean?" Now Jasper wasn't distracted. He was looking right at me.

"It's so expected for us to stick together, and get all the supplies, and act like… like careers. But if we weren't to do that, not at first, then we might be able to knock out four tributes on the very first night."

"So… you think we should form separate alliances? And then backstab them?" Magenta looked like she was seriously considering my idea. This was good. Really good.

"Exactly. We need to make it look like we don't get along. Then we can find weaker tributes, those that would be easy to kill in their sleep."

At this point, Magenta smiled and then winked at me. Then her face fell. She immediately started yelling. "You all are friggin' idiots! I wouldn't be caught dead in an alliance with you people!" She stormed off. At first I was confused, but then it hit me: she was already putting the plan into action.

I stood up and decided to play along too. "All brawn, no brains. I actually want to win these games, so good. Bye." I marched right over to the knot-tying station. It wasn't long before Raiden and Jasper were arguing over who was stronger and better looking. They eventually fumed away from each other.

I could already see Magenta talking up the girl from district seven on her crossbow skills. When I noticed them shaking hands, I could tell Magenta had moved into the checkmate.

The other two boys had found targets, Raiden with the boy from nine and Jasper with his own district partner. Guess it was my turn to find someone.

I thought about who was weak. My first thought was the girl from three, the one with the crippled leg. Her name was something like Tabitha. I noticed her sitting in the corner, at the tree identification station. I took a deep breath, put on my best winning smile, and strode over.

Oh well there you go! Please let me know what you think. Reveiws are so amazing, and they certainly can't hurt your tribute's chances either. Also, school starts again on tuesday, so updates will not be as often as they have been this past week. ALSO look for details on out first sponsor contest in the next chapter. Yippeee!

-Zinky