Finally! A new chapter! We're all caught up! Yay!
Thanks to my two newest reviewers: Lya200 and Stella Hawk! I appreciate the both of you. ^.^
And to those of you who were following before, welcome back!
Enjoy!
~District 11~
The arena was all ice this year. A stupid choice, half of the tributes would freeze. Grandpa Snow would not be happy about that.
She trudged along, shivering violently, every step sinking deep into the snow and making walking all but impossible. Flakes floated down for the dark, featureless sky and decorated her head carelessly. She shivered violently and collapsed exhausted.
She considered remaining there. Eventually she would die of hypothermia, or another tribute would come along and be rid of her. Not one of them would hesitate, they were all out for her blood anyways.
But then he came. "Kat? Kat! What are you doing? You're going to freeze!"
She heard the snow crunch quietly as the boy knelt beside her, and his hand, miraculously warm, wrapped gently around her arm. "Come on, Kat! Get up!"
"No!" She snapped, yanking her arm away. "Leave me alone, Slader!"
"Come on, Kat!" He insisted, begging to shake her in a panic. "Kat! Get up!"
"Stop it, Slader!" Kat snarled, angrily, sitting up abruptly. Suddenly, she was no longer sitting in a pile of fresh snow, she was sitting on the soft, white, carpeted floor of her room on the train, hand threaded into the fabric. Slader was staring at her wide-eyed at her, dressed in his flannel pajama pants and a black hoodie, with his hair sporting the undeniable mess of sleep.
Kat ran a hand over her arms, which were covered in goosebumps, and shiver. Well, at least she knew why she had been dreaming of snow. "It's freezing in here!"
"Yeah, I know,"Slader replied, climbing to his feet. HE reached down and tucked a hand carefully under Kat's arm, pulling her to her feet. "It's like this on the whole train. Corda's having a fit, because no one knows what's causing it. She's threatening to call your grandpa if someone doesn't figure it out.
Judging by the mess of her blankets, and by the way they hung half-down to the floor, and the fact that she was on the floor in the first place, since she certainly hadn't started the night there, Kat figured she'd fallen out of the bed. She climbed back under the blankets, relieved for the woramth her spaghetti-strap top and shorts had not provided. Slader climbed in beside her. Any other tim, Kat would have shoved him out angrily, but she was an ice cube, and he was a toaster, which was a welcome relief. So she allowed him to stay.
Not long after, Corda stuck her head in, hair in messy disarray, saying something about a blowout that had shorted the Central heating/air unit, so it was stuck on air. She said that the conductor was calling the Capitol station to send them a new train, so they would be staying right where they were until them. She warned them not to get under anyone's feet, and said that she would send an Avox with some soup to warm them up.
It was far from a surprise when the Avox arrived not long after. An angry Corda was to be feared, but a distraught, mother-mode Corda was to be kept happy at all costs.
"Well, this whole thing sucks," Slader commented, spooning some soup hungrily into his mouth.
"Why send us a whole new train?" Kat was wondering quietly, not actually talking to Slader, but he answered anyways.
"Well, they don't want the Capitol's Sweetheart to freeze."
There was the ever-slightest note of betterness that sparked anger in Kat. "If you want to trade blood lines, then be my guest! I didn't ask to be the descendent of the most hated man in Panem!"
"Stop acting like you're some kind of victim! You have the big mansion, and the hand-and-foot service, and the laving family, and everything you want!"
"Everything I want? I assume you're excluding the stop to the deaths of twenty-three children every year?"
"That's not fair."
"We're playing fair? Really?"
Slader opened his mouth, but had no response came. Instead, he set his soup down on her bedside table and muttered something about going to find some coco. Kat resisted the urge to call him back; apologize. The last thing she wanted to do was apologize to Slader.
By the time he returned, caring a cup of steaming coco in both hands. Kat figured his soup had gotten cold, and had sent it off with an avox, who had come to collect her empty bowl. Slader crossed the room and held one of the cups out to her. "Truce."
Kat raised an eyebrow. "You bounced back fast."
Slader grinned sheepishly. "Corda said we have to stop fighting and be nice to each other for once."
Kat wasn't sure she fully believed that excuse, but he was trying to be nice, even if he lied about why, so she should try as well. She reached out and accepted the drink, thanking him and allowing him to make himself comfortable beside her once again.
The girl shrugged. "It usually takes a little less than a day to get form the Capitol to District 10, so I'd guess we'll be here a little while." Kat stared at the drink, too busy enjoying the warmth it gave her hand o think about drinking it just yet.
Slader took a sip of his own, and leaned against the head board. "Great."
Kat crawled out of bed and sprinted to her closet, where she slipped on a jacket and pants. She collected a pair of socks from her dresser, and then knelt beside her bed and pulled out her box of videos. "I have twenty-five more to finish in four weeks," she told Slader, placing the box on her bed. "Probably should get some finished while I can."
He nodded, and stayed in place, not even leaving when she slipped in the tape of the 25th Hunger Games, like she had expected him to. They watched three sets, neither feeling up to going back to sleep, before Corda stuck her head in and told them that the train would be arriving soon, so they should probably begin gathering things for the avoxes to carry over.
As it turned out "arriving soon" for Corda was a bit of a loose term. Kat had plenty of time to gather her things in the hallway, and then get halfway though a fourth set of games tapes.
"Train's here," Slader told her, sticking his head in, and glancing momentarily at the screen.
Kat nodded. "Okay, I'll be over in a minute."
He mimicked her motion and disappeared. Kat crawled cut of the bed and collected the tape, returning it to the box. Then, she carried the box with her off of the train. An avox tried to collect the box from her, but she shook her head, refusing to allow them to take it. "I can carry it myself, thanks."
The conductor of the new train tipped his hat at her. "Hello, Mrs. Snow. How are you?"
"Better, now that I'm off that freezing train," She replied, hefting the box higher. "How are you?"
The man answered with a simple, "Fine", and reached over to open the door for to the compartment. She thanked him as she climbed on, and quickly found her room. The avoxes had put her things in a room at the back of the sleeping compartment, near the dining cart, which Kat suspected they had done on purpose. They knew she snuck over and stole food all of the time.
~District 11~
They arrived in District 11 that night, but did not head out for exploring until the next day.
"So, What's the random fun fact for District 11?" Slader asked as they strolled down the hard packed street of District 11 square.
"What do you meant?" Kat frowned at him
"Well, normally by this time you've given at least one random fact that nobody really cares about," Slader replied with a shrug. "It's like I'm still in school."
"Wow, you're getting started early today, aren't you?" Kat sighed exasperatedly.
"On what?"
"On getting on my nerves," Kat snapped.
"Oh, haha, you're hilarious."
"I wasn't trying to be funny," the girl grumbled.
They walked in silence after that, neither much up for arguing after the long day they had had before. Slader kicked begrudgingly at rocks as they went, one of which Kat was sure he got to at least three. The silence felt strange, foreign, and definitely uncomfortable, and after a while Kat couldn't stand it anymore. "We're going to the mayor's first. Try not to embarrass me, okay?"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Slader mumbled, nearly inaudible.
The mayor's house was tucked away in the back of the square large but squat. Two smal children were playing in the front lawn, while an older warned them to be careful. Kat waved to them, and the older waved back, jogging over to them. "Can I help you?" She questioned as she approached, trying for a smile.
"We came to talk to Mayor Welsi," Kat replied, smiling back. "I'm Kat, and this is Slader."
"I know who you are." The girl rolled her eyes. "My father's in his office, and we're not allowed to bother him when he's in there."
"Oh..." Kat smiled sheepishly. "Well, would you mind talking to us?"
"Uh, no thanks." The girl crinkled her nose, and turned on her heels, shouting, "Trinity! Que! If you don't knock that off I'm going to hurt the both of you!"
"Don't take it personal." Kat jumped at the new voice, and spin around to see a tall boy, who couldn't have been much older than herself, wearing a bright smile. "My sister isn't known for being polite to anyone. I'll talk to you if you like. My name is Addian." He held out his hand.
"Nice to meet you." Kat smiled shaking it.
Addian sprawled out on the grass, and gestured for the two Capitolites to take a seat. He turned out to be a rather enjoyable conversationalist, happy to answer any question, and cracking jokes at just the right times. A some point, the two children bounced over, curious to learn what they were doing. The younger of the two, a little boy by the name of Que, reached out cautiously, and brushed Kat's ears, jerking away as though they had bitten him, and giggling along side his sister, Trinity.
A girl came out of the house, with her thick black hair done in twin french braids, and balancing a tray on one hand. Kat estimated that she was no older than herself, with the same dark skin and chocolate colored eyes as the other children. She sat the try on the ground, and Trinity and Que attacked the treats meticulously decorating its surface. She laughed lightly at the younger once, and introduced herself as Dani as she flopped onto the ground, and tilted her head up towards the sun.
"Capitols in District 11? I've never heard of that before." She paused, frowning thoughtfully. "Well, except for when the games come around that is."
Kat smiled. "Well, you see new things everyday."
"Not really." Dani gave her head a shake, watching a bird carve a path above her head. "Here in eleven, it's pretty my much the same everyday. During winter they send us to school, and the rest of the time they make everyone work in the orchards."
"Even the market kids?" Slader wondered.
"Market kids in District 11 is a bit of a loose term," Addian told them. "Even people who make a little extra money off of butchering and baking don't get much. There kids still have to work in the orchards to help support. The only children who get out of picking fruits are the kids of what pass as doctors around here, and there still working pretty much around the clock. Lots of people get hurt in the orchards. Fall out of trees, or get to close to a Tracker Jacker nest."
"What about you and your siblings? And the victors' kids? Certainly you don't have to work?" Kat pressed.
Dani laughed. "District 11 hasn't had a victor in over twenty years. The 78th was the last, and Berriah never had any kids."
Slader stretched across the grass and picked at the green strands. "And you?"
"Nah, we don't have to work," Dani replied. "We sort of sit around. It's a little boring, sometimes I feel like I'd rather be working in the orchards."
"What changes your mind?"
"Something bad happens. Like last week, when Fianna fell out of the peach tree."
Addian winced. "Oh yeah, that was bad. Poor girl's never going to walk again is what Branna's mom said."
"Yeah, things like that make you appreciate your life a little more."
They stayed there for most of the day, and may have been here longer had Corda not arrived and told them that the avox's had dinner prepared.
Dinner was quiet, at this point, everyone was simply ready to be home. They were sick of each other, and the train, and the beds that weren't their own. Plus, Kat figured Corda was messing her children.
Kat knew Corda and four children, the oldest being only a year older than herself. That was Adeen. He was intimidating, with the large build and broad shoulders of his father. The brawn of the family.
Then there were three girls, all built small and girlish. Emery was Kat's age, and probably the only girl in her circle that felt like a real friend. Emery was decent in the intelligence field, made good grades, and all, and she was okay in the athletic department, could keep up with everyone in gym, but what made her truly stand out was talent. A musical prodigy. She could play any insturment that she picked up, which labeled her as the talent of the family.
Then, Anadelle. She was ten, and had nothing higher on her list then being the most popular, and fashion-adhesive girl in her grade. Naturally, she couldn't take most popular in the school, since Kat sort of unintentionally disqualified that. Anadelle was the only child that inherited Corda strunning, bright blue eyes that not even the Capitolites could think of a reason to change. Making her, the beauty of the family.
Then, the fourth and final child, seven-year-old, Juliette, ,the sharp-tongued, quick-thinking, book worm, with an extra special upper-hand: A photographic memory. Can you guess what that makes her? The brains.
Corda would never admit it, not even if you put a gun to her head, but all of the children knew that Anadelle liked to talk about shoes and fashion, and was up for any new trend, while Emery was hesitant, and Juliette just down-right refused.
That, Kat thought as she watched Corda spoon soup deliberately into her mouth, was why she felt such an urge to be patient with the woman. She was a Capitolite at heart, no doubt, but she never forced her children into anything drastic, like, say, surgical enhancement, or hair dye. She fussed a lot, but never just said, "You're going to do it because I'm your mother and I said so."
That was why Juliette had the same jet-black hair and chocolate brown eyes, and naturally tanned skin that she had been born with. As un-Captiolish as they come, but Corda hoped it was only a phase that she would grow out of, or, at least, that's what Emery claimed. She could believe it, that's what her own mother believed.
"We missed their birthdays," She realized suddenly, sitting up straighter in her chair.
"What?" Corda and Slader were both giving her confused looks.
Kat blinked, just as confused, so Slader elaborated. "Who's birthday did we miss?"
"Oh." She hadn't meant to say that aloud. "Er...Adeen and Anadelle. We were gone for their birthdays..."
She looked cautiously over at Corda, hoping she hadn't stirred up guilt or anger, but the pain in her face was clear. The woman cleared her throat. "Yes, well, they know the unpredictability of my work. They understand...Excuse me," she choked, stand quickly from the table and retreating.
"Way to go," Slader grumbled when she was gone. "Next time just shoot her in the foot, will you? You'd save her some pain."
Kat sighed. "I didn't mean for it to come out. I was thinking aloud. Besides, since when do you care about how Corda feels?"
Slader's spoon clattered loudly against his bowl as he dropped it, whipping around, hair creating a mesmerizing flame around his head, and giving her an angry glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You have no regard for how anyone feels..."
"Right." Slader gave his head an annoyed nod, along with a dry laugh. "Because Kat knows everything about everyone, right?" He shoved harshly away from the table, and began to pace to the wall, hand waving madly. "You know all about the Capitolites, and how they're all stupid and ridiculous, right? All about the Districts that you've never seen before in your life until know! And, of course, no one knows anything about you!"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" She objected.
"You're right! I don't! No one does, because there's nothing real to say about you! There isn't anything real about you! You're two people! You're a fake, Katalina Snow, and the sad part it, you don't just lie to everyone else! You lie to yourself." He glared coldly at her. "You need to figure out where you're loyalties lie Kat, because you only get to have one face in the end."
Then he was gone, before Kat could open her mouth to respond. She dumped her head into her hands; angry, frustrated, hurt, and the entire time she sat there, one thought chased itself around in her head.
I don't know!
And that's the end! Not really much to say...
So, I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to review!
Oh yes by the way, the schedule proceeding will include the District 12 chapter, the quell announcement, and two chapters between that and District 1 reapings. Just thought I'd let yall know.