A/N: New chapter :D yay. I have to warn you guys, I don't know how often I'll be able to update during the first week of the new year. It's going to be the end of winter break and a week before finals, so I've got to hit the books first :( I'll try though :)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the line quoted in the first sentence. The song is "Safe & Sound" and all rights go to Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars, and anyone else involved.

Chapter 6

"Hold on to this lullaby, even when the music's gone." The melodic voice floated around me. "Okay, Kit-Kat?"

He started to glow, then fade.

"Dad!" I cried. "Don't go!"

BEEP BEEP. BEEP BEEP.

Damn it all. The stupid alarm clock goes off, and I am awaken from my dream. In it, my father was there. Still alive, singing to me the lullaby he always sang to me as a child. But he was gone, and was time to face reality again. It was a much better dream then the last one, the one where I was the victor. And murderer of everyone.

I heave myself off my bed and wash up in the bathroom. I put on the clothes laid out again for me, then head to the dining room.

When I get there, Haymitch is already discussing today's plans with Peeta. Gale isn't there yet, so I sit down

Haymitch looks up. "Finally here, sweetheart?"

I ignore his jab. "What are we doing today?"

"Today, sweetheart, Effie'll escort you to the training center. Then you go and impress the judges." He looks around the room. "Where's tall, dark, and handsome? He still in bed?"

"He's right here," a deep and familiar voice answers.

I turn around. "Gale!" After my dream of him dying, I couldn't help but feel relief at his appearance. I jump up and hug him.

"Hey Catnip," he whispers, surprised. "What's this hug for?"

I take a step back and gaze into his face. His tone is amused, but his eyes glint brightly. "Just missed you."

Gale chuckles. "I saw you yesterday."

I am about to respond, but Haymitch butts in. "This is a very touching scene sweetheart, but we've got things to do!"

Gale and I hold back our laughter at Haymitch's irritation, but we end up laughing everytime we look at each other.

Breakfast is finally over, and Effie runs into the room. "Alright! Time to go to the training center!"

Haymitch waves, holding up a bottle of whiskey. "Have fun."

Peeta trails after Effie, and Gale and I follow them.

"Woah!" I put my hands on the glass, my nose nearly pressed against it.

Effie makes a small noise with her mouth. "Now now. Manners!"

We are all inside a clear, glass elevator which is dropping us to our destination. I look outside with shock. I can see nearly everything, from the mountains to the tiny people strolling on the road.

Gale is just as captivated, his mouth open in awe. Peeta looks deep in thought, and I can nearly hear his gears shifting in his head.

Everything flies by as a blur, and we descend to below ground level.

The elevator dings in a minute. "Here we are!" Effie trills.

I step out into a gigantic gym filled with equipment and different stations. I survey the area, and see that all the tributes are already there.

"Good luck!" Effie waves. "Oh no!" She lurches out of the elevator. She waves us in. "Stick together throughout this whole session. Haymitch's orders. And don't show off your true skills, save that for your session. Learn some new things."

We all nod, then she runs back to the elevator and is gone.

We go join the other tributes, and a tall athletic woman named Atala starts talking. She explains the schedule for today, then lets us head to the stations.

I eye the Careers, the boys who are big and burly, and the girls who are smaller but just as strong.

Peeta, Gale, and I all stick together like glue. We ace the edible and poisonous plants station, learn some new fighting techniques, and Peeta enjoys the camouflage station very much. He swirls together mud, berry juices, and other various items and it creates beautiful, colorful artwork. The lady in charge beams at him, and Gale just scowls. I have to drag Peeta away to the next station.

For the next few days, all we do is train. Gale, Peeta, and I all test out each station, trying everything out. We try to keep a low profile and avoid the other tributes, but it isn't easy.

"Hey, triplets!" jeers a District 2 tribute named Cato. "You're all going to die."

Gale clenches his hands into fists.

I grab his arm. "Just walk away, Gale."

He relaxes his hands, then turns around and gives the boy the finger. "Fuck you."

The tributes whirls around. "What the hell did you say, asshole?"

Gale doesn't back down. "Fuck you."

"Take that back." Cato is livid.

"No," Gale calmly retorts.

Cato takes a step forward. "Now, dickhead. Or else."

Gale crosses his arms. "Or what?"

Cato lunges forward and smacks Gale across his face. Gale launches his fist into Cato's stomach, and Cato grunts.

Atala runs out, yelling. "BOYS! BOYS!" They don't listen as she tries to regain control of the situation. "STOP IT THIS INSTANT!"

They obviously don't listen, and keep attempting to beat each other up. Atala runs out of the room.

I am standing quietly in shock for a second, then run over to Gale and try to pry him away from Cato to no avail. He is way stronger then me, and is stubbornly determined to teach Cato a lesson.

Atala reappears with a couple of Peacekeepers. "These boys are breaking the rules!"

Some Peacekeepers stride over and grab Cato away. The others drag Gale up.

One Peacekeeper scowls. "There is no fighting permitted before the games!"

"I was provoked," Gale says angrily.

The Peackeeper's face doesn't change. "I don't give a damn. You break the rules, you will face the consequences."

He gestures to Gale and Cato. "Take them away."

They get slowly dragged into the elevator, and I yell. "Gale! Gale!" I start to run to him. Gale looks at me, and I see that his expression is apologetic.

I am restrained by Peeta, who makes shusing noises. "Katniss. Katniss. Look, we can't make a difference. Just stay calm. It'll be okay."

I know it won't be okay though.

A/N: This was kind of a filler chapter. Yes, I know. The story is SLOW. But it's coming! The action's coming! :) Review, please!