The Training
During training we get to see the competition. The careers look cocky as usual, showing off their skills to scare the other tributes. The District Twelve tributes look malnourished, as though they might pass out at any given moment. There's an obstacle course set up called the Gauntlet. I encourage Addis to try it but she is scared she will embarrass herself in front of the other tributes. I tell her not to be afraid but honestly the careers scare me to death. Some of them have trained for this since they could walk. Fighting one of them alone is dangerous enough without them teaming up.
"Watch," I say as I head toward the Gauntlet.
I dominate the whole course displaying a wide range of different skills. This gets the attention of some of the tributes. I pretend to slip over the edge, falling onto a mat on the other side. I may have just made myself a target but now they will think I'm just a klutz. Addis laughs for the first time I've ever seen.
"Let's move on to something else," I say.
Apparently I have no talents other than running fast, climbing, and anything else that will make me look like a coward to the sponsors. Addis is even worse than me. I'm starting to think that she will be more of a burden than anything.
I dread walking into the cafeteria where the other tributes are gathered. I would much rather eat lunch with Rose, but I think it's mandatory. I look around while I wait for Addis to arrive. I see the girl from District Eight, who is clearly one of the youngest tributes here eating all alone. It seems the male from Eight has teamed up with the One and Two. I feel bad but there isn't much I can do. I join her at a table farthest from the careers, but it doesn't help me to not be noticed. The girls from One and Two stand on both sides of me.
"My friend thinks you're really cute!" says the girl from Two.
They could only have met for the first time yesterday but yet they refer to each other as friends. I admit the girl from Two is easy on the eyes but the girl from One is built like an ox, and more muscular than me.
"Why don't you team up with us? I'll put in a good word for you!" the girl from One says.
I'm sure they're already plotting how to kill me even now as they extend some sort of treaty.
"No thanks, I'd rather take my chances alone than team up with weaklings!"
"Now you've gone and offended us, Five!" says the girl from Two,"where's that miserable girl of yours, hmm? Or maybe this one is more your type."
She sits down next to the girl from Eight who is now shaking. The girl from Two starts playing with the little girl's hair.
"She's cute but way too young for you Five," says the girl from Two.
I pound my fist on the table. Before I know it, I'm standing up.
"Get your hands off her!" I yell. "Don't worry they can't hurt you," I tell the girl from Eight.
Well they can't hurt her yet, and now I'm scared I have made things worse for the little girl. I barely notice that I've made a scene. The career girls are fuming; I can tell I've embarrassed them.
"How dare you talk to us like that!" shouts the girl from One. "I'll make sure you all die slow deaths in the arena!"
I'm almost sure she will punch me with her oversized arms but she can't, and the careers know the rules better than any of us.
Lunch time is over and Addis never shows up. Guess it wasn't mandatory.