Chapter 5

Private Sessions

The next morning consists of breakfast, and preparations for the training center. We will have three days to learn as much as possible about staying alive. Seeder and Chaff instruct me to learn to build fires, determine edible plants (the ones I don't already know), and use some of the smaller weapons.

The only part of their advice that I don't think I will consider is using the weapons. They are trying to encourage the weapons but, honestly who are they kidding? I can't learn to use a weapon well enough in three days to take anyone out in the arena. I'm just too small.

The other advice they offered is actually valuable. I have no idea what kind of arena I will be thrust into and looking into edible plants, and making fires could be useful.

I also know that I need some strategy for the cornucopia, I need to leave with some supplies. Without anything I won't last long, there are just too many things that could go wrong without any kind of supplies.

After breakfast Seeder and Chaff send Thresh and I down in an elevator to the training center. It's located underground and the elevator ride is thrilling. I almost laugh at the feel of us gliding through floor after floor. I think about what Prine's reaction would be to this, and I smile. She would be so excited-and she would want to do it again and again.

I sigh, and the elevator doors open. I take in the area, and my first thought is how it's so grey. Everything is a standard slate grey with each section having it's own touch. The edible plants station is covered in parts of plants and greenery. The fire building station is in some tall grass, and there's tinder and wood everywhere.

I also look over the circle of tributes. It's an interesting mix of people. I also notice that everyone here has his or her district number pinned to the back of his or her shirt. Someone pins an 11 to my back just as I realize this, and Thresh and I make our way to the circle of tributes.

For a few moments we stand in our tribute circle, completely silent, everyone just taking in the competition. I immediately notice that the tributes we're waiting on are the ones from 12, Katniss and Peeta. As we wait I realize that my mentors have failed to instruct me to use my strongest talent-my spying skills.

They should have told me to watch everyone, because my best skill is determining other people's skills. This is very beneficial to the arena, because I will have the upper hand on every tribute-knowing their skills, and consequently their weaknesses. Most tributes try and hide their skills from the others in the arena, but they don't do this well.

The dumbest ones try to make it seem as though they are clueless when at the station of their greatest asset. The smarter ones act like they know a little here or there, just as they do at all the other stations. However, the smartest ones avoid their station completely, until they're alone with the Gamemakers. This keeps all the other tributes in the dark, while it allows the Gamemakers to see their skills privately. It also gives the tribute the upper hand, if they know their skill well enough to not need practice.

Ten minutes later, after standing for a while the other tributes start looking uneasy the two we've been waiting for appear. They're dressed identically, and I have to fight a smile-they're a team once again. Whoever has orchestrated this is a genius. Whatever relationship Katniss and Peeta have is being used as a strategy-and a well executed strategy at that. They remain side by side as they join the group, and the other tributes eye them skeptically.

I know that Katniss will begin to squirm under everyone's stares quickly, so I avert my eyes, and to her relief a woman named Atala begins briefing us on the training center and the stations. I fight a smile once again, because I know that while Katniss would have been uncomfortable, rather than let it show she would have went into lock down.

She would have replaced her expression with her emotionless mask, and kept her posture the same as it is now. She has perfected her lockdown mode. To anyone less perceptive it would seem as though she is simply deep in thought, though others would know that she is shielding her emotions from the outside.

When Atala dismisses us I lock my eyes on Katniss-and consequently Peeta. Peeta appears to be snapping Katniss out of her thoughts, and they make their way to the knot tying station. I almost follow them, but I think better of it. I will learn more from watching them from afar, as long as I keep it subtle I can pick apart their skills and weaknesses, and hopefully discover the dynamic between them-because there is definitely something.

I move to an adjacent station, which happens to be the camouflage station. As I perfect the art of blending in with my surroundings-which is easier than I thought it would be, it helps being small-I watch Katniss and Peeta. It quickly becomes clear why Katniss selected their station. She can set up traps with rope or wires easily, and the trainer excitedly teaches her a trap that will leave a competitor dangling from one leg in a tree.

Over our three days of training I glean new knowledge of my competitors.

Marvel, the boy from 1, has good aim with a spear and he's large which gives him an advantage in hand to hand combat. His district partner is small, but she is a career which means she is great with weapons. Though I notice that neither of them bothers to stop at any of the survival stations.

Cato, the boy from 2 is deadly in almost all ways, though as I had suspected, he relies too heavily on his instincts, and they are often unreliable. Clove, his partner is smart, and good with knives, though she is also great at hand to hand, which is surprising for a girl, especially one only slightly larger than Katniss. They also didn't bother to visit the survival stations.

As I had suspected Katniss seems to know how to survive. As she and Peeta make their way through the day, trying different stations, I make it a point to follow them, while keeping my distance. Peeta excels at camouflage, while Katniss can select edible plants easily. Peeta is also great at hand to hand combat, while Katniss has uncanny accuracy with knives-in fact, she's the only person who holds a candle to Clove when it comes to knives.

Katniss doesn't seem to notice this fact, though all the Careers do. They all look jealous, and it makes me think she might become an even bigger target-great.

I also learned a lot about the dynamic of the Career pack this year. They seem to have chosen Cato as their leader over their meals in the training center, and he is more than willing to take over. Cato and Clove are closer than most of the district partners, but not romantically, more like as allies. I think that when the Career pack splits up they will remain as solid allies.

I also think that the weakest link of the Career pack is the boy from 1. He seems too independent to stay with the group for long, and I think he will be one of the first to break the alliance. I noticed that the boy from district 3 also has worked his way into the Career pack this year. Usually the Careers are only from district 1, 2, and 4.

Finally I notice that Katniss and Peeta's relationship-whatever it was-is changing. The first few days at lunch they put up a friendly front, talking and laughing during their meal. Though towards the end of the few days it feel forced-the laughs a little too loud, or the jokes a little too funny-and I notice that they seem to be struggling to make conversation.

Peeta seems like a good man though. I know that he's noticed my careful surveillance. He mentioned it to Katniss on day two of training but I couldn't hear her response. All I know is that she snapped at him, and he didn't even snap back-he has amazing patience with her, even when she's irritable.

I also have discovered something I didn't know about myself. I can hit a target almost every time with a slingshot. This encourages me, not because I think it will make a good weapon, but because it can throw sounds, and sounds distract people, or animals away from a target-just long enough for someone to escape. I practice it for sometime, and I resolve to either get a slingshot at the cornucopia or craft one myself in the arena.

With a vague plan outlined in my thoughts I feel a little less anxious about the arena. I also think I might have an idea for my private session with the Gamemakers.

We all wait nervously in the dining room-none of us sure how to proceed-as they call us one by one in for our private Gamemaker sessions. They work their way down from district 1to 12 and they take each male tribute first, so as the group dwindles it's down to Thresh, Peeta, Katniss, and I.

While we were waiting I sensed that there was some sort of a 'chill' between them, they didn't seem as comfortable as before-but then again who would? The closer we get to the arena the more uneasy everyone will be, and this puts people on edge.

When they call me in it leaves Katniss and Peeta alone, I can't help but feel sorry for the awkward situation they're in. However I quickly refocus my attention on the task at hand.

Seeder and Chaff had said to play up my strengths: climbing, jumping from tree to tree, observing others, and apparently firing a slingshot. Thresh had said to show them the innocence they're depriving the world of using my voice. I've decided to try both-the worst they can do is give me a zero.

I go in and I immediately see that they are not paying attention anymore. The Gamemakers are engrossed in their feast, and their alcohol. It irritates me that I'm going to die, and they can't even bother to show the least bit of respect-another reminder of their superiority. Personally, I see nothing superior of tormenting the weaker man, which is exactly what the Capitol does to the districts.

I clear my throat-though it's unnecessary-and gain a bit of attention. Then I begin to sing.

There's a beautiful place somewhere,

And I hope that it's close to here.

As I sing I climb on the provided ropes course, and I jump around, using the supports of the ceiling as my makeshift trees. I fly around the training center, my voice ringing loud and clear through the open space.

There's a beautiful place out there,

And I hope that it's close to here.

A place with love, a place with joy.

A place for rest, a place for happiness!

And I know it's where we'll go, because...

There's a beautiful place out there,

And I know it's not far from here.

At the end of the song I am at the slingshot station, and I shoot at several different targets, which I hit, while I take in the Gamemakers responses.

A few look surprised, and several look a little sad. Majority of them are distracted still, but there are one or two who appear to be genuinely moved by my song, my talents, or a mixture of both. This gives me hope that my score may not be terrible.

That night our dinner is a flurry of questions. What did you do for them? How did they react? How long did you have? Did they seem interested?

And a flood of answers. Sang, climbed, jumped, shot things with a slingshot. They were surprised, some were sad. A few minutes, maybe five. Not really, but there were two who looked like they actually cared.

Seeder and Chaff take in all the information provided by both Thresh and myself. They say that we should expect lower scores, because we went so close to last, but that our scores have been consistently higher than 12's in the past years and we should stand out more than them.

If only I could shake my head and tell them 'If you think that Katniss wil go unnoticed you've got another thing coming.' She isn't one to be ignored, especially not with her life on the line.

After our meal we're herded into the living room to see the scores. Everyone gathers to watch the pictures and scores fly by. The careers all pull solid eights to tens. The other districts seem to earn about a five all around. When we finally make it to Thresh we all inch forward in our seats and grip the chairs tightly. Thresh pulls a nine! A nine! That's as good as-and better than-some of the Careers!

"A nine!" I yell excitedly and turn to him. "Congratulations." He accepts my praise with a small smile, and the anticipation for my score sends us all into our silence again.

My picture comes up and I feel my hear racing. Seeder warned me not to expect higher than a four, because I am so small, and no one from 11 ever gets high scores. When my score comes up I squeal in shock and delight.

I got a seven! A seven! That's so surprising, and good at the same time. They must have thought I had potential. It makes me smile widely, as I accept everyone's praise.

Finally Peeta and Katniss have to receive their scores I tense up in anticipation. Peeta gets an eight-which is great for a tribute from 12, or any tribute really. The stunner is Katniss. Whatever she did must have been a hit, because she earned herself an 11. I giggle a little at the outcome. I knew she wouldn't go unnoticed.

The room is now silent, our scores outshined by the tributes from 12. How anticlimactic. I break the silent stillness by raising myself from the couch and telling everyone, "Goodnight."

As I walk to my room I find that the closer I get to my bed the only thought I can form is: way to go girl on fire.

Hey there readers! I'm posting this new chapter to keep it moving along. I will be trying to post a few times each week. Thanks for all the support and reviews. Constructive criticism really helps :). Reviews make my day, and I thank you all for each and every one of them.

What did you think of Rue's time with the Gamemakers? I thought is was risky to have her sing, but I thought about how she could have gotten their attention, and I figured it had to have been her voice. Let me know what you thought.

Thanks,

R&R