Training Day 2

Amaranthine "Amaranth" Carteret (17) D2M

Was I the only one who felt bad about this whole deal? Never did I want Fynn in the alliance and now he was dictating our moves. I didn't get what Olympia saw in him but I didn't like him. And it was quite hard for me to dislike people.

I wanted to voice my thoughts to Olympia but I didn't know how to. I didn't want to appear as if I was questioning her but including Fynn was not a good move.

As I took in the vastness of the room with its ornate decoration, I tried to persuade myself that what we were doing was right. The human mind, however, always knew when one was trying to fool oneself, and ultimately I couldn't convince myself to be supportive of their plan.

I needed to talk to Olympia.

I walked out of my room into a very lavish corridor. As I walked down the deserted hall, the sound of my footsteps echoed, making an eerie impression as there was someone else there apart from me. of course there wasn't, but I knew it was my own nervousness.

Stopping in front of the door to her room, I knocked smartly on the wood.

As I waited patiently, she called out, "Just a sec!"

When she opened the door, she seemed to have a puzzlement on her face on seeing me. It seemed as if she had just had a shower, her hair wet and falling down in beautiful golden locks. Right then she looked pretty in an unworldly way.

Stop Amaranth! I thought.

"Uh, Ama?" she asked. I blinked, realising I had stared for far too long.

"Olympia, if it's not a bother, may I have a word with you?"

"Sure Amaranth," she said in that beautiful voice of hers, "You're my ally."

She gestured for me to follow her in and I did, feeling nervous. The fact that she reminded me of Galatea too much didn't help at all.

I sat down on the chair next to her bed while she settled herself on it. She smiled at me.

"Is something bothering you?" she asked.

"Olympia," I started, "With all respect, do not think I am questioning your decision in any way, or that I don't have the alliance's best interests in my mind."

"I'm sure you do," she said.

"I know that if the outer district tributes train, they can overtake us. It's a rare thing but it can surely happen. However, not giving them a chance goes against our morality. Both of are here to bring honour to our District, to fill each citizen with pride. But threatening the other tributes during their training- I apologise for my words- but it seems to be an act of cowardice."

Olympia stared at me for a while, her lips pursed, her eyes unreadable. I was certain that I had spoken too much, that I should stop but a being a person who feared death, I didn't like the idea of threatening all those children at all.

"Can I continue?"

She nodded.

"It is also no secret that during the time we should be thinking about strategy, picking targets and make a plan, along with training Victory, we're actually stopping others from training. Threatening the stronger of the tributes would be a good idea, but picking on children is a lowly deed. In my opinion, we should focus on strategy instead of the other tributes as of now. I'm sorry if my words offended you."

There. I had said my bit. I didn't even know why I felt so strongly about it but I did. I just hoped she didn't hate me all of a sudden. Being disliked wasn't something I felt good about.

"You're right…" Olympia said thoughtfully, "I can't believe I stopped so low. You're right, it is cowardly. Thank you Ama, for opening my eyes."

I smiled at her politely and stood up to leave. As I turned I felt her strong grip on my wrist. Stopping in my tracks, I faced her.

"I'm glad to have you as a District Partner," she said softly. This time I smiled in a rather free manner. She didn't hate me. She didn't.

"Me too," I replied in a shy way, although I didn't know why, "Me too."

Bridge Carter (12) D12M

I tried working with a chakram.

Yes, I tried working with a chakram. Perry thought it was a mad move. It thought it was a mad move. But I didn't care. Chakram was a cool weapon, seldom used, and very efficient. At least the trainer made it seem like it was efficient. And anyway, swords, spears, javelins… I couldn't handle them. Knives were way too common. And why should Bridge do anything common?

"I think four inches will suit you," the trainer said, making me throw the disc again and again.

"You do?" I asked, "Let's try it then."

The first time I threw the weapon it landed very close to bull's eyes. With a smile of satisfaction, I said, "This seems to be good."

And that was when I felt Perry's gaze burning the back of my head. Ah Perry… I turned around and saw that she was observing me in a rather… suspicious way. I didn't have to be told that Perry was very smart, she could catch my act easily. In no circumstance could I let that happen. I grinned at her.

"I found a weapon!" I cried.

"That's good and all but…" she said.

"But what?" I asked with a childish wickedness, "Impressed by your young friend's skills?"

"Actually, I am," she replied, "That is not an easy weapon to use Bridge. How are you doing so well?"

With a sigh I let my shoulders slump. This had to look authentic. Dragging myself to my ally, I looked up at her with a cute pout on my face, or what I hoped was acute pout because I couldn't really see my face, and said, "Perry, I am tired."

"Tired?" she asked in surprise.

"Yeah tired," I answered with another sigh, "Ever since I have volunteered I've been a crying mess. All I have done is being a burden to you. An extra responsibility which isn't actually your responsibility. I want to contribute to our alliance too. You can't do all the work, Perry. I- I don't want to be useless."

Her gaze softened and she patted my cheek.

"Give your best, boy," she said. I smiled at her but I could see it in her eyes that she hadn't bought it. Oh well.

At that moment the boy from Eleven decided to join our company. Perry growled at his sight and I stepped back. There was something about him that I loathed. I couldn't wait to see him dead.

"Hello," he said, "Persephone, I saw your skills with the javelin the other day. It was pretty impressive."

"So?" Perry asked in annoyance.

"You don't really need to train with that, or any weapon actually, do you?" he said, making it sound like a question but all three of us knew it wasn't one.

Perry crossed her arms against her chest and gazed in his eyes steadily. I knew the girl wasn't going to give up and I admired that about her. A part of me would actually be content to send her back home.

"That is for me to decide, Mr. non-career Career," she replied loftily, "I think you don't really need to interfere in everything, do you?"

Fynn's eyes turned dangerous and he narrowed them, a smile on his face.

"You do realise that you are making yourself a target, don't you?"

"You do realise that everyone in this room wants you dead desperately, don't you?" Perry retaliated.

Fynn was about to lunge at her when a chakram flew past his nose, narrowly missing it, and landed itself on the opposite wall. The elder boy was frozen on the spot and Perry raised her brows at me. Slowly, I walked over to the wall and pulled out my weapon and glared at him.

"Sorry Mr. King," I said, "But I missed."

He just stared at me and then I walked over to him. I was not even five feet tall and he was towering over me but I looked him straight in the eye. Perry had a smile on her face, a victorious smile and I liked being the cause of it.

"Try to mess with me or my ally again and I will personally take you down in the bloodbath."

Rowan Clear (17) D7F

I really wished the little boy hadn't made an enemy of that Career. His allies, arriving right on time, literally dragged him away. Now they were having a conversation about something and the boy from Eleven disagreed strongly with whatever they were saying and so did the girls from One and Four, but Olympia, probably their leader, held her ground. The boys remained silent during the whole discussion whereas Cecelia just looked from one person to another.

I was at by the hatchet station, not really practising but more like observing. I was okay with them, and I had the strength to throw them far if required. Near the axe station I saw Asher and Burgundy, I thought that was his name, were talking to each other in rather friendly tones. Asher was smiling, actually smiling and the other boy then definitely said something that made him chuckle a bit. Maybe he had found an ally? It didn't matter; I was here to help everyone apart from Careers anyway.

There was something about him that attracted people. His smile, his ease, everything seemed genuine. As I approached them I caught a few words.

"…used to tell me loads of stories and papa took me to all sorts of places and gave me so many treats!"

"Well," Burgundy said with a smile, "When I was young mom used to cook all sorts of delicacies for me. She took me to the park and played with me. Dad too. And my little sister. I miss them all."

"I miss my family too!" Asher said, "I will see them again!"

Burgundy smiled at that but didn't really say anything.

"We should be hopeful."

"Excuse me?" I interrupted.

"Hi."

"Rowan!" Asher said, "This is Burgundy! Burg, this is Rowan. She's literally the sweetest person around here!"

We shook hands with a smile, all the time feeling slightly awkward. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped.

"You… do you want to join us?"

It seemed as if he would say yes immediately but he didn't. Instead he smiled and looked into my eyes.

"Please do!" Asher exclaimed like a little boy. My sweet little boy.

"Rowan, I'm happy you offered to be align with me," he started carefully, "But can I as you why-"

"Why I volunteered," I finished for him. He nodded.

"Burgundy, the thing is," I said, already feeling uncomfortable voicing my opinion here, in the training centre, "They can't really have what they want every time, can they?"

"You mean…?"

"Yes," I said, "I'll try my best to assist everyone. A non-Career has to win."

He stared at me for a few seconds as if trying to extract some secret and hidden intentions from my expressions. He would find nothing though because there were no hidden intentions. I held back nothing from him and maybe he saw it because he nodded and extended his hand with a smile.\

"Allies?" he asked.

"Allies," I said and shook his hand firmly and then released it quickly. Something told me he wasn't big on touch of any kind. Well, I wouldn't make anyone uncomfortable on purpose.

"ALLIES!" Asher cried out and hugged me. He was about to do that with Burgundy too but the elder boy stopped him and settled for fist-bump instead.

"I'm so happy," Asher said, "Now that I think of it, why was I sad yesterday? I can return home, right?"

"Yes," I said with a certainty, "You have it in you."

"Exactly. Plus I have two awesome friends like you guys! I'm unbeatable!"

"Asher," I said, hating myself for it, "Cut down on the optimism kid."

"But," he said with something of a pout, "You said yesterday 'Be positive. Don't give up.' And now you're like 'Cut down the optimism.' I'm confused…"

We laughed, all three of us. It was a good feeling. For a moment I could forget I was going into the Games. And Asher's optimism and positivity made me feel positive too.

"By the way," Burgundy said, "I have another ally. Alessandra."

Aly was a young child and didn't deserve to be here by any means. I had talked to her the previous day and she told me that she already had an ally. Maybe she was talking about Burgundy. Whatever the case, I was ready to extend my full support to the girl. I smiled.

"Tell her she's welcome in our alliance."

Hello! I know this is short but I hope it doesn't matter too much. What did you think of this chapter? I want to reach the Games quickly now and I hope I am not messing up the pregames. And please don't forget to vote in the poll. Your opinion matters more than you think they do. And I thank all of you who are reading because I know everyone has a busy life. Thank you.

Have a good day!