Day 4- Training (Day 2)
The next morning we're back at the training centre and team up with Fern again. It turns out we are not naturals with a bow. We're horrible. I send my first arrow into the target, but my next ten or so way wide, while Tamla can barely even draw even the smallest one. We decide to stop before we embarrass ourselves too much. Fern, amused at our failure, but also sympathetic afterwards, decides not to attempt archery at all.
Next Tamla and I explain our arrangement to Fern and formally ask her for an alliance. I'm almost certain her delighted expression is genuine and the thought that we might not be alone in there is comforting, as long as we don't think about how only one person survives. We return to camouflage, climbing, food, knots and traps during the day, and again finish with weapons. It might seem really weird, but I genuinely enjoy the day. I push what's coming up to the back of my mind, which takes effort, but I do manage it. It's as if I'm just hanging out with Tamla and Fern, doing this for fun. I quickly decide but for the circumstances we'd be good friends, before correcting myself, as with a hint of resignation I realise we already are. I also have to admit I find Fern very pretty. Without realising it I find myself staring at her when she's not looking. I'm sure Tamla notices, but I hope she'll put it down to me being impressed with Fern's skills with knots and snares.
We overhear at lunch that the district 11 boy, Jeremiah, had his name in the reaping one hundred and fourteen times, and cautiously approach him for an alliance. He is non-committal, but I suppose that's better than being aggressive or laughing at us. Mitro and Carson are not interested in speaking to us at all however, and Grove is just too damn scary for us to even consider it. I do have one little victory during the day, when I call the district four boy, Perrin, by name. He certainly doesn't appear scared or anything, but definitely a little confused, as if he's wondering what hidden skill I've got that makes me brave enough to stand up to him.
I also do my best to try and evaluate everyone in my head during the day. Jade is plain terrifying. Varro, Silver, Perrin and Cleo are all excellent fighters. Shayla is probably the weakest career. She's a bloody good shot with a bow, but doesn't have anything to fall back on really; she doesn't seem tough like the others. Clarissa and Jonathan from district 9 won't last five minutes, and there doesn't seem to be anything special about Daisy and Syme from 12 or Kyla and Barr from 5 either. Grove is strong and scary, but doesn't give anything else away. Amelia and Coulette, the two young girls from 10 and 3 are doomed too, I'd say, whereas at least the last two girls, Zianna from 6 and Cinnamon from 11 seem agile, brave and like they could at least survive in the arena, if not in a fight. Carson, from 10 seems like a decent fighter, no more no less, while Mitro from six, the one who volunteered for his little brother, is starting to seem a little unhinged. I get the feeling he's too angry to actually fight well. Alecto, the boy from 3 is definitely intelligent but he's so nervous I can imagine him jumping off the podium early or something equally stupid. That leaves Jeremiah, who is spending a lot of time at the survival stations, and comes across as a bit of a gentle giant.
As Tamla and I head back up in the elevator after we're finished, I break the silence by saying to her. "I don't think I can kill that girl…"
"Fern?" Tamla asks unnecessarily, as it's obvious who I mean. "Just because you have a crush on her," she comments offhandedly. "I saw you."
"What!" I exclaim, "No I don't!" But the blush that I am powerless to stop rising on my cheeks gives me away.
Tamla notices. "Oh my god! You actually do!" she says, her eyes wide. "I was only joking! You realise how wildly unhelpful and inappropriate that is?"
"You think I don't know that!" I shout, suddenly angry. At Tamla for sticking her nose in, at myself for being such a fool, at Fern for being so likeable, at the Capitol for doing this to us all. As the lift reaches are floor I storm out and head straight for my room.
"Rory!" Tamla calls pleadingly after me, but I just yell back for her to get lost, then yell worse at Woof as he enquires what's going on. Slamming the door behind me, and locking it I curse everything for a good five minutes. As my rage starts to clear I feel guilty for shouting at Tamla and stupid for shouting at Woof. I need him, he's the only one that can get anything to us once we're in the arena, and while he's hardly friendly he's been as helpful as could be. I'm only hurting myself if I hack him off. I give myself a few more minutes to cool off and then head out to apologise to both of them. They accept, though Woof is still a little gruffer with me than before. I'm very grateful for Tamla not broaching the subject again, and we go through dinner with little conversation before I head back to my room early.