It's the first day of training and I'm eager to find out what Johanna did to terrify Katniss this time. I'm appalled by it but it seemed to work. Then, she runs off to find something to do, leaving me alone. I look around the training center and find a lonely Katniss cursing under her breath at a very simple knot for someone like me. I walk over and wrap my arms around her, finishing the knot. I walk over and grab a length of rope, makes a noose, and pretend to hang myself. Funny, right? She doesn't seem to think so. She gets up and starts making a fire. I head off, having mastered this by the time I was seven and walk to the archery station.
I'm not amazing, at all. I picked up a bit from what I've seen people do. I get it after a while. Johanna walks up behind me.
"Nuts and Volts seem to have an interest in Fire Girl. Great combo," she says walking by. I look over to see them starting fires. At lunch, I sit with Mags, Johanna, Cecilia, and the rest of the Careers find their way over. By the end, we are all sitting together except for Katniss and Peeta who seem okay with their party of two at the end of the cafeteria. I would go over, but that would be weird. Don't want to scare them prematurely.
When we go back in, I can tell Katniss is trying to be more social. It's more awkward than anything. She hangs with Cashmere and Gloss, the more tolerable of the Careers. When I see her at the fishing, I decide that now would be a nice time for her to meet Mags.
"Hello, Katniss. This is Mags winner of the 9th Hunger Games. Mags, this is Katniss, one of last year's winners." I introduce them to each other and they both mumble a hello. Mags sits down to continue teaching Katniss the art of the fishing hook. I head off, not much help there. I end up mostly wandering, taking on some of the things I was mostly scared to try the first time around having been excepted to be a Career. I learn how to make fires, set snares, and camouflage.
I turn around after working with spears and find Katniss at the archery station. I start watching and remarkably she doesn't miss any. Even the smallest marks she makes without trouble. The bow seems like a natural extension of her arm and she draws her arrows like a reflex. It's awesome. It's epic. It's dangerous. I'm putting my formal request to partner with her as soon as I leave this place. She turns around after noticing every one of us staring at her in awe and envy and hatred and fear. She just blushes and puts the bow down.
I find Johanna right after, seeing as she's fuming.
"What was that?" She asks, slamming her ax onto the bar that holds them instead of actually putting it away. She splits the wood in the progress.
"I know, cool right?"
"That's not what I mean. She's…. amazing and I don't have time for that." She says as the bell rings for us to leave.
"Just don't be stupid about it." I tell her.
"I bet she'll pick me over you!" She says, poking my arm.
"Yeah, right!" I head the other way as she does. I head upstairs and immediately send in a request to align with Katniss.
The next day, everyone seems to be smiling up to her. I have to admit, I do too. I give her an hour of trident lessons, which she isn't too bad at, in exchange for an hour of archery lessons, which don't go too well. I've noticed that station has cleared out so not to take on Katniss. I wouldn't want to either alone.
I do the normal for getting my training score, some trident throwing. I make sure to smile a lot too and end up with a 10, not too bad. But the arena draws nearer and nearer.
Sorry this is kind of short but I have a cut on my finger that really hurts when I type (not to be whiny but it hurts!) and I had this chapter planned as a filler anyway (who's excited for the games? Me!), so I decided to go ahead and right it. If you celebrated Thanksgiving this week, then I hope you had a very happy one! I'm thankful for all of my readers!