Hello everyone! OMG GUYS WE GOT 4 REVIEWS ON THE LAST ONE! THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH! LONGER CHAPTER FOR YOUR GREAT WORK 3 I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE FAVORITES 3
This was a rather fun chapter for me to write. I hope you like it! (tell me if you do in a review?)
For this chapter I hope to finally get those 5 reviews!~ This is a longer chapter after all :P
Replies:
Milarqui Thanks so much. I have to agree on Cinna, I hope I can write him well!
always-an-innocent , betazoid4 , Leah97 , Gopeeta123 (Thanks so much for your comment, it made my day! ;D), Roliebearpolie302. Thanks to all of you for your support! I hope to see you all through to the end :)
A quick message from me: This is my first story to upload on fanfic, PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW!
Random disclaimer: Suzanne Collins Owns Hunger games. I am merely rewriting it as if Katniss were stronger along with Peeta.
Enjoy!
My slumbers are filled with disturbing dreams. The gory images from earlier Hunger Games intertwine with my mother withdrawn and unreachable, with Prim emaciated and terrified. I bolt up screaming for my father to run as the mine explodes into a million deadly bits of light.
Dawn is breaking through the windows. The Capitol has a misty, haunted air. My head aches and I must have bitten into the side of my cheek in the night. My tongue probes the ragged flesh and I taste blood.
I glance around the room, hoping no one would have heard me scream. Of course he did though.
"Katniss? Are you okay? Can I come in?" His frantic words have me rushing to get the door open. There he is wearing tight black pants, a long-sleeved burgundy tunic, and leather shoes. He still somehow manages to stun me. He immediately wraps me in his arms and pulls me to the bed. He sits us on the edge of it and brushes my hair.
"I heard you screaming." He simply mumbles as explanation. His soft, calming brushes of my hair soothe me immediately.
"Nightmare." I stutter. Taking a deep breath. Peeta nods, as always, understanding.
"I have them as well." Peeta moves me back so he can look at me. I realise I'm dressed in my pyjamas I blush and grab similar clothes that Peeta wore, they had been left out for me, and rushed into the bathroom to change.
"You know I don't mind seeing you change." I know he's just teasing me but it still causes me to turn bright crimson. I do my hair up and rush back out. He's still sitting at the bed.
I grimace imaging Effie's wrath if we were late. "Come on. We can't be late." I freeze when he grabs me by the waist and pulls me onto the bed. I can't help the giggle that escapes my mouth. He stops moving for only a second before he collapses with laughter underneath me. I smack his leg lightly and rush to the door, hiding my face from him so he won't see my blush. Of course this is the perfect time for Effie to come looking for me.
"Katniss." She nods curtly, gesturing to the dining hall. I nod and wait at the end of the corridor for Peeta. I realize though that Effie will see him leave, from my room. My blush deepens. Peeta seems to have realized this and struts out, giving Effie a curt nod. She only stands there shocked. Peeta can't hold his laughter as he pulls my hand into his and leads me to breakfast.
I'm nervous about the training. There will be three days in which all the tributes practice together. On the last afternoon, we'll each get a chance to perform in private before the Gamemakers. The thought of meeting the other tributes face-to-face makes me queasy. I turn the roll I have just taken from the basket over and over in my hands, but my appetite is gone.
Of course Peeta notices this and swiftly places a kiss on my hand instantly calming me. I don't think anyone noticed, thankfully.
When Haymitch has finished several platters of stew, he pushes back his plate with a sigh. He takes a flask from his pocket and takes a long pull on it and leans his elbows on the table. "So, let's get down to business. Training. First off, if you like, I'll coach you separately. Decide now."
Obviously Peeta leaves me to answer. It's so ingenious. He isn't flat out asking me if I trust him, nor can I prove he is asking. This bothered me, shouldn't I be the one to doubt him? I'm the undeserving one here.
"You can coach us together," I tell Haymitch. Peeta nods.
"All right, so give me some idea of what you can do," says Haymitch.
I immediately think about Peeta. "Peeta's strong, I've seen him in the market. He can lift hundred-pound bags of flour. He's also an amazing Wrestler. I know he has a lot of endurance, I've heard about his running." I smile smugly. Peeta was mine. Wait what? When did I start thinking of him as mine? I slapped myself again mentally.
Peeta was staring at me with his mouth open. "You know all that?" I nodded. He looked at the table for a second before gazing at Haymitch. "She's amazing with her bow. Never misses a kill. I've seen it with her squirrels, always gets the shot right between their eyes. Katniss is great at traps. She's a fast runner too. Better than me I'm sure." His smile is just as smug as mine. I'm sure I look just as shocked as he did.
For some reason I feel like I did not say enough about Peeta. "He's awesome with his knife and with a mace." Haymitch raises an eyebrow at that. I grin.
"She can handle a knife too-"Peeta tries to go on but Haymitch interrupts him.
"In public, I want you by each other's side every minute," says Haymitch. I don't object and nor does Peeta. Haymitch gets that evil look in his eyes again before dismissing us. "Now get out. Meet Effie at the elevator at ten for training."
Peeta and I return to our rooms. He follows me inside of mine again and we sit patiently waiting till ten. It was nice. I'm glad I had someone to comfort me.
"Thank you," Peeta's words bring me out of my thought. "For before... What you said about me."
"The same to you." I smile and hug him. He smiles back and rests his arm around my neck.
The actual training rooms are below ground level of our building. With these elevators, the ride is less than a minute. The doors open into an enormous gymnasium filled with various weapons and obstacle courses. Although it's not yet ten, we're the last ones to arrive. The other tributes are gathered in a tense circle. They each have a cloth square with their district number on it pinned to their shirts. While someone pins the number 12 on my back, I do a quick assessment. Peeta and I are the only two dressed alike.
As soon as we join the circle, the head trainer, a tall, athletic woman named Atala steps up and begins to explain the training schedule. Experts in each skill will remain at their stations. We will be free to travel from area to area as we choose, per our mentor's instructions. Some of the stations teach survival skills, others fighting techniques. We are forbidden to engage in any combative exercise with another tribute. There are assistants on hand if we want to practice with a partner.
Eventually once she's finished Peeta and I take to tying some knots. Peeta is fairly good at this station. We both learn some advanced knots and snares before moving onto the camouflage station. I simply watch as Peeta draws intricate details on his arm. I barely pay attention though and find myself staring at his face. A frown etched deep in his forehead in concentration.
I barely hear him once he's done. "Katniss want to see?" He lifts his arm up and places it under the light. The alternating pattern of light and dark suggests sunlight falling through the leaves in the woods. I wonder how he knows this, since I doubt he's ever been beyond the fence. Has he been able to pick this up from just that scraggly old apple tree in his backyard? Somehow the whole thing - his skill, those inaccessible cakes, the praise of the camouflage expert - Makes that alien feeling return.
Peeta is still looking at my reaction, when hopefully no one is watching I give into the alien feeling and kiss him. Right in that second. There's a distant gagging sound, but we had already stopped kissing. It came from the boy, Cato. I remember over hearing his name.
So the next three days pass with Peeta and I going quietly from station to station. We do pick up some valuable skills, from starting fires, to knife throwing, to making shelter. Despite Haymitch's order to appear mediocre, Peeta excels in hand-to-hand combat, and I sweep the edible plants test without blinking an eye. We steer clear of archery and weightlifting though, wanting to save those for our private sessions.
The Gamemakers appeared early on the first day. Twenty or so men and women dressed in deep purple robes. They sit in the elevated stands that surround the gymnasium, sometimes wandering about to watch us, jotting down notes, other times eating at the endless banquet that has been set for them, ignoring the lot of us. But they do seem to be keeping their eye on the District 12 tributes. Several times I've looked up to find one fixated on me. They consult with the trainers during our meals as well. We see them all gathered together when we come back.
Breakfast and dinner are served on our floor, but at lunch the twenty-four of us eat in a dining room off the gymnasium. Food is arranged on carts around the room and you serve yourself. The Career Tributes tend to gather rowdily around one table, as if to prove their superiority, that they have no fear of one another and consider the rest of us beneath notice. Most of the other tributes sit alone, like lost sheep. No one says a word to us. Peeta and I eat together. I enjoy these moments. It seems like it's just us.
It's so easy for Peeta to make me laugh, and vice versa. Sometimes we simply laugh for no reason, but it's just as genuine. I realize we both make each other happy. I like the thought of that.
On the night, it's obvious both of us were losing a lot of sleep due to our nightmares. Peeta follows me to the room and stands there. He rubs his neck nervously. "Katniss. I know you're confused and everything, but about you're nightmares. I know it always helps me if I know I'm not alone." His voice trails off but I understand. Would it be bad for him to sleep next to me tonight? He understands about how I feel. I don't know if it's a good idea for me to be lacking sleep either. I shyly nod my head.
Before I know Peeta picks me up, carefully placing his hands under my leg and back, and carries me onto the bed. He doesn't do anything though, simply tucks me under the sheets and places a gentle kiss on my lips. Of course this causes the alien feeling to return and I struggle not to ask for another kiss. He walked around to the other side of the bed and dramatically climbed in.
He wriggled over and placed his arm over my chest, kissing me one more time on the lips when I turn to look at him. It's dark so thankfully I do not get lost in his eyes again. I want to stay awake and enjoy our privacy. No one else in the room. Maybe we could just talk. Unfortunately already my eyes are drifting shut in this comfortable position I have with my head resting against his shoulder.
Peeta who of course notices my resistance leans over and whispers. "Go to sleep Katniss. I'm here." Immediately I fall asleep. Damn Peeta for being so kind.
When I wake up Peeta is staring at me. I nearly fall out of the bed but Peeta steadies me. His face close again. He kisses my nose, chuckling when he sees my pleading expression. He shakes his head and gets out of the bed. I sigh and follow him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He refuses to turn though as he leaves. Yes, Damn Peeta.
On the third day of training, they start to call us out of lunch for our private sessions with the Gamemakers. District by district, first the boy, then the girl tribute. As usual, District 12 is slated to go last. We linger in the dining room, unsure where else to go. No one comes back once they have left. As the room empties, the pressure to appear friendly lightens.
Peeta picks up light banter about bears before he realises it's probably inappropriate. It's only annoying the other tributes. Unfortunately I agree so we sit in silence. When everyone else had left Peeta turns to me and wraps his arms around me. We only had a few minutes. Already I was no longer nervous. Peeta turned my face with his free hand and kissed me. I no longer felt the evasiveness I used to, simply the ever growing alien feeling. All too soon Peeta leaves and I'm left alone. I hope we get this over with quickly, I found myself wanting desperately to be back in Peeta's comfort.
After about fifteen minutes, they call my name. I smooth my hair, set my shoulders back, and walk into the gymnasium. Instantly, I know I'm in trouble. They've been here too long, the Gamemakers. Sat through twenty-three other demonstrations. Had too much to wine, most of them. Want more than anything to go home.
There's nothing I can do but continue with the plan. I walk to the archery station. Oh, the weapons! I've been itching to get my hands on them for days! Bows made of wood and plastic and metal and materials I can't even name. Arrows with feathers cut in flawless uniform lines. I choose a bow, string it, and sling the matching quiver of arrows over my shoulder. There's a shooting range, but it's much too limited. Standard bull's-eyes and human silhouettes. I walk to the center of the gymnasium and pick my first target. The dummy used for knife practice. Even as I pull back on the bow I know something is wrong. The string's tighter than the one I use at home. The arrow's more rigid. I miss the dummy by a couple of inches and lose what little attention I had been commanding. For a moment, I'm humiliated, then I head back to the bull's-eye. I shoot again and again until I get the feel of these new weapons.
Back in the center of the gymnasium, I take my initial position and skewer the dummy right through the heart. Then I sever the rope that holds the sandbag for boxing, and the bag splits open as it slams to the ground. Without pausing, I shoulder-roll forward, come up on one knee, and send an arrow into one of the hanging lights high above the gymnasium floor. A shower of sparks bursts from the fixture.
It's excellent shooting. I turn to the Gamemakers. A few are nodding approval, but the majority of them are fixated on a roast pig that has just arrived at their banquet table.
Suddenly I am furious, that with my life on the line, they don't even have the decency to pay attention to me. That I'm being upstaged by a dead pig. My heart starts to pound, I can feel my face burning. Without thinking, I pull an arrow from my quiver and send it straight at the Gamemakers' table. I hear shouts of alarm as people stumble back. The arrow skewers the apple in the pig's mouth and pins it to the wall behind it. Everyone stares at me in disbelief.
I am not done yet though. Now that I have their attention I shoot four more arrows into four awaiting dummies heart. Sprint over to the knives table and grab three. I return to the dummy station and throw two. One for the heart and one for the head. With my remaining Knife I slice off the dummies head. In the silence the head clangs to the floor and rolls. I turn back to the gamemakers.
"Thank you for your consideration," I say. Then I give a slight bow and walk straight toward the exit without being dismissed.
ISN'T KATNISS JUST AWESOME? I love how Peeta is sleeping with her, I know a few of you would be getting ahead of yourselves but Katniss just isn't in that kind of Love state yet mmkay? Don't worry though. I'm looking forward to her finally confessing her love as well!
Alas the end of the chapter! do not fret however! If you manage to get 5 reviews I'll have another chapter up tommorow!
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If you're interested in hunger games check out my take on it! (What if Katniss and Peeta were stronger emotionally AND physically? Would they still fall in love? Would Katniss be able to stand this stronger Peeta? My take on The Hunger Games. Please review!)
s/9666522/1/Everybody-has-to-be-stronger-A-Hunger- games-rewrite
If you're interested in host check out my take on it! (What if Ian was captured and inserted with a soul? Would Ian and Wanda get back together, or would the Soul turn them all over! Find out now!)
s/9672281/1/Keeping-Promises
If you're interested in Twilight check out my take on it! (What if Bella had been a vampire before she moved to forks? Edward's and Bella's POV)
s/9677957/1/Vampiric-from-the-beggining
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P.s: Guys I'm also doing a Host fanfic, it's about Ian if he were inserted with a soul! s/9672281/1/Keeping-Promises
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