9: Training and Agreements

Gale POV

Katniss and I knock on Haymitch's door again. I have a lot more respect for him now that I know what actually happened in his life; now I can see why he drinks and doesn't generally mentor very well. If Katniss and my family were killed then I doubt that hunting would be enough to help me cope. I would be fixated on vengeance like he is. Perhaps before the Quarter Quell, Haymitch was just like I was. The video makes me wonder exactly how much Haymitch knows about a rebellion though. The Capitol wouldn't kill his whole family just for the stunt in the arena, there had to be more to it. Haymitch must have got properly involved with a rebellion.

Haymitch opens the door. He looks better than he did when we came about an hour ago, less drunk. Less angry with the world. "What?" he asks us. He gestures for us to come in. "I don't have a whole load of time ahead of me, do you want to tell me what you're here for?" he asks impatiently. Katniss and I step through the door and follow Haymitch deeper into his house, weaving around the empty liquor bottles. My hand clasps tighter around the tape in my hand and I wonder what abilities he could be hiding from us. He may seem like just an old drunk, but he was lethal with that axe.

"We watched the Games," I tell him. "Your Games." I hold out the tape to him. He snatches it and throws it down at the sofa. "I understand what you meant now," I press him. "About my Games being easier than yours." I pause, wondering if I should stop now. Haymitch is my only hope to get out of the Quarter Quell, can I afford to disagree with him? Pride wins out and a need to be understood. Haymitch won't pay any attention to my opinion if he thinks I'm just a child who doesn't know real hardship. "But my Games weren't easy," I continue. "And I went in sure that I wouldn't come out. You're not the only one who's been through a lot. I know what it's like to be hopeless."

"Of course you do," he mutters. "You're here for advice, I guess. To train. Am I right?" he asks us. "You think that I can teach you how to survive against career victors and people who tear people's throats out with their bloody teeth? If you watched my games then you will realise that I would have died if I hadn't had a stroke of inspiration with the force field. There's not much I can do for you other than to give you advice on what to work on."

"Fine," Katniss says eagerly. "Advise us. Tell me what I can do to stay alive, to come back to Prim and mum. Tell me how I can avoid being killed and don't you dare give me the same advise as you did last year. Telling me to stay alive won't give me any advantage over people who tear out throats with their teeth."

Haymitch shrugs and walks in front of Katniss. He looks her up and down and prods her arms and stomach a bit. "Get more muscle," he tells her. "Right now you'll be next to useless in a hand to hand fight against any tribute. Remember when Clove pinned you back at the cornucopia. If you could run faster and were stronger then that wouldn't have happened." He pauses. "And it's one person. Enobaria. District 2 victor. Before your time, she's around thirty now."

Enobaria. I file the name away in my memory, reminding myself to keep an eye out for her in the Games. It isn't so usual that a career will go insane in the Games as I think they have some sort of psychological training. Then again, the type of person who would volunteer is probably somewhat insane anyway. As a career, that is. I think that most people would volunteer for a sibling that they loved, though perhaps not for a girlfriend to protect her.

"What about me?" I ask. "What do I need to work on?" I have muscle- I can fight hand to hand. Shortly after the Games I started teaching myself to fight without weapons incase somebody tried to attack me. Seeing as I would have money and might have become a person that District 12 would hate it seemed like the logical thing to do at the time. Nobody did attack me, but it seems to have come in useful.

"Strategy," he says. "Last time you relied on Aravis for strategy a lot of the time. And the careers don't need strategy, they're strong enough. You need to be able to outsmart them. Watch past Hunger Games. See if you can pick up anything that other tributes have used. Try to picture yourself in their situation and think what you would have done. You would need it as a mentor as well- assuming you aren't stupid enough to volunteer."

"I'm not stupid," I tell him. "I know they won't let us both out alive again." His words make sense to me though. Strategy is useful both as a tribute and a mentor. "If I am reaped, could you volunteer for me?" I ask hopefully. "Won't it be better for the rebellion if I stay safe?" Mention of the rebellion should help persuade him.

Haymitch sighs. "I value my life," he says. "Maybe. It depends on what happens with the rebellion and what will be best for the cause. Maybe it won't even come to the reaping if everything is successful. But I wouldn't count on it. Be prepared for either situation Gale. It would help you to get to know some of the victors in the rebellion- chances are they will be reaped."

I shrug. It was better than I expected, I honestly didn't think that he would even entertain the thought of volunteering. He may even care more about the rebellion than about self-preservation. And he has a point about the Capitol rigging the reaping so that suspected rebellion victors are chosen. I wonder which ones they are though. And which ones I would meet in the mentor room- probably quite a few victors are on our side. Most victors from outer Districts I would think.

"True," I say. "Do you have any Games that I could watch?" I ask him. "And which victors are rebellion and which ones aren't? There are bound to be some mentor victors aren't there? And is the mentor room on camera? Can we discuss plans there?" I don't want to destroy the rebellion by discussing our plans in the wrong place.

"I have most of the Games," Haymitch says. "Finnick, Annie, Johanna, Beetia, Wiress, Chaff, Seeder, Electra and Mags are the ones that I know of. The ones that I communicate with. There are probably more though. And are you stupid? Of course the mentor room is on camera and if it wasn't then you still wouldn't be able to discuss plans there because of all the career victors there."

"Oh," I say, feeling stupid. I need to think of these things in future if I don't want to mess up the rebellion. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Just go watch the videos. Katniss, work on your strength. And remember that all of the rebellion is hanging on you getting this right. So stay alive." Haymitch's advice is slightly more useful than last year, but he couldn't resist putting in stay alive. As if I'm a bit hazy on the concept of wanting to live.

Over the next few months, Katniss and I spend most of our free time training. Katniss and I practise hand-to-hand combat together and she ends up beating me about a third of the time, which is an improvement from the beginning. We watch the videos of the Hunger Games together, commenting on what we would have done as tributes or as mentors.

President Snow is true to his word with Katniss and Romulus Thread leaves District 12 after being put on trial for his treatment of Melanie. This means that we can spend a lot of time in the woods, practising climbing, swimming and hunting. We also practiced for sword-fighting using sticks, as swords are the most common weapons in the arena.

After the few months of training, I can easily tell the difference. My muscles are more defined now, I can run faster, my reflexes are better, I can climb higher. I'm stronger. More ready. But if a few months of training can make this much difference for me, it worries me what it will do for the other victors. Career victors probably spend half of their lives training and they have the resources in their career academies to master any weapon.

Then again, maybe most of the victors are like Haymitch. Coping with the aftermath of the Games by drinking or taking drugs instead of training or hunting like Katniss and I did. Then having more experienced victors will be better. And we have some good victors in the rebellion side. I know Finnick and Johanna are very skilled with tridents and axes respectively. Finnick can swim. Johanna can climb. Beetie is from District 3, so he'll know all about electronics. Maybe he'll be able to rewire the mines like the careers did last year.

I can't stop wondering about the reaping though. Now, a few hours before the reaping, it is obvious that their will be a rescue coming from the rebellion. And Haymitch didn't speak to me again about the possibility of him volunteering. And the chances of him being reaped are low, very low. It should be fifty-fifty, but I really doubt that this will be a fair reaping. The chances of Snow leaving something like that to chance are about the same as the chances that he's actually a nice guy who wants us both to live. In other words zero.

I pull on a suit for the reaping. For some reason I have to dress up for the occasion where I will almost certainly be called up to die. My family are waiting downstairs for me. I can see that Posy has just been crying because her eyes are red and watery, but she's trying to put on a brave face for me. I walk over to her and give her a big hug and kiss her on the forehead.

"It's going to be OK Posy," I reassure her. "I might not even get picked at all. It's either me or Haymitch and he might be volunteering if I get picked." She looks up at me and I wipe the tears away from her face. Her arms wrap around me tightly and then she lets go, looking down again.

"What if he doesn't get picked though?" Posy asks. "What if he doesn't volunteer? You'll die because you won't kill Katniss or let Katniss die. You love her too much." I swallow guiltily. She's right, if I do get picked then I will give up my life for Katniss if necessary. The chances of me getting out alive are low. But Posy understands. I would give up my life for her if she was in Katniss's position.

"Then I have to go in," I admit. "And I probably will die." I hesitate, trying to think of a way not to make her panic more. There is no way of sugar coating this though. "Posy, if I do die then I don't want you to be depressed. Try to carry on with your everyday life. Never take any tesserae, even if my victory money runs out. And remember that I never stopped loving you."

Posy nods solemnly. "I won't," she whispers to me. Suddenly her arms are around me again and I hug her back, enjoying her warmth. "But please don't get reaped," she murmurs to me. "It was horrible when you were away last time. I wanted to think that you would come back alive but I knew that you wouldn't kill Katniss and when they changed the rules at the end.." she trails off. "It was horrible. Just don't get reaped."

I smile dryly. "It isn't my intention Posy," I say to her. "Trust me, I don't want to go into the Games any more than you want me to go in." Posy sniffs and backs away from me. She tries to smile, but the corners of her mouth are wobbling. Posy isn't good at hiding her emotions like I am. She's never had to though and I hope for her sake that she never has to in the future. Even as I think it I know that it isn't likely though. I am a major figure in the rebellion and as my sister she will be exposed to this world of lying and acting and manipulating. All I can hope for is that it happens when she's a little bit older. Nine is too young to get caught up in all of this.

I turn to Rory, whose face is more impassive. My time in the seventy fourth games really affected him. I'm not sure if the changes are good or bad. He's a lot more independent now and is less sensitive. He's braver and more mature than he was before. But he seems to have lost the playfulness that he used to have, that he kept even when our father died. He isn't the baby brother that I have to protect from everything anymore, I remind myself. He's stronger now.

"I love you Gale," he says seriously. "You know it already but I really do. And I don't want you to feel guilty about abandoning us if you are reaped or if you sacrifice yourself for Katniss. It's your life and I know that you would be willing to do the same for me. Good luck," he says. "But I really would prefer it if you didn't get reaped."

I smile at him and nod. A lump is forming in my throat. I don't want to leave all of this behind. It would have been so much easier for me if I had never volunteered. Peeta would have protected Katniss as well as he could. Katniss was probably skilled enough to win all on her own. But Katniss and the rebellion are worth the trouble. I can't imagine life without Katniss in it anymore and it is selfish of me to want to give up on making Panem a much better place just because I want to stay with my family.

There is a moment of silence and my mother leads us towards the door. I see Katniss walking about twenty metres ahead of me with her family. Part of me wants to run up to her and talk but this is her own family moment. It may be the last chance she gets to be alone with Prim and her mum. I don't want to interrupt even if I do want her comfort and to say goodbye to her coming up to the reaping.

A large crowd has already formed in the main square. A stage has been set up for the reaping and I see the two identical glass reaping balls sitting on stands. They are filled with folded pieces of paper. Katniss Everdeen. Gale Hawthorne. Haymitch Abernathy- unlikely but possible. I have a flashback to last year. The scene around me fades as I remember the feeling of apprehension, but also some happiness. Last year was supposed to be my last reaping. The chances were that I wouldn't be picked, even having forty two tesserae. I thought I would make it out without having to take part in a Hunger Games.

The memory ends as I look around. I am walking purposefully through the crowd, cutting a swathe through the people. They keep their distance, moving away whenever I come near them. Near to the front of the crowd are Haymitch and Katniss, in separate sections. Girls and boys. Ladies come first in the reaping which will only add to the suspense. Katniss looks up briefly and we make eye contact. I give her an encouraging smile before walking up next to Haymitch.

We have to wait for an agonising few minutes as the last of the citizens walk into the square and the Capitol camera crews start preparing. They want to get the perfect shot of this to broadcast across Panem, I think bitterly. To show the people that no matter how hard they try to escape, Snow will always manipulate situations to his advantage. Will always win. I have a death stare on my face as I watch the Capitol train open.

Effie Trinket walks out. She doesn't seem much different to how I saw her last time. She still has the distinctive Capitol look, her pink hair, the over-the-top make up that just makes her seem clown-like. She doesn't even seem sad that she will be sending at least one of us to our death. If anything she seems happier than usual, a huge smile on her face. Of course, she must be excited about the Quarter Quell. Even Capitolites that I see as too stupid to be any kind of a threat are still happy about this sort of thing. Monsters.

She walks up to the reaping balls. "It's the moment you've all been waiting for!" she squeals in her Capitol accent. "The reaping for the seventy fifth annual Hunger Games, the Third Quarter Quell! As you all know, the lucky tributes this year will be chosen from the existing pool of victors." Effie pauses, her hand dramatically swirling over the reaping bowl. "Ladies first." Her hands dips down, seizing on of the scraps of paper with Katniss's name on it.

"Katniss Everdeen!" she announces.

The three-fingered salute of District 12 spreads across the crowd like ripples. The last time I saw this happen was in District 8 on the victory tour, but I know that the peacekeepers have better things to do than shoot whoever started it. It spread so quickly I doubt they even know who started it.

My eyes fixate on Effie's hand, now twirling over the men's reaping bowl. Katniss has gone up on the stage, looking strong and firm, standing next to Effie. The fingers plunge down, plucking a folded piece of paper from the reaping bowl. She unfolds it panfully slowly and begins to read out the name. I feel my heart thudding in my chest as she starts to speak.

"Haymitch Abernathy!"

xXx-X-xXx

I am so sorry that this chapter is so late. I can't even say I had writers block as I had the chapter all planned out. Hopefully now that I've got back into fanfic writing the next chapter will be up a bit faster. Surprised that Haymitch was reaped and not Gale? Please follow, favourite or give me some feedback in a review. Thanks to those who have already done so.

-MoonOfPluto