Thank you all who reviewed. Just a reminder, for those who asked and for those reading this fanfic to take note that this story wont be all the same as the books. Because, no 1, I dont have the hunger games books with me, and no 2, im writing this for fun, and well, its a fanfic, so I dont intend to stick to the original plot.
And the disclaimer which I keep forgetting: I dont own The hunger games or Percy Jackson.
Okay. Now for the chapter. Enjoy.
Katniss
The whole makeover thing took ages. Katniss had to lie there while they groomed her, and gave her a full body scrubbing. Her prep team even had her nails filed into perfect ovals. It was a type of luxury that only the people in the Capitol enjoyed. Then she was taken to her stylist, Cinna. Katniss found that he was one of the nicer people to talk to. He wasn't like the others, always so full of themselves. Cinna was dressed rather simply, with only a slight eyeliner. When he talked, he did not have the accent of a falsely high voice like everyone else in the Capitol.
He told her about the costume she was going to wear during the parade around the city circle. About the flames that were going to be added on to enhance the costume. Katniss knew that the parade was the first time where the audience got to see the tributes. It was the time where the tributes could gain sponsors.
Cinna helped her into the fully black costume. It didn't look eye-catching at all yet. He had mentioned that the flames would be ignited just before they go out on the carriage.
-Line Break-
The parade was going to start soon. Katniss could see what all the other tributes were wearing. District One, which made jewellery for the Capitol, were sparkling with an assortment of shiny precious jems. She caught sight of the tributes of District Four, who had slung fishing nets over their shoulder like a cape. She caught sight of Percy and Foxface from District 5. Although they were not wearing anything that stood out from the rest, they still looked like a threat. Foxface was looking as sly as ever, and Percy looked skilled, strong, and even had an aura of power radiating off him. Katniss knew she had to watch out for this one. He might be a real danger in the arena even though he was not a career.
The first carriage pulled out, and cheers could be heard everywhere. The audience were screaming their lungs out. One by one, the room emptied, until it was time for her and Peeta to get onto their carriage. Cinna came at the last moment with a flaming touch. He touched the fire to their costume, cape and headset, and they ignited. Flames curled around them, but they gave off no heat.
Cinna signalled Katniss and Peeta to hold hands, and the carriage pulled out.
"Katniss! Katniss!" She heard the crowd call. Katniss knew that this was the time to get sponsors to notice her and place bets on her. She smiled and blew kisses in the direction of the audience, causing them to swoon on her.
They made a round around the city circle, before going back. Then the tributes were sent off to the Training Centre to find their rooms.
The tributes of District twelve got the top level of the Training Centre.
Katniss then went back to her room to wash up, and change out of the costume. Exhausted, Katniss slumped on her bed and slept immediately.
The time seemed to fly by. The next instant, it was already morning.
"Get up! You have a big, big, big day ahead!" Effie's voice wafted through the door, waking Katniss out of her sleep. Opening her eyes, she saw sunlight streaming through the floor to ceiling windows, illuminating the room.
Today must be the first day of training, she thought. Quickly, Katniss got ready and walked out of her room to the dining hall. There, she saw Peeta, Haymitch and Effie already seated at the table eating. Katniss hurried over, her stomach growling. She loaded her plate with food and sat down on the empty chair beside Peeta.
"Now, as you all know, today is the first day of training." Effie said.
Katniss and Peeta just nodded.
"Any words of advice?" Katniss asked looking at Haymitch.
Haymitch speared a huge piece of potato with his fork and said, "Get to know the other tributes better. Talk to them, make a few friends who are willing to be your allies in the arena."
"That's all?" Katniss asked.
"Patience sweetheart." Haymitch smirked. "Are you any good with the weapons?"
"Um, not really." Katniss said. The question had caught her by surprise.
"She's good with a bow." Peeta supplied.
"And Peeta is good at lifting weights. I've seen him do it." Katniss retaliated.
"All right." Haymitch interrupted. "Go to the stations that you are unfamiliar with. For Katniss, stay away from the archery range. In Peeta's case, stay away from the weightlifting station. Do not show your skills until your private time with the gamemakers."
Katniss nodded, "So we just make new friends and try out stuff we are lousy in?"
"You got it, sweetheart. Stick to that plan." Haymitch smiled, taking a swig of liquor.
Katniss fumed, she knew Haymitch was trying to get on her nerves by calling her 'sweetheart'. So she remained silent and continued eating.
Okay, she thought. She had never been good at making friends. Katniss certainly did not like the idea of killing them in the end. But this time, she had to do it. It was her best hope of survival in the games.
"Time to go, children." Effie announced, rising from the table. The avoxes cleared away the empty plates and leftover food.
Katniss and Peeta stood up together, walking to the elevator. It took them down all the way to the training room.
When the elevator door opened, she saw that almost all the tributes were already gathered there. In fact, all of them were already practising. All except the boy tribute from District five, Percy.
She and Peeta went over to the knot tying station, which was total empty. No one seemed to think it was important for survival in the games. Most of the career tributes were showing off their skills with the weapons.
The instructor at their station taught them simple skills of looping ropes into traps. Then they were given some time to try it out themselves. It didn't take long for her to imitate the instructor's knot. Katniss had seen Gale weave knots so many times. The knots were similar, and she had no trouble getting it right after a few tries. Peeta was having some trouble though, the knots kept slipping free before he could complete it. She tried to help Peeta fix up his knot, when she heard a heated argument from the other side of the room.
"Who do you think you are?" Cato shouted, "Someone who examines the blades?"
Cato was standing neck to neck with Percy, who had apparently just arrived in the training room. Both of them were at the sword fighting station.
"I'm just looking, why does it even bother you?" Percy replied calmly.
"You are disrupting my practise! You don't belong to this station." Cato retaliated angrily, the veins in his neck bulging dangerously. He had long metal sword in one hand. However, Percy did not look worried at all, his hands were placed in his pockets.
That guy was going to get himself killed. Cato was unpredictable, he looked like the type of person who always got what he wanted. Cato looked a lot bigger than Percy. He looked like he could break Percy's neck with a finger.
Unfortunately, Percy was oblivious to all this. He resolutely planted his feet right in front of Cato, and stayed there, hands deep in his pockets.
"Why not? I'm just checking it out." Percy replied, his tone mocking.
Cato slashed the sword he was holding, slicing it through the air at Percy. Katniss braced herself, waiting for blood to pour out of Percy, waiting for Percy to be cut into two pieces at his torso. But it didn't happen. With a respond quicker than she'd expected, a leaf shaped blade materialised in his hand from thin air, blocking Cato's strike.
Cato was stunned, he hadn't expected Percy to manage to protect himself. Percy locked his blade with the hilt of Cato's sword and twisted it downwards, causing Cato's sword to clatter on the floor.
Katniss's first thought was that Percy must have been trained with a sword. He was good. So good that he could beat a career tribute in just one stroke. Her second thought was wondering how he even managed to grab a sword so fast. His hands were in his pocket all along. How could he have freed his hands and arm himself with a sword just in time to parry the blow Cato had given him?
She passed off the thought. Maybe Percy just had very quick reflexes. Maybe he had trained with a sword back in his district. This made him all the more dangerous to Katniss. She knew he would be a hard opponent to take down. Hopefully, the careers would hunt him down first.
Katniss focused her attention back at Peeta, who was still having trouble tying his first knot.
But she was yet again distracted as someone tapped her on the shoulder.
She spun around. It was Percy. The guy who had easily outplayed the career tribute.
"Hey. You are Katniss right?" He said, giving a lopsided smile.
Instantly, her guard was up. He must be trying to look friendly to her for now, but he would probably tick her off in the arena after that. But then, two can play that game. If she was close enough to Percy, he might just let his guard down, making him an easy target. Katniss went with that plan.
Dun Dun Dun. Poor Percy. He's gonna get betrayed. Is he? Pls give a little review for this chappie. Thank you.