Chapter 67: Advance
Peeta and Katniss return to the training area in the afternoon. They find the Tributes subdued and realize the interviews must have been hard on them, too. For the most part, the Tributes had sat quietly through the experience as they were forced to confront the feelings of both the Mentors and the people from the Districts. It had not only been a salutary lesson for Flickerman. Both Peeta and Katniss find this aspect of the Games disturbing and want to refocus their attention on preparing the Tributes for the Arena.
Peeta takes the lead by instructing the Tributes to show him, and Katniss, what they have learnt so far. He also asks the Tributes to show them any other skills they have which could be used in the Arena. Lorcan opts to go first and sets a reasonably good snare for catching small prey. His hidden talent is cooking. He tells his Mentors that he can rustle up a tasty meal with just a few ingredients and Katniss has also introduced him to some new ideas in terms of what can be eaten in the woods. Lorcan is happy to experiment.
Verity displays her skills with camouflage, having learnt from Peeta and being a natural talent. Her hidden skill is imitation or mimicking. She has a gift for mimicking animal and bird calls which may be useful for attracting prey or, alternatively, scaring hunters away in the Arena.
Ramsay displays his strength in a wrestling match with Peeta. He has wanted to display this skill since his confrontation with Peeta and it's his chance to regain some of his wounded pride. Peeta, of course, is much stronger, but Ramsay's skill takes Peeta by surprise. Once he has him on the ground in a choke hold, he forces Peeta to tap out, showing Ramsay is the stronger man in that moment. Peeta has decided he doesn't want to take all the pride or hope away from his Tributes. They were going to need it to survive. Once Ramsay had learnt that Peeta would not tolerate his disrespect of Katniss, there had been an undeclared truce between them and now an element of respect was beginning to creep into their relationship. Ramsay finishes by building a useful shelter, impressing both Peeta and Katniss.
Ottilia, being lithe and with an athletic build, has allowed Peeta to help her focus on her agility and she is able to show them her ability to move swiftly through an obstacle course which will help her evade possible capture. Her hidden talent is somewhat unexpected. Ottilia has discovered that she is very flexible and can manouevre her body in ways that will allow her to fit into small or awkward spaces, a talent which might assist her in remaining hidden from the enemy. This was a bonus for Ottilia after both Peeta and Katniss had despaired of her developing any skills to aid in her own survival.
This was the last session Peeta and Katniss would have with the Tributes alone. There would be new trainers coming in next week to go over weaponry…which would come in useful for the sole survivor of the first Arena. The Tributes are still not aware that the Arena they will be delivered into will only be the first of two. Plurarch's "wrinkles" were becoming deadlier. For now, it is time to break for the coming weekend. The Tributes will have some down time and Peeta and Katniss will travel to District 4 for the weekend with Annie and Katniss' mother. This would give Katniss' mother a chance to rest and for the rest of the family to spend time with Finn and Annie. Gale has been invited, too. He wants to be on hand in case there are any concerns around Peeta and his flashbacks. Katniss has not told Peeta she had spoken to Gale, and Gale tells Peeta he is travelling with them for security reasons due to their heightened profiles with the announcement of the Capitol Games. As long as he and Katniss are together, Peeta doesn't mind who else travels with them.
Before Peeta and Katniss gather the children, and any supplies they need for the weekend, they decide to check on Haymitch. They had not seen him since leaving the apartment that morning and then it was only for a perfunctory goodbye.
Haymitch is sitting at the table with a mug of coffee in front of him and an open book detailing dangerous creatures which can be found in the tropics. Staring up at him is a spider with red spikes sticking out of its body which looks colourful, but potentially deadly. Katniss doesn't remember seeing any of these during the Quarter Quell, but they had bigger problems to worry about there. The creations of the Gamemakers were much for fearsome than these little creatures.
"Haymitch" says Katniss. "Reading up for the Tributes?" she asks him.
"Hmm" he replies. "But with the Gamemakers you can never tell. It's not nature you need to be concerned about as much as the concoctions of the Gamemakers themselves…"
"True" says Peeta. "Nothing can prepare you for those…" remembering the monkeys and the Jabberjays.
Katniss decides to move the conversation along.
"We are going to head to District 4 for the weekend with Annie and my mother. Gale is coming, too. Would you like to join us?" she asks. She really doesn't want to leave Haymitch on his own over the weekend.
"Ahhh…" Haymitch seems reluctant.
"Bring your books and I'll test you on your knowledge" Peeta says.
"It's not me I'm worried about" says Haymitch.
"Well, we're worried about you" says Katniss. "We're not leaving you on your own, Haymitch. Prim misses you and since you haven't had a drink for a couple of days, it's time you spent some time with her and Pik. They need you". Katniss means it. Haymitch had become part of their family and she wants to encourage him to think about that, rather than the Games.
Haymitch looks wistful. He misses Prim. He's been too drunk most of the time to get to know Pik. Pik's diagnosis is the reason he started drinking again. Haymitch is tired of facing into a world filled with injustice. Alcohol is his escape. But, somehow, its affects never last. At least, not long enough. He has to find a better way.
"OK" says Haymitch, less reluctantly, as he begins to look forward to spending time with the family again.
Gale has organized a couple of military vehicles for the trip to District 4 and night is falling by the time they arrive. The smell of the sea is enticing and reminds them of Finnick. The group is reflective as they head to bed at the end of a long day. For now, they have left the Capitol and the Games behind. At least the new Games...