Districts 1 and 2 flock to the combat stations, and to some surprise Coral followed them. I decide to hit the fire-starting station. I get there and the instructor was surprised that I made that station my first stop.
"You sure about this?" he asked.
"Does it matter? I need to learn how to start fires if I'm going to survive." I said.
"Makes no difference to me." he said.
If I had to guess because I'm from District 4 I should've ran to a combat station first instead of survival station. I thought.
The instructor went over the basics of building a fire: tinder, kindling, and firewood. The instructor had the fire lit in thirty second, and the fire blazing in another ten. I gather the necessary materials to build the fire, and it takes me the better part of a minute to light the fire, and another twenty seconds to get it blazing. I take in the process of what I just did: one might say that it was an exothermic reaction, but in laymen's terms it was friction that caused the fire to start. I looked up at the instructor and he had a look of being impressed.
"I did something good?" I asked.
"Very few people can start a fire. Let alone start it so fast." he said.
"I'll take the win." I thought.
I stayed at the station for a little longer and built a second fire faster than the first one, but as I did, I think of all my actions to start the fire. When the fire starts, I think of all the actions I took to keep the fire lit and burning. I look up at the instructor and he was beyond impressed.
"Good job! In all my years I have never had a tribute start a fire as fast as you have. You're going to do great in the arena." he said.
"Thank you," I said, and got up to leave the station.
I scan the gym and see my next station: knot tying.
I can always build upon what I have already learned. I thought.
The instructor went over the basics of knot tying, and the basic knots. I performed all the knots that I was given. The instructor was visibly surprised, and then given me a few more knots that I haven't been taught. I got through these new knots fairly easy, and then I was given a few more knots. The last knot I was given took me a few tries. When I perfected the knot, I realized what it was, and it sent a chill down my spine because I've seen it used numerous times while I was growing up: a noose. I spent another thirty minutes at the station going over the new knots that I was given.
As I was leaving the knot tying station, the call to lunch was made and everybody made their way to area where lunch was being served. It was in a side room attached to the main training room.
Lunch was a buffet-style affair: the food was setup so we could take what we wanted ranging from meats and protein to vegetables and bread. I filled my plate up with a little of everything. I know I have uphill battle ahead of me, so I fill my plate with meats, vegetables, breads, and I grab water. I see there are sweets on the far end, and I allow myself one treat, but I spend most of my time eating real food. I look at the other Careers and they are eating only meat, and sugary foods.
I look at my plate as I head over to the tables, I see that the meat that I chose is leaner, and healthy than what the rest of the Careers chose. This is going to be an interesting year for the Games. I see Coral wave at me, and I head over to her table, which is with the rest of the Careers.
As I sit at the table, next to Coral, the boy from 2 nods to me. I nod head, and the boy continues his conversation with the boy from 1. The girls give me looks throughout the meal but keep to themselves. I look at Coral and see that she is giving them death stares.
"What seems to be the problem?" I ask, whispering.
"The girl from 1, Fennel, and then girl from 2, Zetta, have had eyes for you the moment you stepped off the elevator. I don't trust them." Coral said, whispering.
"You don't trust them because they're your competitors, or because of your intuition?" I whispered.
"The latter. I haven't heard all of their conversations, but what I have been able to glean, it isn't pretty." Coral whispered.
The girl from 2 asked Coral a question. I spent the rest of the lunch feeling like an outsider. The boys either ignored me or glared at me, but the girls just acted like airheads. Something about this whole affair seems off. I look at Coral, who is engaged in conversation with the boy from 2, and I begin to form a plan about working solo.
The one thing I wish I could have early access to is a holographic layout of the arena. I could get an idea of where I want to hide, but we won't know what the arena is until the seventh day when enter. I thought.
After lunch, I head over to the obstacle course. I need to work on my agility, and what better way than to hit the obstacle course. I look over at the weapons station and see a few of them looking over at me.
"Expecting them to join you?" a female said from behind me.
I turn to see that it was the girl from District 3.
"Why do you ask?" I said, more of a statement than a question.
"I've been around their group all day. You are a bit anomaly, aren't you?" she asked.
Something about this interaction seems off. I'm a bit surprised that she snuck up on me, but I didn't let on to the fact that she got the jump on me. I better keep my wits about me. I thought.
"What makes you think that?" I asked.
"Well, your part of the career trifecta. It hasn't gone unnoticed that you're off by yourself, and not with the others." she said.
"What do you want 3?" I asked.
"I don't want anything. I just want to watch this whole thing blow up in the Capitol's face." she said, and then walked away.
Some people just want to watch the world burn. I thought, and the prepared to walk the balance beam.
"Oh, and Finnick." she said, turning back to me,
"Your name is Orna. See you around." I said, and then crossed the beam.
As I stepped off the beam, I turned back to see that Orna had a sly grin on her face. Orna tapped two fingers to her head, and then pulled them away in a salute of sorts, and then walked away. I could hear the approaching foot falls, so I turned around to see it was Coral.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"Who was that, and what was that about?" she asked.
"It was Orna from District 3, and if I had to guess she was just making acquaintances." I said.
I remember a brief glance of her body. She had a red smear on her brow. If I had to guess she came from the camouflage station. Something about the whole exchange with Orna is a bit unnerving, but I get the feeling that she's going to be watching me, while listening to the rest of the Careers.
This could be an interesting relationship I will have with Orna. I thought.
"Did she strike you as odd?" she asked.
"She is definitely, but she also has her uses." I said.
"What does that mean?" she asked.
"I wouldn't worry about that." I said.
At that time, a bell rang signaling the end of the first day. I looked in the direction of the bell and I see a group of men and women sitting on a balcony relaxing and enjoying themselves. Those must be the Gamemakers. It comes as no surprise that they would watch the tributes train.
Coral and I head to the elevator. As we were approaching, District's 1 and 2 had already boarded. When another elevator returned District 12 was the next to board, but they boarded by themselves. When a third elevator returned, Coral and I boarded along with tributes from Districts 3, 5 and 6.
Orna was talking up a storm, but the way she was talking made me realize that she making people reveal possible weaknesses. I keep my mouth shut, and if I do speak, I don't reveal anything meaningful. I put the playboy persona back on and dial it back up to eleven. Orna gives me another sly grin, and then elevator stops at floor three. Orna and her partner get off, and then closes. The elevator goes up one floor and then opens again. Coral and I get off, and then elevator doors close.
"Good evening! Good evening! How was your first day of training?" Chrysan asked.
Coral and Chrysan walked away as Mags gracefully floats her way over to me.
"Anything interesting happen today?" she asked.
"You could say that." I said.
"Oh." she said.
"The female tribute from 3, Orna Everbloom, approached me today." I said.
"What did she have to say for herself?' she asked.
"Not much, but she has been watching me, while listening to the conversation from Districts 1 and 2. I think she might be more of a threat than 1 and 2." I said.
"Why?" she asked, kind of shocked that I would deem someone a threat even before entering the arena.
"For starters, Orna snuck up on me when I was using the obstacle course." I said.
"Bad boy." she said, sarcastically.
"Very funny." I said, acknowledging the age difference between us.
"And the other thing?" she asked.
"I noticed that Orna had worked on the camouflage station. So, I'm going to have to be wary of a possible ambush in the arena. That and the fact that she said that she was hanging around the Careers like it was no big deal at all." I said.
"What's your take on Orna?" she asked.
"Orna is probably trying to keep me in the dark by acting like she knows something I don't, but she is something of anomaly. I don't know what to make of her." I said.
"Be mindful of her but be ready to kill when the time comes." Mags said.
"Yes, Mags." I said.
Mags reached out and squeezed my cheek and gives me a smile. I should be weirded out by her affection, but it only draws a smile from me. Something about our dynamic doesn't weird me out.
At that moment, Amethyst stepped off the elevator, and at that very moment I could smell the food. Dinner is served, and just in time. I'm famished.
We all sit down to eat as the food is being bought out to us. We all gather round to eat while the adults grill us on what we learn. I wanted to speak, but Coral kept speaking for me. I was about to speak up, but I felt a foot kick my shin. I glared at Mags, but she shook her head and winked at me. I bent my leg in such way so I could rub it, but I listened to what Coral has to say.
Coral talked mostly about herself, and when she did mention me, Coral didn't have all the details of what I trained on. I looked at Mags in my peripheral vision, and all she did was shrug her shoulders. What no one saw, was the micro smile that was almost imperceptible. I'm not exactly sure what game Mags is playing, but I elect to keep my mouth shut for the time being.
Chrysan is either unaware of the fact that he is being played by Mags or is willing allow Mags and myself to remain silent. If it's the former, it shows the naivety of Mags former tribute. If it's the latter, it just pure stupidity on Chrysan's part, but I elect to keep my mouth shut and follow Mags's lead.
Dinner concludes, and the server's brought dessert. Chrysan, after taking a bite of his dessert, chews and swallows the bite, asks me. "So, Finnick. You spent the day working survival stations. Did you learn anything exciting?"
I know well enough to say to what stations I worked because I know Coral would speak up if I lied or tried to play it off, but I definitely won't admit the skills that I've already learned before coming to the Capitol.
"I worked on building a fire, tying knots, and I ran the obstacle course." I said.
"Do you plan on working the weapons stations?" he asked.
"I hadn't really thought about it." I said.
I saw a spear in the weapons rack, but I prefer a trident. Their might be a trident, but that is a little secret I don't even want Coral to know about. I have a feeling that Coral might be getting all cozy with the Careers, and that's information I don't want them to have.
I think Chrysan's motives for asking about my plans for gracing the weapons station, and again I look in my peripheral vision. I see that Coral, albeit eating her dessert, is intently staring at me. It would seem that Chrysan is attempting to glean information to help his charge. I think of going to a weapons station to work on something.
After dessert, we gather around the tv and just talk for a few hours before Coral, and I are sent to bed. The conversation is mostly between Coral, Chrysan, and occasionally Mags chimes in. I say very little because Coral and Chrysan don't ask me any questions. I make eye contact with Mags, and all she does is raise her eyebrows.
At nine o'clock sharp, Chrysan stood up and said. "It's time for you two to go to bed. Mags and I will think of more strategies for you to use."
"Thanks." I said, but I shared a look with Mags that she took as That won't be necessary. Mags gave me a look that I took as Really. I raise both of my eyebrows at Mags, and then head to my bedroom. Before I could enter my room Coral asks. "You're not trying to hide anything from me, are you?"
"No." I said, and then entered my room.
Something about the way Coral asked the question struck me as odd. As if she was trying to get some information out of me. Whether it before herself, or for the Careers is yet to be seen. If it's for herself, I don't really have a problem with that; but if it's for the Careers I need to be really careful. At that moment, my conversation with Orna seemed more relevant. I'm willing to bet that Orna heard Coral side with the other Careers and left me exposed.
Come morning, I get a shower and head out to breakfast. And as with the day before, Mags and I are over by tv dancing again.
"Are these dance sessions going to be a common thing until I enter the arena?" I asked.
"Complain all you want, you like dancing with me." Mags ribbed.
"Guilty as charged." I said.
"Any revelations as you were sleeping last night?" she asked.
"Coral asked me last night if I was hiding anything her." I said.
"Well…are you?" she asked.
"A few things, but what bothers me the most is what she is going to do with this information." I said.
"It would seem that Orna might be a viable ally." she said.
"So, it would seem." I said and took the lead for a moment.
I spun Mags, and then did a dip that I've seen in a few movies.
"That was excellent." Mags said when I pulled her out of the maneuver.
"I've seen a few movies." I said.
At that time the elevator went to the ground floor, and that was the end of our private morning…tactical…session. I look at Mags and when we made eye contact, she winked at me. I think Mags likes the dance session because it's been a while since she had some fun, but it makes perfect sense that we are discussing what I should do: in training, and what I could do in arena.
"Morning!" Coral said.
Mags and I are aware of the point of these dance sessions, but Coral just sees it as Mags and I dancing. Coral isn't aware of the fact that Mags and I are discuss possibly strategies. The elevator stopped at our floor and Chrysan and Amethyst step off. I noticed a look that Chrysan and Amethyst shared, and then I look at Mags. When we made eye contact, Mags gave me a questioning glance. Neither of us missed the look.
We all sat down to eat breakfast. Breakfast was a four-course meal, and then we had thirty minutes to get ready for training. This day is just getting weirder and weirder by the moment. I casually stroll back to my room and clean up. I wash my face and brush my teeth. I switch into my training outfit, and then head back to the elevator.
Amethyst and Coral are already waiting for me. We step on the elevator, and it goes down one floor and stops. Orna, the boy from three and their escort all get on. Orna shares look with me and Coral. While Coral gives Orna a death stare, Orna and I share a knowing look when Coral looks away. Amethyst and the District 3's escort were blabbering away the whole time.
The escorts really are that oblivious. I thought.
The elevator stops at the basement floor and the four tributes get off. I hear a few goodbyes from the escorts, but I also heard them making plans after they get out of here.
That's interesting. I thought.
Ten minutes later, the rest of the tributes showed up. Atala give us a short spiel, and then cuts us loose.