Thanks to owlthewriter, AstralKnight98, CrocodileReader431, Stargirl94, Dani H. Danvers, Cori Anna, & Tales from the Cluttered Desk for the reviews!
Sick as a dog currently but still wanted to update. I'm hoping to get to the Bloodbath by end of August. This chapter isn't as long as I wanted it to be but hey, when you have a 101 fever you make it work. Enjoy!
Chapter 11 The Training Sessions
The Capitol
The Tribute Training Center - Day 1
As was custom, following their arrival in the Capitol and the Parade, the Tributes were escorted to the Tribute Apartment Complex where the Tributes would stay until they entered the Hunger Games. Each District was given their own floor and accommodations, far nicer than even the richest of the Tributes had ever lived in. All of the Tributes enjoyed themselves – and of course all the wonderful food as well – and fell asleep in luxurious beds.
They were awoken early by Avoxes, who brought with them outfits for the Training Center, where they Tributes would spend the next three days. The outfits were, like the parade costumes, considered ugly by most. A skiing tight, bright pink jumpsuit with black edges and black District number was hardly a flattering look.
Peacekeepers, annoyed by the disappointed looks, laid it out bluntly. "You either go in that or go naked."
It wasn't as effective on Diesel who laughed. "Well I for one look great naked. So… if you don't mind, guess I'll go without!"
That was shut down quickly and he was roughly dressed before being thrown in the elevator.
As with every year, the Training Center amazed all the Tributes, even those like Calen who were committed to despising everything about the Capitol. Everything one would need to prepare for the Hunger Games was in there: mundane to exotic weapons, survival stations to learn even the most minute of skills, and even fake topiary and a swimming pool to train and practice in! For the next three days, the twenty-four Tributes would have access to all sorts of stations and tools to help their survival.
If they knew how to prioritize.
The Head Trainer, dressed in brown fatigues like the rest of the Trainers around the Center, wasn't inclined to help them. He gave them a brief run down of the stations, told them not to harm one another, and then let them loose. Some Tributes – like the Careers – gravitated to the weapons while others dashed off to survival. A great many more stood still, taking in the Training Center and trying to decide where to start.
Ash was one of them, turning, reluctantly, to his partner to see what they should do together. Before he could ask, Ophelia had dashed off towards a massive obstacle course and was quickly lost in it. Doing what, who knew? Ash sighed. Just like he thought yesterday, he'd be by himself. Unsure where to start, he shyly approached a Trainer who, while harsh in tone, was helpful and directed him to the weapons.
"The Games are about confidence, something I can tell a runt like you lacks." The Trainer brusquely informed him. "And you'll be more confident if you know how to handle a weapon. Know how to kill."
Ash didn't bother to say he didn't think he could but followed the Trainer none the less. The Careers were spread out looking for their favorite weapons, but with the Trainer by his side, Ash felt confident they wouldn't bother him. That was something to start. For most of the morning, Ash allowed the Trainer as they walked around the combat stations, looking for a weapon that would suit him best. In the end, Ash settled on an axe. He used one often back in District 12 for fueling their home's fire pit and felt comfortable with the grip of it.
The Trainer took him through several exercises, showing him how to handle it and how to control his breathing while swinging it. "Everyone always thinks you can swing a weapon and that's it. But you're using your whole body to control it. If you don't step right, if you don't move your body at a right angle, or you forget to breath properly, then suddenly you tripping or out of breath and then you're dead!"
Ash took that to heart and kept practicing. Occasionally, he'd glance over at the Careers and observe what they were doing – which seemed to be mostly being bothered by Dallis from 6.
"So what made you all decide to be Careers? Just a deep passion for killing?"
Pietyr wanted to punch her, Trainer rules be damned, but Cas – for some reason – loved engaging with the annoying little girl from 6. "Money, fame, fortune, honor, all that good stuff for me." Cas winked at her. "Are you writing a book about me? You have to tell me if you are."
"Just curious." Dallis replied. Across the Training Center, Pietyr eyed her partner nervously watching as he tried to learn how to start a fire. "You're all so interesting. Or… maybe not all of you."
Pietyr suddenly became aware that the girl's eyes were on him. His temper flared and he saw the other Careers looking to see how he'd respond. It annoyed him that Amaya seemed the most interested. She had said little since arriving in the Training Center, watching everyone – Career or not – and looking at what skills they were working on. Pietyr shrugged off the looks as best he could and began practicing with his saber.
"I'm not sure if you've ever seen a Hunger Games before, but it's dangerous to piss off the Careers." Elegance said.
Dallis shrugged at that. "Why? You're already going to try and kill me anyways."
"Yeah, but now we're going to try and kill you…. Extra hard!" Cas joked, annoying Pietyr.
"Um… ok?" Dallis said. "So… am I going to find out who the weakest link is here or…?"
The Careers, unable to do anything yet, left her and worked out. Diesel shook his head, marveling at Dallis' attitude. Behind him, someone else was thinking the same. "Is your partner insane?"
Diesel turned and came face to face with the boy from 8. Medium heigh with dark skin, he was attractive and seemed to have a calm air about him. "Eh… I'm still trying to figure that out, but all signs point to hell yes." Diesel said.
"Huh. Well, she's brave at least." The boy said. He stuck out his hand politely. "Raveni." He said, reintroducing himself.
"Diesel." He replied, taking the boy's hand and shaking it. "From 6."
"8." Raveni said, pointing to the number stitched into his outfit. "So, are you sticking with your partner?"
"I think so. She's odd. But I think she's smart. Or I'm too scared to go alone. So, yeah, I'm with her, but," Diesel leaned in, whispering. "I'm open to alliances."
"Oh… I was just curious." Raveni replied, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "I don't know if I'm looking for allies yet."
"Oh. Ok, tease." Diesel joked. He kicked himself. Who the hell was trying to ally with 6 this year? He had taken note of all the glances at the Parade, especially since District 6 seemed to get a high number of cheers. Raveni chuckled awkwardly and then peeled away, walking over to the survival stations. Diesel, still not brave enough to go with Dallis, decided to make his way over to the obstacle course since it seemed as good a place as any to start.
Not everyone was giving the weapons section a wide berth due to the Careers though. Encouraged by her Escort who told her she had to be "bolder" if she wanted to make it past the Bloodbath, Hypatia wandered aimlessly until a Trainer scooped her up and worked with her. To her surprise, the trainer handed her a spiked club after watching her swing a sword.
"You're too unskilled to handle a sword properly. But trust me, some blunt weapons, skill doesn't even matter. And a spiked club is lighter than a mace or war hammer."
To her surprise, Hypatia actually worked well with the spiked club. And the Trainer was right, it really didn't require a lot of effort to learn. She glanced over at the Careers, hoping they weren't eyeing her. They weren't, practicing themselves while also being distracted by the endless questions of that loud girl from 6.
With the Careers distracted and Ash and Hypatia unmolested by them, more Tributes came over. Wolf tried a variety of weapons before settling on the simplicity of the machete and it's hack and slash tactics. Blakey practiced with knives and worked on her aim against some training dummies. Tilly and Calen approached too, trying to figure out if weapons were even an option for them.
"Just avoid the Careers, ok?" Tilly told him. She had wanted to focus on survival first but Calen had persuaded her that they had to at least know if they had any weapons skills.
Calen rolled his eyes at her tone. "Yes, mother." He mocked, which caused Tilly to give him a glare. It was shaping up to be an odd pairing. Tilly seemed to have an incessant need to mother him, which with their age difference and his experience with his own mother wasn't appreciated.
Thankfully the Trainers were there to distract them. Tilly had thought knives would suit her best given her small size but the Trainers talked her out of it, saying knives got boring for the crowd. Instead, they directed her towards the swords, specifically a falcata, a sort of short sword with a curved tip. While she wasn't great with it, Tilly did feel comfortable wielding it and the Trainers assured her the Capitol would love a unique weapon.
Calen meanwhile showed off his work with ol' reliable. The Trainer must have been talking with Heather though because he looked unimpressed with Calen's fists and directed his attention to steel weapons. The only thing that Calen felt comfort with was a sickle, having used it in the fields of 11. He felt like he was making progress until Tilly interrupted.
"That's enough, Calen. We're going to the survival stations." She told him primly.
"Need a little more time." Calen said, trying to be polite.
"We've been here an hour. Let's go. Now."
Calen took a deep breath in and exhaled heavily. "Have we given anymore thought to getting some other people in this alliance?" He asked, not joking in the slightest.
"Well unless you want to ally with the Careers, everyone else is over at the survival stations. So let's go meet them, hmm?"
"Yes, mother." Calen said nastily and threw down the sickle. He stormed off, feeling a little pathetic for throwing a temper tantrum because of a fifteen year old. They wandered for a bit before settling on the cooking and hunting station, something Tilly took to easily. Calen less so, but he did enjoy learning how to gut fish and animals and cook them properly. The Trainers even let him eat some of the meat after he was done.
A little before noon, a bell sounded and the Tributes were called to lunch. Unlike the buffets they had been served on the train and for breakfast and dinner, the lunch menu was small and specifically designed to add as much weight to the Tributes as possible before the Games started. Sandwiches, breads, and other proteins and carbs were readily available, along with smoothies and drinks to replenish muscle strength.
Greta took her tray of food happily, not at all picky about what was and wasn't being offered. She had spent the morning at the survival stations, learning how to make a proper fire and identify poisonous plants. She planned to stay at the survival stations for the day, figuring that any attempt at combat skills would be wasted on her.
But, that didn't mean she was going in alone. She looked around the cafeteria, trying to size up a potential ally like she had all morning. The Careers were sitting together, finally unmolested by Dallis who was speaking with her partner. District 11 sat together too, looking harried and stealing annoyed glances at the other. District 10 was together too, but seemed happy with the other. District 5 sat together but said nothing.
Judging by the day so far, the 59th Hunger Games seemed to be shaping up to be a year of few alliances. The girl from 3, who's name escaped Greta, was by herself, picking at her food. Her partner was wandering around, looking like he was trying to find an ally too. District 7 sat on opposite sides of the cafeteria, neither looking friendly. District 8 was the same, as with District 12.
Darley was wandering too, trying to find someone to talk to about himself. Greta certainly wasn't going to be that person. During the pre-parade, her and Darley had spoken with District 10, so that seemed as good a place as any to start. As she approached, Sierra, with long blonde hair and sun tanned skin, smiled at her.
"Mind if I join you both?" Great asked.
"Not at all!" Oscar said with a smile, indicating the spot on the bench across from them. Greta slid onto it easily, plopping her tray down of food in front of her.
"Hope you guys don't mind if I'm messy with the food." Greta said. "I've never eaten so good!"
"Neither have I." Sierra admitted. "Or used much silverware."
"I heard they have rules for how you eat with them." Oscar told them.
"What do you mean? A fork is a fork."
"Nope. There are different kinds!" Oscar told them. "They've got a big fork for like the main meal, little one for dessert, stuff like that."
"Capitolites are so weird." Sierra muttered. Greta made no response to that comment, assuming that the Capitol was always listening to them.
"How have your guys' mornings been?" Greta asked, wanting to get the conversation started.
Unfortunately, it was about to be highjacked.
"Just awful!" Darley cried. He had seen Great speaking with District 10 and, feeling left out and ignored, butted in. He plopped down next to Greta, almost knocking her from her seat. He looked at both Tributes from 10, misery in his eyes. "How can the Capitol expect us to learn anything in just three days!"
Sierra and Oscar exchanged a look. While they had spoken with 9 the previous day, they had left the conversation preferring one of their Tributes over the other. Darley was not the winner.
"It's better than nothing." Oscar offered. "Have you ever seen the earliest Hunger Games? Those Tributes didn't get training."
Sierra and Greta nodded in agreement. Darley, however, struggled to bring that comment back to him. In that lull, Greta and the pair from 10 talked about their lives back home. Sierra thought about her sheep and Oscar her goats, and Greta wondered what her parents were up to. Finally, that gave Darley an opening.
"I wonder what Clinton is doing right now." Darley sighed, scoping up his mashed potatoes forlornly.
Sierra was tempted to ask but a quick little shake of Greta's head stopped her. Oscar too had put his hand on her knee to hold the comment. "What do you guys think the arena will be this year?" Oscar asked, only to be interrupted.
Darley remained silent as the group kept talking. He had hoped to see the others latch him onto him. He was the oldest of them all after all! But instead, they seemed to prefer Greta. He ate the rest of his food in silence. It looked like he was going to find other allies. He looked around at the other Tributes. Maybe the boy from 7? He seemed capable – and cute.
'Who doesn't like a dark, brooding man?' Darley wondered.
Meanwhile, Fest sat alone in the corner of the cafeteria, enjoying her food in silence. A few of the other Tributes were chatting with one another, but Fest failed to see what use that was. There was only one winner. Why bother getting to know other people?
She had spent her morning at the survival stations, learning first how to swim and then how to make a proper camp for herself. Simple skills, but she wasn't a fool. Those skills would be more helpful in the arena than fighting.
She had debated if she should spend time at the combat stations. She wasn't much of a fighter, relying upon sneaking and planning to get what she wanted. So, she decided to forgo the combat stations. If that meant she got a lower score, so be it.
She knew how to kill anyways.
So she spent her lunch observing the other Tributes, seeing how the alliances built and see if she could read the mental state of Tributes. She was far more subtle than the idiot from 6. Fest would like to stab her through her neck, cut clean through so that she would be shut up forever.
Maybe in the arena she'd get her chance.
A buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the lunch hour, and the Tributes returned to the training floor. Greta went off on her own, eager to escape Darley just like District 10 was. Neither followed her though, her hopes at an alliance dashed. She ended up wandering around the survival stations, ignoring the sounds of clanging steel as the Careers practiced, each blow a threat to her survival.
As she wandered, she came across a bizarre station. All around were odd contraptions, metal wires, and other oddities. Even the Trainer seemed different, older and with a calmer air about him than the others. She approached the station, the elderly trainer reminding her a bit of her own parents.
The Trainer smiled at her and welcomed her. "Are you interested in learning how to make traps?" He asked.
"Sure." Greta said, sitting down on the ground next to him. "What can you use traps for?"
"All sorts of wonderful things." The Trainer explained, withered hands pulling together items to create. "Foothold and snare traps for game, nooses for stronger pray, and even punji traps for larger targets."
'Like Tributes.' She thought darkly. She nodded and let the Trainer show her how to make simple snares. To her surprise, Greta took to it easily. She had always been a quick learner and with some direction, she soon found herself capable with a snare and was moving onto more complex traps.
The sound of laughter from the combat stations drew everyone's attention. While most of the Tributes were panicking, Cas and Amaya seemed to be enjoying themselves. With blunted blades, the two of them were engaged in a sparing match, enjoying the friendly competition.
"Not bad, 2." Cas remarked, spinning his sword, "But I want to see how you do against my speciality."
To the Careers surprise, Cas went for a bizarre looking weapon. Two steel discs with a wooden handle through the center, which Cas handled easily. "Ever fought someone using Chakrams?" He asked.
Amaya shook her head, surprised by the weapon. "I think you should stick with the sword. These seem more like vanity weapons."
Cas gave a devilish grin. "We'll see."
The chakrams were throwing weapons, but Cas was just as good at wielding them as a sword. He quickly had Amaya on the back foot, knocking her to the ground at one point. "Looks like you need some more practice." Cas remarked, helping Amaya up.
"Or a sneakier strategy to beat you." Amaya said.
"Amaya, are you going to be that lame Tribute who poisons the competition?"
"I'm not above shadier methods for winning." Amaya admitted. Behind her, Pietyr scoffed and stormed away. Nobody took much notice since scoffing and brooding seemed to be the only things Pietyr did.
The other Careers continued practicing and sparring with dummies or Trainers, each getting a feel of the skill level of the members of the pack. Cas excelled with a sword and his exotic chakrams. Elegance amazed with her strength, whipping around pick axes and war hammers like they were sticks. Pietyr shined with his saber and Amaya surprised with her brutality with a machete. Nicola's finesse with a short sword was admired, and even Maddie surprised them by being proficient with a bow.
"You're an excellent shot." Elegance encouraged. "I wouldn't want to be on the bad end of one of those."
"Thanks." Maddie shrugged. "I only got eight out of ten."
"And five of those were in the head of a moving target." Elegance replied. "It's been a while since we've had a good Career with a bow. I think people look down on it as being too 'easy.'"
Feeling self conscious, Maddie excused herself and ended up going to the bathroom. She splashed some water on her face, calming herself. She was feeling better, encouraged by the fact that the Careers hadn't outright rejected her. And Elegance was right, she was good with a bow. That'd guarantee her a good score.
"So… what was with your breakdown at the Reaping?"
Maddie groaned and turned, not at all surprised that Dallis had followed her into the bathroom. "I just got caught up in the moment." Maddie said, brushing it off and taking a towel from an Avox bathroom attendant. "It happens."
"I don't believe that." Dallis said, leaning against the bathroom wall. "Almost everyone else, yeah, sure. But you volunteered. You had to know what you were signing up for. So… it must be something else. Did you regret volunteering? Why? Not up for killing? Have you killed someone before? Or did you think you weren't good enough? That seems to be your vibe with the other Careers. They're all on top of each other pretending they're the best at everything. Not you though. So, what's up with that?"
"Do you ever shut up?" Maddie answered.
"Only when I know the truth." Dallis encouraged.
"Why would I tell you the truth?"
Dallis immediately brightened. "So, you are hiding something!"
"No!" Maddie shouted. She was embarrassed she had even told Nicola on the train that her family bought her spot in the Games. She certainly wasn't going to tell Dallis! She excused herself from the bathroom, leaving Dallis behind feeling like she was onto something.
Time was almost out of the the day, sending a few Tributes into a spiral. Raveni and Diesel continued talking to one another, though neither had made a move to seal an alliance. Ophelia had run the obstacle course several times before jumping into the pool, relaxing in the shallow end to cool off. Hypatia had moved onto survival stations, finding a life in the urbanized District 3 had done little to prepare her for roughing it in nature. She glanced over at Web, who was frantically trying to explain something to a Trainer.
"You don't offer any course work for robotics?" He asked again.
The Trainer shook his head. "You aren't allowed electronics in the arena."
"That is simply false." Web said. "The history of the Hunger Games has shown that electronics are a feature of the arena. Drones, for one. Night vision goggles. Compasses. Clocks. Last year's arena was a subway system! Electronics are everywhere! Why do not offer a course in regards to them?"
"All those items you just listed are sponsor gifts." The Trainer replied, testily. "Or, found in the Cornucopia. Are you planning to run into the Bloodbath?"
Aware that there were other Tributes around, Web didn't answer. "What I plan to do or not is none of your business." Web said, as if he had any clue if he'd run in or not!
The Trainer shook his head. "Why don't you try out the shelter building station, hmm?" He offered and then walked away.
"You were very unhelpful, sir!" Web called out after him, feeling very put out. He looked over at the shelter station. It would be useful, though far duller than working circuitry.
"Excuse me, did you say r-r-robots?"
Web was stopped by a smaller girl warm olive skin and an aquiline nose, framed by dark hair and eyes that spoke to Web. There was a sharpness to them, an intelligence behind them, that he instantly clicked with. Next her was a tiny boy, standing nervously as they spoke. The number "5" was stitched in black on their pink jumpsuits.
"Yes!" Web said. "Do you know much about robotics or automatons?"
"Sadly no." The girl said. "But I have experiences w-w-with the principles. My aunt was a meteorologist in 5. She used s-s-self g-g-guided drones to analyze patterns."
Web felt his mind come alive, happier than he'd been in months. "I'm Web." He said.
"Teagan." She replied.
"And I'm Seph." The younger boy said. Web felt a pang of sympathy for the young boy, who reminded him a great deal of Henry.
"It is a pleasure to make both your acquaintances." Web said. "I'm afraid I've been having a ghastly time with all of this."
"As have we." Teagan said. "Perhaps… perhaps you'd like to do a c-c-couple survival stations together?"
Web nodded instantly and the pair from 5 joined him at the shelter station. Hypatia watched them work, not jealous in the slightest. She was feeling confident about her plan to go it alone. It had worked for her in the past and for many other Victors. Hopefully, the odds would be in her favor.
Later, a buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the first day. The Trainers began moving the Tributes out of the center, but weren't able to call the elevators until all the Tributes were assembled. There was one hold out.
"Get down from there this instance!" A Trainer screamed. In the rafters portion of the obstacle course, Ophelia taunted the trainers.
"Come and get me!" She laughed at them before climbing higher.
From the elevators, Ash slapped his face. Calen, meanwhile, turned to Tilly with a smile.
"How about we make her our ally?" He joked, thinking the wild girl form 12 would be an excellent rambunctious child for Tilly to mother.
Now it was Tilly's turn to groan in annoyance.
Up Next: Training Day 2
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