Child Of The Mockingjay

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

            It had always puzzled me how when I’d fall asleep on the lounge and somehow wake up in my bedroom.  Though I understand now, it was still perplexing to wake up to different surroundings.

            A wave of disappointment washed over me as I realized how different things were. I would never awaken in my own room again, or in Nalin’s, holding his hand as I try to fight away his nightmares.

            I had been away from home for three nights. It was a different timeline to how Ma’s and Pa’s worked. The opening ceremony was the night they arrived in the Capitol, the second night. However now, the Opening Ceremony was bumped back for the Beginnings Feast.

            It was the first day of training.

            I shuddered, not something I was particularly looking forward to.

            The big, big, big day had started simply with breakfast. Or not so simply, if you consider that nothing in the Capitol is simple.

            Aaron recapped us on the Viewing last night. According to him, 12 really had once again stolen the spotlight, much to the District one’s and the Capitol’s stylist’s dismay. Apparently no-one else had understood the design much more than I had. Nothing particularly interesting as we were present when most of the footage had been shot; the Opening Ceremony.

            I was wearing black, skin tight shorts to the middle of my thighs and a matching tank top; perfect for physical activity.  My hair was up in a long pony tail, though slight stands kept falling into my face and into my eyes, irritating me.

            “So, what are the plans for today, Pa? Ma? Weaponry or survival?” I asked, my hand flicking up to brush a flyaway hair from my face. The atmosphere at the table had been rather joyous, surprisingly so.

            “Hmm,” Ma sighed. She looked at Aaron, “So what can you do? What skills?”

            He pursed his lips in thought – an odd look on him. “Well, I suppose I’m fast. Over short distances, I haven’t much stamina. I haven’t used a weapon before.’

            “Well, where did you live in 12? What do you parents do?”

            “I live in Seam; my father is a miner, though my mother is a school teacher. They get just enough money to buy food, and the amount your family supplies the District certainly helps.”

            “Did you do anything at home? Katniss use to hunt for her family, and I frosted the cakes at home.” Pa asked.

            “I suppose I cook, though.” He paused and reconsidered. “Use to cook. Maybe I can make a pleasant stew from the other tributes?”

            We mustered up a laugh at his dull joke. Once, a while ago, there was a tribute that turned cannibal and started eating his victims. It was no surprise that he was buried under an avalanche after a few of days.

            “So you can use a knife?” I was genuinely curious. A knife was my favoured weapon, and I thought that maybe we could train together.

            He blushed and lowered his gaze to the emptied plate in front of him. “Um, no. Not at all. I, uh, tried once, but I kind of failed.” He admitted, his olive toned skin burning deeper. “I still have a huge scar on my foot from where I dropped it.”

            I smothered a laugh, though Jay hadn’t the decency. “Oh, shut it. I was eleven.”

            Everyone surrounding the table chuckled. Except for Effie, who let out the loudest snort I had ever witnessed, who sent us into another round of hysterics.