The Sun's Rays

Chained Birds

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END PLEASE DO NOT SKIP

I wrestled him to the ground.

"I will get you." he growled

I smiled.

"You wish Haymitch."

I used a double body roll to pin him under my body weight. I was normally a lot heavier and bigger than Haymitch was, but ever since he grew six inches in a month, he has a new advantage over me. I hate him for being taller than me. I was a very average height of 5'5 and I take pride in my height. Damn boys and their tallness.

He flipped me off of him, and I took the impact and rolled onto my feet. He sprang at me, trying to catch me off balance, but I was expecting it. I ducked and tossed his feet over me, so he landed on his back. I ran to the other side of the circle where I could analyze a little longer while he was still getting up.

Haymitch cautiously stepped forward. He favors his left foot, so any move he is going to make is going to be led by the left foot. His foot stepped slowly down, and I knew that I needed to act then. I threw all of my weight at him, which he wasn't expecting, so he tried to block me with flailing arms, until he hit the mat hard. I had my arm on his throat.

"Gotcha"

"Not fai-r" Haymitch's voice cracked.

I laughed and got off of him.

"Nice job you two!" said Instructor Mayelle.

I pushed all of the hair that came out of my ponytail out of my face.

"Thanks!" I said.

"Haymitch, you need to be a little quicker on your feet," said the Instructor "Know your own body and it's strengths. You are very sloppy in your footwork and that could be a weakness that could be a huge mistake. You shouldn't of used the tailspin because you aren't very strong in your legs, and it didn't work as well as it would have if you could have used the crocodile arms because it would have unbalanced Primrose and her strengths are in her footwork."

"Whatever," said Haymitch "it was pure luck. You can't beat this pure talent."

Haymitch 'flexed' his muscles.

I rolled my eyes and hit the showers.

***

How was training? Rye asked me.

"Fine," I said "but Haymitch's ego has gone up a million notches since he turned 14."

Rye smiled in return.

We walked to the reef because it was a free period and started to study for our math midterm.

I collapsed on the couch and groaned.

"Midterms will be the end of me." I groaned.

We have to study though.