𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 → 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋 𝗀𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌 ¹

𝑶𝟕. 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀

     i wake up first next morning, and after a moment of peace and quiet, shake willow. dawn comes through the window because i didn't close the curtains last night, and i can observe the capitol illuminated by the first lights of the morning reflected on very single building.

     willow goes back to her room, still half asleep, and i go for a shower. i'm not used to clean myself this much, but i feel dirty continuously. plus, i kinda like the idea of taking excessive advantage of the capitol.

     on my bed, i can find an outfit prepared for me ; a black pair of slim and stretched pants, a same-fabric polo-shirt with the number seven printed on the left pectoral and the back and leather shoes. willow is dressed up exactly like me when i find her again at breakfast, not quite awake because of the early hour.

     the dining room is empty, except a female avox at a corner, near a table with enough dishes to feed our entire neighborhood, back at district seven. i don't really look at the avox ; they make me quite uneasy and are too much of a capitol sick thing for me to get used to.

     i fill up on food before settling down at the table with willow, facing the bay windows offering us a breathtaking view of the waking up capitol. i'm almost done eating when blight and phox finally show and sit down with us.

     at last, time for strategy.

     you'll have three days of training with all the tributes, phox explains first. it's a big step of the preparation, you cannot fail this one.

     i guess you want to be advised together ? blight asks.

     of course, i answer. no secret between us.

     okay. so, first advice : don't show any skills to your competitors. just go to learn new things during the basic training, and save your talents for the private session with the gamemakers.

     understand ? phox insists. tristan, you don't even touch a knife or an axe. and you, willow, you ignore obstacle courses and other agility displays. don't give others an advantage over you.

     we both nod. it seems logical : we need to impress at the private training session in the front of the gamemakers, because they'll rank us afterwards between one and twelve. this score can give the people in the capitol an idea of which tributes have the best chance in the arena ; therefore, which ones to bet on and sponsor.