Catoniss (#wattys2016)

Chapter 4

The next day at training, Rue and I are throwing knives when the Career pack walks up to me.
"Get out of here 11," Clove snaps.
Rue lowers her head and walks away, the Careers don't bother to learn our names. So they call us by our District numbers.

"Listen 12, we want you as an ally," Clove says.
"No, I'm fine with Peeta and Rue," I say.
"Why not?" Glimmer asks.
"One, you could use me as a shield and when it comes down to the five of us, you'll all kill me first. And two, you don't even know my name and it's not 12," I snap.

I walk away from them and join Rue and Peeta.
"What did they want?" Peeta asks.
"For me to join the Careers," I say.
"Did you?" Rue asks.
"No, they're Careers," I say.
"They're ruthless," Peeta says.

"And scary," Rue says.
"Don't worry Rue, we'll protect you," I say.
"They'll have to get through us first," Peeta says.
"Thank you," Rue says.
"Do you think Thresh could join our alliance?" Peeta asks Rue.

"I don't think so, he's more of a solo guy," Rue says.
"We'll be fine on our own," I say.
"But I'm small."
"Don't worry, I'm strong and Katniss is really good at archery," Peeta whispers to Rue.
"We'll be your guards," I say with a smile.

Rue laughs.
I'd rather be with them, knowing that they have my back than with the Careers when they could kill me in my sleep.
But Cato's gentle but hard blue eyes, he's got a good build, really good looking and- STOP! I think.

I look at Cato and see that he's looking at me, he looks away from me quickly when our eyes lock. Then I see him stab every practice dummy in the chest with his sword and I look back at Rue.
"I think sticking with us is a good idea, Katniss," Peeta says.
"Yeah," I say.

"Well, we just can't sit here, we need to train," I say.
"Maybe we should work on our strengths, to scare the Careers," Rue says.
"That's a good idea."
"What about Haymitch?" Peeta asks.
"You know you want to show how strong you are," I say.

"Okay, let's go. Where are you two going? I'm going to the weight throwing," Peeta says.
"Net, I can climb really fast," Rue says. "Archery section," I say.

We all go to our station and practice. I see the Careers watching the three of us, eyes wide and jaws dropped.