A Rebellious Spirit | Book III

Chapter Twenty-One | Training: Day 2 & 3

[AUTHORS NOTE]

So I decided I'll throw in a REBEL FUN FACT in these notes ones in awhile. And this one fits the chapter.

Fact #6 (other ones on my message board)

The interaction between Quinn and Katniss was/is so minimal, because I wanted both characters to have a background-- something they can bond over eventually.

Stay classy!

_________

Quinn arrived at training a bit earlier the next day. Ciruss had walked with her, he advised her to not show off-- but train a bit harder then save most of it for the next day. The training center was quiet, District Three, and District Two were already there, Mags, the male tribute from Eleven, and the tributes from Twelve were the only ones there so far. Quinn took her chance to hurry towards the rack of spears and tridents, and took the one that Finnick had offered her the day before.

Quinn bit down on her lip to fight back a bit of a smile. It was strange, she hadn't realized how...safe holding something like a trident made her feel. Holding a gun hadn't made her feel safe, it made her feel threatened because it mean there were people holding bigger guns, pointed at her. At least with something like a trident, everyone had a weapon that wasn't any more lethal than that.

She began walking towards the simulation room, she hadn't used it much the last time she was here. And watching people in it last year-- those kids were all prepared for the arena more so than some of the ones who didn't. However, as she neared it, she saw Katniss Everdeen going towards it as well with a bow and arrow in hand. She didn't really want to wait to watch Katniss, she just wanted to get her session in there over with so she could do survivalist stations. So Quinn quickened her pace, Katniss' eyes landed on her and her pace also got faster.

The two of them got to the simulation entrance at about the same time.

"I was here first," Quinn said quickly, placing her hand on the panel.

"I'd say we got here at the same time." she said, her eyes heavy with disgust every second she looked at Quinn.

"I won before you," Quinn said quickly, "So let me get it over with first."

"Everdeen, Maverick," the two of them looked up quickly. Their eyes found one of the speakers that allowed them to hear the gamemakers announcements if there were any. "There is a new feature for two tributes to train together in the simulation room." Quinn's eyes fell on Plutarch, his eyes seemed to be looking right at her as he smiled a bit.

Quinn sighed and turned back towards Katniss, "What do you say? One round together? Whoever takes out their holograms first gets to go first on their own."

Katniss looked her over, "Are you making a game out of training?"

"I guess you could call it that, if you want." she shrugged.

Katniss thought for a moment, and then began to set up the simulation. Her fingers glided across the panel swiftly, she selected two tributes and then looked at Quinn for a judgement of height. Katniss was only a bit taller than Quinn was herself, and then she selected eight holograms for each of them and then stepped into the room. Quinn followed close behind her and shut the door behind her.

"Maverick, blue. Everdeen, gold." an automatic female voice announced as the lights dimmed, and the lights on the ceilings changed to their rightful colors. "Begin."

The first blue hologram appeared at the same time as first gold one, the blue one was behind Quinn and she swiftly jabbed the sharp back end of the trident through it's midsection. And as soon as that one vanished two more appeared. One on the higher lever, and one furthur from her. Quinn saw from the corner of her eyes, Katniss take out a gold one near the blue one on the upper level but she decided to entirely block Katniss and whatever she was doing out of her head. Instead she ran forward, again using the back end of the trident to stab the one that had been running towards her. Then she turned around quickly just in time to see the one on the upper level rounding a corner to keep moving across that level. As it did, another blue one appeared on the other side of Katniss and was running towards her. Quinn quickly began to run towards it too, ducking beneath it's arm and stabbing it in the back with the back end of the trident.

Her eyes scanned the room and saw two more appear a lot closer her. Close enough to swiftly take out one of them and then follow through with the other.

"Quinn! Down!"

Quinn listened to Katniss, and fell to the ground just as Katniss shot an arrow at one of her moving targets. Then the blue one that had been going along the upper floor hopped down and Quinn pushed herself up to her knee's and made that one burst into cubes before turning to follow a blue hologram with her eyes as it tried to go around Katniss, behind two golden ones to come up behind her. She moved further away from it towards another blue hologram, stabbing it as soon as it appeared. Then turning around quickly.

"Katniss!" she shouted, and Katniss quickly got down to her knee and aimed at one of her targets as Quinn heaved the trident at the blue hologram. As soon as it stabbed the hologram, the normal lights in the simulation room went up, and one golden hologram went away.

"Everdeen, seven targets destroyed. Maverick, all targets destroyed. Please collect weapons, and exit simulation room." the female voice said.

Quinn took a deep breath, and then another. She hadn't realized how much she had begun to sweat. She could feel beads of sweat dripping down the back of her neck and forehead as she walked towards the trident.

"I didn't know you were that good." Katniss stated, trying to make it sound like she wasn't that tired.

"Yeah, I didn't do much of that sort of thing in the arena." Quinn sighed, "But I guess you have to be skilled a bit to make it across the country."

Katniss didn't say anything at first, "Did you guys make it far after you left Twelve?" she asked stepping closer to Quinn so she wouldn't have to talk so loud.

Quinn turned towards her after grabbing her trident. "We got far enough." she replied, "If it...if it wasn't for your mom, he wouldn't be alive."  she stated, "Orion owes your family, and Gales' family a lot."

Katniss didn't say anything else about it, "Is it true that you really hated being a gamemaker? Peeta said that..."

Quinn nodded, "It was the worse thing I ever had to do." she replied, "Katniss, I tried to help you as much as I could in the arena. I wanted you to win."

"Why?" she asked sharply.

Quinn sighed, "It...it's hard to explain." she stated, "I still don't even completely understand it-"

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of a knock on the glass door.

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That night, Quinn sat with Orion in the sitting area after eating dinner. They watched as Caesar Flickerman spoke with a co-host about the tributes. Saying what would be a good or bad alliance, and talking about past games.

"I heard that you and Katniss Everdeen had a little contest today in the simulation room." Ciruss sighed heavily as he sat down next to Quinn and Orion who sat on the couch, he relaxed in the armchair.

Quinn shrugged, "I guess so."

Ciruss gave her a small smile, "That was a good way to earn some points with the gamemakers, and the other tributes." he said, "Up it a notch tomorrow, you'll be able to earn some more before scores."