Reaper ~ THG AU

Ch. 8: Learned

The first day of compulsory training ends pretty fast. Acacius and I ended up going unnoticed for most of it. He spent most of his time learning how to make fishing hooks and fishing nets. After the rope making, I learned a bit of camouflage to add to my list of skills.

"What did you learn today?"

Acacius asks as we eat our dinner. We're sat on the ground in my room, staring out the large window. The steak, potatoes, and green beans seem too much as I reach for my drink. I swallow, sighing out as I look up towards him.

"The skills or about the other tributes?"

"Both."

"Well...I started out learning how to start a fire and the best tools to have. Then I used my weaving skills to make rope while watching the styles of fighting the careers use. After that I learned a little about blending in with my surroundings, what about you?"

"The girl from 5 was learning about nightlock and other types of poisons. The boy from 9 was showing good potential with a machete and the girl from three was learning about rewiring land mines and bombs."

I take another gulp of my glass of wine while absorbing the information. The girl from 5 is named Ivette. She's one of the sixteen year olds and very smart. It shows with her approach. Alice, the girl from 3, is also sixteen. With how past victors from her district have won, I'm not surprised with her choice.

Dagan seems like a wild card. He's one of the other seventeen year olds and stand-offish. He's average height and pretty stocky, almost unnoticeable if you didn't know to look for him. I guess it's a good thing Acacius seems to know.

"Anything else?"

"The boys from 5 and 10 and the girls from 7, 8, and 9 tried sparing...they didn't show to be that much of a threat. The kids from 4 and both boys from 12 and 3 tried out one of the obstacle course and failed. The boys from 6, 7, 8, and 10 did the same obstacle course and succeeded. And finally, the girl from 12 spent a good portion of the day sitting in a corner."

"Is there anyone you didn't watch today?"

I joke, taking another bite of my food as he reaches for his drink. He takes a large swig before nodding, looking up towards me.

"Yeah. I didn't watch the careers because I knew you'd handle that. I also learned how to fish."

I laugh, taking another drink before moving to finish the last few bites of my food. I stand once I'm done, moving towards my side table as I exhale out.

"I figured we could watch the other reapings...they have them all where anyone can watch them now."

"Why?"

"Well...Finnick did say to know your enemies, right? What better way then to watch how each of them came to be our opponents?"

Acacius smiles, taking the last bite of his food as he points towards me.

"I knew you had something else up your sleeve."

——

Now sat on my bed with fresh glasses of wine and full stomachs. The first two tapes are expected, the careers volunteering while everyone cheered. Augustus received the loudest while showing off his muscles.

"They're all arrogant...especially Augustus."

I hear myself say as Acacius takes another drink. He nods, replaying a bit of the first tape again.

"And his district partner is hiding a limp very well..."

"What? How can you tell?"

"Look at her when she's standing still...she favors her right side. I've noticed it other insistences as well. She never shows it when walking but she does when she's not. I wouldn't be surprised if something happened in that big academy they have over there."

I nod, eyeing the screen where he pointed out. He flips towards the next few clips, district 3 and 4. All four were chosen with no volunteers taking their places. The boy from three seems clumsy, tripping twice before joining his escort. His district partner seems a little jumpy, like she's constantly on edge. Both of them from four seem too young and naïve to be any real threat.

We watch 5 and 6 next, keeping a close eye on Ivette. She seems quiet and reserved. Her district partner, Lincoln, doesn't seem much of a threat compared to her, seeming to just be in shock the whole time after his name was called. The two from 6 are similar to him.

Nothing about 7 and 8 really catches my eye, both ending with the tributes either crying or staring out in shock. The girl from 9 is the same, no surprise with her only being fourteen. Dagan, on the other hand, stares out with a look so chilling that I have to lean away from the screen.

"He looks ready to kill..."

"He probably is."

Acacius switches to distract 10, sighing out before taking another sip. The girl cries as she dragged away, her thirteen year old frame immediately saddening me as I watch her. Her district partner is the same age as me but half my size. He doesn't seem to have a lot of muscle or fat, just his thin frame.

When our reaping comes up, I look down towards my drink. Acacius sighs, skipping through it before stopping on 12. The female tribute had to be dragged away, her face red from her screaming and crying. Her district mate even looks frightened as he's escorted away behind her.

My mind goes to Sloan. She's the same age as him. She wouldn't stand a chance against some of these tributes. I sigh, looking down as I move to sip my drink. Acacius shuts off the screen as he stands. He finishes his glass before moving towards the door.

"I'm going to bed...love you, Z."

"Love you too, Ace..."

He smiles, opening the door before stepping out. I sigh as soon as I'm left alone. I finish my own glass before moving towards the armoire. A hot bath sounds amazing right about now. I might as well take advantage of the Capitol's while I still can.

⚔️

A/N

Y'all I think I did a good job forming stories for the other tributes...

Drink water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!

Love
-the Author