Remembered - Cato and Clove

Chapter 7 - Training

Clove's POV

We walk away from the reaping. Cato is there, with his arm on my shoulder. Today we do not have training but tomorrow we start training for next year. Cato goes into the arena in just one year. It may seem like a long time, but it really scares me. Only one year before I could lose him forever. There are a lot of things that could happen. I'm afraid that I could lose my best friend. I'm afraid that he could lose himself. I'm afraid that he could win. If he wins and doesn't want me in his life it would be just as painful as losing him, maybe more. At least if he dies I have my memories. Maybe nothing will change at all. Either way I'm pretty sure that having him in the arena instead of by my side is going to be awful.

We walk down the streets and he drops me off at my house. Tomorrow will determine training for the next year and we both need our rest. I kiss Cato goodnight then step inside my house. I close the door and go upstairs to my room. As I step into the shower and clean off. After eating some dinner I hop into bed and turn off the light. Once I am all settled in a giant clap if thunder makes me jump. Holy cow that was loud. Rain starts to pelt the windows and it doesn't let up any. The next morning I get up with rain still pounding the windows. I meet Cato halfway to his house and we run to the school. We part ways and get through the school day without any major conflict. We meet before running across the street to the training center. It's still pouring down rain. We get in laughing and soaked from the water. The head trainer looks to us and says,

"No use drying off, we're going running in that today." Oh joy. We go out running, me and Cato in the lead with all the others trailing behind us. We talk and laugh as we run and then it's time for evaluation. I throw knives, do agility, and then hand to hand and am placed in the elite training group alongside Cato, Dustin, and Angel. How fun. Only two people were selected from my year to train elite. That's me and Peter, who is not as good as Cato or me. That's okay though, just means he is easier to take down in the arena. Those who don't get selected for the games get shipped off to other districts to become peacekeepers. Not me though. I'm being used as a tribute in the quarter quell. That's where the real fun is. Every twenty five years there is some sick twist to the games that remind everyone about the horrors of the war. In these years it is a special honor to compete in the games. I'm excited and ready for what is sure to come. This year I need to make training count, so does Cato. We can go through this year together, and emerge ready for what the games has in store.

Cato's POV

After the reaping we go home and eat a big dinner. After that I go upstairs and take a shower. I let the searing water rinse over me. District two is a pretty well off district. Every house has running water and electricity. I would hate to be somewhere like district eleven or twelve. I'm sure it's terrible to be living in poverty. Although being in a richer district does have its challenges. Not only are people not afraid to go into the games, but kids are practically killing each other for the chance to go in. How ironic. If someone goes into the Hunger Games and wins it isn't a huge deal in two as it would be in an outlying district. Not to mention the academy ever day of your life can be pretty brutal. As all if these thoughts come over me my mid drifts to Clove. I wonder how she will take me going into the games. In school during that time,most teachers leave it on all day so that the students can watch it. In the center they keep it on a screen by the door and give hourly updates about the games. She probably will hate my time in the games, I know when she goes in I will be a wreck. That's if I'm even around to see her go into the games. I get out of the shower and hop into bed.

The next morning I get up and meet Clove halfway between our houses. It's also pouring down rain. We make it to the center and leave to go to our classrooms. I find Clove and we run across the street to training. We walk into training soaking wet. The coach tells us to get used to it cause today, were running. Me and Clive joke around as we lead the group of older kids on a three mile jog. Once we get back to the center it's time to be evaluated. I do sword and spear work and am placed in the elite training group. In the group there is Clove, a boy from her year, Angel, Dustin, and a few random people from my year. Angel, eww and Dustin too? It looks like me and Clove have some anger management challenges ahead of us. Its a good thing I have Clove with me or I would have gone insane. I flash her a smile and we begin to train. Clove and I are partners again, no surprises there. We always train together and have since we were younger. Ten years now we have been like this and it isn't going to change any time soon. Im excited to begin some serious preparation for the games. With Clove at my side, we can be unstoppable. Well training this year will be interesting.

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Author's Note

Hey guys,

What's up? Thanks for reading, as always. I hope everyone is doing just swell. More to come soon! Please read, comment, and vote! Feedback is appreciated!

Always Remember Clato is Forever!!! 😊