The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 9

          I woke to the crowing of roosters in the distance and believe for a split second I was back home at District 10. I programed the surround sound and the projector to project the image of a farm. I sigh and roll out of bed, staying in my pink silk pajamas. I walk down to the stairs and pass the living room where breakfast is being served by an avox with white hair. He only appeared to be in his mid-twenties though. This morning, I stuck with cereal, toast and bacon. Waylon got on to me, advising that I should eat more but I couldn't help it. I was nervous.

          Todays the day each tribute gets the chance to look over their opponents and see what they are capable of. At the end of training, we will each be individually scored in a private training session with the game makers. They will give us a score from 1-12 based on our skills which basically means who is most likely to survive. On the night before the games, we will be interviewed and given our last chance to really show the sponsors who is worth sponsoring. Dean has made a full recovery and so has Larten. They were told to not have any more contact with each other or they will regret it in the games. After breakfast, the four of us head down to the actual training center.

           The gymnasium seems endless. As far as I could see I seen different stations scattered about. A ropes course, a swimming lessons course, a raft crafting course and even a rock climbing course. Those were ones I never knew about or had imagined would be in the training center but no one's really lived from our district to talk about it and those who have returned don't talk really about anything.

          They had the basics too, camouflaging station, plant identification, archery, hand to hand combat and the things like that. "Alright, Waylon told me that it's best to save the skill we are best at for the game makers in our private session. That way the other tributes won't know our strengths." Dean informs us. "That might be what he said but that dosnt mean I wont show these punks whos boss." Larten spits and walks away towards the hand to hand combat and starts throwing the trainers left to right.

         "Alright well im going to go learn how to swim. See yall later!" Maizey says over her shoulder as she heads towards the pool. "Ok, well, I guess im heading to the knife throwing station. I'm a little rusty." Dean pats my shoulder and walks away, leaving me standing by myself. I look around awkwardly trying to figure out which station I should head to first. The girl from 1, Demetria, is swinging a mace at a life like dummy. The tributes from district 7 join her and try to show her up by swinging their axes and hatchets at other dummies, severing their heads. Demetria clearly doesn't like this is says something to the District 7 tributes who eventually walk away. I wonder what she could have said to them to make them leave. I beging to think but stop when I otice the boy from 12.

           Haymitch was practicing by himself at the plant identification course. I know I should stick to myself but I decide to walk over and join him. He stiffens when he notices my presence but relaxes when he notices it is just me instead of, im assuming, a career or a larger tribute. I begin the simulation and fail miserably. The boy named Haymitch notices and chuckles a little to himself. I ignore it and continue. After I die 7 more times in my simulation, Haymitch cuts in. "You know, I used to have a hard time when I was younger but my mother showed me a few tricks to help." He smiles a little and continues. "red and yellow kill a fellow, black and blue is good for two. So, any plant that has red touching yellow is bad. Any plant that is black and blue touching is okay." "Wow. really?" I ask while the boy nods his head. "Yep. Also, anything that is prickly is normally bad and anything that is fuzzy is usually food. But, these are the Hunger Games and they do like to switch everything up, so, be careful." Haymitch walks away and I shout a quick "Thank you!"

A            fter a few more hours practicing I have mastered plant identification and knot tying. Lunch is served and and I meet up with Dean and Maizey at a table in the far back cornrer. Larten was sitting with the tributes from District 8. "I wonder what he is scheming over there?" I say aloud. Dean answers my thoughts "Im not sure but I have a feeling we will know in the Games"