Different Perspectives

Chapter 4

"This is terrible!" Octavia tutted as she glanced over their breakfast. Brown sludge seemed to be the main course for the morning. Lælia, on the other hand, just dug in and stuck her nose back into her book without another complaint.

It was too early to be complaining about anything. The oatmeal just lacked taste, other than that, it wasn't exactly poison. But as she read about learning how to befriend the enemy of her enemy proved to be rather difficult as Octavia gagged with each dainty sniff of her spoon. "Oh would you quit it?" Lælia grumbled as she tossed her granola bar towards the other girl who happily caught it.

"Thank you," she chirped with a content smile and nudged away her tray as she glanced up at their new guest take his seat across the both of them with his own breakfast. Cato was also eyeing his oatmeal with disgust and it only worsened when he saw Lælia willingly ate another spoonful. "I know," Octavia nodded sympathetically. "It's gross. It's like she wants to die."

Cato quickly pulled away Lælia's bowl before her spoon could make contact, earning a grunt of disproval. "Hey!" she protested and tried to reach for her bowl but the boy only pulled it away a couple inches further. "I was eating that."

"And have you die before you could teach me a thing? No, we can't have that." Cato passed over his granola bar in exchange and with a look of chagrin, Lælia took it. For good measure, she glared at him as she took a bite. "So I'm thinking we could actually start with some hand to hand combat. You obviously lack upper body strength."

Lælia took her customary pause of dramatic effect before she continued. "No."

"No?"

"No."

"No... as in, you know you need help to gain upper body strength or--"

"--no, as in I don't want your help."

Cato didn't get up and leave like he usually did whenever Lælia rejected him. Instead, he only leaned in with his usual arrogant expression.

Lælia wanted to throw the bowl of oatmeal into his smug face.

"I'm stubborn, Lælia. I hope you know that." With a final wink, he stood up and joined his rowdy fans.

Octavia sighed loudly, garnering Lælia's attention. "Can't deny it, Caverly. He's hot. Why won't you just agree?"

"I don't want to, Octavia. I'm just as stubborn as he is. Besides, his ego doesn't need to get any bigger if I agree." The victor's child dismissive tone carried through and her friend dropped the subject, leaving Lælia shoveling her food into her mouth. Octavia's nose wrinkled with disgust and busied herself with making an indistinguishable statue made of the lumpy oatmeal.

--

Because of Lælia's need of more oatmeal (Octavia thought it was odd that she found it so delicious when really, she had a plan to get sick during training so she would be excused), the two girls were late when they entered the Training Room. Their hurried steps faltered into a slow walk when they took in the other trainees mingling about instead of actually training.

After careful observations, the two girls realized that each station was closed or in this case, deserted without any weapons or any instructors. It had worried the main trainees, ones that included Cato, Clove, Rufus, Icarus, Reyna and so on. The rest seemed giddy at the prospect of another free day, a second one this week in fact.

But when Cyprian took his usual spot in the center of the room, the crowd's murmurs fell and all attention was on him. "Trainees," his voice boomed as if he begged for each and everyone's attention even though he already had it. "We're having another impromptu test. The Board--" the curious look Lælia sent Octavia's way wasn't ignored and received a look back that said I'll tell you later, "--would like to have a... better test that proves to where all you stand. I know that all of you would like to be Chosen, but alas only two is possible. Now that doesn't mean the rest can slack off."

Lælia assumed that last part was directed to her.

"As I was saying..." Cyprian made sure to give her a certain look before continuing what he thought was a heartfelt speech. "I'd like to see how well or... how much skill you have been lacking. Treat this as if your private sessions with the Gamemakers. The consequences of your results will vary. But now, now, do not fret."

No one moved a muscle. This was different. This was beyond different. Even Clove looked the least bit worried. Lælia snuck a glance to Cato. His usual facade was made into a stoic expression. She wasn't sure if he was worried or... or excited. Now that worried her.

"We only like to see how much we need to work on for you to bring honor to District 2! Up first, Octavia Ashlar and Atticus Dray." Her friend grew pale as she stepped forward from the crowd. "Step into the ring and the whole objective is to push the other out of the ring in the least amount of time possible."

Her opponent was built the same way as Lælia's friend, tall and thin except for the additional muscles on his arms. They could've been mistaken as siblings by the hair and the eyes but Atticus's face seemed much more hawk-like with the contoured cheekbones and the narrow chin and nose. The first punch thrown was from Octavia's opponent, however it didn't land. She quickly ducked out of the way and a growl slipped past Atticus's lips. He swung another fist and she leaned back, his knuckles barely brushing against her chin. This went on for several more jabs and punches, all of them meeting air, until Octavia finally went offensive.

Her own punches managed to land on something and each time one blow landed, the power behind her fist consistently grew stronger. Atticus grew more frustrated and with a wide arc of a punch, Octavia dropped to one knee and stretched out one long leg, kicking him in the thigh where he lost his balance and fell out of the circle.

Tullia, the other instructor, nodded at the time she was shown and scribbled it down on a clipboard. Cyprian then called another pair and each time a match finished, Lælia grew anxious for her name to be called. Time passed and she fell into a sense of security. Her attention wandered, staring curiously at how the light seemed to fall on the corner of a metal stand, and she itched to draw it.

When Cato's name was called, she snapped out of her reverie and peered above the heads of the trainees in front of her. Thankfully, the opponent he was given had a chance to fight: it was Icarus. It seemed like he was a brunette, less arrogant version of Cato but he didn't lack any of the skill the other possessed.

The fight started with shoves and pushes but after a swift moment, the two realized their strength left them at a stalemate. Cato shoved his head underneath Icarus's arm and pushed but the other boy used Cato's weight against him and fell back with the full intention of rolling backwards to push him out of the ring.

Except Cato's feet dug into the mat and pried Icarus off his body and pushed with such strength that it shocked Lælia to hear how loud the thud was when the body landed on the outer mats. As per usual, Cato's little fans gathered around him and the crowd only dispersed when Cyprian called out the next pair.

"Lælia Caverly and... Clove Lamina."

Panic flooded her system and the malicious grin Clove sent towards her didn't help. She entered the ring with the sadistic girl and before Cyprian gave the 'go', Lælia caught Cato's glance. It was stoic like it once was, with the usual dash of guilt but this time, a hint of concern was there too. It did nothing to assuage her panic.

--

A/N: clove has been waiting far too long for this so yeah, some action was bound to happen here and stuff.