The Third Quarter Quell

Chapter five - That Can Be Arranged

I notice the smirk on his face as I walk away from him for the second time. I decide to go find Prim and see if anyone has bothered her yet. When she come into view I see her and Sierra building fires. I walk over to her and sit down next to them.

"Hello girls." I say. 

"Hi." Prim smiles at me. 

'Hey, I'm Sierra." She extends her arm. I take her hand and shake it.

"Crimson." I offer. As the two girls chat away I look around. Trying to get to know my competition. I see Chelsea, Blaine and Rein standing together. Chelsea and Blaine are careers. I wonder why they arent with the boys. I search the room and find them standing near the swords. Ace, Spencer, Xander, and Nate? Nate's from district eight or nine. What is he doing with them. I see them start to walk. They approach Grayson. Must have seen his skill. They start to talk to him but he cuts them off. I see him say something, then turn to walk away. Spencer grabs his shoulder and spins him back to face them. Spencer says something then pushes Grayson away. Grayson walks towards the climbing bars, and I walk to meet him. 

"I'll be back soon." I tell Prim.

"Okay." 

I walk to him, and he sees me. He smiles and waves like nothing just happened. 

"What was that?" I ask him, not sure what he will tell me. Or if he will tell me anything in general.

"Haven't you noticed?" I shake my head at his question.

"No?" I say.

"This year isn't like most. There are fifteen boys, thats 12 other boys the career males have to go up against. Usually its only nine. The careers don't always win to begin with, imagine adding another three boys. Plus have you seen some of the men here? At least thirteen of us are over 16. Even some of the girls look like threats. What would be running through their heads right now?" He asks without letting me answer, "To recuit the usual careers and be against 12 strong males? Or to recuit some of those strong males?" 

"So they came and asked you to join them?" I ask.

"Yeah, I told them I'd rather die." He tells me. A small smile forms on my lips, having him as part of the careers would be deadly, "They told me 'That can be arranged.'"

"Ha, that's slightly humorous." I laugh, still unsure of my cheery mood, "So now your a lone soldier?" 

"Nah, I have Paisley, the girl from my district. I told her to go practice some knives or something so she isn't going in with no skill at all." He tells me, pointing towards the girl struggling with the knives, "And my being a lone soldier may be the reason I keep bothering you. To get anywhere in these games, the careers are going to need to go. Obviously, with the way they look, it's not a one man job."

"So you want me?" I ask carefully. 

"Yeah, kind of." He says shyly. 

"Why, you saw me with those knives, and the bow and arrow. I suck." I laugh.

"No you don't. Well, you do with the bow. But you have skill with the knives. Anyone paying any attention can see that." He says sincerely.

"Well, I have Prim." I say.

"She will be a huge bonus. Everyone loves her." He says, obviously fine with the fact we are a package deal, "They love you too. The way you hugged her after getting reaped." 

"I'll think about it. I'll have to talk to Prim too." I tell him. 

The rest of training is silent. But we do mostly stick together. We race to the top of the ropes, he wins but gives me some pointers. Then he teaches me a few wrestling pointers, incase I get in a mingle with a female tribute. After training I feel like I can almost trust him.

"Hey. How was training?" Peeta asks us as Prim and I enter the dining room.

"Interesting." I say.

"It was good. I made a friend." Prim says.

"Why was it interesting?" Haymitch asks me as he sits down.

"Well. First of all the careers are mixing it up this year and recruiting the strong older males." I tell them.

"You know this how?" Peeta asks.

"Well, Nate from district," I start.

 "Eight, he's from my friends district." Prim finishes.

"Was standing with Spencer, Ace and," I search for him name.

"Xander." Prim offers.

"Then they walked to Grayson, and asked him. He said no, that he'd rather die." I tell them, "Then Grayson told me that they are going up against strong older males, more then they usually do. so they need to get them if they are going to have a chance. He said it would so easy for Tatum, Oak, Blake and Holden to make a new Career team. Grayson said it clearly worried them and they decided to scrap the girls and go for the boys if they wanted a chance." 

"Grayson?" Haymitch asks.

"Yeah, he said he wants me, and Prim. He already has Paisley, the girl from his district. I told him i have to talk to Prim, and I'll get back to him." I tell them.

"Well, a group is better in the beginning. And to get past the careers, and even the older males you'll need a group. Just make sure it's not with any random. Make sure you trust him, and he knows after the careers are gone you are going to split, go your seperate ways." Peeta tells me.

"If we are going to make a group. I want Sierra." Prim pipes in.

"Yeah sure. Thats fine." I tell her.

"Good. So Paisley, Grayson, Sierra and you two." Haymitch says, "I'll have a chat with their mentors."  

Dinner was full of tactics and information we will need when we are in the arena. I guess it helps. I look at Peeta, and realize he can probably help me in the self-defense area. After dinner when Haymitch, Effie and Prim are half way out the door I stop Peeta by grabbing his arm.

"Peeta?" I ask, unsure of how to ask him.

"Yeah?" 

"Can you help me?" I ask, " Today Grayson was trying to help me with self-defense and wrestling, but I'm not very good. Actually, good isn't a word you'd consider to use in the same sentence. Could you give me a few pointers? Incase I get in a pickle in the arena?" 

He chuckles, "Sure." He turns and starts to walk to the sitting room. He moves the couch and table. 

"What did Grayson try to teach you?" He asks.

"I have no idea." I shrug.

"Well depending on what kind of situation your in, depends on what you would do." He starts, "One thing, never, ever let your competition get their hands or arms around you neck. If they have your neck, your as good as dead."

The tips Peeta gave me should help. I hope. I will find out soon. In an hour we are going back to the training centre. Effie just woke me up and I am laying on my bed trying to convince myself to get up. It would be so easy to just sleep, ignore the training, get thrown into the area with no training. Accept that I will die in that arena; that I'm not coming out alive. But then I will be a hopeless help for Prim. She may as well go in defenseless if I do that.

Sierra    >>>>>>>>>>