Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Gale's POV

"Well, wasn't that fun," I say, stepping down from our chariot.

"Mmhmm, so much fun," Madge's matches my tone.

We see Effie and Haymitch waiting against the wall with Augustus and who must be Madge's stylist. When we reach them, Haymitch turns without a word and leads the way through the crowd of other tributes, their mentors, and their stylists. We board the elevator with the Riverworth siblings from District Five and their people. None of us talk on the way up to level five to drop them off, but I can feel their eyes burning holes through me like I'm something under a magnifying glass in the hot sun. I'm relieved when they finally get off the elevator.

"Thank goodness, what cold children," Effie says. Cold indeed. They didn't even talk to us yet, but I could feel the hatred rolling off them. Not that I can blame them for hating us. We are supposed to fighting to the death.

I just shrug not really fazed by their attitude. It's not like I'm jumping to make friends with them either. We reach the twelfth level soon after.

"Hopefully, they have dinner ready," Haymitch says, stepping off and leading the way through what must be extremely familiar to him.

"Of course, they'll have it done by now. They have it done every time we're here," Effie says following him.

Haymitch grumbles something I can't make out. We enter the dining room which has the table loaded with food, very similar to the table of the train. We sit down around the table and everyone begins eating in silence.

"Tomorrow you'll begin your training," Haymitch begins. "I'm going to give you the same advice I gave to Katniss and Peeta. Do very little with the hunting and searching for food because you'll already know plenty of that. Focus more on the combat training."

"Dear, I don't think you actually told Katniss and Peeta that," Effie interrupts.

"I'm fairly certain I did," Haymitch counters.

"I'm fairly certain you probably just thought it in your head."

"Whatever," he grumbles. "Focus on the combat. You'll both need that. Also don't forget to get to know the other tributes. Obviously don't bring the papers down with you to the training rooms because that will be frowned upon by the other tributes, but keep it up here until you get back for the night," he says tapping his temple. "I think that's all that I needed to cover for the night. Why don't we all try to get some sleep?"

~FIRO~

"I think we should focus on Districts One through Six today," Madge whispers as we enter the training rooms. People are milling around here and there with no one really talking.

"Yeah, okay. Haymitch wants us to focus on who we want for allies anyway," I say, stepping up the growing circle in the middle of the room.

Madge nods her head and follows me. I can already feel this is going to be a long few days.

~FIRO~

I flip through the stack of papers in front of me. Over the past two days I've observed the other tributes and made mental notes. I know Haymitch is expecting the papers tonight yet so he can have the ultimate decision on our allies. I guess the best way to get started is to actually write about the tributes. I don't want to leave any ideas of who I want for allies because frankly I don't want any. Best to leave opinions for Haymitch to waste his time flipping through anyways.

Secundus Herenus (male) -- District 1

Physical description: Silvery blonde hair, green eyes, scar stretching from the right side of his forehead