I woke up the next day, feeling refreshed. I changed into a jacket with my district number on it and matching long trousers.
I came down for breakfast and found Rythian was dressed in almost the exact same thing. We ate breakfast, then took the lift to the bottom floor. We found that under the hotel, was a huge training centre. It had ropes, targets, swords, traps. Even a bow.
We joined the other tributes who were in front of a lady. She had black hair and dark skin.
"First, some ground rules" she said.
"One. No fighting with the other tributes. You'll have plenty of time for that later." She said some other things, then sent us off to train.
There were the game makers, on a balcony, observing our talents and weaknesses. I glimpsed the games master, an strange looking man. I didn't know his name, though I had heard it a couple of times. It was, like other Capitol names, an odd one.
First, I tried out trap making. There was a man there named Leo. He taught me all these basic knots, then taught me how to make traps. I practised that for about an hour, then went off to find Rythian.
I found him at the camouflage station. He was painting his arm, as I approached him, I saw how good he was at it as well.
"Hey" I mumbled. He looked up and smiled slightly.
"Hey"
"How did you do that?" I asked. He looked at his arm.
"Oh, uhh, I used to do the cakes down at the bakery"
"Oh" I said, remembering his family owned a bakery. Emily would always run over to see the decorations on the cakes, wishing she had enough money to buy one.
"Watch" Rythian said. He walked over to a tree that was behind him and put his arm over top. It blended in immediately, and my eyes widened.
"That's so cool" I said. He grinned. Then nodded behind me.
"Hey, I think you have a shadow."
I turned to see a small girl, maybe about twelve, hide around the corner. Her hair was bright pink and her eyes were emerald green. She was from District 11.
Agriculture. I thought.
She reminded me of Emily. Who reminded me of home. I started feeling sick. I would never see them again. I shook the though out of my head and continued training.
Teutron said don't show off your talents, do that in the individual training evaluation. So I went to the fire making station.
On my way there, I saw that the boy from District 1 arguing with the boy from District 10.
"You took my knife. You took my knife!" He punched him across the jaw and the boy fell to the ground. Two guards ran up, grabbing him and pulling him back.
"You wait till the arena, your the first one I get!" He sneered. Something caught my eye and I looked up. Right above me, were some climbing ropes. The District 11 girl hung on to them, holding a knife and grinning. The boy from District 11 was looking up at her, grinning as well.
I smiled.
She was quick. I had seen her on the climbing station. She flew from each rope like a monkey. I decided to go to the poisonous plants station next, thinking about her flying from tree to tree reminded me of plants and wildlife.
Sometime in the afternoon, we were sent back to our hotel. We had two hours to shower, eat, and get changed into similar clothes, before we were once again, down in the training centre.
One by one, we each were called into the training room to show the game makers our skills and talents. Rythian and I sat at the back, because we were District 12. I almost fell asleep. I felt exhausted after that day. Then I heard a robotic voice.
"Zoeya Proasheck" I stood up and walked to the door.
"Zoey" I heard Rythian say. I turned. He looked like he was going to say something important. Then smiled and said;
"Good luck"
I nodded.
I once again entered the training hall. Except this time, it was empty. I saw the game makers on the balcony, chatting away.
"Zoeya Proasheck." I shouted.
"District 12"
All the game makers settled down and turned towards me. I grabbed the bow and an arrow. I loaded it and pulled it back but something was wrong. The string was tighter then what I was used to.
I pulled back the arrow, aimed it at the human target, then let go. The arrow missed the target, but hit the board. I heard the game makers laugh, then start talking again.
I was furious at myself. I grabbed another arrow, pulled it back, aiming it carefully. I breathed out, then let go. The arrow hit, dead centre at the targets head. I smiled and looked at the game makers, but they had missed it.
They were all talking, chatting. A servant brought out a roast pig with an apple in its mouth. Everyone crowded round, cheering and laughing.
I growled, then grabbed another arrow. I aimed it at the pig, at the apple. And before anyone could see what I was doing, I let go.
The arrow hit the apple, pinning it to the far wall. Everyone stopped talking and turned towards me. The game master looked furious. I bowed.
"Thank you, for your consideration." I said, then walked out, throwing the bow on to some mats as I went.
