Swinging From The Branches ~ Lexyon Perti

Training

I thought the train was fancy. Seeing the capital, I now knew that was only a small taste of what awaited me here. Xander escorted us off the train platform and towards the hotel reserved for tributes. Both me and Marshall held a small suitcase holding the clothing that had been on the train. 

The drive to the hotel had been filled with plenty of sightseeing from our private car, Xander pointing out various pompous buildings and such. I sighed, gazing out the window and paying no mind to Xander. I was tried fro another fitful night of rest and couldn't wait to get to the hotel. It seemed hours later when we finally did arrive; Johanna and Blight joining us in the elevator up to floor seven.

"Alright, set your stuff in your rooms and head down to training. Don't forget to put on your uniforms, the material should be similar to what you will wear in the arena." Blight told us as we exited the elevator. I bid a crisp farewell to them, continuing on to my room. Opening the door, I found it to be big; much bigger than my room back home, maybe even bigger than the house. I shook my head, setting the suitcase on the bed next to a grey uniform; picking it up in exchange for the bulky luggage. The number '7' was printed neatly on the front of the uniform, towards the left. Locking my bedroom door, I quickly changed out of my clothes and into the stretchy uniform; a little tight, but still functional. Next, I exited m room and accompanied Marshall down to the training facilities, where we split up, he to strength and I to survival.

Finding most of the stations occupied, I stood back and studied the tributes that were already preparing themselves. Pinocchio and a small girl had begun making fires... or attempted to. Knowing a great deal about how to construct a fire, I moved onto another station that was less popular, camouflage. 

If I'm not going to climb to safety, maybe I can just hide from everyone else. I think to myself as I grab some dirt and mud, beginning to cover myself with it. A great while later, I had semi-successfully camouflaged myself near a bush model; hiding in thick brush would prove useful in the arena. I climbed out of my makeshift hiding spot and washed off my arms and legs with a nearby hose before moving on to shelter building. More tributes were here; however, I decided to ignore them and try things out for myself. 

An instructor was demonstrating how to bend fallen branches into curves as the base of the shelter. While that might have been useful in real wilderness, I doubted that the arena would be as fair and decided to work on creating burrows and shelter from hollow logs-something that would not take as much effort as creating a shelter from scratch. Caves would be useful as well, simply placing brush in front of the entrance could easily shelter me. I delighted in my thoughts and spent tie working my body into small hiding places, knowing it could very well save my life.

I was stuck in a log when we were called back to our rooms. Knowing I hadn't made any friends, I remained inside the log, a bit nervous as to how I was going to get out of my current predicament. The space had looked like it could fit me and technically, it did. I watched through a small hole as the last of the tributes exited and made their way to their floors. A few more minutes had passed and my position was getting uncomfortable as my body demanded to move. Getting nervous, I whimpered a few times, knowing that eventually my claustrophobia would alert someone of my location. A few more whimpers escaped as the last of the lights went off, then a guttural scream that should have awakened the entire building had they been asleep.

Yet no one came. I was alone, bawling and screaming as I realized there was not much I could do besides try in vain to free myself. I did not know how much time passed before a door opened, letting in light from the outside hall and Johanna's voice calling my name.

"Lexyon? Are you in here?"

"Over here Johanna! I'm stuck. In a tree!"

"Hold on Lexyon, I don't have control over the power in this room." 

"Alright then, it's not like I'm losing feeling in my legs or anything." I replied as I saw more doors being opened in an attempt to shed more light into the room. The truth was, I had lost feeling in my legs a while ago; I didn't know how long unfortunately as I was left without a way to tell the time.

"I'm assuming you are over in survival, since you are stuck in a tree." Johanna's voice called, closer this time.

"Yep, but not really a tree, more like a fallen log that was hollow. It's not hollow anymore." I replied.

"May I ask why you are stuck in a log?"

"I was trying to find ways to hide in the arena."

"I hope you know," she sounded really close now, "that in the arena the only people that are going to rescue you are the ones trying to kill you."

"If I'm the last tribute alive, the game makers will rescue me."

"You won't last long without food and water, and if you're stuck in there then you have no way of getting any, sweet cheeks." Johanna had finally found me, and pried my amor out of their position. She then resorted to tugging me, trying to free me but with my legs tucked under me as well, I was not going anywhere anytime soon. "You've got your legs tucked under you, don't you?"

"Yep."

Johanna sighed as she made her way to the back of the log and grasped around for one of my feet. Finding one, she began to yank on it as well, eventually freeing it. My other leg came free as she yanked on my calf, unable to find my foot. With all of my limbs free, I was able to pull myself out of the tree and back onto stable ground; although my legs thought otherwise.

Only once we were back on floor 7 did I have the gal to speak to Johanna. "How did you know i was down there?"

"Well, you didn't return with Marshall and you are not aloud on the other floors. Where else could you have been?"

"Thank you Johanna, I won't get stuck again. Good night." I said, hurriedly rushing to my room and taking a proper shower before heading to bed for the night.