Rue's Song {A Hunger Games Fan Fiction}

Chapter 3: The Train

I have never rode in a train before.  It was beautiful.  The dining car was golden with silver tile floor.  There was a elegant gold chandelier hanging from the roof. 

There was a long table with five chairs set out and it was full of food.  Each tray of food had a small card propped out of it with each dishes same.  The table was set with a large plate, a large salad bowl, large soup bowl, a glass of water, a wine glass, and a soda glass,  there were two forks, a butter knife, cutting knife, three spoons, and cloth napkin.

Seeder and Chaff were already seated.  Loula sat beside Seeder.  We have more victors from our District, but only one male and female are allowed to go at one time.  There were seven Avoxes ready to serve us.  Avoxes are slaves from the Capital who were once criminals, captured by the Capital, lost their tongues and are now slaves for the Capital. 

Thresh and I walked in together.  I sat beside of Seeder and Chaff, and Thresh sat beside Loula and Chaff. 

"Now I bet after this terrible Reaping, you are hungry." said Loula.

I never thought about that.  I am starving.  It doesn't really phase me when I'm starving.  I have been like that since. I could remember.  Seeder was first to grab a dish.  I grabbed another one.  I read the tag and it said in neat writing, smoked Italian sausage stew.  It was green beans with new potatoes, slices of Italian sausage, and onions.  I took a bite of it as the smoked spiced flavor filled my mouth.

I grabbed the pitcher and poured water in my water glass.  Then I grabbed a soup called tomato parmesan.  It was tomato soup with a basil and a cheese called parmesan mixed in with it.  I filled my plate with cajan shrimp, green beans, macaroni, boiled lobster, and chicken fricasee.

As soon as all of our plates were filled, Loula started to talk.  "Thresh and Rue, this is Seeder and Chaff.  They are two past victors who will help you with any questions you have these next days until the Games."

Chaff poured wine in his wine glass.  He looked me in the eye and said, "Now look lil' missie.  Your the youngest out there.  You need to appear strong.  You did good not crying on camera at the Reaping.  The most important thing is no whining.  I don't give a crap that your the youngest.  Appear the oldest."

I took his word to heart even though he was half drunk as he said it.  He gulped down the full glass of wine and turned to Thresh. "Now listen up big man, you need to watch out for lil' missie here.  Try to protect her somewhat."  Thresh solemnly nodded, and gave me a smile.

While eating the cajan shrimp, I asked, "What is training like."

They only show the scores.  No footage is recorded in training.

Seeder and Chaff looked up at me like I was the first tribute that has ever asked that.  Finally, Seeder spoke up and said, "Basic survival skills, physical training, combat, hunting, crafting, trapping, survival knowledge, anything you can imagine that will help you for the Games."

"You're a curious one." said Chaff.  "No one is concerned with that.  Most are in mental breakdown knowing they are going to die." 

"I like to plan ahead." I said.

"So Rue," started Loula, "what is your family like."

"I'm the oldest." I said.  "I have two younger brothers and three younger sisters."

"Have you two made any strategies yet?" asked Seeder.

"You Numskull!  Do you really think they've even considered that factor?  They're probably thinking I'm gonna die in that arena once they touch it."

"I haven't really thought about it." I said.

"That will be your main survival skill you will need." said Seeder.  "Being able to determine how your gonna pull through these next few weeks.  Strategies are just a few simple questions like; Should I go for the Cornucopia?  Should I make an Alliance with him/her.  I see an easy opponent to kill by the stream, go ahead and kill him or her?  Those questions are questions you ask yourself when making strategies.  Over these next few days til you enter the arena, you need to think about your game plan."

I'm so glad it's not us and Chaff.  Chaff is always drunk, I don't know if we can rely on his word.  Luckily, we have Seeder.  She probably used this method in the games she was in.

We continued eating and discussing strategies and game plans.  After dinner, I went to my room. 

The room was as big as my house!  There was a king sized bed with colorful blankets and pillows on it.  There was a closet were you selected your outfit by computer.  There was a L-shaped magenta couch.  A lime green and baby blue bean bag chair.  A large window on one end of the room and on the other, a 100 inch plasma, 3-D TV.  And so much more that it would take forever to describe.

I walked over to the closet and selected a pink thin T-shirt, fuzzy purple leopard print pajama pants and fuzzy lime green night socks.  I sat in the blue bean bag chair and watched a recap of today's Reapings. 

The  Careers, kids from Districts 1, 2, and 4 who train there lives for the games was a interesting pick.  District 1 had two sixteen year old kids who walk on strong and cocky, the boy however seems confused.  District 2 scares me.  Clove the girl appears fierce and in it to win it.  Cato the boy volunteers instantly as the previous boy name is called.  He is tall and strong.  District 4 wasn't impressive this year with a thin 14 year old girl and a tiny 13 year old boy.  A few other tributes catch my eye.  A girl from 8 looks like a potential ally.  A crippled boy from 10 who I feel sorry for.  I see me walk on stage.  I appear braver than most others who walk on stage.  I see Thresh walk on large an bold.  Then I see something that stunning a small 12 year old girl starts walking onstage then a older girl steps out frantically yelling, "Prim!" and volunteers for her.  The girl's name is Katniss and is the girls older sister.  I wish I had an older sister who would willingly volunteer for me.  After that a boy Katniss' s age comes up to.  After that I turned off the TV. 

I crawled into bed and went to sleep.