The Wunder Games-A Hunger Games Fan Fic

The Wunder Games 8

Ilslie was being friendly. Ilslie? Friendly? The girl with dark hair, dark eyes, skin paler than snow, who laughed and smirked and flipped her hair as Amethyste tormented me. She had good in her heart.

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I cannot stop thinking about the image of Ilslie handing knives to Karine, talking strategy and giving her kindly pointers.

"Ilslie's really nice." Karine has her reading glasses on and is indulging in a book about edible insects in training the next day. Daze fumbles with roots. I examine a row of various berries. "She was so helpful. What'd you think she's going to do in the arena?"

"I assume she'll catch up with Antonius, Brite, Amethyste and Garren," Daze utters, "They're starting to call themselves the Careers."

"Because they're so good," I explain, "It's as if they've been doing this all their life."

"Well," Karine shrugs, "I like Ilslie anyway. She's a good fighter and she's really smart."

"How do you know if she's smart?" Daze points out.

"We talked battle tactics," Karine answers, "She has a lot of awesome ideas. She can creep up on anyone and steal things without being noticed." Daze's ear twitches.

I scan the row of berries in front of me. Berries of all shapes, sizes and colors! I pluck a smooth round, deep blue berry from the assortment. 

"This one," I tell the instructor.

"Correct." She smiles and indicates the rest of the berries. "All the other ones are poisonous. Black and blue berries are normally non-toxic." I nod and she prepares another array for me. I'm getting good at this. 

"No, no, Daze," Karine is correcting her fellow tribute. "You've got it all wrong. Trout lily isn't a root. It's a tuber. And the wild carrot is perfectly edible." She begins to shift around some roots. "See?" Daze nods slowly and checks his guide.

I turn back to my work, seperating toxic berries from the ones that are good to eat. The instructor is impressed when I complete my duty perfectly. We practice until lunch.

At lunch, Karine, Daze and I sit with each other again. Daze talks weapons.

"Maybe we should do sword training or weight lifting next," he suggests.

"I personally don't think weight lifting will be all that useful," I point out, "But I wouldn't object to a bit of sword dueling. We can try maces too."

"Maces are good and all that," Karine munches on a pork leg, "But I'm aching to get my hands on a bow."

So am I, I add silently to myself. But I couldn't do that. Not now anyway.

I want to go home, feel my father's bow in my hands again and hear the sweet twang of the string. I want to see my mother and quell her screams. I want to at least tell her everything is going to be alright. That I am going to try and win for her and for my district. 

I emerge from my thoughts to Karine repeating my name.

"Olivi," she says, "Olivi, Olivi, Olivi."

"What?" I shake myself.

"Look." She points her finger and I follow the invisible line over her shoulder to the table where the "Careers" sit. Garren is gesturing for me to come over. 

I stand.

"Wait, Olli," Daze stops me by grabbing onto my arm. I don't snap at him for calling me that name. "You're not seriously thinking of going to join them, are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous," I growl, but stroll over to their table anyway, taking the empty seat between Garren and Brite. 

"Hey, Olli," Brite greets me with a bit of a sneer. I ignore him.

"Well," I almost snarl, "Why'd you call me over?"

"Relax, Olivi," Garren tells me, "I just want you to get to know everyone. And I want everyone to get to know you. Since we are going to be allies and everything." I glance around. Amethyste and Antonius don't look comfortable. Islie picks at her banana bread and Brite just looks at me with his gorgeous eyes.

"Okay then," I say. Several minutes of silence follow. In this time, I glance over at Daze, who raises his eyebrows, and Karine, who looks flat out confused. 

Amethyste whispers something to Antonius who cocks his head and snickers.

"Well," I push my chair out and stand, "I had a blast bonding with all of you. I'm sure we're all going to get to be tight friends-"

"Or more than friends," Antonius smirks. I want to box his nose. Garren and I are barely aquaintances. 

"I will see you all in the arena," I say, stiffly. I then make my way back over to the place where Daze and Karine sit quietly.

"What happened?" Daze croaks, "Are you going to go with them?"

"Not in one million years," I answer right away, "Amethyste hates me and Antonius thought me and Garren were...you know...together." Karine almost drops her glass. Daze stares up at me with wide eyes. Karine slowly clears her throat.

"Well," she says, hoarsly, "Are you?"

"No!" I tell her with a bit of force, "Of course not! We barely know each other! Why'd you ask?"

"Because," Karine goes on, slowly, "I don't think he was talking about you and Garren."

"What?" I whisper.

"I don't think he means you and Garren," she repeats.

"Who then?" I ask, insides dancing a jig.

"Karine-" Daze warns the twelve-year old but she continues on, cutting him off.

"I think," she swallows, "I think he was talking about you and Brite."

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Sorry the chapter was a little short. I tried to leave it off on a bit of a cliff hanger.

Garren or not Garren? That is the question. Will it be Daze or Brite? Or someone we haven't yet been introduced to?

Make your guess! Winner wins the glory of winning!

Enter your guesses in the form of a comment please! Thanx.

Glim