The Fourth Quarter Quell

Training

Paisley Rae's Perspective

I tied my hair back and secured it with an elastic headband. With a satisfied sigh, I looked at myself through the large mirror in my training center bedroom.

I looked ready to go train for the Games. I had already trained my whole life, being a Career, so I'm sure there wouldn't be one thing I wouldn't know how to do.

"Paisley!" I heard someone shout from behind my bedroom door.

I groaned and went to go answer it. When I opened it, I almost shut it again. Eli stood there with an exasperated look on his face.

"Yes?" I tapped my foot impatiently against the floor.

"Stella told me to come get you." Eli huffed. "It's time for training."

I looked at the high tech clock on the wall at 9:55, five minutes until training started. I turned back to Eli. "Fine."

I shut my door behind me and walked with Eli to the elevator. His training outfit was nearly the same as like but he had a black and silver t-shirt instead of a tank top like I wore. We both had black and silver workout pants with black athletic shoes.

Inside the elevator, we didn't speak a word to each other which was fine with me. We both wanted to train and that was I all I wanted to focus on.

Finally, the elevator reached the training center and I eagerly ran in. The gym was huge with a high ceiling and dozens of survival and fighting stations.

I cracked my knuckles as I tried to figure out where to go first. Finally I spotted it.

Throwing knives. Oh yeah...this will be fun.

Penny Williams' Perspective

Colton and I walked into the training center together. For some reason, we always were together. We became fast friends and even though we were in an alliance with seemingly nice people, it was good to have a person from home with me.

"So where's Jo and Ryan?" Colton asked, pivoting slowly on his foot to take in the massive training center.

I heard the elevator open from behind us and sure enough, there they were, walking in together.

"There they are." I pointed. We met up with them and shared some greetings.

"So what should we hit up first?" Ryan asked, eyes scanning the different stations.

"Well, considering there are four of us, maybe we should split up into pairs. We can cover more ground and be better prepared with at least two people in the group knowing a certain skill." Colton thought out.

"I'll go with Jo." I said.

"So I guess we'll catch up with you girls when training's over. Okay?" Ryan confirmed.

Jo and I nodded before heading off aimlessly.

"So any ideas for a starter station?" Jo asked.

"None at all. Which should we learn first? Survival or fighting?" I shrugged.

"They're pretty important...how about we start with some weaponry and then survival?" Jo suggested.

I nodded. We had eight hours to train so we could spend four hours with weaponry and the other four with survival.

Jo and I headed towards some targets that were set up. I looked at the display of weaponry that could be used on these targets. There were throwing knives which were already in use by a girl with short brown hair. The other handheld throwing weapons were circular with razor sharp knife like rays coming from it.

"What're these?" I held one of the mystery weapons in my hand.

Jo snatched it up. "They're shurikens. Otherwise known as ninja stars."

"Oh...are you good at them?" I asked.

"Would I be here if I wasn't?" Jo smiled jokingly.

"I guess not." I giggled.

Jo seemed alright. She almost reminded me of Arianna. It was almost like I had a best friend with me in here.

"Now," Jo started, aiming her first shuriken towards a target. "Watch and learn."

As she whipped the weapons at the targets, hitting the center every time, I looked around. All of the tributes were scattered around, practicing individual skills. That's when I saw the Gamemakers watching us intently.

And the Head Gamermaker, Edward Erris, had his vision set on Jo and I.

Mike Samuel's Perspective

My alliance and I stood in a perfect circle in the heart of the training center. We probably looked like targets but it doesn't matter. We needed a plan.

"So how are we going to divide this up?" Logan asked.

"Well, let's go in two trios. We can learn more that way." Isabella suggested.

"Good idea, Isabella." I told her. "I'll go with DJ and Sophie."

"That makes us a group." Mandy pointed to Logan and Isabella with a smile. "Let's go."

DJ, Sophie and I waved to them as we set off to train.

"Any starting places?" DJ asked.

"Let's start with survival. Maybe we'll get lucky and we won't have to fight anyone in the arena." I said.

"No offense, Mike," Sophie said. "But I don't think there's such thing as luck in the Hunger Games."

The three of us shared a laugh before heading over to a plant and berry station.

"Hi! Welcome to Plants and Their Uses!" The man said. "Anything in particular you would like to learn?"

"Which plants are poisonous?" DJ asked quickly.

"Well, there are a good amount of them. There are usually at least two different species of poisonous plants in every arena so it's good to know which ones they are." The man pointed to some pictures he had set up. The first one was of an ivy green plant with cerulean flowers, the color of the ocean back home.

"What's that one called?" Sophie asked.

"This is the Petronum Flower. It's normally found in bushes or winding up things, like ivy. So if you're in a forested arena, steer clear of it. If you touch it, it causes a rash throughout your body and can cause internal bleeding which, in effect, would kill you." The man explained.

"Just by touching it?" DJ said in horror.

The man nodded then pointed to a picture of a yellow flower bulb. "This is the Arctic Venom plant. It grows in extreme cold and can kill you when eaten. Tributes in snowy arenas find this and think its safe to eat. However, if you crush up the flower bulb, it can become a pasty cure for frostbite."

"So it's a deadly yet helpful plant." I concluded.

"Pretty much. Oh! And these leaves," the man pointed to an image of a hand shaped set of leaves, "they thrive in humid, jungle areas. When it rains, they collect water but they are covered in a venomous lacquer shield so when a tribute uses the leaf to drink water, the water that they drink is contaminated. It kills in five minutes."

"Good to know." Sophie said, holding her stomach. Poor girl was probably getting sick.

"Thank you!" I said and the three of us walked away from the station.

"Well, that was informational." DJ stated.

"No kidding." I said. "Where should we go now?"

DJ and Sophie spotted a station in the distance and their eyes glinted with excitement. "Archery!"

They both ran off but I stood still. To my left, I noticed a stand of long range weapons like tridents and spears.

Hmm...

I glanced over to the archery station where DJ and Sophie were excitedly nocking arrows.

They seemed busy. They wouldn't miss me for twenty minutes, would they?

I eagerly jogged towards the spears.