The Girl On Fire (undergoing editing)

8. Train With The Tributes

Everything is exactly how I remember it. The crowds around the station, dying to take a picture, the camera's filming every little thing that we do and the scared feeling deep in the pit of my stomach, wondering if I would make it if I ran. The answer is still the same, too.

No.

I grip Cinna's shoulders tighter, now. Although it's more or less impossible, I'm scared I'll lose him in the crowd and we'll leave without him; then again, maybe that would be best. We boarded the train and are soon speeding out of district 12. Away. I sit in what looks like the same seat as last time, Cinna shadowing me. I sit him on my lap and wait for Haymitch and Peeta. Eventually they come. Peeta folds us both into a hug. Haymitch hugs Cinna and squeezes my knee, a rueful smile on his face.

"We need to explain how things work to Cinna. There's not a moment to waste. Katniss, this was all part of their plan. I don't know what you're going to do, but we'll figure out something. The gamemakers have been warned, they know what to expect from you, as do the other tributes. As I said, we'll figure something out." Haymitch turns to Peeta "You'll be taking Cinna to train in the morning. I'll take Katniss."

"I think I should take Katniss. Cinna needs to know as much as possible if he wants to survive" Peeta argues.

"Actually," I interrupt "I think It'd be best if I go with Haymitch. He's the most skilled out of the two of you and as he said, the other tributes all know what to expect. I need to be the best I can, better than the careers, if we want Cinna to win. You'll train with him and teach him all you know; I will, too, when I can. If I get harmed, he'll know how to carry on without me, if not, I'll know exactly what to do to keep us alive until the end. Yes?" Peeta mutters a weak yes and takes Cinna to his temporary bedroom.

"Now," Violet, our training instructor calls "We have a variety of stations for you to train at. You'll all want to practice at the weapon stations, but don't ignore the survival skills. Many of you will die from natural causes. 10% from infection, 20% from dehydration. Exposure can kill as easily as a knife." We all went of to different stations. I told Cinna to go and learn to start a fire. I am about to go to the arrows, but Aloe, the girl from two, gets their first. She sticks her tongue at me and shoots the arrow perfectly into the dummy's chest. I smile sarcastically and walk over to the knives. There's no point in me trying to hide my talent. Everyone here knows what I can do. I fling the knife into the dummy's stomach, lamely. Why should I try? I've done it all before. I look around. I see Nancee, the girl from 1, and her partner, Moss, practicing with each other. I carry on looking and stop at Cinna, still having trouble with the fire. The careers are looking a lot more tough. They must have known this was going to happen. For how long? I run over to Cinna and see why his fire is not lighting.

"You're not using the right plants." I say "these will put any fire, you do light, out. This is what you need to use." I pick up the leaves next to the pile of sticks and throw it on top before lighting the fire with a magnifying glass and the light.

"There you go." I smile "It's quite simple, really. the leaves you shouldn't use are all smooth. See?" I brush my hand along the edge of the leaf "But, the leave you should use is really rough and usually grow real big." He nods his head, taking it all in. I waltz over to the bow and arrow -- Aloe is done with them-- and pick it up. It feels a lot heavier than I remember. Pulling back the string and lining up the bow, I take my shot. Someone wolf whistles. The gamemakers look impressed, and that's saying something, considering they've seen what I can do. My arrow lands in the perfect place. Lethal, but slow killing. The victim would be in pain for a long while and nothing would be able to help them. I smile and walk away as if nothing happened, eyes boring into my back, with both awe and jealously.