New Alliences

The next day my wrists were as good as new, better even. I could flex my wrists harder and faster..perfect timing for throwing my knives.

I was happy I got cleared to do training right on the first day, which is today. Normally for the regular games your in the Capitol for a week. Quell we're here for 2 so that means a lot more training days.

Make sure we are extra prepared for whatever they have in store for us.

I stretch before going to the bathroom, grabbing some workout clothes changing. I walk out of my room seeing Aspen and Cato eating. I think they were talking about training I'm not sure they stopped talking as soon as they saw me.

" How are you feeling?" Aspen asks.

" Great." I say shortly taking a bite of my apple, I set it down throwing my hair up. I'd rather not stick around Cato to long to see if he'll ask about what I'm going to do in training.

" I'm going." I say walking out the door.

" Wait for me." Aspen calls.

He runs out the door catching up to me, " Why the rush?"

" I really don't want Cato drilling me with questions regarding what I'm going to do."

He nods, " Ahh."

When we arrive there were a couple districts down already, all look tense as soon as they saw us. I looked around impressed, there was literally everything you could ask for.

All the weapons then some, some I didn't even recognize. There were stations for plants, knots, survival and running obstacles.

Aspen went to do swords while I decided to watch everyone a little bit, see how they move, how they act. Know what to expect, I gotta admit all of them had some sort of potential. They hit the targets, not dead shots..but an injury can be just as deadly.

I look at 1, they were at the sparring station, watching someone. I follow their gaze to one of the other tributes, from 5 I think. He was practicing on one of the dummies attempting to work with the sword though he could barely make it through the foam.

I felt a little sorry for him. Poor kid can't even properly defend himself. Soon they were walking over there mocking him before they start pushing him. I see something shiny get dropped, Mel picks it up holding straight in the air so they boy can't get at it.

Yea... I'm putting a stop to that.

Poor kid barely can fight, and he gets picked on one of the hardest years. A title respect would be nice, he won't be around for much longer.

" Guys give it back." I say walking up to them, the boy was crying, it looked like a locket-probably from his mom or something.

Mel snickers," No. pipsqueak here dropped it and finders keepers."

" Mel, give it back." I say again, though I get a little more stern. I see tributes glancing but they try not to stare.

" Calm down 2, Mel and I are just having fun right little guy?" Brutus says putting a hand on my shoulder squeezing it tightly.

" Get your hand off of me before your on the ground." I warn.

He chuckles, gripping my shoulder a little tighter, I resist the urge to wince. I look down to see a small knife in his waist band. I grab it quickly putting it up to his throat. I push him back into the wall with such force he even looks a little surprised.

Everyone was staring now, but I didn't care. One thing I hate are mean people. " When I ask you to do something, I highly suggest you do so." I say, I dig the knife a little deeper in his neck.

I could see Mel coming towards me pushing the kid away, " Come closer and he'll be dead before the games start." I warned, keeping my eyes on Brutus. She stopped dead in her tracks just sitting there,I could see a helpless look on her face it made me feel..powerful?

I see Aspen come over, he grabs me pulling the knife out of my hands. " Kaylaya." He yells.

Brutus let's out a breath he was holding looking between the two of us. Mel goes to his side glaring at me.

" Dude what the heck!" I say pushing him.

" What's wrong with me really?! Your hurting our team!"

" I thought we talked about this." I said softly.

" No we didn't. You said you didn't want to be with them I didn't have a say." He says in a hushed voice.

"Because they are bad people! Look at they did to that poor kid!"

" That sucks for the kid maybe he should be a little stronger, we're going to kill him anyways."

I can't believe what I'm hearing right now, what's coming out of Aspens mouth.

" Are you serious! Your not going to hurt him."

" And what are you going to do about that!" He says pushing me, more people are starting to stare.

Did he seriously just push me? Aspen. Pushed me?

" Leave her alone." I hear a deep voice say for a second I thought it was Cato, but the voice sounded a little different. I turn my head seeing River Odair eyeing Aspen. He was shorter then Cato, but still tall enough. He was a lot more built in person, he's definitely going to be a threat.

Brutus puts a hand on Aspen's shoulder, " Come on." He says breathlessly. His cut was bleeding pretty good, I couldn't help smiling at him before returning my glare to Aspen.

" We're not done with this conversation." I warn.

He gives me a look before walking away with them.

" Are you ok?" I turn my attention to the blonde boy, " Physically yes, mentally no." I say slightly laughing holding back tears I can feel them welling in my eyes.

" Hey, hey, hey not here." He pulls me towards the bathrooms, I felt some tears trickle down my face. "I'm sorry I-" he hands me a towel.

" No your fine he's a real coward. Not to stick with your partner is a bad move." He murmured.

" Yea, your telling me." I say wiping away the tears.

" I've been watching you 2, not in a creepy way of course."

I slightly laugh and his cheeks slightly blush.

" The Capitol loves you, you've been quite the talk especially."

I roll my eyes, " I haven't figured out yet if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

he smirks " Ehhh.. depends how you look at it. Sponsors love you, they get you stuff, tributes see you as a threat, higher on the list."

" That doesn't make me feel any better."

He blushes " Sorry, your mentor- Baria- has been saying all good things about you though."

So that's where Enobaria has been.

" She wants us to be an alliance?" I question.

He shrugs, " Yea, that's one of the reasons I've been watching you, she says your different I didn't believe her at first I mean 2 is quite the district."

" Oh I know." I say rolling my eyes.

" But I do believe her now I don't think I ever seen someone help another tribute besides their partner or career group."

" I know everyone was watching them, the poor kid is going to die he can at least live his last days in some peace."

He raises his eyebrows "  I like that.. I'm open to you joining but I need to see if your good enough to join."

I scoff, " My skills? now you sound like 1..."

" Hey we have to make sure there's no weak links." He says giving me a wide grin, he has a really cute smile.

I accept the challenge," Ok, let's go and show you what I can do."

We walk out, luckily my eyes aren't red anymore, we see everyone's look in our direction including the career pack. Me and Aspen make eye contact, he looks at River giving the nastiest glare.

River leads me to the girl from 4 and the twins from 7. " Everyone this is Kaylaya."

They all look at me, the girl from 4 had no expression, while the boy from 7 smiles and gives me a handshake." Colin, this is my sister Lilli."

Lilli gives me a smile also, and squeaks out a hello.

"Let's see what you got, your other mentor said your just a techy with a big mouth." The girl from 4 said looking at me.

Of course Cato went around telling people that.

I chuckled, " Well, neither of them know my potential." I say simply walking towards the stations. They follow watching me intently.

" First I'll do knives, I'm good with bow, spear, axe, sword. Basically everything."

" Less talking more killing targets." The girl from 4 said. I gave her a nod, I don't like her. To much like Mel. But I guess I need an alliance since Aspen ditched me.

There was a small room, a simulation you hit the targets, you can pick the level of intensity it goes until you can't kill one or complete it.

There was a wall full of weapons to use, I grab all the knives, putting them on a belt, along with a couple hand daggers.

They go behind the spectators glass while I start the holograms, I saw the first one from out of the corner of my eye, I immediately threw and knife planting it in it's neck. When I fully turned around there was a kid lying there.

" Oh my gosh!"

I ran over to the kid but it disappears right in front of me, the kid looked familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I heard one come out from behind me so I turned and chucked another knife landing it right in his heart, he looked familiar also then I realized.. those were kids Cato killed last year in the games.

I saw a younger version of Gloss the victor of 1 come barreling at me I threw a knife but the hologram dodged it, they have the tributes personalities and tactics.

Kinda cool. That'll be useful for training.

While he rolled out of the way I grabbed 2 more knives throwing one that landed in his leg giving me just enough time to lodge another on in his head.

More came, I hit all of them no problem, thank you Mr.Hadley for pushing me to do those reflex exercises. And The capitol for the improved wrists.

I was killing all of them in record time. Almost to easy it seemed, I enjoyed it.

The last one came jumping down from the ledge, he had mud all over his face,or maybe dried blood.

He stood up giving me a predatory glare, It was Cato. They matched the size and everything to him. I feel my body tense up.

It's fake..he's fake.

My heart was hammering. Killing people you don't know..easy. When you do know them..not as easy.

Hopefully I'll never have to do that to Aspen.

He smiled, that aweful evil smile, My district loved it when he did that, you know a show was coming. And a show he gave, at times it didn't seem like he was a human but a mutt.

He began to lunge towards me with his huge sword, I wonder what happens if he hits you with it? I don't want to find out, so I roll under it throwing a knife into his back.

He stumbles forwards giving me time to slash his leg. He does down, now or never. I take the biggest knife I have stabbing him in the skull.

His body falls, convulsing a little bit before he disappears.

I was shaking, whether it was adrenaline or fear I have no idea, I'm just glad it's over.

The lights turn back on, I'm out of breath I grab all the knives I flung turning around to see several of the tributes watching.

I hear some muttering, tributes giving all sorts of expressions, Mentors dragging some away talking to them. I see my team look impressed, I'm definitely in.

Then I see Cato.

He was shocked.

More then shocked, his jaw was hanging.

He looks me in the eye before turning around walking away.

Well, knowing he knows now I'm not just a ' loud mouth techy' I'm a fighter. A hell of a good one at that.

Aspen had never seen me fight in all the years of friendship, he knows I trained but My father would never allow a watcher. I saw him amongst the crowd, I wonder how he feels.

I hope he'll reconsider. I see Cato grab his arm pulling him to wherever they were going.

I walk out of the small room to my new team, " Was that a good enough representation for you?"

" After seeing you hit the first one you were in" Colin said looking at me like I was a hero or something.

I smile at him looking at 4 for approval.

" I think your good enough." River says giving me a wink.

I look at the girl, " Yea, you'll be useful. The name's Prim by the way."

I smile outreaching a hand to her, " Kaylaya, but you guys can call me Kay."

She shakes my hand giving a small smile.

We train for the rest of the time together, handing out a few tips here and there before Peacekeepers come in with our Mentors.

" There's rebels in the residence near by, we request all tributes to report back to their rooms." One of them said.

Enobaria and Cato grabbed us, walking very closely. Everyone was quiet. Was it because of me and what they saw earlier.

Well, now we need to go back..together..all in one space again.. great.