fantasea

I listened to the trainer drone on about what a perfect fire needed, happy for the distraction from the high pitched noise coming out of the career next to me. Once he was done, I turned my attention to the materials in front of me and completely ignored the rambling girl from Four next to me.

"Motherfucking shit!" I snarled as I pulled my finger back. I had gotten the spark I wanted but I managed to burn my finger in the process. As I sucked on my finger I watched as the little spark spread to the tinder and soon after a little flame sprouted. Stupid fucking fires.

I took a seat at the station and picked up some of the essentials that the trainer pointed out, relishing in the silence. Until I heard the familiar voice of the elevator nuisance.

I took a seat right across from her, watching what she was doing with interest. Leaning over I picked up some tinder, a few sticks and some rocks to beat the shit out of and plopped them down besides me. "So!" I said as loud as possible, hoping that I messed up her concentration. "You ever made a fire before?"

"I’d say the same for you. Your presence was so dearly missed at training yesterday." My voice was venomous and my sweet smile grew wider when the elevator doors finally opened into the training center. I had plans for the day and I sincerely hoped that this girl wouldn’t interfere with them.

As the doors slid open once more I looked around the training center, reminding myself where everything was. Ugh, is it too late to go back to sleep? "Say, say, say Nora, it's been a while since we last had a lovely little chat. I think we should catch up, don't you. I think we should." I really and truly hoped that I was ignoring the stinky brown piss out of her. 

As the spear embedded itself into the center of the target I just blinked and let my head rest in my hands for a few seconds before getting up. Marvelous. Simply marvelous. Taking my spear I walk over to the nearest dummy and simply stab it in the stomach. "Golly gee I do declare that I've killed this rascal!" Cue jazz hands.

"I wonder whose experience is better, your four years or track and field or my lifetime of fishing." I reach over and grab two more spears, handing him one as I grip my own. "Question: In track and field did they teach you how to do other things with a javelin besides just throw it?" I say with a smirk as I take my spear and twirl it above my head for a second before walking over to one of the dummies. Spear in hand, I thrust into the dummys stomach and then pull upwards, causing the dummy to be ripped in half. "Like that?"

I nodded and waved to Fantasea and picked up a spear to join her.  ”Any good with these?”  I ask her.  Javelin was one of my favorite sports back home but I didn’t want to overshadow whatever she was planning.  

I watch him pick up a spear and motion towards him. "What about you, spears a good weapon for you or?"

Poppy stood, giving a wan smile. “I have to go memorize archery techniques. It was nice talking to you, though. Maybe I’ll … see you later?”

As Poppy stood so did Fantasea. "Maybe. See ya kid." Fantasea said with a slight wave of her hand before walking off, not really looking forward to the next station. Maybe she would do Knives, that had to be a good time, right?

I needed to get her off my back..literally. Rather than pulling or trying to flip her over, I went for the less obvious. I arched my back towards her as I began bending my knees slightly, then quickly bucked forward, pulling her up off the ground by a few inches and with her feet no longer planted I threw myself back, off of my own feet and landed right on top of her with my full weight. She immediately released her hold on me as I got to my feet and stepped away from her. “I can say the same about you. Thanks for breaking my fall.” I said as I took the brief intermission to brace myself for the inevitable retaliation. 

After what seemed like eternity passed and both of us were gasping for breath, I decided that it was time to call it quits. I waved him down, letting him now that I was through and then I flashed him a smile and thanked him once more for the match. We said our goodbyes and then I parted ways, heading to the next station feeling more refreshed than I had my entire time here in this silly Capitol.

Her face slams into the floor as I mount her, sitting atop her and pinning her arms backwards. I pound on her back and head before she kicks at me relentlessly with her legs, forcing me off of her and on the other side of the ring, waiting for her to make her next move.

When I woke up I noticed that I was still in the training area. I looked around for that bitch Aurora but noticed she wasn't there. "She left." I heard someone say plain and simple. My head turns and I see the trainer, his eyebrows raised, obviously impressed by what he had seen. "She got up a minute or so before you did and left. You both were only out for like 4 or 5 minutes tops." Fuck that bitch. I clench my hands into fists and stand up and head for the elevator, done with the day. Just you wait, Aurora, wait for the arena. I'll fucking tear you to shreds.

She was quiet for a minute, then sighed, leaning back and sitting cross-legged. “I don’t think finding food or shelter would be my issue. I mean, is it yours? If there wasn’t any fish, I mean.”

"Who even knows. For all we know the arena could be a fucking desert and there'd be no water or food or nothing."

I began straightening my stance as I started slowly towards her, as if I was still bored and wanted her to take charge. When I was within distance, but a foot or two, I lunged at her, mimicking her and dropping low as I threw all my weight behind my right fist, as if I was back home swinging my scythe and made contact with her stomach, knocking her off balance and guiding her down onto the floor. Rather than waiting in front of her, I swiftly moved myself behind her and resumed a light-footed circle around her.

I whooped as I jumped to my feet and lunged at Callahan, slamming my two open palms into his stomach, causing him to lose balance ever so slightly. After that I pushed off the ground and into another lunge, this time I grabbed his arms with my hands and spun around him, wrapping his arms around his back. "You may not care, but you're helping me in more ways than one and for that I am grateful." I said simply as I continued to hold his arms behind his back.

"See. I do too know how." Of course, it would take a lot longer in a bigger pool of water, where the fish weren’t so restricted. Still.

"Well color me shocked, that little contraption actually worked." Fantasea said with a vague hint of a smile but quickly suppressed it. 

Plus I’d rather learn her pattern here than in the arena.

Once more I took off running at a great speed. This time, however, when I got close to him I dove between his feet and into a roll, a sloppy one but still a roll. I popped up to my feet and tapped him on the shoulder a few times before bouncing back, hopping on my toes, waiting for him to get the message that it was his turn to tackle me. I'm not about to keep making the first move if he's not gonna do anything. I might as well just leave if that's the case.

"Let’s see what you got, bitch," I hiss. I’m in my element, that’s for sure.

Before she can grab my leg and pull me down to the level of shame she is currently at, I hop a few steps back but not before hocking a loogie and spitting on her. "Bitch."