Missing Home in the Training for Hell (OPEN)

[Gigi]

It was the day after the opening ceremonies, and Colton could not feel more ready for training. The crowd had appeared to like him after his stylist and prep team had played around with him for hours. He wasn't a favorite, but it didn't exactly matter what the Capitol audience thought. He was ready for these Games. At least, as ready as he would ever be.

However, Colton felt very thankful for the training. He decided on going to the combat stations, mostly because he had experience with basically every other station. After the long days spent with Sherif in the woods, he had learned many survival skills.

Thinking of Sherif made Colton's chest throb painfully. Sherif hadn't really been able to come say goodbye to Colton, seeing as he was a horse, but Colton had gone on one final ride with his trusted horse the morning of the reaping, which had been his goodbye, just "in case". Apparently it was good to be prepared.

"Stop thinking about Sherif," Colton berated himself. He knew that it was stupid to think about home, when he might not see his family again. He missed all of them, especially his brother. Joey had always looked up to him. What would he do if his older brother died in the arena?

"Family too," he reminded himself. Besides, wasn't he planning on coming home? Wasn't he determined that he would beat the Capitol by outsmarting all of the Gamemakers? He wouldn't die just because of some stupid trap or muttation, that he knew. He wouldn't let everyone down that way.

After quickly visiting all of the stations he knew, just to make sure he still had all of his skills in wilderness survival (which would help him, by the way), Colton decided to spend the rest of his time at the more aggressive stations. His plan was to avoid confrontation and just survive, but he would fight at some point, that he knew. And when the time came, he wanted to be ready.

These Games were going to be a living hell.

[tardisgirl]

I'm training with the spears when Colton walks in. I'm glad to see him, I haven't gotten a chance to speak with him yet. I suppose I'm so set on at least talking to him because he's all I've got left of home.

I quickly finish my work with the spears and walk off toward him. When I reach him I introduce myself. Even though he knows who I am, being his district partner, we've not gotten a chance to talk, so we've never been officially introduced.

"Hey, Colton. I've been waiting for a chance to introduce myself to you, we've not gotten a chance, what with the short train ride and how busy everyone has been. I'm Iris." I pause and then add, "Brookside."

[Gigi]

Colton saw his district partner draw near. Iris was a year older than him, and Colton thought she seemed nice. She had always been polite to him in the brief moments they had spoken to each other on the train and before the opening ceremony. Iris was pretty in a subtle way. Much unlike the flower she was named after, Colton thought. Iris' struck him as exotic and stunning. Though his district partner was pretty, she wasn't beautiful. But she was home. Or, at least, close to it. Close as he would get here. And that was all that mattered. Colton wouldn't judge someone because of their looks. Even though that's what he had been doing by sizing up tributes earlier...

"Hey, Colton. I've been waiting for a chance to introduce myself to you, we've not gotten a chance, what with the short train ride and how busy everyone has been. I'm Iris. Brookside." She added her last name like it was an afterthought. Colton smiled at her.

"Hey, Iris," Colton greeted her amiably. "It has been just a bit crazy lately, hasn't it? No thanks to all of this." He used his hands to show that "this" meant The Hunger Games. He didn't actually want to say the official title, just because it put such a damper on the mood.

Colton laughed, trying to ignore, if only for a bit, where mentioning the Games had lead his thoughts. He was now thinking of how likely it was that Iris would die in the arena. Colton didn't want her to die. He didn't want anyone to die. People shouldn't have to give up their lives for entertainment!

Still, Colton smiled. Even if the unthinkable happened in the arena, he wanted to try to live the rest of his life to it's fullest. He wanted to be who he always was: the guy that got along with everyone. The loyal friend who could cheer you up by telling you a joke. A kind master. A loving brother and son. Colton.

Colton Brax.

And Iris was the friend he would cheer up. The one from home.

[tardisgirl]

I nod. Yes, The Hunger Games make everything crazy. For a moment, I can't help but think of my family and how their lives have been turned upside-down. Again.

I want to cry for them, but of course I won't. Not in front of anyone anyway.

I glance down at the ground, away from Colton. He's cute, funny, and likeable. Everything I wish I was, and I can't help but feel inadequate. I wish I'd gotten to know him better back in the district. I wish I'd done a lot of things, but it's to late now. I'm not sure where the old saying came from, but it's true. The things most regretted in life aren't the things said and done, they're the things left un-said and the things never done.

Still, it's not too late for everything. I've still got a shot. But then, of course, if I go home, Colton never will, neither will any one of these people I've come to know and like. The thought makes me want to die. How would anyone be so cruel, so evil, as to make people fight to death for their own entertainment? And not just any people, kids. How? I'll never know how anyone could, and I'm glad, because I don't want to.

It won't do to think of things in this dismal way. I've got to chin up, for my friends and my family.

I look back up at Colton. He reminds me of my district and my family. Being with him, and the memories from home that he brings with him, help to drive away the darkness.

I want to think of something to say. Something that's at least slightly pleasant, but it takes me a minute to think of anything. Finally, I remember the woman at the animal training station, and her sweet little Collie dog, so I smile at him and ask, "So, have you seen the animal station yet? The instructor is very nice, and she's got a collie back there to teach training techniques with."

I know he’s got to miss that horse of his. I’ve seen him ride it a few times, and it really is an amazing creature. Here, where every human is either from The Capitol and going to watch you die for their own amusement, or people going into the Arena, it has been very good for me that this Collie is here. This dog isn’t going to watch me die for fun, or try to kill me. Plus, it’s so sweet and affectionate; it reminds me of my own dog back in District 5.

[Deleted]

Ruby

I look back behind me and see Iris talking to a boy. He must be her district partner. He looks my age too. I feel relieved that I might not be the youngest one here. I'm not sure if I should go introduce myself or not. They seem to be focused in a conversation of their own, so my shyness takes over once again. I continue working on survival skills at my station. Soon, I can't take it anymore. "Hi," I say to the boy, "I'm...Ruby." I almost forgot my own name. I looked at Iris, hoping I didn't interrupt their conversation.

[Gigi]

It took Iris a moment before she could think of what she wanted to say. She looked around the stations, and finally said, "So, have you seen the animal station yet? The instructor is very nice, and she's got a collie back there to teach training techniques with."

Eagerly, Colton turned around to face the animal station. There, as she said, was a lovable collie. It's face was smiling and it was licking the trainer's hand. It's fur was fluffy and it ears were perky. Colton felt his heart break. How had he not seen that when he walked in? Had he been too concentrated on his training to see something he would've instantly picked up on? He starting worrying that he already was changing. Already becoming less passionate. Already becoming less...himself. Colton hated that feeling.

"Let's go," Colton said, determined to prove he still had his way with animals. He started walking in the direction of the animal station just to realize that someone else had come to join in on their conversation. If you could call it that.

"Hi, I'm...Ruby." Colton looked towards the speaker. She was the District Seven female, and Colton felt awful because she was so tiny. He was only thirteen himself, but at least he was tall for his age. She was tiny and he thought she looked nervous and shy. Colton remembered from watching the reapings that she was his age, but he hardly could believe that.

Besides the fact that she seemed so quiet and defenseless, Colton supposed she could be intelligent. She had a spark in her pretty brown eyes. Maybe she could end up stunning everyone with brilliance and win. Anything was possible in these games.

Colton smiled and offered his hand for Ruby to shake. "Hey, Ruby. I'm Colton Brax, from District Five. And this is my district partner, Iris Brookside. It's nice to meet you."

[Deleted]

I look up at the boy who introduces himself as Colton. He towers over me by many inches. I look straight into his eyes and I see a hint of doubt; doubt that I am any use to him. I might look small and weak, and I may not be good with words, but that only gives me an advantage, a defense to hide my real strengths. As I look at Colton again, his doubt disappears as he reaches out his hand. I see that he looks determined and trustworthy, someone that I'd want as an ally, the only question is, why would he want me as an ally? Hasn't my first impression been ruined? I ponder the question no more. Instead, I shake his hand with no hesitance.

[tardisgirl]

I'm delighted when Colton brightens at the mention of the collie. He's an adorable little thing with white and black splotches, and the cutest perky ears. I've grown to absalutely ADORE that collie, and I'm very happy to see that Colton must feel similar to me as far as a love for animals goes.
Colton stares at the dog for a few seconds happily, and then face seems to darken for a moment, though I can't imagine why. He shakes it off and says "Let's go," in a rather determined manner.
We've only taken a few steps when I hear footsteps and turn to see Ruby, the girl from District 7, join us.
She introduces herself shyly, and Colton studies her for a fer seconds before responding. I see a look in his face that's much like mine was when I first met Ruby, the one that comes from feeling so bad, almost guilty, that someone as small as Ruby was picked. But I've met Ruby before, and now have great faith in her abilities.
He seems to look her over, uncertainly at first, and then he smiles at her and offers his hand, along with both of our names and a greeting.
Ruby shakes his hand without hesitation and I smile.
"Hey Ruby." I nod at her from behind Colton.

[Gigi]

You could tell a lot from someone's handshake. If they gripped to hard, they were challenging you. If they gripped it too lightly, they were most likely a pushover. If they shook you're hand a lot, they were eager. If they barely clasped you're hand, they were bored and disinterested. Ruby took his hand and shook it readily, like they were making a deal. Colton liked that.

He had decided to let her present herself to him, and see what she was like after that. He didn't like to judge anyone before meeting them. After all, he had no way of telling if she would be a competitor in these games. Ruby was the same age as Colton anyways. He may have been bigger, but he had seen some very impressive things from small tributes. They became more creative and less brutish. That was a good thing.

"Do you want to go to the animal station now?" Colton asked the two girls. "We were just about to head there, Ruby, but.... Guess I don't need to finish that sentence." He smiled. The three of them started walking over to the station.

Colton realized this might be a great thing for Ruby. She came from District Seven, the most urban district. She wouldn't be used to big animals. He felt a need to protect her from the dangerous beasts in the arena. Colton felt it arose from the need of allies. Or, as he preferred to think of it as, the want for friendship. The arena could be a lonely place.

But he figured he should get to know his companions first. If he did have allies, he would want to be with these two. Iris was his District partner, he would hate to bail on her. And Ruby, well...he liked her. She reminded him of himself. She was determined and strong-willed (he got that from the handshake), but she seemed nice and easy to get along with.

Still, he didn't know either of them that well. "So, Ruby, what is it like in District Seven?

ooc: Great job in training!

[tardisgirl]

OOC: You too!

I grin, glad to see Colton look over at Ruby aprovingly when they shake hands.
"Do you want to go to the animal station now?" Colton suggests to us. "We were just about to head there, Ruby, but.... Guess I don't need to finish that sentence."
I nod. It's a good idea for Ruby, being from Seven, she won't have had a lot of contact with animals in all probability.
I myself would love to visit the collie again, so I'm prompt with my agrement.

Colton seems curious about Ruby, and I am too. She's my ally, but I suddenly realise that I don't know anything about her background. Colton either. I feel so selfish about never having asked either of them.

Colton beats me ti the punch tough, asking, "So, Ruby, what is it like in District Seven?"

I nod eagerly. I feel like I've got to compensate for never havig asked her about herself, so I hurry to add, "Yes, and what's your favorite part of the District?"

[Deleted]

My eyes are wide when Colton and Iris ask me to join them at the animal station. In District 7, I had a very limited knowledge on animals, but yet they seem so fascinating to me. I had seen a few at the edge of the district where the woods lay next to the wire that enclosed us. We walk over to the station, when Colton and Iris starting asking me questions about District 7. I started to feel guilty because I had never gotten to know them like they were trying to get to know me. I mean, I am Iris's ally and probably even Colton's, but I know almost nothing about them.

"Well, District Seven, where do I even start? It's really busy and noisy in the streets of the town, and sometimes I just like to escape all the chaos." I gulp for a breath of air, as I continue to describe the place that seems to be so difficult for me to describe. "Usually, I go down to the creek near the edge of the district, where I can be far away from all of the noise. It's really my favorite place." I hesitate, wondering if I should add the last sentence or not, so I finally decide to. "And, Noelle. I always meet her at the creek. She's there everyday. We just laugh and play and..." My words linger off. It's just too hard for me to talk about District 7. I want to, but the memories bring me pain, because I know that I may not see them again, but I will try.

"What about you guys?" I ask, changing the subject. "What's District 5 like?"

[tardisgirl]

Ruby seems excited to see the animals, and it makes me so happy that there is something we can teach her about that doesn't involve the best way to end the life of other kids.
I grimace. The Capitol is so sick.
We walk over to the station, and Ruby begins to describe her District to us.
I listen in fascination, hanging on every word. When Ruby mentions Noelle, I'm very interested and want to ask for more information, but she drifts off, and I sense that Noelle is a sensitive topic. I understand. It kills me to think of my family, that I may never see them again.
She surprises me by then asking about District Five.
I answer slowly, considering. "Well, it's got a lot of buildings in it, but they aren't like normal buildings, because inside them are fields and jungles and tanks of water and winter wonderlands..." I trail off, thinking off the unique cages for the different animals. "And there are animals everywhere. In the houses, the ones like the one I was describing, we train animals in them. In them you'll find anything from anacondas, to dolphins, to tigers, to wolves, to kittens, to mice, to parakeets." I think about the rest of the district then, and do my best to describe. "Almost every family has some pet. A dog, a cat, a goat, a horse, a rat. Something. It's lovely to see all the animals, but awful too in some parts of the district. Strays wander the streets, emaciated and on deaths door. People too sometimes..." I trail off; the last thing I want to remember is the starvation. I have one particular memory of a starving child though, that won't let me be. I hurry to continue, not wanting to remember. "It's nice outdoors too. There are some fields, and even sparse woods in a few places in the district. A few tiny streams. For the most part they're not public property though, they belong to the upper-class and a few of the middle-class people mostly."
I smile, thinking of my home. My smile fades though, as thoughts of my family infiltrate my brain, making me want to drown myself in tears. I may never see my family, my district, my animals...Ever again. Ever. And that thought is too awful to bear, so I turn to Colton, to let him finish describing it, because I can't go on.

[Gigi]

Well, District Seven, where do I even start? It's really busy and noisy in the streets of the town, and sometimes I just like to escape all the chaos. Usually, I go down to the creek near the edge of the district, where I can be far away from all of the noise. It's really my favorite place. And Noelle. I always meet her at the creek. She's there everyday. We just laugh and play and..."

Ruby trailed off. At first she seemed excited to describe her home, but when she mentioned her friend Noelle, things got a little more personal and she trailed off. Colton could understand that. He didn't want to talk about Sherif much, although he didn't have any problems with mentioning his family.

Ruby spoke up again. "What about you guys? What's District 5 like?"

The first thought that came to Colton's head where the animals. Animals everywhere, in cages, as pets, on the streets... Then he thought about the forests he rode Sherif through and the grassy plains. A whole truckload of memories with his horse came flooding back to him and suddenly he couldn't speak. Fortunately, he didn't have to. Iris was more than capable.

"Well, it's got a lot of buildings in it, but they aren't like normal buildings, because inside them are fields and jungles and tanks of water and winter wonderlands... And there are animals everywhere.

She started describing District Five very thoroughly, and Colton felt as if she were only missing one thing. So, when Iris finished, he picked up where she left off.

"There are forests, too. District Five's quite big. There's huge grassy plains in some areas, and some people even managed to farm some of the land, even though we're not really supposed to. There's a huge river, and some creek branch off from it. It's an amazing district, really. My family loves to go to the water and find different animals. We own a dog and a cat, and I have my horse, Sherif." Colton stopped abruptly. This was an uncomfortable topic.

He finished up lamely. "So, yeah, it's an alright place. I miss it, although the food and the beds have almost made up for it." His joke was half-hearted, but they needed something to lighten the mood. Both of them looked a tiny bit lost in their memories.

[Deleted]

I can tell that all of us are feeling that same depression when we talk of our homes, our districts. Colton and Iris describe District 5 vividly, and I just can't believe how the Capitol had forced us to leave out beloved homes, just like that, even though we had never done anything against them. I feel uncomfort rising around us. I want to say something, but I'm never good with words. I try anyways. "Home's...just so difficult to talk about, isn't it?" I look up at Iris and Colton, their eyes reflecting the deep thoughts of home. I just feel like crying right now, upstairs on Floor 7, just letting the tears burst out, letting my thoughts and memories get the best of me. But that isn't an option. The only option is to cope with the pain of memories that I will never see again. The only option is to be brave.

[tardisgirl]

OOC: I loved both of your interviews!


Colton picks up the topic when I fall silent, unable to continue.
"There are forests, too. District Five's quite big. There's huge grassy plains in some areas, and some people even managed to farm some of the land, even though we're not really supposed to. There's a huge river, and some creek branch off from it. It's an amazing district, really." Yes, the forest, the rivers, the fields. It's impossible for me to think how I could have forgotten to mention them. I suppose that it hurts too much to think of something so wonderful, and so very far away and un-reachable. Like talking about my family...

"My family loves to go to the water and find different animals. We own a dog and a cat, and I have my horse, Sherif." Colton stops abruptly. I guess it's painful for all of us to talk about the things we love, the things we may never see again.

"So, yeah, it's an alright place. I miss it, although the food and the beds have almost made up for it." Colton finishes up with a half-hearted joke. Half-hearted, but it still makes me feel a little better. If people can still joke around it makes things seem a tiny bit less dismal.

I stand there, feeling sick and sad and useless. "Home's...just so difficult to talk about, isn't it?" Ruby asks quietly.

"Yes." I say, almost silently. I do my best to shake off the mood, but I can't think of how until I look down and see the adorable little Collie grinning up at me. "So, I bet you don't get to see a lot of animals in District Seven Ruby. Why don't we go over and work on some basic animal training techniques with that Collie?" I suggest.

It's such a welcome sight, that pup. I know that once we get started working with him the shadows will be forced to retreat, if only for a little while.