Red Arrow

Created by: The Moonstar9

Original Story by: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Romance/Adventure/Action/Hurt/Comfort

Author's Note: This story starts off in Catching Fire and goes all the way through Mockingjay. If you haven't read either books (or watched the movies), then I suggest you do so before continuing. If you don't really care, then continue by all means. It's not exactly the same as the original story. I've made plenty of changes. It really deals with a lot of adventure and action with a touch of romance. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

Anxious

I clench my hands into fists as I walk through the training area. Other trainees are training in several different stations in the wide Training Center. Some of them glare at me or give me odd looks as I pass by them. The second day in training and I still haven't made any friends yet. I remember Haymitch's warning he gave to me and Peeta the other day. "Forget everything you think you know about the games. Last year was child's play but this year you will be going at it with all experienced fighters. You have to be smart because as soon as you step out on that ring, they will come after you. I suggest you make allies beforehand if you want to live."

The warning continues to torment my ears as I search around for someone I can talk to. Peeta had suggested we split up so we can cover more ground and develop friends quicker. It sounded like a good idea at the time but now I have to tolerate other tributes' hostile looks alone. Even though I'm nervous, I stand strong with my shoulders back and chest out with a serious expression. Looking weak will get me nowhere so I have to maintain this confident composure. I pause to watch a District 5 male tribute throw knives at several moving targets. The targets move from side to side at a steady pace; not to slow, not too fast. I see the male's muscles tense up as he brings his arm back. He swings his arm with all his strength, releasing the knife. The blade cuts through the air with ease before soon making contact with the target.

Bull's eye.

I watch this District 5 tribute for a few more seconds, thoughtfully. He was very accurate with knives like I was with my bow and arrows. After a moment of consideration, I decide to continue on. Maybe he was too brutal or maybe he looked too easily untrustworthy. I'm not sure. I pass by a few more stations, observing a few tributes. Perhaps I was being picky. Finally I settled on approaching the old woman by the fishing station. Her name is Mags and she's from District 4. Before I can even get close to the feeble woman, I can't shake the feeling of being watched. It's not like I haven't been stared at the moment I walked in, but by now everyone should be concerning themselves with their own business. Out of curiosity, even though every part of my body is telling me not to, I can't help but turn my head to the left. Then I see two male tributes standing together at a station. A few targets are lined up at a far distance against the wall, opposite them. The males continue to murmur to each other, quietly, while shooting glances my way.

I know who they are.

Finnick and Gloss, from District 4 and District 1, respectively.

I remember the other day at training, Finnick tried flirting with me while he helped me at the knot station. And Gloss…I never spoke to Gloss. They snicker again at me and I know they are definitely talking about me, but I don't know why and I don't care either. I never planned to make friends with them anyway. They must have seen me narrowing my eyes at them because Finnick waves at me and for some reason I assume it's mockingly.

Maybe he was trying to get me to come over or maybe he wasn't. Whatever he was trying to do, I ignore him and I turn away, making my way towards Mags again. I hear my name and I clench my fists together tighter. Then I remember that I should make friends but I definitely shouldn't make enemies. Haymitch's warning comes to my mind again, "they will come after you." A sigh escapes my lips. Having two strong tributes against me is a bad idea and they'll surely team up, seeming to already made allies out of each other. But I have no idea what they have against me. What did I ever do to them?

My head turns when I hear Finnick's voice calling me over. Even though I am angry, I find my feet dragging me over to the two males. The grins never leave their faces as they watch me make my way towards them. I stop in front of them and force a small grin; it's hard, but not impossible.

"Katniss," Finnick says in amusement. "Glad you could join us." I see a bow in one of his hands and three arrows in between his fingers in his other hand. I wonder if he's going to shoot one. The thought of seeing him miss fills me with comfortable enjoyment.

Gloss stares me down, sizing me up. "We were talking about you."

I narrow my eyes. I appreciate you being blunt. "I've noticed. What about?" I know it can't be good but I pretend to be oblivious.

Finnick nods in confirmation. "See that target down there?" he asks, pointing towards the farthest of all targets. It was at least seventy feet away; eighty at most. I nod. "And that tiny, red dot on the target?"

I don't see it at first. I squint my eyes at the target, my eyes traveling all over the sphere shape. Then I see it. It's just a tiny little speck right in the center of the target. "I see it." I say.

"Good," Finnick stares at me now. "Gloss bets that you can't hit that red point from this far but I beg to differ."

I glance at the target again and have to squint at the red dot. Did Finnick really think I could hit that?

"You get three tries," Gloss says and Finnick hands me the bow and an arrow before I can decide if I want to go through with it. "If you miss all three times, you'll be my first victim when the games start." I wonder if he's joking but when a wicked smirk appears on his face I know he's not. "If you hit the red dot at least once, then I'll save you for last in the games. Promise. Fair enough?"

I nod, refusing to speak. It's not like I'm afraid of him anyway.

"Don't worry," Finnick murmurs in my ear from behind. "You have my confidence."

Very comforting. I thought, shrugging him away. "What about you? What do you want from me?" I ask him.

I said it like it was a joke. To think I will actually do something for these two is pathetic and even more so if they really believe that. I don't know if Finnick caught my mocking tone as he stares down, thoughtfully, at his knuckles for a few seconds. Then he looks up at me with a grin. "We can discuss that when you've proved him wrong."

I never agreed in doing this, but why I am standing here ready to release an arrow then? I don't even know if Gloss will keep his promise anyway. The guy was clearly strong, with his bulging arms and legs, and he was quick too. I'm quick as well though. If I lose this bet and he tries to take me out right away in the games, I can surely take him if I get my hands on a bow, right? Despite the result of this bet, the outcome will remain the same; both of us will die in the games because Peeta's going to win.

Taking in a deep breath, I position the arrow. My eyes narrow at the tiny dot in the distance. It seemed like the dot became blurry and blurry and farther away the longer I stared at it. My hands begin to shake. I clench my fingers around the bow and arrow tighter to stop them. I blink my eyes and exhale. Breathe. Just keep breathing. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale…

"Any day now, Everdeen." I hear Gloss mutter boringly a few feet from me.

I exhale and release the arrow. The long arrow made a swoosh sound in the air, lights from the ceiling bouncing off its silver point. Then its point makes contact with the target. I lower my bow to see the result. Unfortunately, I missed but not by far. I turn to Gloss and Finnick. Gloss has a smug look on his face but Finnick looks almost impressed.

"Two more," Gloss says as Finnick hands me another arrow.

I position myself again, a bit more nervously this time. As I inhale and exhale again, I hear Gloss begin to tap his foot rhythmically on the floor. His attempts at distracting me doesn't work. As my hand releases the second arrow, Gloss lets out an unexpected shout, "Wow!" My arrow doesn't hit the target at all this time. It hit the wall next to it instead.

I shoot a glare at Gloss. "You threw me off!"

Gloss' grin only spreads.

Finnick shrugs. "One more try." He hands me the last arrow.

"But I was distracted," I say.

"There will be distractions during the games. Especially during the bloodbath. No one's going to just stand there and let you shoot them anyway. Get used to it," Gloss says, that smug look never leaving his stupid features.

Finnick only shrugs again.

Damn you both. I thought as I position myself for the final time. My hands were shaking wildly this time; I'm surprised the two males didn't notice. Inhaling and exhaling…inhaling and exhaling. I'm finding it hard to relax because Gloss keeps tapping his foot, mocking me. He wants me to miss. He wants me to lose. He wants me dead. I won't let that happen. I won't let him win.

"Why don't we cheer her on?" Gloss suggests to Finnick. He begins to chant my name in pretend enthusiasm. Like a child. This causes my body to warm up in anger and it only gets worse when Finnick joins in just as contently. What's wrong with him? I thought he wanted me to win. He must just be getting a kick out of this. I'm not amused by any of this.

I notice from the corner of my eyes that we are gaining a few spectators. I turn my head a little. Peeta is among them, with a curious look. Does everyone know about this bet? I turn my attention back to the red point on the target. This is my last chance. My last chance to prove myself. My heart is racing, sweat is seeping through the pours on my forehead, my eyes are blurry, my spine is tingling, and my ears are twitching every time Finnick and Gloss chant my name. I breathe, trying my best to tune out every sound and everything around me. I force my mind to focus on the red dot only.

Focus, Katniss. Focus.

Breathe, Katniss. Breathe.

When my eyes zoom in on the red dot, I let the arrow ago. And time has slowed down. I see the arrow, tearing into the still air. I hear it pushing towards the target and Gloss and Finnick's faint chants of false encouragement. I feel my heart rate. It's incredibly slow. Then there's a faint clack sound. The arrow hit the target. When I look, I know I hit the red dot.

I turn around. My eyes light up at Gloss's shocked expression and Finnick's calm eyes. The few spectators that formed around us begin to clap lightly. My eyes lock with Peeta's and he's smiling at me.

"Let me see this," Gloss growls, pushing past me. He's very angry; red faced and burning eyes. He begins to march down towards the target to make sure his eyes aren't playing tricks on him. Finnick and I follow him down, that stupid grin still plastered on my face. "That's impossible." Gloss says, his face distorted and bright red with anger. The three of us were staring at the arrow stuck firmly on the board, directly glued to the red dot.

Bull's eye.

Finnick gives me a round of applause. "Wonderful. Never doubted you for a second, Girl on Fire."

I give a short bow. I can't help myself. My face is still lit with amusement and Gloss keeps staring at the arrow in shock.

I turn to Finnick. "Allies?" I don't know why I even suggested it. I don't even like him especially after what just happened. He seems smart and strong but looks can be deceiving. I can't be sure if he's trustworthy. Maybe that's something I'll have to find out.

Finnick is quiet for a moment, but then a second later his eyes droop and he leans closer to my face. He's close enough that I can smell that salty, ocean scent on his skin mingled with a nice cologne. "I'm thinking a lot more than just allies, Everdeen..." His lips brush my ear and I feel a tingling sensation run down my spine.

Gross, I think. And that's my first thought, but I don't think I mean it. Some part of me feels a jolt of excitement.

Refusing to give in, I push him away, shakily. "Keep dreaming, Odair."

To be continued...