I slash around uselessly at the dummy with the sword, wishing that I could be training with my beloved bow and arrow, the only weapon that I am truly comfortable with. Actually, I wish that I could be back at home in the woods, hunting with Gale, no Hunger Games to worry about, but I know that wish won't come true. Thinking of District 12 makes me even more homesick. But Haymitch told me not to show my talent in front of all the other tributes, and even though he's a useless mentor, I think that he might have a point. I figured that I might as well try to work with a weapon that is almost certainly going to be in the Cornucopia. Still, I hope that I impress the Game makers tomorrow, enough for them to put a bow and arrow into the arena. With my favourite weapon, my chances of survival would rocket up. All I can do now is hope.

A low chuckle coming from behind me makes me spin around and drop the too heavy hilt of the sword onto my left foot. I curse under my breath.

"Language, District 12", the chuckler says, still smirking. It's Cato, the monstrous boy from District 2. He's the biggest career this year, and probably the deadliest, strongest, most powerful tribute. I've seen him at the wrestling station, and one thing is certain: I will be avoiding him in the arena at all costs. Any close encounter with him in the arena would mean my certain death. With those muscles, he could snap me in half like a twig in hand to hand combat. I gulp, banishing that thought from my head. Instead, I snap at him.

"My name is Katniss, not District 12. What do you want, District 2?''

He saunters forward, and picks the sword up from the ground. He twirls it around like it's an extension of his body.

"Came here to show off, did we, now?" I ask, and look around the training centre. Nobody's paying attention to us, apart from the other tribute from District 2. I think her name is Clove. She eyes us warily, but then seems to get bored and goes back to throwing knives. I can't help but think how good she is at that. I turn my attention back to Cato.

"I just came here to show you how it's done" he replies cockily, and pushes me out of the way. I start to protest, but he's already started slicing at the dummies. Arms, legs, heads and hearts- nothing is safe from the sharp silvery blade of the knife. It makes me uneasy just watching him- he really is a killing machine.

"Impressed, huh, District 12?" Cato says and I realise that I've been watching him with my mouth wide open. I snap my mouth shut, aware of the warmth creeping up to my face. Cato looks at me, and I can tell that he thinks of me as no competition whatsoever. To him, a Career tribute, I'm nothing more than a distraction, someone that's good at nothing, someone to kill off before the real fun in the arena begins. Right now, all I want to do is show him that I do have a talent. I know that I shouldn't be getting this irritated, but it's no use. Haymitch's warning words ring in my head:

"Don't show anyone what you're good at, sweetheart. Leave it for the Game makers."

But I brush them aside, and I'm over at the archery station before you can say 'Career tribute'.

"You think that's impressive?" I shout over to Cato, and he raises his eyebrow in disbelief. I'll show you, I think. I pick up the bow, stroking it's smooth, sleek surface, so different from the roughly carved wooden one I use back at home, but it will have to do. I select a simple looking arrow, load the bow, and Bam. Bulls eye. I hit it every single time I try.

When I've 'killed' all of the dummies, I look up and see Peeta staring at me quizzically. I ignore him, and turn back to Cato with a winning smile on my face. I can see the shock register on his face, but only for a moment, because it's soon replaced with his trademark smirk, and now, his expression is one of amusement. He walks towards me as I'm putting the bow away, and when I turn back around, Cato is standing right in front of me. He moves forward, and I'm forced to move back, back into the bow and arrow stand. I can feel the edge of the bow pressing into my back. Cato puts his enormous hands onto my shoulders, trapping me, and his presence makes me nervous. Thank goodness it's illegal to kill a tribute before the games begin, I think to myself.

"Not bad…" Cato starts.

"…for a District 12" he finishes off.

His comment makes me so angry, for some reason. That he still thinks all District 12's are useless makes my blood boil. All of a sudden, I feel very protective of my district.

I muster all the strength I have and push Cato off of me and slap him hard in the face. I've obviously

caught him off guard because before he can retaliate, two trainers rush towards us and push me and Cato apart.

"Don't you dare insult my district!" I shout at Cato. I know that all of the tributes are staring at us, but I don't really care.

"Miss Everdeen, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down", one of the trainers says in a calm voice.

"Fine. I'm sorry, okay.", I retort, because I don't want them to punish me for this. The trainers look at us, and then deciding that everything's okay, they walk away back to their stations.

Cato glares at me.

"I'm going to get you for that, District 12. You mark my words. We're going to have a lot of fun in the arena."

Then, he walks away towards the girl called Clove, and I'm left thinking, have I just guaranteed my death?