Run, Run, As Fast As You Can....

Freckles jogged into the agility course, having just completed the survival station and the edibles station. She frowned at the obstacles until spotting a swimming pool way off in the corner. No one is even using it......perfect, she thought with a smile, before starting the short run at the beginning of the course. Grabbing the rope, she launched herself over it, landing on the other side on the balls of her feet, the impact jarring her ankles but otherwise fine. She then continued, leaping over hurdles like a ballerina leaps on a stage; years of training and skill had brought her to her final goal--the Games; she would not win without honor and she would not die without fighting. The Careers here were cocky, full of themselves, and simply egotistical; part of the reason why the District Four Career wanted no part of them. No, her allies were a boy from District Five and a girl from District Eight--which was perfectly fine with her.

She finished with ease, her heart beating rhythmically, her breathing regulated at a steady pace by her own self. She'd learned about the importance of breathing far too often when while training, she'd grit her teeth and hold her breath. She eventually learned that it was better to breathe through the pain. She finished easily, then grabbed one of the small suits on the side of the pool--she still couldn't believe no one was using it, honestly--stripped out of her clothes and into the bathing suit, not one bit shy with her body, and then leaped into the water, her body flowing with the water, not pushing through it. Years at sea with her father, where he'd make her swim back home instead of going in the boat with him, had taught her that water was your friend--if you knew how to treat it.

She began swimming laps, and one of the few people assisting in the training her came over just to mark her time. Eventually, she rested her arms on the side of the pool and the assistant nodded and showed her her time--she'd beaten her old record. It was probably because the suit she was wearing was completely light weight and practically water resistant--it didn't drag her back. Still, she was impressed with her time and allowed herself a few easy laps as well--it felt so good to be in the water that she didn't want to get out.