Why Don't I Carry You?

Getting off the train was a relief for Norman. Now that he was in the gym, he felt the pressure shift from being angry with his mentor to being angry with the other tributes. Norman knew he didn't lack strength, so the Melee station was out of the question. He also had no trouble surviving in the wilderness, so he skipped past the Survival and Edible Items stations. That left few other options. Glancing around, he decided he wasn't going to waste his time trying to learn to paint, he didn't want to hide like that. Finding an obstacle-esqe course, Norman gave a slight smile. He had a plan that he wanted to try with Aspen.

"Hey, Aspen, come over here," he said to his District Partner. He glanced at the course. Items meant to be rocks, trees, and streams stood ahead. If he was going to get through this plan, he needed this training. "How about getting on my back and lettin' me run this course? You're small enough that this could be a great tactic," he said to her. Squatting down, he glanced over his shoulder at her. "Whataya say?"

Norman felt Aspen climb onto his back. As he stood, he wrapped his arms around her knees, having both of his hands on his sides. Facing the course, he shoved Aspen a bit up, making his arms more comfortable while maintaining a grip. "Ready?" he asked rhetorically. Feeling her hands still clasped around him, he took off.

The beginning was simple, a straight-forward path dodging standing obstacles resembling trees. As he cleared the last of them, he paused. Ahead seemed to resemble a creek-bed, but larger. Adjusting his grip on Aspen, he leaped from stone to stone, making his way for the opposite shore. Planting his feet into the soil, he ran ahead once more, this time making his way up a hillside covered in "trees." Norman felt him self stumble before reaching the top. His left foot slipped from its hold, taking the duo back several feet. Once Norman regained his footing, he moved up the hill at a steadier pace. Reaching the top, he glanced around. All that was left was to descend the hill. Shaking his head and adjusting Aspen, he started down. This turned out to be harder than thought, as he soon feel onto his butt. Aspen was in a similar fate as the two slid down the hill like a slide. As Norman slid to the bottom he regained footing. Norman stood and turned to Aspen. "Well, I'm only human. Sorry," he said, pulling her up.