Chapter Eight - The One Where Tris Gets A Tattoo

To start their training, Four teaches the initiates how to shoot a gun. Tris struggles at first, but seems to get the hang of it after a while. The gun training is followed by lunch. Tris sits with her newly-made friends: Christina, Al, and Will. These are the only people I have noticed so far that don't give Tris such a hard time for being Abnegation. I have a feeling she will build strong friendships with each one of these guys (and girl in Christina's case).

After lunch, the initiates are led to the Training Room where they will begin to train for the first part of their initiation: hand-to-hand combat. As of right now, I don't think Tris has a shot. But we all know how it goes. Tris will somehow become exponentially stronger in no time (I'm thinking either steroids or a vigorous strength training program run by Ms. Redmond) and then will beat the biggest and baddest fighter in all of the land. Or something like that...

"...you are far less likely to soil your pants and cry for your mother if you're prepared to defend yourself."

Christina decides that Tris needs to start looking more Dauntless. They go out and buy Tris new clothes, change her hairstyle, and visit the tattoo parlor. While there, Tris recognizes one of the artists as Tori, the woman who administered her aptitude test. She asks Tris if she would like a tattoo. After a little hesitation, Tris decides to get one on her collarbone of three ravens; each one representing a member of her family. Even with this tattoo reminding her of her past, Tris is convinced that she is recreating herself in Dauntless.

"It will be difficult to break the habits of thinking Abnegation instilled in me... but I will find new habits, new thoughts, new rules. I will become something else."