Chapter 1: Alliances

"Remember, this years games are going to be different. The capitol has not wasted any of its resources and expenses to make these games memorable," Haymitch retorted to Peeta's previous comment.

"It's not like I'm going to make it far in the games, Haymitch! I'll be lucky if I make it past the first day…" Peeta trailed off, suddenly aware that he had only four days before he would be sent to fight to the death.

Stammering off, Peeta went to find his district partner, Katniss Everdeen. She would surely know how to calm him down. The male and female tributes from the same districts were held in separate rooms for these games, a new rule placed by the capitol to ensure their safety. Knocking on the door to Katniss' penthouse suite, Peeta is welcomed by a warm embrace, followed by a smile with a hint of concern evident in her eyes.

"Hey! I tried to get ahold of you after the dinner tonight with the other tributes," Katniss said, worried for sure, Peeta thought.

"Oh, sorry…I was really tired," Peeta began before he was interrupted.

"I get it – really, I do – but Peeta, you can't avoid the games, and you heard what Haymitch said," Katniss began "Do you really think you'll survive if you don't start making allies? Some of the other tributes have already started making alliances, not to mention the careers!"

"I'm really not in the mood for a lecture, Katniss" Peeta responded, groggy from the early mornings he had had to endure as of late. Before he could turn to walk away after having no luck with Katniss either, the girl he cared so much for reached out and grabbed his wrist stopping his escape.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you upset…" she stated, clearly in tune to the look of strain evident on his face. "On the bright side, I was able to talk to Johanna, and she said that she was looking for allies, and I'm almost positive we can trust her!"

Attempting to make an effort, Peeta forced himself to smile. He was always impressed with Katniss' determination to make the best of any situation she found herself in. "That's great!" he started, "Anyways, Effie says we're to report to training at 9, and it'll take us a while to get there, so we better head out now."

Nodding in approval, Katniss followed the boy out of her room, quickly taking a final glance back at the room in disbelief – the capitol was surely nothing like District 12.

"Hey, Katniss, I'm sorry for being so stubborn. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. But I'll try for you, I promise." Peeta smiled at the girl he had known since he was just a little boy. How was he ever going to be able to kill her? Shaking himself of the thought and putting on a brave face he stepped into the elevator and watched as the floors sank around him.

The Training Centre

Standing outside the training centre, Peeta, Katniss, and Haymitch took in the vast area before them; each column imprinted with the capitol seal, the black and grey flooring pattern, a viewing area for the gamemakers and an ever-present company of capitol officials, ready to stop any fighting between the tributes before the games began.

Peeta took in the different sections: the hand-to-hand combat station was quite simple really, with navy mats on the floor and gloves available to the left; the archery/spear/throwing-knives station, with a choice of dummies or moving targets; the weapon combat station with an endless supply of weapons and armor; and lastly at the very end were stations for camouflage, snares-assembly, fire-making, and plant and animal identification.

"Don't try to impress the other tributes as much as looking for any weaknesses they may have," Haymitch said sternly, Peeta watching as he eyed Katniss and himself, making sure they understood this strategy. "Remember, deception is as much a killer as brute force." Wishing them luck, he left Peeta and Katniss standing at the entrance, ready to get to work.

"I think we should split up and find out who we can trust first, and then meet tonight after supper to discuss our possibilities," Katniss said, nodding briefly before leaving Peeta and heading straight for the hand-to-hand combat section. Smart move. Probably best that she avoid the archery station, Peeta thinks to himself.

Best that Peeta begin working his social game. Walking through the entrance gateway, he catches a glimpse of a district 2 female taking her swing at swordplay. Approaching carefully, Peeta managed a "Hello, my name's Peeta, from district 12" before he was dismissed with a hiss-like sound and a mouthful of serrated teeth. Flinching, Peeta walked away quickly, acknowledging that this tribute was definitely not going to be helpful to his game.

Looking around Peeta becomes aware of a couple of tributes practicing their spear and knife-throwing, making a silent reminder to himself to stay away from that section, the words of Haymitch rambling through his memory.

Taking a peak over to the hand-to-hand combat section, Peeta sees that Katniss seems rather chatty with an unknown female tribute from district 7, taking a quick notice of her red and black hair. The capitol must already be having an effect on these tributes, Peeta thought. Back in most districts, hair dye was not affordable, not that Peeta wished to trade in his natural golden-locks for tacky color that would surely fade, of course.

A rough hit to his shoulder jolted him from his thoughts, and Peeta turned in time to see a tall, well-built, blonde-haired boy walking away mumbling, "You might want to start training… being the capitol-favorite won't save you in the arena."

"And what makes you think I'm the capitol-favorite, district 2?" Peeta called out sharply, noticing the boy stop in his tracks a few paces before him, turning to meet his attention.

"It's not too often a tribute from the outlying districts volunteers in someone else's place. It makes people take notice," the district 2 male stated, "As for me, the name's Cato, and you might want to learn it." Peeta became suddenly aware that the boy was getting increasingly closer to him, a little too close if you asked him. "Because when I kill you, it'll be the last name you scream when you plead for mercy." With that, the blonde turned and walked away from him.

At least it didn't seem to be just Peeta that annoyed Cato, because periodically he would notice a fight break out between him and another poor tribute, one time having been when Cato's knives went missing from his station and peacekeepers had to stop Cato from doing any harm. All Peeta really remembered was the screaming and the death threat Cato issued to the young girl, before he tuned it all out and left the training centre.

It was almost suppertime and he had to meet Katniss, who had left the training station unexpectedly early with another female tribute from district 1. What was she up too? Careers hardly ever took notice of other districts… Peeta thought. He would have to remind himself to ask her when he had the chance.

Stepping in the elevator that would bring him up to the twelfth floor, he had the unfortunate chance of meeting up with Cato again, who quickly stepped into the elevator before he missed the shuttle.

Peeta became aware that Cato was studying him from his peripherals, and Peeta took the chance to see what game Cato was playing at.

"I see you're pretty good with a Sword…" before correcting himself, hoping that the other boy didn't notice that he was taking notes on his strengths. "Um, so I know you mentioned my volunteering in District 12, but that's a little hypocritical since you volunteered too," Peeta stated.

"As did all the other district 1 and 2 tributes…" Cato mumbled, making Peeta feel like an idiot. "It's just in our nature. We're raised to bring pride to our district, and winning the hunger games is the best possible way of ensuring that that happens."

Peeta was surprised that Cato continued to explain the situation, albeit many crude remarks directed toward district twelve.

"…trained since we're young for this, you know. My parents could care less about me, and I'm pretty sure they only took notice of my presence when I volunteered for the games. It was a chance for my mom to make more money – like my Dad's victory in the 53rd Hunger Games wasn't enough money for her," Cato rambled on and on, before he had told Peeta that it was his floor.

Before wishing Peeta a farewell or any customary gesture, he turned to Peeta and, closing the distance between them, said "This is off the records, twelve. This doesn't change anything." No sooner had he made his intentions clear, that he stormed off, and the elevator continued its assent.

The Penthouse

Katniss was already waiting for him when he stepped off the golden-laced elevator, quickly embracing him in her arms before pulling him to the couch for some much needed discussion. Before Peeta could even begin to tell her anything, he was immediately silenced by Katniss' statement:

"I talked to Johanna, you know the one with red and black hair, great with an axe, a little over-the-top…" Peeta was waiting for her point, waiting several minutes before Katniss pulled herself together. "Well anyways, she told me she's in!"

"In our alliance? Really?" Peeta looked a little taken aback, but pulled himself together, allowing for Katniss to continue.

"Yes! She told me her district partner is basically useless to her, and that she was impressed with my close-range fighting skills. Anyways, enough about me, I'm dying to hear about your day! Did you make any friends? Allies?" Katniss asked.

Peeta pulled his legs onto the couch with him, grabbing the burgundy blanket that draped itself over the edge of the brown couch, before beginning to explain.

"Well, I wouldn't say friends or allies, really. But I do have someone in mind that I think would be great for our game!" Peeta said, anxious for Katniss to hear who he had in mind.

"And?! Who it is?" Katniss asked, leaning close before Peeta responded:

"Cato."