I look around at the other tributes on their pedestals, my hands shaking. I don't have any allies; none at all. I'll be the first to die, most likely. Stop that! I think to myself. You can win this thing! You have to get back home! I look around at the arena and see that it's a forest, which is actually perfect. I can climb trees well and know which berries are okay to eat and which aren't. I look at the cornucopia and see all the weapons and supplies. I bite my lip, knowing that a backpack would surely do me good but if I go into the cornucopia I could easily die. I look over at the girl from 12 who's name is Katniss. I remembered her from training. I watched her tie knots and set snares, and she was pretty good. I never really saw her do any actual fighting, but fighting wasn't all there was to the games. I wonder if I can ally her, I think, but then realize that she'd never want me for an ally. I'm young and everybody thinks I can't fight, I think to myself. But maybe I can win this thing! The gong suddenly goes off and all the tributes jump off their pedestals. I shake my head and start running. I don't know where; I'm just running. I can finally think clearly and see that I've run into the woods. At least I didn't run straight into the cornucopia, I think. That would have been a disaster.
I run as far as I think I can, and then climb a tree and prepare to sleep there. I can hear screams in the distance coming from the cornucopia, but I try to block them out. I breathe in and out slowly, my heart rate slowing from the long run. Maybe I can win, I think to myself. I survived the bloodbath... maybe I can win. I smile and close my eyes and fall fast asleep.