Read the book and wanted to right my own version of it.

This is a rewritten version of my original HG V2. Hope you like it.

Don't own Hunger Games.

Katniss POV

"But more excitement to come! It's time for our boy tribute!" Hoping to contain her tenuous hair situation, she plants one hand on her head as she crosses to the ball that contains the boys' names and grabs the first slip she encounters. She zips back to the podium and she reads the name.

"Peeta Mellark."

Peeta Mellark! Oh, no, I think. Not him. Because I recognize this name, although I have never spoken directly to its owner. Peeta Mellark. He climbs steadily onto the stage and takes his place. Surprisingly he doesn't seem frightened. If anything, he's a little too calm.

Effie then asks "Will anyone volunteer for this young man?"

"I volunteer!"

Everyone's head darts to the direction the voice came from and I could see an arm prod out of the ocean of people below me. The arm came down and everyone seemed to make way for whoever it was. I already had an idea of who it was, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.

'He's worse then Peeta!' Were my thoughts at the moment. When the boy started to get closer, I could make out his features: semi-tan skin, blood red eyes, short messy brown hair, a lean body, and was of medium height.

'Why? Why, out of everyone here did it have to be him?' Again, my thoughts. He had made it to the stage and went up to Effie.

"Another volunteer! This district must be very excited about this year's Games! You can go Peeta." Peeta steps down from the stage and takes his place in the crowd, and actually looks somewhat afraid. My guess is that he's worried about Alto. I've seen them hang around each other after school sometimes. "What is your name?" The boy then speaks, his voice darker then I thought it could be.

"Alto Hayes." He doesn't seem too happy about the situation, which makes me think why he would volunteer. But I have to keep reminding myself of his bond with Peeta.

"You see boy's and girl's; this young man has the true spirit of the Games!" Alto growls slightly at her comment before silently muttering.

"Idiot." I have to give a small smile at his response. We're about to be sent into the Games yet he's acting like he always does.

After a little bit of formalities, the mayor starts reading about the Treaty of Treason, but I'm too busy formulating a plan for the Games. I know Alto, quite well actually. He hunts just like Gale and I do, and we've hunted with each other on many occasions. He's a nice enough guy, and one hell of a fighter.

I remember a time when Gale and I were out hunting about a year ago, we heard a commotion behind some trees. We decided to investigate and found Alto fighting a grizzly with only a tomahawk and what looked like a combat knife. We took off when the bear charged at us after we tried to help him, though Alto tackled the it which distracted it long enough for us to get away. Being that he's still alive ether says that he got away or that he killed the bear. I later learned from Gale, who had talked to Alto after the fact, that the bear was protecting its cubs. Alto was the better hunter though, as he had killed the bear and its cubs. That answered my earlier question I had for my mother. I remember coming back home to a decently large meal of meat, meat that I hadn't caught. I asked her about it and she simply said that someone had given it to her. Alto probably swung over here when Gale and I were selling some of our kill. That should say plenty about his fighting prowess. He's very serious about things, but he's had times where he's aloft; he'll joke about things, wrestle with Gale sometimes, shows a side that's genuinely happy despite everything.

Once the mayor finishes reading the Treaty of Treason, he motions to Alto and me, telling us to shake hands. His grip is strong like I expected, but the warmth his hands give off surprise me. We look each other in the eyes, and I can see that his face grew softer then it was before. His face seems to be silently saying 'Good luck.' to me. We turn to face the crowed as the anthem plays. I then close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Luck, huh; going to need a lot of it now.

For the both of us.