This was it. My plate was rising. Nothing could help me now.

Katniss was too old to volunteer, and nobody else would. I was lovable, sure. But not irreplaceable.

I knew that Katniss was dying inside as she hugged me for the final time. Our mother just sat and cried. I was too stunned to do anything but nod and hug them back.

Getting ready was kinda fun. The dresses were really pretty, and I had never worn make-up before. But they were just sugarcoating. Pretty dresses wouldn't help me in the arena.

Training was terrifying. The other tributes could do stuff I had never seen before, only on television. Even the Distract Eleven girl, Rue, was better at everything than me. We were the same age, too. I only scored a measly five.

All too soon it seemed the Games began. The countdown started. I could feel the tears welling up, and, as much as I knew my survival rates were less than zero, I knew what I had to do. I had to run. I wouldn't make it out of the Cornucopia alive if I didn't.

Ten, nine, eight, seven.

My heart rate spiked. I could do this. I wouldn't kill- I don't think I could, really- but I could evade, hide. Katniss had taught me how to climb trees. I could do this.

Six, five, four.

The panic blinded me momentarily. Would I be able to do this? It's so difficult to hide. I couldn't remember any tributes ever winning this way.

Three.

Wait, that District Four girl. Annie. I heard about her. The Victor gone mad.

Two.

She wasn't a good example, but I held on to the hope that I could win by evading.

One.

I was going to run. I was going to win. I had to return home.

Zero.

I spirited as fast as I could towards the trees. A knife went soaring past my right ear. I didn't dare stop to pick it up. I didn't dare to look back.

I just kept running, until I couldn't hear any more fighting.

Slowing now to a walk, I studied my surroundings. There were so many plants that could be used in medicine. I imagined Katniss, my mother… Rory… watching. Would they be proud? Scared? Trying to tell me something?

With the last thought, I whipped around, paranoia settling in. I knew I was being watched, but it felt more like eyes than anything. I stopped walking, trying to listen. It was almost as if there was somebody calling my name…

My heart leapt as, right in front of me, the Tribute from Eleven dropped down from a tree.

"Prim, right?"

I nodded. Rue had dark skin and eyes, almost like the chocolate we got once every few years.

"Well, Prim, you're not gonna survive long walking around on the ground. Can you climb?"

She pointed up, and, once again, I nodded. She outstretched her left hand, "Allies?"

I felt a surge of gratification. I didn't even know her, yet she was offering me so much.

"You don't have to, I just figured that we might survive longer together-"

I put my hand in hers and shook,"Allies it is. Thank you, Rue."

"Don't mention it. We're the smallest tributes, nobody is going to pay attention to us."

In the back of my mind, I knew that this was just going to end in tears. But Rue, despite looking like me in size and stature, reminded me so much of Katniss that I couldn't not allie with her.