Clove stared out the window at all of the people waving from the platform. The train was about ready to leave District 2 for the Capitol. She heard the voice of her fellow tribute, Cato, next to her.

"You ready to win the Hunger Games and bring pride to our District?" Cato asked.

Clove nodded and smiled. "Absolutely, Cato! We've trained all our lives for the Hunger Games and one of us is sure to win."

Cato grinned. "That's the spirit!" He playfully tugged on Clove's bushy ponytail.

"I only wonder what the other Careers are like." Clove said thoughtfully. She held tightly onto her seat as the train lurched forward.

"Well, they're from 1 and 4, so of course they're going to be tough, just like us. Great allies, you know?"

Clove nodded. "I'll do my best to make them our allies."

"You'd better."

Clove was actually terrified of strangers. She had never been all that friendly and the other girls from District 2 were so annoying. They weren't quite as serious as she was when it came to fighting. All they cared about was winning. Clove wanted to win, of course—but the process of winning was just as important as the win itself. And she wanted to win with style.

Glimmer sighed and brushed a loose strand of shimmering blonde hair back behind her ear. She was feeling a bit lonely. Marvel, her fellow tribute, had locked himself back in his compartment and was planning a strategy for the upcoming Games. Glimmer was as well, of course.

"First, I'm going to make a good impression on the citizens of the Capitol." Glimmer thought. "I really need those parachutes!"

Glimmer was extremely pretty and her name suit her well. Her hair, her teeth, her eyes, even her TOENAILS glimmered. That would be because she had painted shimmery nail polish on her toes just that morning.

Glimmer was finally satisfied with the state of her mane. Wavy and shiny, with a touch of glitter hairspray. Exactly the way she liked it.

Hearing a grunt of frustration, Glimmer gently set down her hairbrush. "Marvel?" she called. "Are you okay?"

Marvel slid open the door of his compartment and gave Glimmer a dark look.

"Well, that can't be good…" Glimmer thought.

Marvel soon confirmed her thoughts. "The female tribute from District 12…"

"That's an outlying district. Nobody cares about 12." Glimmer snorted.

Marvel shook his head. "No…she volunteered. Volunteered for her 12-year-old sister. Didn't you hear about that? That really looks impressive to everyone in the Capitol. They're going to love her more than us! She'll get the parachutes and we'll just get ignored."

"Noooo! I won't allow it!" Glimmer wailed.