The story starts in District 1, with a girl who is not your average District 1 girl. She refused training for The Hunger Games at a young age and continued to do so all her life. She is 16 years old and she has a younger sister and an older brother who is 18. Her cousin, Kale Gatsper, trained all his life for the Games. He was never picked for the Games, but Althaea saw what training could do to some people. Her cousin was one of the cruelest people she ever met. Where everyone else saw potential, Althaea saw danger. Everyone said that she was precisely like Kale. She would be capable of winning the Games with training. She was strong, stubborn, and determined. Just like Kale. Althaea didn't want the unfair advantage if she were to ever be thrown into the Games. Her family thought she was crazy.

Her parents especially thought that she was crazy. Althaea's father was 18 years old. He was reaped for the 28th Games. He became the victor of the 28th Hunger Games. When he arrived home, after his victory tour, he married the person that he had been dating since he was fourteen. Two years later, Kenner was born. He was such a loving, and caring child, that, two years later, they had Althaea.

Kenner jumped at the chance to train for the Games. All of the weapons interested him. Althaea, on the other hand, refused training when given the chance at the age of six. Her parents didn't understand at first and they were initially angry.

"Why would you do something as stupid as refusing to train?" Mr. Perth yelled across the dinner table one night.

Althaea started twisting pieces of her hair. "I simply don't think it's fair! Most of the other Districts don't have the opportunity to train! Plus, look at Kale. He's a jerk."

"Althaea, sweetie, you're only six now. You might change your mind." Mrs. Perth tried to reason.

"No, mom. I won't. If I ever am Reaped, I want to be fair. I don't want the advantage."

"Althaea," Mr. Perth was practically screaming at his daughter.

"Dad! Stop it. Leave her alone. This is her decision. Let her be!" Kenner said.

Mr. Perth took his plate and whipped it against the wall. "I'll be in the study."

Althaea was horrified. She started crying. Kenner went over to her to comfort her. Mrs. Perth went into the study to try to calm Mr. Perth. That night Kenner stayed with Althaea in her room. She didn't want to go to bed alone. She wasn't sure why, but she was scared.

The conversation only came up a few more times after that. Mr. Perth, being a proud victor of the Games, had the hardest time letting her decision go. Eventually her parents grew to accept their daughter for who she was. She was someone who believed in fairness. That was something that no one would ever be able to change about her.

Lately, she had really been thinking about the Games and the reaping. It was coming up in two days. Althaea feared she would be picked this time. It just felt different. She wanted to try and mentally prepare herself if she was picked.

Althaea busied herself with school, and cooking, and even visiting the apothecary. The apothecary got special herbs from the woods and her best friend Zander helped her identify them. He was 19 and he helped his parents run the apothecary. Althaea told Zander that she wanted to at least somewhat train for the Games. She wanted to be able to find things to eat and heal herself in the arena, if she were picked. She spent the last two days before the reaping, with Zander and the herbs.

Zander was purely a friend to Althaea, but to so many others he was attractive and unattainable. Althaea was the same way. She had brown curly hair, green eyes, and she was light complected. Many guys thought she was very pretty, but would not admit it because she was different. She refused to train.

As the hour of the reaping approached, Althaea spent her time discussing favorite memories with her little sister, Sapphire, her big brother, Kenner, and her parents. She was getting more and more nervous. She always twisted pieces of hair when she nervous. Kenner noticed and asked her if she was okay and she started sobbing hysterically. Kenner pulled her into his arms and hugged her, telling her she wouldn't be picked. Then the bell, signaling that it was time for the reaping, rang. Kenner walked her down to the town square to check in, with his arm around her reassuring her.

The Mayor of District 1 started reading the Treaty of Treason. The Treaty explains the reason of The Hunger Games. At one time, all of the Districts tried to rebel against the Capitol. There were originally 13 Districts. Through the rebellion, District 13 was obliterated by the Capitol. They wanted to make an example, to prove what the Capitol could do to those who rebel.

After the mayor finished reading, the all too peppy Candlet Nack, from the Capitol, went over to the reaping ball for the girls. Althaea was nervous and trying to focus on not fainting from heat and fear. Candlet was open ing the paper painfully slow when she finally read,

"Althaea Perth". Althaea was absolutely stunned. She couldn't believe, that, with so many slips, she was the one to be picked.

"What?" Althaea said in shock.

A girl that Althaea talked to only on oc casion whispered, "Althaea, you've been reaped. You have to go up on stage now. I'm sorry." Althaea was on the verge of crying. It was all she could do to keep the tears from coming.

Althaea slowly walked to the stage. She tried to keep her composure. She wanted to look calm and collected for those who might sponsor her. When Candlet asked for a volunteer, no one came forward. Most everyone thought that she got what she deserved, since she never trained.

Althaea looked to her brother and then to Zander. As soon as she saw their faces, the reality of everything hit her. She was going to be part of The Hunger Games. The thought made it harder to stand there calmly. She looked back to Zander again. He locked eyes with her and mouthed, "I'm sorry."

Just that simple gesture put Althaea over the edge. She started crying. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stem the flow of tears. In all of this, she barely noticed that a 13 year old boy was reaped. Once he mounted the stage, Densper Elphinstone volunteered.

Densper was the most arrogant boy in District 1. He was so full of himself. Granted he was likely the strongest boy to ever be trained, Densper always had a special hate for Althaea. He told everyone that she was a foolish, crazy girl who never had the slightest chance in winning the Games. He always pushed Althaea around and, if it were not for the one day in kindergarten when he had her cornered, she may have never met Zander.

Zander was in third grade and when he saw Althaea helplessly on the ground getting beat by Densper, he was so angry; he went over, fought Densper, and saved her. That's when Zander and Althaea became best friends. Ever since then, Densper always saw her as a pathetic wimp, but the truth is Althaea could have taken him; she just didn't have the courage.

As they were taken into the Justice Building to say their final goodbyes, Althaea broke down. First, her family came in. Her mother dashed to her side and hugged Althaea as tightly as she could.

"You'll be okay," she whispered, "You can win this! You'll come home, and it'll all be fine!"

"I'm sorry, sis, I'm sorry!" Kenner, Al thaea's older brother, called from the doorway, with tears in his eyes. He ran over to her and gave her a hug.

"It wasn't supposed to be you. It shouldn't have been." He said.

"Kenner, it is me though. There's noth ing that will ever change that." Althaea cried.

"It should've been me. I never wanted this to happen to you."

Sapphire, Althaea's little sister came for ward wrapped her arms around Althaea's waist.

"Sissy..." she whimpered, holding back sobs. Althaea's father pulled them all into a hug, and they were silent for the rest of their time together.

Zander came rushing through the door.

"Althaea!" He cried. "I'm sorry!"

"It's not your fault," Althaea mumbled as he hugged her.

"Look," Zander pulled a small, blue, ring out of his pocket. "I...I brought it, just in case...will you take it? As your token, I mean?"

"S-sure," Althaea took the ring from his hand. "Thank you, Zander..."

"Remember," he said, "remember what we studied, Althaea! You can win this thing, I'm sure of it!" She nodded.

"Yeah..."

"Promise me you'll try, OK? Promise me!" Zander cried out, holding Althaea's hands tightly.

"Of course, Zander," she said, "Hey, maybe I could win this thing. It wouldn't be a first for District 1." She laughed, holding back tears. Zander only gave a small smile, and then he held her tightly in his arms. After a moment, he was called out.

"You can do it, Althaea!" He cried as he was pulled back.

"Zander!" Althaea sobbed. But the door was shut, and she was alone.

Peacekeepers came in to retrieve Althaea for the train ride. Althaea met up with Densper and Candlet in the Town Square. Densper was all smiles for the cameras. Althaea expected nothing less of him.

Next to him, Althaea felt a little stupid. She was weeping to the point where she was short of breath.

"Stop this, now Althaea. You look like a wimp." She whispered quietly to herself. No matter how many times she would tell herself to stop crying, she couldn't. The last thought that ran across her mind as she entered the train, was, "This is one of the last memories that anyone will ever have of me. Althaea, the girl who refused training."

Later, on the way to the capital, Althaea sat in her room on the train and watched the reaping of the other Districts to see who she was up against. She didn't feel like being around anyone at the present time. Watching the Reapings, Althaea noticed how weak she must have looked to the Capitol citizens.

"What a disgrace I am to my District. Usually people jump at the opportunity to be a tribute and I stood up there crying like an idiot." She muttered to herself.

Not too many people stuck out in Al thaea's mind. There was a pair from District 2. The boy was huge and muscular. He had black hair, blue eyes, and he even had a few tattoos on his biceps, which was unusual for people among the Districts.

The girl, even though she had a sweet and kind look to her face, there was something in her eyes that said 'Don't mess me and every thing might be okay'. She had such fierceness in her almost black eyes.

Once District 11 came up on the screen, Althaea shifted her position. District 11 usually has small and young girl tributes. The thought bothered Althaea.

The female tribute, just as Althaea thought, was a small, thirteen year old. Her name was Saffra Rankine. She was dark skinned with a naturally small frame. She had dark brown, straight, hair and she was so skinny that you could easily count all twenty four of her ribs through her clothes. Her eyes were such a light brown, that they made her look even more vulnerable and frightened.

When the boy, Talon Aldeen was reaped, Althaea noticed a trace of recognition on Saffra's face. Talon was tall and tan with broad shoul ders. His facial features were distinct and he was very attractive. He had black hair that was shorter on the sides and almost unnoticeably layered on top, spiked upward. His eyes were, to Althaea, a captivating deep brown.

To anyone else, Talon was just a nor mal boy but to Althaea, he was amazing. She thought he was extremely handsome. Even more so than Zander. She wanted to know every possible thing about Talon. She now had a new reason to want to get to the capital, Talon.

On the other end of Panem, Talon was doing exactly as Althaea was doing. As soon as Althaea was up on stage, he liked her. He noticed that something was different. The simple fact that Althaea was crying, made him realize that he really wanted to meet her. He made a silent vow to protect Althaea and his young friend, Saffra.

Soon after the Reaping videos were over, Althaea started writing a letter to her family. As much as she didn't want to think that she might not make it back home, she knew it was likely. She planned to give it to Kenmet, her mentor, to give to her parents if she died. She wanted them to have one last piece of her.

Candlet came to summon Althaea for dinner. One of the many things she did not look forward to. Time to face Densper. Althaea will now have to face ridicule from not only Den sper, but undoubtedly from Candlet and her mentor. Althaea made her way to where they were eating. "Hey Densper. How's it going?" Althaea asked.

"It was going a whole lot better five sec onds ago." With that remark, Althaea sat down and started eating. This time Kenmet Netsper, their mentor, started talking.

"So Althaea, I heard you refused to train? That, I believe, would be a first for anyone in District 1."

"Because no one is as stupid as to turn down training but her." Densper said.

"Look Densper, I have put up with you teasing me and making fun of me for all of my life. I've had it!" At this time, Althaea was shouting. "Just because I didn't train, does not mean that I have any less of a chance of winning these things as you do. So please, just STOP!" She yelled.

"Wow, I haven't seen that much fire in someone I've trained for a long time. Densper, she's right, she could very well win this thing. And while we're on the topic, how do want to train? Alone or separate?"

"It doesn't matter to me." Densper said.

"What do you want to do Althaea?" Kenmet asked.

After pondering for a moment, Althaea answered, "Separate." She didn't want to have the advantage of knowing someone else's strengths and weaknesses. "I'm gonna get my shower and go to bed. Good night everyone."