Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games. If I did, I'd probably be rich. I haven't written anything, let alone a fanfiction, in a long time, so go easy on me if this was a crappy first chapter.

This is a story of Katniss and Rue, told from multiple perspectives. Please leave a review, let me know if you like it, because if you do, I might just write some more ;).

Katniss

"Good luck, girl on fire" says Cinna, and the last thing I remember of him is his comforting smile, before I'm sent off to the slaughter. Just before the glass cylinder comes down and I lose all contact with him completely, he indicates to me that I should keep my head high, to be strong. And because it's Cinna, I do just that. But that doesn't stop the very palpable tension, that threatens to engulf me where I stand - on a metal plate, ready to be lifted into the Hunger Games, the most brutal sport known to mankind. I begin to ascend into bright sunlight, into the arena where I'll meet my fate. The adrenaline starts pumping around my body, my heart rate quickening along with my breathing, and suddenly I want for this to be over straight away, for someone to just come and kill me now. But no, I have to wait for the full minute. I take in the arena, the grandeur of the golden Cornucopia and the supplies that litter its entrance. The lake far off into the distance - make a note of that, I tell myself, that could be useful. The trees... that's where I'll make a beeline for. As the clock ticks, I take in my fellow tributes. Good luck, I wish them bitterly.

Peeta

The last thing I see before I'm lifted into the arena is Portia, trying to conceal the pain of watching yet another tribute leave, that she knows may not come out alive. She is from the Capitol, but I can't bring myself to resent her; from the start, she's only been trying to help. And she did pull off an amazing job at the opening ceremonies. Like that makes a difference...

When the plate stops and I'm in the arena, I ignore everything and immediately look for Katniss. She sees me but refuses to meet my gaze. Probably already trying to psychologically prepare herself for what's to come, distancing herself so she doesn't have to suffer if I die. When I die. Sighing inwardly, I keep my eyes on the Cornucopia, wondering how I'm going to play this one off. Avoid the risk of the bloodbath and flee with whatever's closest to the plate? No, I don't think I've got much use for a metre of rope and an empty crate. So do I stay and battle it out with the Careers? Then it hits me. The Careers...

Rue

The last thing I see before the Launch Room disappears is Metella, my stylist, who actually breaks down in tears for me, which I have no idea how to respond to. I guess I've got bigger things on my mind. How to survive in a place where twenty-three other children and teenagers want me dead. When I see the determination on the faces of my fellow tributes, the muscles on the legs of some of the Careers, who I know will reach the valuable supplies first and kill whoever else tries to... I know my strategy. That pack right in the middle... that's my pack. I can only hope there are some useful things in there, because I won't have time to get anything else before I flee. If I can lie low and play it safe, maybe I might survive for a few days.

I turn around, and immediately, I see her. She'd be hard to miss, the girl on fire. I can't help being fascinated by her, there's something about her that sets her apart from the others. The way she volunteered for her sister, the way she acted when that boy tribute from her District announced his love for her on live television... I decided that once I'm safely out of the way, I'd keep a close eye on her.

All of a sudden, the minute is up, and that's when all hell breaks loose.

"Ladies and gentlemen," booms the voice of Claudius Templesmith. "Let the seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!"