[Same old disclaimer here, I don't own THG]

(Hello, again. Hope you enjoy this chapter. It might be a little long, but I wanted to put the whole event together, if you know what I mean. I'm sorry I'm no IT genius - I wanted to send anyone who reviews a private message in answer but it wouldn't let me, so I'll say now: Thank you very much, and I don't think I'll have any sort of schedule to when I post chapters, I'll just do it as often as I can. In a couple of weeks I'll have more free time. Thanks again!)

"Welcome to the Capitol." A voice purrs from somewhere behind Raven. She spins around, startled; clutching her thin robe to her to protect a little more of her dignity. Already, she had been stripped, plucked and thoroughly inspected by some kind, but a little annoying Capitol workers, and she felt way too exposed.

Despite her usual calm demeanour, Raven could not contain a gasp (part fascination, part horror) when she sees the woman standing behind her. The woman in question waited patiently, as if expectant, as the dark haired girl studied her indiscreetly and without embarrassment.

The woman's tanned face looked stretched, her tawny eyes too narrow, and her nose too flat, like a snout. Her skin didn't look that old, but it was obvious something had been done to it to make it look that way. There were black and gold stripes tattooed on her skin; real whiskers protruding from her face, though Raven was not sure how she'd got them. Were there more people in the Capitol like this?

"Welcome, Raven," her voice growled, apparently done waiting; Raven noticed, with a small shiver, that the woman's teeth were slightly pointed, like a cat's. "I will be your stylist, and my partner Orion will be Corin's. I'm sure there will be plenty I can do with a tribute as beautiful as you. My name is Tigris."

A slim hand with detailed, golden claws indicated she should sit on one of the black couches around the corner. They faced each other, and her stylist began to speak again. "Are you hungry? I think it's better to eat before the Parade - as long as the chariot doesn't make you ill?" She indicated to some plates of food which had appeared, and they sat and ate. Once Raven had finished - the food was delicious - she felt more comfortable. Tigris cleared her throat with a tiny growl, making Raven sit up in surprise. The stylist smiled.

"District 2 has many attributes, in stone, weaponry, building – and warriors." Raven stared at her, green eyes wide. "As you know," the strange, fascinating woman continued, "the parade will be tonight, and it is my first chance to help you make an impression. We – Orion, our assistants and I – want to portray you both as warriors, solid as a rock, stronger and prouder than the mountain in your own district. Soldiers of stone, if you like. Would you like to come and see?" she rose, and walked to a tall cylinder made of dark glass, which revolved to reveal its contents to the stylist.

Curious, Raven stood, and walked over to it. Her green eyes widened, and she unconsciously reached out a hand to touch it, but Tigris knocked it away gently.

"Let's get this on you first." She purred, apparently satisfied. Some assistants appeared from nowhere, and they began to take off her robe. Raven scowled, and Tigris snapped viciously. "No! Let her do it herself - she doesn't need your help." Grateful, Raven smiled at her, and her new friend began to talk her through the complicated process of styling. Soon, they were chatting away whilst Tigris made adjustments.
She might look like a tiger, but she's as friendly as a kitten, Raven thought to herself as she listened.

Raven stared at herself in disbelief. She was wearing an intricately patterned suit of armour that looked like it was made of stone, but was incredibly lightweight. She had silver-grey boots laced up her calves, and matching wristbands reaching to her elbows. Resting on a nest of her shiny, perfectly braided hair which was arranged around her head was a crown of silver metal and marble, which glittered in the spotlight Tigris had put on her. An assistant ran a wet brush over her lips, coating them with a shiny red paint to finish her makeup. Raven's eyes in particular were set by smoky dark colours which flared out, forming a pair of wings behind her dark lashes. Slowly, Raven turned on the spot. She felt alive. She felt powerful.

Footsteps behind her caused her to turn around, to see a black door open and Corin walk in, followed by a man with blindingly white hair and silver skin, who she supposed must be Orion. But even the brightest of hair could not distract her from her best friend, who looked so unlike his usual self, she thought for a second it must be a trick.
His hair, just long enough to grow into a wave, was slicked back and as impeccable as hers. He didn't have makeup, just some sort of highlights on his brow and cheek bones, making him look, older, more handsome than ever. Of course, Raven had never looked at him in any way other than brother and friend, but she couldn't deny his good looks. His brown eyes met her, and the corners of his mouth twitched as she stared, mouth slightly open.
The armour made him look like a true warrior, though she knew he would never really want to be seen that way. His muscled arms were bare, showing his potential strength. While Raven had trained with swords and fighting, Corin had built himself up working on building sites with his father. Before, Corin would have wanted to grow up and become involved in buildings and architecture. Now, she just couldn't say.

The two of them were a sight to behold. The pride of District 2.

"You guys look gorgeous!" Orion sang from behind, ushering them out of the door. As the lift began to take them down to the bottom of the Remake Centre, Raven noticed he had thousands of tiny sparkles on his skin – just like stars. The stylist noticed her looking and flashed her a smile. "I got this done quite recently. Do you like it?" Actually, she did, though she wasn't quite sure why. She nodded, and he continued, "You guys can get tattoos done here as well. It could be something to remember your loved ones by, perhaps?"

Raven's eyes stared at him in surprise as he looked away. Maybe some of the Capitol did understand. But she was going home soon. Everything would be ok.
She glanced across at her friend, whose expression was unreadable. Even if I get home, nothing will be the same. The lift stopped, and they filed out, Tigris leading, and Orion at their rear. The two tributes looked at each other, but they didn't need to say anything. Just being there, gave the friends the courage to keep walking.

"Remember, this is as important as your scores in training. Your outfits make you look like warriors; you have to act like them. Give them a good show." Lyme advised as the pair climbed into their chariot. Tigris looked on approvingly, checking the horses, who were a beautiful grey colour, were wearing their own accessories correctly. Raven couldn't quite believe the horses were as well-behaved as they looked on the screen. I wonder who trains them, she thought absently. Around her, some other tributes were getting ready. District 1 were ahead of them, covered in silk and gems and unimaginable riches. The girl, she knew, was called Ruby, and had little red gems strewn throughout her long blonde hair. The boy next to her looked back at them and smirked menacingly. What was his name again? She turned to look questioningly at Corin. He caught her gaze. "Force." He mouthed to her, standing stiffly, holding the sides of the chariot, which also looked like it was made from stone and silver. "Career."

A bit like her then, even though the tributes weren't supposed to train. When asked, Raven's father had always described it as a hobby.

"Who wouldn't let their only daughter play with swords if she enjoyed it?" he would always joke. She swallowed, remembering how he used to clap and praise her when she did well. Would he cheer for her, when she took a child's life?

"Off we go!" Lyme's voice was the last thing she could really focus on, as the doors opened, and each chariot set off. There seemed to be thousands of people outside, screaming and cheering and calling out to their 'favourites'. Her knees shook a little, and she wobbled in the chariot, so she grasped the side with one hand and began to wave with the other, determined to get sponsors. Corin begins to copy her, although he still seems a little shaky. "Be brave. You look great." The dark-haired girl whispered to him from the corner of her mouth.

Images begin to show on the screens around them, of the other districts' costumes. She didn't manage to study all of them; District 3 looked as if they were covered in little pieces of wire and technology, 4 were in blue-green translucent robes which overlapped and rolled down into white puffy material, like a wave from the sea. The District 7 tributes wore interesting outfits woven from what looked like a great deal of leaves, and 8 wore elaborate clothes made from only the finest. She thought 9, 10 and 11 all looked fairly similar – all three districts had some involvement in farming; the poor tributes of District 12 seemed to be wearing nothing but dark dust, supposedly from coal. But she wasn't that bothered about the costumes- it was the tributes.

Most were within the older ages of tributes; she only saw six who looked twelve or thirteen – two boys and four girls. She couldn't believe their Districts hadn't put forward an older candidate – but then, not all the Districts were as forgiving, or as lucky, as District 2. The tributes from Districts 1, 2 and 4 looked the strongest, as usual – in their warrior outfits, District 2 must have looked the most formidable.
The Capitol certainly seemed to think this; they were actually screaming Raven and Corin's names, throwing flowers and feathers towards them. Raven smiled at their almost childish sense of humour, picking up a long, dark feather to stick in her hair.

Finally, the chariots pulled up in front of the President's mansion. The crowd's noise died down, allowing the tributes to hear the music that had been playing before it finally stopped. Raven's heart was racing and she couldn't concentrate anymore, certainly not on the President, who gave a similar speech every year to the tributes. Instead, she felt the dark-coloured rose she had caught from one of the people in the crowd. Seeing the camera was set on her, she kissed it and held it close to her chest. Hopefully the original owner would be willing to give her a hand later on.

Raven takes the time to discreetly glance around at the other tributes again. She sees that, at five foot seven, she's only taller than the youngest tributes, although she looks a lot healthier and has a lot more knowledge from training than she assumes the others will have. Corin, she can't help but notice, is in a similar strong position; he's the tallest apart from Force, from what she can tell, and his work has made him stronger.
Still vulnerable though, if he decides he can't do this, she thinks sombrely.

The chariots start to move again and she is jolted from her thoughts. The tributes parade once more around before heading towards the training centre. Raven looks around at the Capitol once more. In a few days, I'll be in the arena. I might never see any of this again.
So she holds the rose high above her head, and calls back to the Capitol, earning her a louder response. She turns all around in the chariot, managing to stay upright and steady, whilst keeping both hands of the sides, blowing kisses and waving to all.

Remember me, she pleads silently as the carriages draw out of sight.