A/N: Alright, before anything else, let me just say I know I am super late with this and I do apologize. Second, I want to wish everyone a happy New Year. Thank you to unidash and Guest for the reviews on the previous chapter. Enjoy this new update, everyone.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters, Suzanne Collins does.

...

I don't look at the cameras as I'm led from the Justice Building. I'm afraid that if I do, the determined expression I know I bear will crack. Everyone has already counted me out because I am quite possibly the youngest tribute and I come from one of the poorest Districts in Panem, no reason to give them another reason to doubt me.

Thresh walks with his shoulders back and head held high, his face a mask of sullen silence, the very picture of intimidating. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already got a fair number of sponsors racked up.

Chrysanta babbles on and on as we enter the train and the doors close behind her.

I almost gasp when I see the interior. My family's entire house could fit into this one room. And the wonders don't cease there. Thresh and I will both have our own rooms, our own dressing and bathing areas, our own everything.

Thresh says nothing as he stalks off to his room, Chrysanta shouting for him to be ready for supper in an hour. She then turns to me, a wide smile on her face.

"This must all be such a nice change for you," she says. "I saw how many little brothers and sisters you have, no doubt you'll enjoy actually having some alone time for once."

I force a smile back. Personally, the idea of being completely by myself actually sounds pretty dreary, but I'm not about to tell my airheaded escort that.

"Yeah," I reply in what I hope in a bored tone. "It gets pretty hard having to share everything."

"Why don't you get washed and dressed up while you still have a chance to?" Chrysanta suggests, still smiling in a sickeningly sweet way. "Just because you come from an underdog District doesn't mean you have to smell like it."

I fight back a glare at this, but I don't feel like fighting when I'm already miserable. I merely nod and walk to the bathing area.

...

After a hot shower, which actually was a rather pleasant experience, particularly when the only shower I've had before was a rain shower, I make my way to my room. The drawers are stuffed with more clothes than I could ever wear on this train trip. But, I settle on a soft, light blue dress with short sleeves. I have only ever worn dresses during the Reapings and this one is so soft and cool against my skin, a welcome contrast to the ones from home, some of which were made by my mother from feed sacks.

I still have about half an hour before supper, so I lay down on what will be my bed for the duration of this trip.

Almost immediately after hitting the bed, I let out a soft sigh of delight; the comforter is thick and fluffy, the way I imagine laying on a cloud would feel. I pull it aside to feel the sheets beneath and they are even softer than my dress.

But I know when I lay my head down to rest tonight, I will be completely alone in this bed. There will be no Iris snuggled beside me. No Cassia and Camellia running about before our father tells them to go to sleep.

Before I have any more time to dwell on this, Chrysanta comes to collect me and once again, I am led down the narrow halls before finally coming into the spacious dining car.

Thresh, Seeder, and Chaff are already there. I have met Seeder once or twice and I've always thought she's very nice. I haven't had the chance to meet Chaff personally, but I know he's rather fond of the drink. But given what he endured in his Games, losing a hand especially, I can't really fault him.

Seeder greets me as I sit opposite her. I haven't even completely sat down before a platter of food is set in front of me.

I instantly recognize the roasted carrots, the mashed potatoes, and the turkey. But there are other things I've never seen before. Seeder points out the chocolate cake setting in front of me and next to it, a platter of fruit, a basket of rolls.

"Enjoy it," Chrysanta chirps. "But don't take too much of one thing, there's still more to come."

Thresh ignores her and continues to enjoy the meat and vegetable stew on his plate. He glances at me for only a moment before turning back to Chaff, who has just finished taking a sip of a red liquid that judging from the smell is a type of wine.

Seeder smiles, setting me at ease a bit more.

"Alright, so we should be arriving in the Capitol before long," she begins.

Thresh grunts and for a second, he sounds like he's gagging, but I pretend not to notice. The food is richer than anything I or Thresh have ever had, but the last thing either of us want to do is see it come back and no doubt Thresh had more than I did.

"And we need to talk about a strategy," Chaff picks up where Seeder left off. "First we have to see what you two have that'll give you an edge in the arena."

"I can climb trees," I pipe up. "And I can run really fast."

Seeder nods.

"Some of the other tributes will likely be heavier than you," she says and I can see a hint of a bitter smile on her face. It goes without saying she isn't pleased to see that a twelve-year-old was chosen. She wouldn't have been happy with any tribute, let alone one my age.

"But you, Thresh," she turns to my partner. "You have the opposite effect. No doubt some of them might try to ally themselves with you. After all, you put that strength of yours to use, it can certainly tilt the odds in your favor."

"Like hell I'd join them," Thresh's eyes flash slightly. "All it'd get me is a knife in the back."

Chaff looks down at the stump where his hand used to be. Is that what happened to him? Did he join up with other tributes, only for them to betray him?

"Wise decision," he nods. But that's all he says on the matter.

An awkward silence drapes itself over us. Thresh is surely thinking the same as I am, so are Seeder and Chaff: only one of us can win the Games. I try not to count myself out yet, but I know realistically Thresh has an edge over me. But there is a small bit of comfort there; if Thresh wins, it will still mean more food for my family.

As we continue with dinner, we watch a recap of the events of the Reaping. The classically beautiful pair from District 1 are somewhat notable. A large boy from District 2 who races forward to volunteer is too. The only other tributes that really stick out to me are a boy from 10 with a bad leg and then the girl from 12 who volunteered for her sister.

When I saw the recap of my own Reaping, I see my mother burst into tears and my father holding her as he tries to hide his own tears. But I can see the anguish in his eyes. My father, a man who does his best to protect his family, but ultimately helpless to save his firstborn child from the arena and the horrors waiting within.

Then I see the girl from 12. I see her shouting that she volunteers before her sister even has the chance to mount the stage. A boy who resembles her pulls the younger girl, who looks to be my age, away and the girl screams and cries out as she reaches for her sister who steps up in her place.

No one claps, no one says a word. They merely press their three middle fingers to their lips and hold them up to the girl as if in a salute.

I think about when I was called. When Chrysanta asked if there were any volunteers, the only answer was complete silence. But that was no surprise. A few people had groaned the way they do when a twelve-year-old is chosen, but no one stepped forward, no one spoke up.

If I had been younger, if I had an older sister, would she have stepped forward? I want to say of course she would, but I don't know. I know I would never forgive myself if Iris or Cassia or Camellia had been picked and I remained silent. But surely the Everdeen girl knew the risk. She looks to be around sixteen or seventeen. She knows she may die in the arena. But she saved her sister.

My chest feels heavy as I return to my room. I feel tears gathering in my eyes as I slide the dress off and replace it with a soft, white nightgown and slip under the covers of my wonderful bed.

As I knew before, it feels strange. Lonely. Tonight there is no Iris snuggled in my arms. I can only hold the pendant of the necklace she and Sage worked so hard to make. The last piece of home, of them, that I may ever see.

I kiss the wooden star, praying that if there is any chance at all, that I can come back. For them.

...

...

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you all enjoyed that and the next chapter will be out on Saturday, January 13th. Until then, everyone.