Ouch... I meant to post this much sooner, but I kinda forgot to, so here it is now.

Disclaimer:

Me: I don't own THG.

Suzanne: I do!

Me: Don't gloat, Collins.

My horse started walking forward; I heard the other horses start too. I came out of the Training Center, out to the cheering fans... except there weren't any cheering fans. There were rebels on the bleachers, and they were screaming. But not the kind that we used to do... wait. This was confusing me: I just needed to attract sponsors. But it was like the rebels were screaming for blood... our blood. That was not good.

I pushed the thoughts out of my head, waving and smiling as I did so. I could hear the screams get louder as more and more tributes pulled out of the Training Center. My horses seemed to be well trained, because they pulled me exactly where I needed to go. I was pulled around a circle not unlike the City Circle from the Capitol. Are we even in the Capitol? I wondered, looking around.

Soon, everyone was in the circle and had stopped going around. Katniss and Paylor stepped up to where Grandpa used to stand, and Paylor grabbed a microphone.

"Hello, hello. Welcome, everyone to the 76th Hunger Games - the first one for the Capitol children!" Paylor said into the mic, using a mocking tone when she said Capitol. Everyone on the bleachers yelled and stomped their feet.

"And now, I give you the Girl on Fire, the Mockingjay, Katniss Everdeen!" Paylor said, and handed the mic to Katniss.

"Hello, hello," Katniss said, a smile on her face. She looked pained, and I let the thought please me for a second before continuing to listen to the Mockingjay.

"I thank you all for coming out tonight to see the tributes. And don't they look great? Personally, I think that this ought to be treated as a Quarter Quell; the arena is a horrible one!" The audience laughed, and I felt like raising my eyebrows. So this was going to be like a Quarter Quell? Well, that was good, because Quarter Quells are fun; therefore this arena must be fun. (Oh, Katrina. How clueless you are.)

"Take a good look at them - maybe you want to sponsor some!" Katniss called, then handed the mic back to Paylor.

I zoned out for a bit, waiting for Paylor to finish her speech. Grandpa didn't take this long; it was much better - the Games seemed to come faster.

-o-O-o-

I felt my chariot move and I realized that Paylor must be done speaking. I pasted a smile onto my face, waved, and batted my eyes as we pulled into the Training Center. As soon as the chariots stopped and the voice said that we could get out, I jumped to the ground. I spun, just for effect, and dashed to Sheeshey and Uniqua's chariot. They jumped out too, and we hugged before going to find our mentors. "See you soon," I said, before we parted.

I quickly located Beetee and Octavia. I walked over to them, and they waved. "I'm inviting some friends over, okay?" I said, not really asking, just putting an asking tone in my voice.

"Sure, that's fine," Beetee replied, before asking, "Who are you inviting?"

"Sheeshey Garlenia and Uniqua Jade," I answered. Octavia nodded, then whispered something to Beetee. Beetee's eyes sparkled, and he told us he would be right back.

"He's inviting some friends too. Their tributes will stay with their stylists," Octavia explained, and I nodded, even though I had no clue what Octavia meant. Just then Sheeshey, Uniqua, Beetee, and several others appeared.

-o-O-o-

I was laying on the floor; my feet on my bed. Sheeshey was on my right; Uniqua on my left. I faintly heard Beetee's guests; about eight mentors. "Who are your mentors?" I asked my friends.

"Annie - Annie Odair," Sheeshey said, rolling her eyes. "She keeps going on about how if I have any friends, I need to try to keep them alive. I mean, I know who to protect!" Sheeshey ranted. I grinned at her.

"And I presume those people are us?" I asked, mocking her.

"Why would you assume that?" Sheeshey asked.

"Gee, I don't know," Uniqua replied. Suddenly, I jerked my head up, a smile on my face.

"Who wants to spy on some mentors?" I asked, and my allies got grins on their faces.

"I'm in," they said together.

We snuck out of my room and crept down the hall. There, I recognized seven Victors and Gale.

Johanna Mason of Seven, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, Katniss Everdeen, and Haymitch Abernathy of Twelve, Annie Odair of Four, Enobaria of Two, and Beetee were all there.

"Hey, there's my mentor, Gale!" Uniqua shout-whispered. It was quiet, but 16 eyes turned to us.

"What are you doing here?" Peeta asked in a measured voice, while Haymitch slapped a hand over Johanna's mouth.

"Just... getting something to eat," Sheeshey said. I nodded vigorously. Johanna rolled her eyes and shoved Haymitch's hand off her mouth.

As soon as Johanna opened her mouth, Annie stood, grabbed her hands, and walked her out. Katniss smiled sadly, rolling her eyes.

"Good job, Annie," Gale muttered. Everyone except us nodded with relief.

"Now..." Peeta turned to us. "What are you fine young ladies doing out here?" he asked.

Uniqua widened her eyes innocently and said, "We told you. We were getting something to eat."

Haymitch narrowed his eyes. "You can get things to eat from your room. Thought you'd know that, Katrina."

I did my best glare at him, and he laughed, along with Peeta, Enobaria, and Beetee. Katniss and Gale smiled slightly.

"That's the best you can do?" Enobaria asked, smirking.

"Yes," I said, flipping my curls.

Katniss whispered something into Peeta's ear. He rolled his eyes at her, but turned and whispered something to Beetee. Beetee rolled his eyes too.

"Sweetheart, we were nice enough to let you play with your friends. Would you like us to send them back and strap you to your bed while we talk?" Haymitch asked, and again the mentors stifled laughs.

"You can't do that!" I yelled at him, and he raised his eyebrows.

"And why not?" It's Gale this time; he lounged back on his chair, watching me like a hunter watches his prey.

"Because Grandpa will do terrible things to you," I replied and all the Victors stared at me, while Gale laughed. Down right laughed!

"Snow's dead," Katniss reminded me, and I thought I saw a glint in her eyes, like she was glad Grandpa was dead. Then I realized that she probably was.

Just then, Johanna walked in to the room. She glanced at me, then walked out again. I felt a cold hand touch my arm, and I turned to see Annie Odair standing behind me.

She didn't say anything, but led me to my room and closed the door. I stared at the door until Sheeshey and Uniqua get thrown in as well.

"Well, that failed," I said, and Sheeshey rolled her eyes.

"Understatement," she muttered.

-o-O-o-

"Bye, Katrina!" Sheeshey called.

"See you at training!" Uniqua said.

I waved at them, then walked back to Beetee and Octavia.

"How did you like dinner?" Beetee asked. I smiled a fake smile.

"I loved it!" I said. I did, but I was kind of mad at Beetee right now.

"Go to sleep. You stayed up late tonight, and tomorrow you'll need your energy for training," Beetee said, and I nodded. Octavia grabbed my arm, and together we made our way down the hallway.

*pretends to slash a sword* Yah! Yah!

I have just finished a battle of tenses. Present tense kept attacking our past tense fortress! I had to start another fanfic to battle!