Ember POV

though most factions are nervous at the thought of dyeing, we aren't. or we just don't show it as much. What can I say, we're dauntless, we're insane. we're all insane together, but still insane.

we all head towards the pit for the choosing of the tributes. there are no volunteers, only who is picked. I am more nervous than the rest of my faction. they are jumping around, ready to jump off a train to show bravery, literally.

I reach up and grab Phoenix's hand. She is only a few months older than me, so we went through initiation together. though she is only slightly older than me, she is like a mother. she is quiet and protective, and can be fierce if the moment is called for. I look up into her golden eyes, almost seeing a reflection of myself. many have mistaken us for twins, which is quite easy. we have the same orange-ish red-ish flowing hair, the same gold eyes, the same tanned skin, the same freckles. we have been told we even have the same lopsided, silly grin. she smiles at me, which is not the same as her grin (or is it our grin?), but is still beautiful. it is a reassuring smile, but behind her eyes, I see that she will protect me with her life, but I hope it doesn't come to that. I love her to much to leave her.

we are both teased for our names sometimes, but I think they match our appearances. Ember and Phoenix, the fiery sisters, our mom used to say. every time she said it, both of us would grin our infamous grin. she described us as her candles in the dark, her light in the dark. I miss her. she died when we were 15 and she was never able to see us through initiation. I sigh as a tear rolls down my face, a single tear, of the joyful memories I have of her, and the sorrow of losing her.

I look up at Phoenix, only two inches taller than me. "thinking of mom" she says.

I nod silently.

"yeah, me too. "she almost whispers. "she would be so proud of us today, with all we have accomplished today. look at us, our own family" she smiles down at me.

then we are assembled, all to quickly. I see the same picker as every year, and she seems to only be a ghost of the woman we saw in abnegation. I sigh, remembering the scenes from the other factions, mainly candor. the truth can hurt. she walks up onto the platform and there are two bowls just like in every other faction. one pink, one blue. she walks up to the pink bowl and whispers

"ladies first" with downcast eyes. she used to be so peppy, but now that woman is gone.

she reaches into the bowl for the first name and unfolds it. slowly reading she says "Ember Coala"

I feel a look of horror reach my face, no I can't do this. I feel Phoenix wrap her arms around me and roar "never", but after that, I cant think straight. what is happening? will I die?

Phoenix POV

I watch as the lady unfold the paper, then reads my sisters name. I look down at her, her small face has a look of pure horror on it.

"never" I roar, scaring the people around me. I tightly wrap my arms around Ember. they will not take my sister. Ember collapses into my arms, still awake, but not thinking.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and whirl around, one arm clasped around Ember, one arm ready to murder whoever tried to steal my baby sister. Before me stands a fat man, obviously out of shape. on his shirt is a name tag saying "Tobby"

"excuse me, mam, but we need to take this young lady to the games, assuming of course that she is Ember Coala"

"yes, she is Ember. no you may not take her. she is my sister and you may not have her. She is my Ember, my light in the dark" I spit, quoting my mother. "I will do anything to protect her, including murdering you."

the people who know me take a step back. I was top of my class, number one. I beat the crap out of anyone who tried to beat me, and I wasn't even being defensive. this time I will fight, for real.

"I'm sorry, miss, but she must come with us. I will take by force."

"try to Tobby I dare you."

his brow furors and I see that he is thoroughly annoyed. I don't care. let him be. he will not take my ember.

"does that mean that you will go with her" he asks

"no." I say "that means that she is not going, I am willing to go in her stead, but then that would be only me, not both of us."

"fine. by force then" he sneers

I hear stomping boots all around me. I turn and see that we have been attacked by unseen solders. by we, I only mean Ember and me. I use some colorful language, then I attack. eight of them, one of me, but I don't care. I will die to day if I have to , but they will never take my Ember away. Ember clings to me, close. I lash out at the nearest solider, hitting him in the stomach with my boot. I punch the next one and fight as I am trained: mercilessly and bravely. I don't count the falls, but I know that there are more than in the beginning. I am desperate now. we are being over whelmed. I scream as my sister is torn from my arms. my scream must wake her up, for then she starts fighting. but there are to many, and we are to few. they force us both into the room, and we are both now tributes.

" I'm sorry Ember. I'm sorry I let them take you. this is all my fault."

"no it isn't" she whispers, he voice now full of strength "we will fight, together, and we will win, together.

Maya POV

watching Ember and Phoenix be forced out breaks my heart, and I know by the feeling in the air that I am not the only one. we all loved those sisters. Ember with her lovably, child attitude and humor, and Phoenix with her protective, loving, laid back attitude and motherly figure.

"they can survive" I whisper "they can survive"

I hear someone to my right and someone behind me pick up this mantra. it spreads. then it grows stronger

"they can survive. they can survive" it is in the whole room now. no one can stop it now

"they can survive. they can survive" it grows in intensity, like a wildfire. we all believe, we all know.

"they can survive. they can survive" I smile and change it under my breath

"they will survive. they will survive" this spreads even faster than the first one it is something we all know an believe. it is something true, from the bottom of our hearts. it is a feeling we share, a knowledge in our hearts that we all share, a dream that will be accomplished.

"you there" yells Tobby, trying to yell over our chanting "you who started this" he points at me and I smile and make my way over to him

"what is it?" I ask with a smile

"you cause to much trouble" he says "you are coming with me"

he is obviously dragging me towards the room. "ok" I say, again grinning "but I will survive. I will survive. we all will. there is no way to stop us. we are together on this. we will survive"

as he shoves me towards the room, I whisper "I will return" and in response, I hear "you will survive"

and I know I will

Shadow POV

I have watched four girls get forced into these games without any option of leaving. they have bravely fought, and we all expect them to win.

"They will survive. They will survive" is being spread throughout the room. everyone is saying, believing these words. no one is nervous to get picked. the mantra that we have all uttered is true to all of us. us dauntless are one heart, one mind, beating, thinking. and breathing together. to others all we do id fight, but there is so much more to being in dauntless.

the soldiers try, without success, to silence us. I smirk. it will never work. we are dauntless. there is no way to stop us, only to strengthen us.

silently, the lady pulls the last name and silently holds it up. it is mine. I grin. I am proud to join the three girls. I am honored to be known with them. I walk up, not making a big deal of it. I curl my lips "I will return. I will survive" I say as I walk into the room. the games that are meant to stop war, will start it.