So I know the first few chapters have been kind-of slow, but that's about to end. The whole story isn't just some crying, separated lovers thing. I threw a lot at you guys with all that drama, so I hope you can keep up for the rest. Here is where things pick-up a bit, and as for Action don't worry there's plenty coming. It's going to get exciting. I have a lot planned.

I ignore all of the delicacies the train has to offer and make my way towards my room with hast. Dan I see digs straight in and starts gorging himself. I could have told you that was going to happen, as for me I don't have much of an appetite right now.

Before the mentors can say anything I have the door shut to my room. I'll confront them later, but now I desperately need to be left alone to compose myself. My thoughts run wild playing back and comprehending today's events. All I can think about right now is Ivy's coma, Coraree's marriage plans, and of course who could forget my reaping. This is too much. Way too much. How was I going to survive this? A spear? But what if there wasn't one! I think of every gruesome Hunger Game moment I've seen, Marigold's burning in the back of my head. This is usually the point where so many tributes give up. But I can't. Damn you Calla you have too much to live for! I slap myself from the previous thoughts.

Ivy would never get that medicine and die, never waking up from her coma. Coraree would be torn to pieces; I was all he had left. All he lived for.

Then another thought comes to mind. Victors get paid a huge amount of money. Money that could but medicine. Medicine that could cure Ivy of her Leukemia. It is at this point that I am determined to win. All I needed was that extra little push, and I found it. I have to. Too much rides on this for me to give up now. Even the integrity of my own fight on spirit. I will win! Not just for myself but for everyone I love!

….So training starts now!

I lift myself up from the bed I just cried deeply on, walk over to the sink and wash away any traces of tears that still cling to my face, dry myself with a towel, and then apply some black eye-liner I found in a make-up drawer. I brush my hair up into a ponytail. Pull on a light weight, navy blue t-shirt with a V-neck and black leggings that go down to my ankle. With myself pulled together I put on my lets fight face and head out to the cart were the mentors, escort, and tribute boy are. As I walk through the door I am immediately welcomed by the fat face of Tibbles. Yeah my life on the line and one of my helpers is a babbling, fat-assed, idiot from the Capitol.

"Well it's about time you showed up. I thought we lost yah. Can't go to the Capitol with only one tribute now can we?"

"Tibbles just please shut the fuck up and stop talking to me!" I thought to myself in the back of my mind. But no. Of course not. You just have to keep going don't you. And sure enough he does.

"The Games wouldn't be as entertaining with only 23 tributes now would it." he laughs happily to himself.

Wow. That comment made me a bit pissed I'm not going to lie.

"Yeah what a shame that we would only be watching 22 children die instead of 23." I mutter to myself, but I think everyone on the cart heard.

I sit at the bar and play with a chocolate wrapped in some shiny-green tin foil. Ok, I see Dan, Tibbles….then I look over and see our mentors.

Coraree isn't a mentor. He couldn't handle it. Although they offered it to him he refused saying "It wouldn't be fair to my tribute." I still wished he was here though.

First is Borago. Thankfully I was told Dan has him as a mentor. Borago is a Victor yes, and pretty skilled, but no mentor. Not a single tribute has won under his mentorship; in fact they almost always die first. He's a good guy don't get me wrong. I've meet him a couple times with Coraree. He's just not cut out for this.

My mentor must be her then. The woman sitting next to him. She is average size with typical white skin which is a bit tanned from the sun but not on the level of mine. She has blue-grey color eyes and blond hair which is pulled tightly back in a ponytail which flows in sharp waves not even touching her shoulders. Many know her. She's our District's star. Not that she's like that at all in fact she keeps mostly to herself. She talks with Borago a lot though and Coraree sometimes.

Kekae Sast is a pretty good mentor. Almost all of her tributes last fairly long for being no-careers, well they make it past the cornucopia at least some of them. She's also had 2 tributes win under her mentorship. One of which was Coraree.

After my conversation with Tibbles the room had gotten pretty quiet. I seem to be good at doing that now in days. Everyone keeps to themselves. I just sit at a bar trying to think of a plan for this thing. Honestly I don't know where to start. My mind wanders to all sorts of Hunger Games things….

Arenas

Weapons

Careers

Tributes

Sponsors

Training Scores

Interviews

When suddenly I notice Kekae glaring at me. I look secretively trying to read her face. She wears a blank look for the most part, but I take a second glance and realize there is something else to it. Like she's judging me or trying to comprehend, but also as if she recognizes me.

Well of course, I'm no stranger to her. She was after all….his mentor. Everyone pretty much knew.

In Coraree's tribute interview Cesar Flickerman asked him about his necklace (which was still around his neck).

Interview:

"It was made for me by someone close." Coraree responded.

"Oh! Someone close! Tell me is this someone close a girl? Hmmmm?" Cesar Flickerman was always interested in tribute relationships.

"Yes actually. She's been my friend for as long as I can remember." Coraree replied.

"Well tell us about her! What's her name? What does she look like? What's she like?" Cesar bombards Coraree with questions about me. Like I said the Capitol loves a good romance story.

"Her name is Calla Astra. And she's beautiful. The most beautiful girl I've seen. There's no one quite like her. She's a fighter, fierce, strong, but she also cares about her family. And when I went through some rough times she was always there for me. By my side, looking out for me, calming me down, laughing with me, working at the Cattle Industry with me. Just being there for me. And the truth is I love her. And honestly if it had to be me or her participating in these Games I'd much rather it be me!"

Those words would hang on to me forever. I had sorta skipped over it this past year with all that had been going on but all of the sudden it just came to mind.

I felt tears forming in my eyes but held them back. This wasn't the time nor the place. Shortly after Kekae is done checking me out she says "You….Your name. Calla….Your Coraree's girl?"

Girl?! Well no duh. She wasn't blind, deaf, or stupid. She saw us together. She heard the interview.

"He's my best friend." I say back giving her a slide glance. Somehow telling her that I'm his love interest feels weird.

"Yeah. How could I forget. You're practically all he talked about." she said with a small chuckle.

"You know he really likes that Wolf necklace you made him. I like it too; it's got something to it….It's got spirit. You remind me of that necklace….You have something to you….You have spirit." she says keeping her gaze.

"I do." I say with fire in my voice. I look at her full on now trying to figure out her angle. This only makes her laugh.

"No, No! That's good! That's good. Having spirit means you're a fighter. Fighters last longer." she settles with a smile still keeping her gaze.

"Speaking of fighting. Tell me. What's your intent towards this whole thing?" she looks questionly.

"My intent is to wim. No matter what it takes. To get back home. My sister is sick and she needs medicine. Medicine costs money. Victors get money. Money buys medicine. Medicine cures sister." I say. A bit aggressive. My anger is starting to direct itself twards her. This only makes her laugh more.

"Coraree was right. You are firery. But no, that's good. We can do a lot with that. Are you sure that's the only reason you want to win?" she says a bit suspicious of my answer.

"Well there is the value of my own life!" I spit back getting even more aggressive with her. This isn't going to do me any good. Taking my anger out on her wouldn't get me anywhere. I'm just tired and today's events were really starting to take their toll.

"And Coraree. He doesn't have anyone left." I finally admit fighting back tears yet again.

"I guess another reason is the Capitol. I want them to know that they can't break me. That I'm not going down without a fight. I want them to know that I'm proud of who I am and that they can't make an example out of me!" I let it all out before I can stop myself. Kekae sits back in her chair crossing her arms and nodding her head a little.

"Well I have to say, I'm impressed. You got spirit. An unbreakable spirit. That's hard to come by now a days. But if you're that determined to win. You can win. I don't doubt it. But of course you're going to need some help. I'm willing to help you. To get back to Coraree and your family. But first I need to ask you….Are you willing to fight to the death not just for yourself but for everything you've ever stood for?"

"Yes!" I answer back as soon as she is done talking. No need to think any further it's clearly what I was determined for. I stare back at her eyes with a look of pure determination.

"Where do we start?" I ask with a false grin.

"We've already started….You're a fighter. I have no doubt that you'll become a Victor. But it's gonna take a lot. From both of us." she holds out her left hand and I shake it finalizing our deal. The deal of my survival.

Kekae was going to be a more than exceptional mentor and I was going to be a more than exceptional tribute.