The next couple days are spent with everyone asking if I'm all right to the point of annoyance. The mayor of District Three drops in now and then to assure me that he's doing everything to find my attackers and bring them to justice. While he is concerned about me, he is also concerned about his district's agreement with mine. District Five, the district where all the electricity is generated…The very thing that District Three and most of the other districts need to keep their industry alive.

Out of all the districts, Four, Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Thirteen would be the only ones that could survive without the others. Thirteen has already proven to be able to survive on its own while the others all produce food. Seafood in Four, grain in Nine, livestock in Ten, and agriculture in Eleven. While some of the other comforts might be nice, they aren't necessary.

All of the districts have been busy since the war establishing relations with each other, something they've never had to do before. Things that were needed to operate each district were always provided for by the Capitol. Now the time has come for the negotiations, who will get what and for how much?

Nana, Aunt Cherry, and Uncle Ron got to work immediately securing deals with every district. Unlike some, my mother's side of the family has worked out deals that are as fair to all parties involved as they can be. The sad part is that I wasn't all that surprised with how greedy some of the people in the districts, including mine, tried to be trying to work deals out to be largely in their favor. A few at home are very much aware of how much (pardon the pun) power we have and weren't happy with how my family has handled things.

At least these aren't the same people that were just waiting to catch someone in my family doing something illegal so they could report it to the Capitol. Nana was mayor and a mayor has always been able to provide for his or her family. A better life for their family was all they were after, being able to feed their children instead of scraping by. All they would have to do is gain favor in the eyes of the Capitol and denounce the current occupant. Not until they saw their predecessor's entire family being lead to the gallows would they even imagine the consequences and what exactly it was that they got themselves into. Yes, we ate most of the time, but we were in a game more dangerous than the Hunger Games.

Snitches were some of the first killed in the war with Capitolists and politicians being the other groups. If my family wasn't already out fighting alongside the rest of the district… Let's just say I didn't lose my house to the bombings by the Capitol like everyone else.

Another restless night goes by at Volt's place before the car comes to take me to the hovercraft. Minus the attempted abduction I rather enjoyed myself. Hertz took me to meet more of his friends and family. Several rounds of chess with Volts were nice despite being beaten most of the time. The few days here was enough for me to almost forget what life is like back at the Captiol.

Plutarch looks exhausted as he boards. The itinerary was changed so we would leave two hours ahead of schedule in case someone planned another attempt. Already I've been onboard for an hour and have been enjoying breakfast.

I get a 'hello' and a 'goodnight' from him before he disappears into his room probably for a nap. Once Hertz climbs on the door is shut and we take off. For the first hour I'm content to look outside at the untouched landscape between districts.

"So do you have any idea who did it?" Hertz asks me later.

I shake my head, "No, but I do have a list of suspects. At this point I'm going to have to wait and see."

"Oh, almost forgot. Talked to my dad after you left last night and he said the deal between our district and Eight was signed yesterday. It'll be nice to get some new clothes for home."

My lips twitch into a smile, "I take it the president got involved?"

"It's her home district isn't it? Looks like the country is finally getting the hang of things. Too bad all the districts aren't that necessary."

That catches my attention, "Example?"

"District Thirteen," he says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "We survived without them for the last seventy-five years and they haven't contributed much since the war."

"Their soldiers are keeping the people of the Capitol in check."

"Ya, but our soldiers could do that," he counters. "District Two is made up of Peacekeepers."

"And we know how much we all loved those guys before the war," I say under my breath.

Hertz must've heard me because he drops that line of discussion. "I'm curious what's going to happen in District One. A lot of the families have already moved to other districts."

"I know. They're not settling well either," I say.

"That's because none of the other districts care for the careers. Took District One and Two forever to join the rebellion."

"And Five. We didn't start fighting until the end of the Quell, Hertz."

"I'm not arguing with you, Vixen. All I'm saying is that it will take awhile for the others to get over what they think of the career districts. Besides, what can District One offer anyway?"

"Not much," I sigh. "They just have to change their industry."

When I get home I see my twin slumped gloomily on the couch. Chance acknowledges me by raising his chin.

"Hey, I didn't expect you back for a few days," I say. "When did you get in?"

"About an hour ago. Parents cut the trip short. Looks like they cut yours short as well," he grumps.

I miss my brother, my old brother, the one that was so carefree and was my best friend. I know the war changed him, it changed me too. But my becoming friends, honest friends, with those from the Capitol doesn't sit well with him. It doesn't sit well with many of them.

"So, how was your trip?" he asks as if nothing happened. Or maybe he didn't know?

Before I can speak, my parents are rushing up, "Vixen are you all right."

I nod carefully watching Chance's reaction. He's confused. So, he didn't know.

Da points at my neck, "Take off that scarf. Let me see."

Doing as I'm told I remove the scarf revealing black and purple bruises. Chance's eyes blaze in anger as he leaps up and examines my neck.

"What happened?" he demands. "Vixen?"

"The reason your vacation got cut short," I say. "Abduction attempt, three of the five are dead, and one of the living has a very sore foot and broken nose."

Chance then rounds on the parents, "Something I should've been told don't you think?"

"Don't raise your voice to your mother," Da says.

"Sorry," he grumbles. Calmer he asks, "Why weren't we told?"

Mother sits down and motions for all of us to do the same. "Because we don't know who is responsible. We know that our communications with home are being monitored so we couldn't give too many details. For now we have a false report as to what happened. Vixen you're certain the others will keep quiet about what really happened?"

Sitting back I think about that conversation, "I have a room full of people who heard the real story, but they understand about the false trail. They'll go with it."

"Good," she says calmly. "Vixen, please get Sariah from her room we all need to talk."

I find my little sister in her room reading a medical book. Her face lights up when she sees me and gets up quickly for a hug. "They're going to start a school in District Four for doctors. Falon, Gwen, and I were all accepted. School will start in June!"

"That's great!" I say honestly. "You'll love District Four. They've got beaches and the weather is warm year round."

Her eyes get sad, "You're not going to come, are you? You'd be great as a doctor."

My mind drifts to the last night in the war. Fifteen kids were trusted to me to treat after the bombing. All night their eyes pleaded for me to save them, but I just couldn't do anything for most of them. Their injuries… I did everything I could, but only two survived. I'm not sure I could ever do that again.

"We'll see. Come on, family meeting."