I will not bow

I will not break

I will shut the world away

I Will Not Bow by Breaking Benjamin

Arista Jackman, 16, District 4 Female POV

Day two of training begins like yesterday's. I wake up to Eden and Peter arguing about why this or that tribute should have won the Games. Honestly, those two are maddening. I know Coralie, the other mentor feels the same, because she says, "Could you two cut if out for ten minutes please and let's have a calm, organized breakfast."

Coralie won the year of the 169th Games, when I was ten. I barely remember that Games, because it was before my amnesia, but I recall that she was from the poorer part of Four and could barely afford the Academy tuition, and surprisingly no one volunteered that year. She won nevertheless.

"Whatever," Peter says. "You'll never win kid, if you act like that in the arena." He says this to Eden, and then he turns to me. "I remember you."

"I think everyone's going to remember me," I say. "I'm one of the most popular people in the country right now. But that's okay. After I die, they'll move on to some other person."

"I mean from before," Peter says. "You were that girl who was unconscious for a whole year awhile back, right?"

"Tactful," Coralie says. "Real tactful, Peter. Like she wants to remember that."

"Thanks, Coralie," I say. "And yes, Peter, I was unconscious the whole year I was twelve. And also, since they couldn't very well make an unconscious girl fight to the death when she was close to it already, I didn't have to enter until I was thirteen, so I only have four entries right now. And I'm probably going to die."

"If you talk like that," Coralie says, "You will die. Be positive."

I sigh, Ever the positive one, Coralie Wilde is. Eden and I head down to the training center to train again. Tomorrow is the private sessions. I'm thinking about showing them how good I am with a trident, but I'm not sure yet.

I immediately make a beeline for my partner, Dallice. She gives me the air of a loaded cannon. Steady when left alone or in charge, but put too much pressure on her, and she'll blast off. I've tried not to get her angry.

Yesterday, she showed me her prowess with sledgehammers. "Dad," she had explained. "I helped him repair things sometimes, and that's how I got practice."

Today we go for trying some new things. Dallice looks weak, so to help her get better, I suggest climbing. She's definitely stronger by the end, but I'm sure even Annalise Gardner from would only barely lose.

"What next?" she asks breezily, dusting herself off and standing beside me. "How about edible plants?"

"Sure," I say. ^The plants might help us learn a bit about the arena." So we proceed over to the edible plants station. I take the mini-quiz first, to see what I already know. There are quite a lot of water plants. Well, I know all plants need water, but plants that need to be almost submerged in water 24/7 to live. Mysterious. Unless the arena is a flooded wasteland. That would be quite an arena, if I say so, as I'm sure only a handfull of the tributes here know how to swim, myself among those few, being from District Four.

Dallice does okay, she knows more of the plants that don't need as much water. Being from District Eight, where it doesn't rain much, this makes sense. Back in District Four, the main plants that were grown were rice and tea, because of the readily acessible water.

I find myself thinking back to Cameron, days spent lying on the sandy beach, just hanging out together.

*Flashback*

"Do you think you'll ever be in the Games?" Cameron asks me. We're laying on beach towels, the sun had just risen, and there was no one else out here this early. In other words, my own personal paradise.

"I dunno, Cam," I say. "I'm one of the best in the Academy. It's a possibility."

*End Flashback*

That worry had become reality. I'd almost forgotten about us talking about that that one time, last year. That seems so far away, that carefree time, compared to today, the reality that I'll probably die within a week or two.

Trammer Gainesworthy, 15, District Six Male POV

I can't believe they paired me with Eden Farraday, or all tributes! He's an arrogant jerk who can't accept that things won't go his way.

"Hasn't anybody ever told you you're too conceited for your own good?" I demand of him. He insisited that I had to be with him, even though I'm sure he hates me as much as I do him.

"If you don't shut up," Eden says, "I'll break your jaw. That wouldn't be pleasant, now would it?"

With tightened lips, I continue to throw spears. I've gotten okay at it, but I prefer trapping things, whereas Eden had taken a liking to the spears. He was also good at the maces yesterday.

We go on in annoyed silence from spears to swords to knives, me terrible with a knife, but mediocre with spears and novice with a sword. When I try and bring up the subject of going to some of the survival areas, he growls, "Why? We won't need it! We'll get enough stuff from the Cornucopia to survive long enough for me to win."

He let slip one time that he was going to try and kill the District Three tributes, but he didn't mention why he did. I couldn't recall any other Farradays in the Games, so it's a mystery.

I suppose my mistake was telling them. I decided to go on my own for a while, because Eden had gotten really into slashing the dummies with the swords. I went over to the climbing station, where Mayim and her partner-Avery?- were trying the bars. I remembered being good at them back in Six.

"Surprised that guy let you on your own," Avery says. "Didn't seem like the sharing type."

"He's not," I confirm. "He's not paying any attention. I'll go back in a few minutes. I just wanted to tell Mayim something."

"And what did you want to tell me?" Mayim asks.

"Er- Eden accidentally told me that he's going to try and kill you and the guy from your district. He didn't let slip why, but I guessed I'd warn you."

"Thanks," Mayim says. a dubious smile playing on her thin lips. I turn around to see Eden glaring at me.

"Why were you over there?" he demands. "They're the enemy!"

"I was just talking," I say. "There's no harm."

He growls, and turns back to slicing dummies, much to my appreciation. I was worried for a second he was going to use it on me.

Amberly Winter, 17, District 7 Female POV

I've learned two things about my partner Robert these last couple of days. One: he gambled a lot back in District Three, which surprised me for a fourteen year old. He does look older, so I'm sure he lies and says that he's older. And two, he prefers to be called House. He made that very clear the first time I'd addressed him as Robert.

"Don't call me Robert," he says. "If we're going to be allies, you're going to call me House. Got it?"

"Sure, kid," I say. "Whatever floats your boat."

Today we were trying some weapons, since we spent time at more survivalistic stations last time. So far, the only weapon House shows any skill at all in is swordsmanship. I admit, he's really good at that, and I ask him how.

"Ways and means," he says. "I don't have to tell you."

I hide a sneer on our way to the axes station, which I was good at. I took some gymnastics classes back in Seven, and that definitely helps me. After I was raped, I made sure it would never happen again, and took self-defense classes.

"Sure, you're good at that," House says. "How are you hand-to-hand?"

"Wanna find out?" I ask. He nods. We pull one of the mats out for safety, and then begin.

He aims a half-hearted punch my way, and I grab his hand and force him to the ground. I put my arm across his throat. "You'd be dead by now if this was a real fight," I say.

AN: Another day, another chapter! Training kind of bores me, that's why I'm kind of rushing through them. I really am spoiling you guys with so many chapters after break! You better appreciate it. You should tell me in reviews. I'm not being partial to any one tribute, but those who wrote characters for me, if you review, your character has a better chance of making it farther, and if not, well, I'll just make your character a bloodbath. I already have a couple in mind, but I'll do them the same way I did pairs, just draw four or five, and regardless of District, age, gender, or whatever, they're who die. I promise I'll make it realistic: if I miraculously draw five people who I know would make it past Day One realistically, like the Careers, I will redraw. I have one career in my mind that will definitely die day one, but none others.

Also, I realized I haven't put disclaimers since the last time I did it, I think chapter 3? But here it is: I do NOT own the Hunger Games, I am not the wonderful Suzanne Collins, and I am not rich and famous. I wish I were all three, but I'm not. I'm a sixteen year old girl in her sophomore year in high school trying to graduate. Thanks for listening. Next update should include scores, so that's when I'll update the blog. Also look at the allies, because some have some by now. Only one, really. Annalise and Corin have allied with Mark and Sammy.

And thus the end of my long AN.