Oaken POV

It wasn't easy swimming with one and a half hands. My stylists had done a wonderful job hiding that in the Capitol, but I was on my own here. I was lucky I didn't end up swimming in circles, seeing as one hand had three more fingers than the other. As a result, I'd had to settle for the middle island, even though it probably had more people than the farthest one.

My heart was heavier than it had ever been when the sun rose after my first night in the Arena. Nine cannons saw to that. I tried to keep my spirits up, but not many jokes centered around dying children, or blood, or murder. I took stock of myself from my camp in a thorny bush.

Lucky for me the other Tributes didn't know my muscles were from chopping trees, not people. I'd snatched a light axe and run out before the scene got too hardcore. The Gamemakers must have known what they were doing, because its handle was buoyant enough to offset its metal blade. They did not, however, elect to make it tasty or quenching, so I had some work to do. It was drizzling when I woke up, so water was easy enough. I stood under a leafy tree and caught the water as it rolled off. My growling stomach was quick to let me know that wasn't enough.

All right, where's the grub? I walked between the trees, looking up into their branches for any sign of fruit. When that didn't work, I looked down. I flipped over a rock and curled my lip at the creepy crawlies that fled into the leaves.

If all else fails... I thought. I continued on. Then I saw something that brought tears to my eyes. A chorus of angels sang around me as a blissful halo formed around... a banana tree. At least, I assumed it was a banana tree. I'd never seen one, but I'd seen bananas, and they were on this tree. I ran to it and kissed its lovely trunk. But how was I going to get the bananas? I wrapped my arms around the trunk and hoisted myself off the ground. The trunk cracked ominously and started to lean. I dropped off of it and examined the wood. It wasn't really wood at all- it was more like a really thick flower stem. I drew back my axe and smiled. It was just like home.

As I peeled my first banana, I found that things weren't as bad as they could be. I was still in the Arena, and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. There's nothing funny about dying children, but bananas? There's not much funnier in the world.

Vesper POV

I tried not to cry as I held my aching stomach. All I'd put into it since the Games began was the water I'd gathered from the light rain that was soaking me now. I didn't want to look pretty anymore. I wanted to eat.

Nine cannons boomed in my head for the hundredth time, and the tears came pouring out. Chances were I'd join them soon. All the presents I had back home, all the guys who sought me out for companionship... it didn't mean anything. I would die and they'd find another pet. At any moment, the noises I heard might be the others coming to cut me apart, and there was nothing I could do.

Please, I want to go home. I don't want to die. I sank to my knees and pressed my face against my hands.

"Is that all I ever was to you? A pretty little toy to throw away when you were done? Don't leave me. Please, help me," I said to the cameras that didn't care. Now I knew why Jaxxon was so bland and unimaginative. He didn't have the energy to dream. All he wanted was not to die. I sat there dripping in baubles and coaxing men into buying me sweets. In the Seam they shared crusts. A bird shot from one tree to another, and I yelped at the noise. It wasn't my killer... this time.

"Demi? Demi, I know you're listening. I know I don't look like much now, but I must have a few sponsors. I need help. Please help me," I called to the sky between sobs. I could only hope that by some miracle, she was different from the others. Maybe she actually meant it when she was with me. It was my only chance.

Kazuo POV

Farlan nudged me awake. We'd alternated shifts all through the night, but now we were rested and ready for action. I took my rose out of my pocket and held it up to the sky. I was another day closer to Ruby, and I wanted to make sure she knew.

"Hey, Farlan, what's the plan today?" I asked as I stretched.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," he said. He scowled as he pulled some packets of nuts from a backpack.

"You know I have to," I said. He'd been awfully quiet lately. He was never one for idle chatter, but he seemed almost standoffish.

"Farlan is a weakling. Silken is a weapon," I heard him whisper.

"What was that?" I asked. Farlan looked up at me like he'd just noticed I was there.

"Nothing," he said. "Kazuo? Back when I was little, did I have any brothers?"

"What? I don't know. We were in different Districts, remember?" I said. This was getting weird.

"Yeah, you're right," he said. "We should probably look around and see who else is on the island." he picked up a pack and started walking.

Wonder how Mom is, I thought as we walked. When I volunteered so I could help get her the treatment she needed, I hadn't counted on Farlan being here- heck, I thought he was dead. What were we going to do if we were the last ones left? Farlan was my best friend, but Mom and Ruby... it probably wouldn't come to that.

Farlan seemed as good as new while we patrolled our island. It still felt silly calling him that when I knew his name was Silken, but all that mattered was that he was alive. There wasn't enough time in the world to catch up on all we'd missed.

"How's life in Five?" I teased.

"It's boring. Never a good fight when you need one," he said with a wink. That was the Silken I knew. Only now did I know the reason he was always spoiling for a fight.

We sat down on the far beach for a rest. Farlan skipped a stone across the water, so I, of course, had to skip one farther. We skipped stones until all we had left were the ones that were too lumpy to throw.

"Silken always loved skipping stones," Farlan said. He looked out into the distance.

"Silken? He sounds nice," I said. Shut up, Farlan. Not this again.

"I was always too busy," he said. "I had to work." I forced a laugh and fell quiet. What was wrong with my friend? He wasn't the Silken I knew. He wasn't the Farlan he told me he'd had to become. It was like he was twins. That was the best thing to call him- Twin.

Belisarius POV

I'd been on edge since that awful scream in the night. It didn't even sound like pain- and I would know. It was just horror, like a little girl who'd seen the monster she knew lived under her bed. I wondered if that was what that boy felt when I stabbed him.

I didn't mean to kill him, I told myself. Like hell you didn't. You know how to wound and how to kill. It's what you are. I tried to argue it was just a reflex, that it was just self-defense. That didn't make the boy any less dead.

Sometime after midnight the rest had grown tired of hunting and retired back to the Cornucopia island to rest. Mako and I were on watch, but the others were waking one by one. This year, the girls were giving most of the orders. Mako just wanted a piece of the action, and I just wanted to leave.

Arielle sat up and trailed her feet in the water.

"Nine so far," she said. She seemed matter-of-fact, but I just felt sick.

"Who's next?" Mako asked.

"I'd like to put a trident into the priss from Twelve," Arielle said. "See how her pretty face looks when there's no blood in it." We ate a cold breakfast of bread and fruit. It wasn't dangerous for us to have a fire, of course, but we didn't want any more heat. Some minutes later Pray yawned, arched her back, and joined us.

"What do you guys say we take one island at a time? We can clear the vermin on this island, then move on to that one," she said, pointing at the middle island.

"That sounds good," I said halfheartedly. Pray nodded, and Mako grunted through a mouthful of bread.

"One of us should stay behind to watch the supplies," Pray said.

"I'll do it," I said. Anything not to hunt again.

Arielle looked at me sidelong. "You're awful eager to give up your spot. You didn't seem very enthusiastic last night, either. You wimping out on us?"

I knew those were fighting words. A real Career would have his weapon out about now. I'd seen enough blood already. Besides, with Arielle, it would probably be mine.

"Lay off. I'm just trying to be a team player," I said with more aggression than I felt.

"All right, Two. Don't let the outliers give you any trouble," Arielle said. She stood up and grabbed her weapon. The others followed suit. They jumped into the water one after another, Arielle and Mako pulling far ahead of Pray, who brought up the rear.

Don't worry about me, I thought as I watched them go. I can follow orders. It's all I ever do. Joining the Academy to please my parents. Volunteering to bring my brother more glory. I don't even know who I'd be if I was allowed to be myself. Would I be like Mako, living for the hunt? Would I be like Arielle, who did what she needed to survive and didn't draw out the pain? Maybe I'd be like Oaken and actually laugh. I'd probably never know.

I took out my anger on a crate of supplies, smashing into it with my sword until it lay in pieces. Was that what I really felt, or was it the violence of the Academy speaking through me?

I'm tired of pain. I'm tired of watching Pray's face twisting in ways no fifteen-year-old should ever know. I'm tired of how nine lives are just notches on Arielle's belt. None of them asked for this. They hate it as much as I do. I belong with them. No more.

"I'm done," I said, my face tilted back to the sky. For the first time in years, I smiled a genuine smile. Whether I lived or died, I was going to do it as myself. I emptied a pack and filled it with canned food, a canteen, a rain poncho, and a sword as long as my forearm. I slipped it onto my back, slid into the water, and started swimming.

No death yet, but the day is young. Farlan's arc is going to go much faster than it would in real life, since it's very complex and we only have so much time. Locations:

Closest island: Mei and Leo, Careers, Vesper, Eleanor

Middle island: Alexa, Oaken

Far island: Kazuo and Silken/Farlan

Thanks for telling me when you want a specific Tribute's POV. It helps me keep track of who's next.