Kazan Seeker, D14

The light spilled into the room as Kazan wiped the sleep away from his eyes. His eyes traveled to the clock on his nightstand, reading 7:52am. Kazan stood up and flattened his brown hair. He is still trying to get over how amazing the Tribute Parade was. He ran through every costume in his head and he thought his district looked the best. He look to the top of his dresser and saw a pile of clothes. According to Swagger, the tributes get the same looking clothes but with different colors on the jackets. Kazan picked up his shirt. It looked like a normal training shirt, with Fourteen on the back and shoulders. Their color was a deep green. What are the other districts?

Kazan slipped into his training outfit. When he put it on, he felt the shirt hug his body and show off any muscle he has. That's what the shirts are designed for; showing off the tribute's body. Kazan walked out of his room and walked towards the dining room. Some of his fellow tributes were already at the table. Plates were topped high with breakfast food. Kazan walked to the table and took a seat next to Leo. A plate was placed in front of him. What could he eat before he trains? He grabbed a piece of toast, a serving of eggs, and three slices of bacon. That seemed like a reasonable breakfast.

"How does the training work?" Wren asked, shoving a slice of bacon in her mouth. Kari picked at her piece of toast as she looked to her tributes.

"Training is simple." Kari started. "You are going to go to the Training Floor, listen to the instructor, and they will turn you loose. Some exercises are mandatory, while others are optional. Listen to the instructors. They give you advice to stay alive and how to beat the elements. Show off your strengths so no one underestimates you. Or, you can hide your strengths so you can surprise everyone. I am leaving that choice to you." Kazan thought about what Kari told them. Hiding your strengths can have its advantages, but so does showing your strengths.

Everyone at their breakfast with little to no chatter. Kazan munched away on his bacon and eggs, trying to think of what to do. What should he do? Swagger McDagger stood up and looked over the table. "Alright, everyone! Finish up your food. We must be down in the Training Floor by nine! Hurry up!" Kazan shoved the food in his mouth. Xiara, Leo, and Wren were the first ones out the door. Kazan followed behind into the elevator. The elevator was still packed as much as it was last night. With the ten tributes inside, Kazan started to feel a little bit claustrophobic. He pushed that aside as the elevator whizzed down to the Training Floor. Time to learn what the Careers already know.

Topaz Fays, D1

Waiting for the rest of the districts was annoying. Topaz was sitting on the ground next to her tribute partners. The only other districts in the Training Floor were Two and Four. The other eleven districts were still on their way down. Topaz pushed her black hair behind her ears as she sat there. This Training Floor looked like her Academy back home. Except, back home, there was Shine and Sheen. No, I can't think of him right now. Topaz thought as she sat there. Sheen was her boyfriend, until he decided to break up with her during the visits. Shine visited her right after the break up, and tried to tell her that it will all be okay. Somehow she didn't believe her best friend. Nothing can be okay now that her boyfriend is home right now, probably flirting with every girl in the Training Academy.

The door slid open and footsteps echoed off the walls. Topaz turned around and saw the light purple stripe of Eight, green of Seven, the dull yellow of Nine, and the bland white of Thirteen. At least some of them showed up. She stood up and stood next to Gemstone Ethers. "Hey, Gem. Are we going to show off our swordsmen skills to intimidate the other tributes?" Gemstone turned to Topaz and gave her a sly smirk.

"You know it." Gem whispered back, giving Topaz a high five. "We'll work with Two and Four on that."

"Isn't your cousin in these Games?" Topaz asked, already knowing the answer. She's not even in the arena yet and she is playing a mind game with her fellow tributes. This is something she loves to do. Gem's face dropped a little bit, and turned to the door to see Ten walk in. Their district color is a rustic brown. Ugh. What a terrible color to have.

"Yeah," he started, "she's from Ten. She's only thirteen." Topaz hid her satisfaction behind her pained expression. Just by looking into Gem's eyes she knew that his little cousin meant a lot to him. Of course she did. They are from the same family. She crossed her arms as she looked to Melanie, the training instructor. Situations popped into her head. What if he abandoned everyone for his cousin? What if he helped her win? Topaz shook her head. No, that can't happen. She will make him prove his loyalty to the group. She picked at a fuzz on her pink stripe on her training shirt.

The rest of the districts piled into the Training Floor and Melanie turned to face everyone. The tributes stood in a semi circle around her, listening in to what she has to tell them. Topaz and the rest of her district were in the front. A perfect show. "Hello, tributes." Melanie starts, holding her arms behind her back. "Today starts your first day of training out of seven. I will let you loose on your training in a moment, but I need to explain a few rules. One, do not fight with any of the tributes. That is a given. Two, you must complete the compulsory exercises. They will teach you agility, speed, and strength. And three, you must be training or doing something until we release you for lunch or for the night. This is training; take full advantage. These are my only rules."

Melanie released everyone to train and everyone scattered. The lower districts clumped together around the traps, fire pits, and climbing stations. The middle districts stayed with the plant, hurdle, and swimming stations. The upper districts lunged for the strength stations. Topaz was the first in line to use the swords. Her eyes gleamed as she took in the silver weapons. This is what she has been waiting for. The instructor set up three dummies in front of her and she grabbed her sword. A whistle blew from her left. She lunged towards the dummy in front of her. Down goes the arm. She swiped the weapon in the air. Right in his heart.

Topaz felt right at home here.

Barley 'Bar' Wheatstalk, D9

The ropes and wood were still in Barley's hands. He has been sitting at the fire-making pit for nearly ten minutes but he wasn't sure on what to do. The instructor told him to make a fire pit large enough to cook a small groosling, but he didn't even know what a groosling was. Barley just sat there for ten minutes, unmoving. What could he do? He tied the rope around the wood, trying to make himself look busy, but he was still dazed. Maybe he will never know what to do ever again.

"Are you doing okay, Nine?" A voice called from behind him. It was a man, judging by the deep tone in his voice. The male instructor crouched down to eye level with Barley. A sigh escaped his lips. "Do you know what you are doing, boy?" The instructor gave him a worried look.

"No, sir. I don't even know why I am here." Barley spoke the truth, putting the wood and rope down. The instructor's eyes widened and put a hand on Barley's shoulder.

"How did you get your scar?" He asked.

"I don't know." Barley replied. "My mom told me it was an accident and the doctor told us that I will never get my memory back." He looked down to the faux dirt below him. "My mom told me about these Games. How do I win and go home?"

The instructor just sat there. What was he supposed to say? It's obvious that this kid has no idea what he was doing. He hasn't the slightest idea why he is training and trying to make a fire. His heart sank to his toes as he looked to Barley's deep brown eyes and tried to keep his tears in. "Well, you win by taking down everyone in your way and being the last one alive."

Barley stared at his instructor for a few moments. Take everyone down? What does that even mean? He looked around the room of one hundred and forty tributes. Last one alive. He has to out live all of these people? Suddenly, it hit him square in the chest. He has to kill all these people. Barley stays quiet as he just stares at the utensils in his hands. It can't be. He can't be here for this reason. There has to be a mistake. His name shouldn't have come up at the gathering he was at a few days ago. His mother's sweet voice echoes in his ears, 'Everything happens for a reason'. Maybe she is right. Maybe he is here for a reason.

A/N: Okay, I am finished with this chapter. :) A little slow on updates, but I was busy with marching band. Our football team isn't doing so hot. Our record is 2 wins, 3 losses. And our danceline is pretty dumb. They thought the song 'One Way Or Another' was originally written by One Direction. I am surrounded by idiots. (Scar reference).

Anyway, the sponsor list will be up soon. Probably Sunday or Monday. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will see you soon. Read and review. :)

~Ashlee