Yeah, so I've been away for a while. Thank my cousin for this update ;) I hope you enjoy, and please please please review! I love feedback!

After the girl from 6 is broadcasted on the screen, everyone except Melany and Mason go to sleep. I can't say I was happy about it; I had a feeling that my slumber would be unpleasant. Surprisingly, I was wrong. I slept uneasily, but no nightmares came, and I woke up a while later, refreshed. Cass was helping Talon cook something over the ever-living fire and while holding the tablet map in his hand, Mason was watching Gem closely. I think he saw something he like in her face, although I can't imagine what. They were both stupid; I guess they'd be great with each other in different circumstances. I pick up my mace and head for the wooded area in front of the cornucopia with a scowl. I'm not a morning person, and I wasn't in the mood to hang out with anyone. I sat with my back against a tree, swing the mace around like I used to do with the bats back home when I was bored. A little while later, Talon came out with a plate of cooked something in his hands. He dropped beside me, and began eating greedily.

"Whoa, slow down there killer!" I laughed. "You'll choke!"

Talon smiled, his mouth still full, and replied, "Sorry. I don't get much food back home. District 3 is a rich district, but that doesn't mean that all of us have money. My dad fixes appliances, and not a lot of people have appliances for him to fix."

I bit my lip. I couldn't really relate, since I was one of the richer ones in my district. I took a piece of his food, and threw it in my mouth; it tasted like some kind of fried, greasy meat. I don't know where he might've found that, but it was good. I changed the subject, "Where's Chase at?"

"Sleeping still. Like a rock. I don't think he could sleep very well last night."

"I don't think any of us can anymore!" I snort. I then bite my lip and start pounding the ground with my mace.

"Not to pry, but what's up?" Talon asked me quietly. "At the start of the Games, you were really nice and kind of vulnerable, but that's what made me trust you. Now it's like you have a wall between you and the world and you're just so…mean. I feel like Chase and I are standing on the wall; we could fall on either side. Is there something wrong?"

I sighed. There was no use hiding anything from Talon. He seemed like he could sniff out a lie, and frankly, I didn't want to lie to him. I explained, "I'm usually like this. Closed off from everyone. Rude, crude, smug. It's who I am. I have strong opinions and I'm not afraid to share them. I don't know; after Cass ripped that kid's heart out, I felt like my defenses had been ripped away. I was so nice and motherly towards you, and I would collapse at any sign of violence. I can't win the Games like that. I have to fight. I don't want to change in here."

"Why not?" Talon inquired softly. "I mean, if you had been like this after the bloodbath, I would have never had trusted you. Can I still trust you?"

I breathed, "Of course you can. Talon, you're my friend, okay? I'm sure I would have tried to protect you from the others regardless. I just like having my shell. I like keeping to myself. If I tell the other Careers too much, they can use it against me. I'm not saying I'm not nice; I'm just not nice all the time, to everybody."

"You don't have to be so protective around me," Talon told me comfortingly. "When it's just you, me and Chase, no one will use any of what you say against you. We trust you, and I think I'm right in saying that you trust us. To an extent." I nodded reluctantly, and he studied my face for a second, before hugging me. I jumped in surprise, and then hugged him back. He admitted, "I like you much better when you're nice, but I understand that you can't be nice all the time. Just…don't go all psycho."

I chuckle. "I promise, I won't."

After sitting in the trees in silence for a while, Talon and I decide to join the others. Chase is sitting at the fire, and he looks groggy, so I assume that he had just woken up. My suspicion is confirmed when Melany makes a 'sleeping beauty' comment and he rolls his eyes. Gem is still in the corner, and I can tell Mason is a little worried. While surveying the map, I hear a snippet of him conversing with Cass.

"Is she okay?" Cass asked somewhat-sympathetically. Sure, Gem in our group was helpful, but if she died, that would be one less person we'd have to kill to get home.

"I-I'm not sure…" Mason replied. "She might have some brain damage. My medic class wasn't that detailed; I might not be able to help her if there's something really wrong with her."

"Hopefully there isn't!" Melany interjects while walking by. "Although, the Capitol would like that. Medical drama is always a hit with those sadistic supermodels."

I roll my eyes and take a seat beside Chase. I know I should be feeling some type of pity for Gem, but I feel nothing. I think she deserved what she got. I poke the dots on the tablet to keep me occupied, informing myself on each tribute, even my so-called allies. I don't learn much more than I already know, but it's a distraction.

Suddenly, I hear some kind of tinkling. I whip around and my eyes scan the room, as to the eyes of my team. Talon's eyes widen when he looks above Gem's head, and so I look there as well and see a silver parachute. I curse under my breath. What did she do to deserve a gift from a sponsor? We all crowd around Mason and Gem as he grabs it out of the air and opens it so she doesn't have to sit up. Inside the metal canister is a container of painkillers. I wonder how much those must have cost. Hastily, Mason shakes a few into his hand, and lowers them into her mouth, handing her a water bottle to help wash it down. Some color returns to her cheeks and she smiles weakly, making Mason nod happily and Titanium roll his eyes and scowl. I turn around and go back to the fire. I guess I'll have to put up with Gem a little longer.