A/N: Okay, so I admit that this is possibly the shortest chapter in either Shattered Hearts, Falling For Him or Gnawing Hunger, but at least it's a chapter, right? Anyway, the reason I took a few days to get this beauty out is that I had been absolutely swamped in work and that I started another story (yes, another) but this time in the Naruto genre. It's about three new awesome ninja who are about to take the Chunin exam (the exam to become a Chunin, the second level of being a ninja). So if you've actually ever watched or read any Naruto (or even if you haven't) go and check it out... please? Because so far in my two amazing chapters I've only had one reviewer and a ridiculously low amout of hits. So yes, I command you - go and read! You can read this chapter after that, in fact I doubt you'll be that impressed with this chapter, lame as it is. Also, one more thing to say - my plea for reviews really actually worked! I got a grand total of 12 reviews in the previous chapter (double what I got in the chapter before) and I can say that I am very impressed in you, and surprised of what (or rather, who) came out of the woodwaork when I called for reviews. Thank you again! xD

I sit on the swivel chair which for once isn't being swivelled, staring at Zen's face and gaping, my mouth dropped open almost like a dead fish gulping for air in total desperation.

And then the phones start ringing.

I didn't exactly know there were any phones in here until they suddenly burst to life like a mockingjay would to song. Suddenly, out of the blue, they chirp into action. With a quick glance around I confirm it. There is one, two... no three phones hung up on the wall, and two of them are buzzing with a lively air about them. And that's what Hercules is faced with when he enters the room, me gaping at Zen and the vibrating phones drilling at the wall with their constant rattling while Zen's is face dominating the screens, a scowl fixed right at the cameras, right at the Capitol.

"What- what happened here?" Hercules stutters, a dumbfounded look plastered across his squashed face.

"Oh, you know... Zen just had a huge hack at the careers, taking two down with him including their all-powerful and undefeatable leader and then blamed the Capitol for killing his ally, Angel. Nothing much, just the usual."

"What?" Hercules exclaims, a look of such total shock and that totally being caught off guard feeling that seems to dominate the room alongside it.

"All true," I sigh. "Angel's dead. Current's dead. Wolfgang's dead. Oh yes, and Zen teamed up with Boudicca. At least I think so, by the looks of their staring at each other gormlessly as if nothing had just happened before. Ever."

"Right then," Hercules says, rubbing his hands together briskly and snapping himself out of his fuzzy daze, "you answer one of the phones; I'll deal with the other. If it's a sponsor say yes, a preposition for sponsorship set a date, and if it's the Capitol ringing to speak to me about Zen's actions- say I'm not here."

"Roger," I say whilst giving Hercules a mimed salute, winking at him and hurriedly grasping the nearest buzzing phone in my hand, anticipation suddenly flooding over me though I honestly can't see why. Zen's Hercules' tribute, why should I be worried? I mean he's not exactly meant to be important to me...

Is he?

"Kara Jaymond speaking," I hurriedly gabble down the phone in my overly posh accent, trying to drown out the sound of my beating heart thudding desperately against my ribcage as it tries to escape its bodily prison.

"Greetings," a posh Capitol voice echoes down the phone to me, "Is Mr. Stayton there Miss Jaymond?"

My heart thuds against my chest, trying yet again to wrench itself from the cruel bars of fate surrounding it and blocking it from escape. What is this? What does it mean? I slowly calm myself down and speak carefully down the phone, measuring my words as I go.

"Mr. Stayton is... otherwise occupied," I manage to let out without a croak.

"Oh, I except he's dealing with another sponsor, am I correct?" the voice asks pitifully and I glance at Hercules just to see him frantically shaking his head as if he was trying to dry it like a wet dog would do to its fur.

"Err... not that I am aware of, would you like to leave a message?" I say.

"Oh, I suppose so. Ask him if dinner at ten thirty this evening would be alright," the voice commands and I glance over to Hercules to see him mouthing the words 'make it nine thirty'.

"I believe that is his shift for looking after the tributes, as it is currently mine. But I wonder if you'd be obliged for half past nine?"

"Half past nine?"

"Yes, half past nine."

"Very well, I will arrange it."

"Thank you," I call down the phone in glee.

"No, thank you Miss Jaymond."

Than the phone cuts off to leave me listening to the unsettling crackle of static and the beckoning silence, reaching out its lengthy gnawed finger scything its way through the air and motioning me forward and into its deathly realm.

"Got it?" Hercules asks me as he slams his phone down too.

"Yeah," I sigh, "I got it."

"Thanks so much Kara, you're a life saver. Just got one signed up for Zen too. It looks like he's quite the mister popular all of a sudden. What exactly did he do to take those two careers down? And how did he manage it with that strange leader, Wolfgang Lupe?

"It wasn't him," I sigh.

"What?"

"Boudicca took down Wolfgang; slit his throat after he killed Angel. I think maybe a butchering of one so young might have unhinged her."

"And Current?"

"Zen dealt with Current, and showed some style with that rope while he did so, I can tell you."

"Oh," is all Hercules can say at the moment.

"Hey Hercules," I perk, suddenly noticing the lack of our third and final mentor, "where's Lumina?"

"In bed, didn't feel too well." Hercules bleakly mumbles, looking down as if ashamed at his feet.

"Ah well, she'll be fine soon though, won't she?"

At my words his face pales slightly, "Kara..."

"Yup?" I ask, relieved that all of the stress is off my and oblivious to Hercules' strangely serious expression all of a sudden.

"Can you... Can I confide in you?"

"You sure can try," I grin, blissfully unaware of what's coming.

"It's Lumina. I just went to see the doctor about her, and it turns out that, that..."

"Oh no," I breathe out. By the look on Hercules' face it can't possibly be good. It feels as if all the wind has just been shoved out of me and I remain standing there, trying desperately to suck in air like a beached whale, flailing around in desperation as I slowly get swamped and drown. I know nothing good can come of this, this serious face and flooded confusion which now swamps me. I just want to know, I just need to know. Now.

"It's Lumina. She's pregnant."

A/N: *bam*! A couple of you guessed it, which is surprising since it's, I think, the first time someone actually guessed a plot twist of mine! So well done for you lot. Only putting a review in here to remind you to (fanfic acocunt or not) press that wonderful button below to review my chapter and then go and check out "To Become A Chunin", my first Naruto fic.