Greetings friends!

It's been too long. I'm a senior now! My goal is to finish this story before I go to college! I feel so old.

Speaking of age, your dear author is seventeen years of age. If I were a witch, I could use magic outside of school now. But alas I am not a witch, because I don't live in the world of Harry Potter (although I do make frequent visits to the Wizarding World).

Despite my lack of magical ability, I recently got a taste of what it is like to be a part of another one of my favorite fandoms- the world of Panem! My local laser tag arena held a hunger games tournament and I was a proud volunteer. I represented district four (my favorite district) and I brought my district honor. I made it to the third to last round before my team failed me : ( . However, I had tons of fun and I loved getting to see what it's like to really be a tribute. If you ever get the chance to do something like that, don't hesitate- it's tons of fun!

I happen to have the best parents in the world- they got me a bow! It's so much harder than you think… I'm going to bring it to the premiere of Catching Fire :) and I'm was Katniss for Halloween! I just bought an arena jacket and everything.

Poll update- district 7 is in the lead! 5, 9, and 11 are in second. 6, 8, and the Capitol have no votes at all! If you want to change this, visit my page and vote!

I hope you like the chapter!

Happy reading,

Lenore :*

POV: Alex Carter, D2

We may have won capture the flag as a team, but that sure didn't help with tribute bonding. Lucina and Salmon have been at each other's throats all day- literally. Gone is the rule that tributes can't spar. With these new weapons, we can maim each other all we want and be healed within seconds thanks to our new friend the little green pill. However, if you take too many, you might just pass out. For an hour. Fred found that out the hard way. Ever since Salmon embarrassed him during capture the flag, he's been working super hard to prove his masculinity or something. Personally, I think he's overcompensating for something.

I've used this training time to keep my skills from rusting and to build on things I'm not so good at, like precision. My aim isn't so good, which is why I can't throw knives or shoot arrows straight. I asked Salmon and Madsen to give me tips, and I think I've improved… kinda… To be perfectly honest, I don't think it's helped at all. There's an innate quality required to develop the kind of talent we have. We're more skilled than the others- we have been training before we were out of diapers. It isn't fair really. Special diets and individualized classes give us an advantage the other tributes couldn't truly fathom.

The training stations are identical to those back home in the Academy, which makes me miss District 2. It may not be much, but it was still home. Dee has been great. She's been more than a district escort- she's been like a mom, worrying about how much Alayna and I have been eating, how much we've been sleeping, little things like that. It's nice. She reminds me of my mom… before… before my dad was gone. She was quite never the same after that. Thinking about it makes me go crazy.

I can never sit still, which will probably keep me alive in the arena. It's what makes me a great fighter during training. Surprisingly, all of the tributes seem to be doing pretty well, considering some of them have never seen half of these weapons in their lifetimes. Often, tributes stick to what they know, what tools and weapons are used in their districts. For example, most District 4 tributes stick to tridents, since everyone there uses them to fish. But usually tributes from 4 can use whatever weapons they want, because they've used every weapon you can name since before they could say the word "fish". I'm not joking. The most victors are from 4, but nobody knows exactly why until they see the tributes in action. Every time Lucina and Salmon have fought, it's not even close. Salmon doesn't seem like the jealous type, but for some reason every time Lucina comes within ten feet of Tarpon, Salmon decides it would be a good idea to send a knife flying her way. You can't really get a good stick with these knives unless they're thrown with a lot of force. Every one of Salmon's knives stick. Lucina has consumed more green pills than everyone but Fred.

Fred is training harder than ever, but so is every other tribute. After we taught everyone how to use weapons during capture the flag, they've been practicing like careers. Good for them, bad for us. That makes them harder to kill in the arena. The problem is I really don't want to kill any of them. The other tributes are actually good people. But besides the six careers and Madsen, there's only one spot left for a victor. And Salmon has her heart set on that spot belonging to the little girl from Three, Laina. Anyone who even scratches her gets it from Salmon. Laina was sparring with that boy Fergus from Thirteen using knives and Fergus managed to cut Laina. She was fine- she didn't even need a green pill- but Fergus had to take two before he could get on his feet again.

Throughout all of training, the fifteen or so Gamemakers have been watching intently. I know that they're supposed to do that, but past victors have told me that they are usually a bit… inattentive… until they have to give out tribute scores. I remember that Ulixes told us that Gamemakers will be part of our mentor team. They must be looking to see how well their assigned tributes are performing. I wonder if they choose or if we are assigned to them. I was in the middle of sparring with Alayna when I noticed Fred in the corner, recuperating and fervently whispering to Ulixes. It seems he doesn't want to be noticed. I wonder what he's up to…

POV: Taylor Carson, The Capitol

It's not easy observing someone who would like nothing better than to be the cause of your death. Even though I was almost killed before stepping foot in the Training Center, I still find the careers fascinating. I find Salmon the most interesting though. I've been observing her from afar. She has great talent and beauty. It's no surprise Tarpon is in love with her. They aren't exactly shy about it either. Whether it's sneaking off behind some training equipment or showing some public displays of affection, there is no question that the two are utterly in love. It would be a shame if one of them didn't make it out of the games.

Whenever Salmon catches me staring at her, she glares back, a look of disgust crossing her face. If only I could make her change her mind. The only way to do this is to talk with her. And the only way I'll be able to do that is if we spar and I show her my skills. She stands talking to the other careers, Tarpon's arm draped around her. I approach her warily.

"Hello, Salmon." I greet politely.

"Capitol Tribute" She acknowledges me. I smile.

"Care to engage in a sparring match?" I query.

"Sure" she smiles icily. She twists out from under Tarpon's arm, giving him a disgustingly long kiss before following me over to the sparring area. I try to engage her in conversation, but she avoids holding an actual conversation. The match is regulated by one of the trainers. I grab a steel dagger from the rack next to the mat, and Salmon selects a silver one. The trainer signals the beginning of the match.

Approximately fifteen seconds later, I find myself lying flat on the mat, Salmon on top of me. She restrains my arms with her knees, pulling my hair back with one hand. The other hand is holding the her dagger to my throat.

She leans down, whispering into my ear. "Stay away you creep. Leave us alone or I'll make sure your cannon is the first to boom."