A/N Hi everyone! Here's the second day of training! We're getting close to the actual games! Yay!


Sasha "Sash" Velvet, age 12

District 8 Female


I wake up late after crying myself to sleep last night. My District partner, Elias, wants nothing to do with me, and the mentors, Kelly Tweed and Ronald Tailor, are no help at all.

He's always drunk and she's always hiding in her room.

I slowly get up out of bed and put on my training outfit. I don't bother to shower.

Then I head downstairs for breakfast, where I am greeted by Ellabelle "Good morning, Sasha!" she chirps "Did you sleep well?" I nod, and grab a piece of toast. I butter my toast, and then I spread some jam on it. I pour myself some hot chocolate, and then I start dipping my toast in the hot chocolate. Ellabelle pats me on the head, and then skips off to go wake up Elias.

I finish my toast, and then I decide to go down to the training center by myself, since it's not like anyone here cares.

I get into the elevator and press a button. The elevator starts to rapidly descend.

I lean my forehead against the cool metal wall of the elevator and work up my courage for another day of training.

Another day of being ignored by Elias. Another day of all the other tributes either glaring at me or ignoring me. Another day of the trainers staring at me pityingly.

I take a deep breath as the elevator stops.

Then I step out into the Training Room.


Charlotte Adams, age 16

District 12 Female


Soon after the little girl from D8 comes into the Training Room, her District partner arrives. Then Atala reminds us not to fight other tributes before the Hunger Games start, and then everyone goes their separate ways.

I grab Orlando's sleeve right as he's about to leave "Come on, let's go talk to Isabella." he nods "Ok." Isabella is at the knife-throwing station again. She turns around as Orlando and I approach "Hey." I say "Hey." she replies with a slight smile. I cock my head "So, have you thought about our offer?" she nods "Yup." I huff with impatience "And?" she slowly turns all the way around "I'll do it." Orlando grins hugely "Really?" she nods "Yeah." I pump my fist "Yes!" Isabella smirks "Calm down." then she puts her hands on her hips and looks at Orlando "Do you know how to use a weapon?" he shakes his head "No." she sighs "Come on then. I'll show you how to throw a knife." I grin "I might as well get some more practice in as well." Isabella smiles, and then turns back to Orlando "Ok. Now, show me how you would throw a knife." I tune Isabella and Orlando out and focus on throwing knives.

I throw knives over and over, most of them hitting near the center of the targets. After about a half-an-hour, Isabella wipes her forehead with one hand "Ok, I think that's enough knife stuff." she points at Orlando "We'll come back to it tomorrow. You're getting better, but you're still not all the way there." Orlando nods, and then I say "So, what are we going to do next?" Orlando bites his lip "How about knot tying? I started working on it yesterday, but then I ran out of time." Isabella nods "That sounds good." I nod too "Yeah, I didn't get much of a chance to work on it either." the three of us walk over to the knot-tying station.

It turns out that Orlando is really good with snares and traps. Me and Isabella aren't bad, but our traps could never catch a human. Orlando's traps could. I'm not sure if that reassures me or scares me.

After about twenty minutes, Isabella gets bored with making traps "Ok, Orlando, you clearly don't a lot of practice with this, so can we move on?" Orlando sighs "Fine. Just let me finish up this trap..." his fingers fly, weaving rope and sticks together "Ok, I'm done." Isabella sighs in relief "Thank goodness." she gets to her feet "Where should we go next?" I bite my lip "How about the climbing wall?" Orlando's face brightens "That sounds good." Isabella nods "Yeah, okay." we head over to the climbing wall.

I quickly discover that I am the best climber of our group. Isabella is fairly good, but if she looks down, she looses her nerve. Orlando is pretty terrible. He's clearly never climbed anything larger than a ladder before, so he keeps slipping and falling.

However, Orlando is very persistent, so we end up staying at the climbing wall for nearly an hour before he finally manages to get to the top of the climbing wall and back without falling.

Isabella and I start applauding, and he takes a bow.

Then we all dissolve into laughter.

I see some people giving us strange looks, but I don't care.

I've found two friends here.

And I don't care what anyone thinks about the three of us.


Vine Althorp, age 17

District 11 Male


I jump slightly as I hear laughter coming from the climbing wall. I turn around to see the pair from D12 and the girl from D9 laughing together. I feel a pang of sadness as I realize that they must be in an alliance.

It's the second day of training, and I still don't have any allies. I haven't even found any people who I want to protect.

At first, I thought the little girl from D4 would be a good choice, but then she managed to get into the Career pack, so that idea went out the window. I tried talking to the boy from D8, but he literally laughed in my face.

Which is why I am currently sitting alone at the fire-starting station, rubbing sticks together and wishing I was back in District 11. Suddenly, someone sits down next to me. The little girl from D8 gives me a slight smile before picking up two sticks and rubbing them together.

I smile at her "Hey, Shasta, right?" she huffs "It's Sasha." I resist the urge to hit myself in the head "Right, sorry." her face softens "It's okay. No one remembers my name anyway." I look at her "Well, I think Sasha is a pretty name." she smiles shyly "Thanks." we work on our fires in silence for several minutes, and then her pile of sticks burst into flames.

She yelps a little bit, and then she looks delighted "I did it!" I smile "Yes you did." I look down at my own pile of sticks "Unfortunately, I still haven't managed it." she cocks her head at me "I think you need to rub a little faster. Your hands are in the right place, but you need to rub a little faster." I nod, and then rub my sticks together a little faster.

Suddenly, my pile of sticks also bursts into flames. Sasha laughs and claps her hands. We stare at each other for a moment, and then, we say, in unison "Want to be allies?" then we both burst out laughing.

Sasha grins at me "Yes, I'd like to be allies with you." I smile "Me too." she smiles "I have another idea for someone who can be in our alliance!" I look at her "Who?" "Eve. The girl from D10." I think for a moment, and then I remember her. She's twelve years old and she has no allies.

I smile "That's a great idea." Sasha beams "Awesome! I'll go talk to her!" I smile to myself at her exuberance.

I lean back against the wall with a smile.

Things are looking up.


Sierra Isaak, age 16

District 5 Female


I stop practicing with my sword for a minute as I notice the little girl from D8 talking to the little girl from D10. I then notice the guy from D11 watching them.

I cock my head in confusion. Are they in an alliance?

I snort to myself at that thought. The boy from D11 would have to be pretty stupid to ally with two twelve-year-olds.

I wonder if he is actually that stupid. Or noble.

Although stupid and noble are pretty much the same thing in my book.

I shake my head to clear and go back to hacking at dummies with my sword. I can feel the eyes of the Career pack on me, but I don't care.

I hope I look like a threat.

When I finally stop ruining dummies, I turn around to see the that the leader of the Career pack, the girl from D1, is looking at me in an impressed way. I feel a slight glow of pride. The boy from D4 looks worried, which nearly causes me to smirk. The pair from D2, who are way closer than any Careers I've ever seen, look halfway between impressed and worried. The only one who doesn't look either impressed or worried is the little girl from D4. She's glaring at me defiantly, as if to say 'you don't scare me'. I have to admire her spunk.

Just then, Alara starts walking towards me. She's smiling, which I decide is either really good or really bad. She holds out her hand for me to shake "Alara Turquoise. District 1." I shake her hand "Sierra Isaak. District 5." Alara smiles "I saw you working with that sword. Not bad." I shrug "Well, when you live on the streets you learn to be adaptable. I'm just adapting to a new situation." she looks slightly impressed "Anyway, I wanted to ask you to join the Career pack." I fight to hide my shock. Of all the things I was expecting, this was not on the list.

Then I realize that this could be my ticket to victory.

If I'm inside the Career pack, they'll never suspect an outer District girl would betray them.

If I accept this offer, I can take down the Career pack from the inside.

I put on my most winning smile "Okay, Alara. I'll join your alliance." Alara smirks "Good choice." I laugh inwardly.

Oh Alara.

You have no idea how good a choice that was.

For me, that is.

Not for you.

I am snapped out of my thoughts as the lunch bell rings, and I walk with the Career pack as we go to eat.


Marlin Aros, age 13

District 4 Female


I glare at Sierra as we walk into the cafeteria. I know she's planning something, I just can't figure out what. I saw that flash of smugness in her eyes as she accepted Alara's offer.

Unfortunately, because I am the baby of the Career pack, no one, not even Sebastian, is going to listen to me. Alara will just laugh at me and then tell Sebastian that I'm too much of a scaredy-cat to be in the Career pack. Sebastian will just pat me on the head and say I'm being paranoid. I haven't gotten up the courage to talk to Topaz yet. Atlas might listen to me, but he's a little busy freaking out over the fact that Games are just a couple days away.

So, if I want to do anything about the Sierra problem, I'm going to have to do it myself.

We all sit down at the largest table, and Alara starts scanning the room. I notice that a few more alliances seem to have cropped up. The pair from D12 and the girl from D9 are sitting together. The pair from D7 and the boy from D10 are sitting together.

And, strangest of all, the boy from D11, the girl from D8, and the girl from D10 are sitting together.

I cock my head, trying to figure that alliance out.

Then I decide it's not worth it. Both of those little girls are probably going to die in the bloodbath anyway.

I jump at that thought, realizing that I am only a year older than those two.

What if I die in the bloodbath?

I force that thought out of my head. Sebastian will protect me. He promised, right after we got off the train.

I take a deep breath and grab a piece of bread out of the bowl.

I will not panic.

I am a Career now.

I glare at Sierra and scoot closer to Sebastian.

She can't touch me.

Right?


Paris Alexander, age 15

District 3 Male


After lunch, Dayta and I get in an elevator and go back up to our rooms. I am feeling slightly nervous about the new addition to the Career pack, not to mention that weird alliance the boy from D11 seems to be forming.

I shake my head to clear it as Dayta nudges me "What are you thinking about?" I sigh "Oh, you know. The fact the that the girl from D5 is now part of the Career pack, and that really weird alliance the boy from D11 is forming." she cocks her head "That is a weird alliance." I nod "Right? I mean what was going through his head when decided 'Hey, I think I'll ally with all the youngest kids here! Yeah, nothing could go wrong with that plan!'" Dayta starts giggling, and, by the time we reach our floor, we are both in helpless fits of laughter.

Our mentors, Beetee Latier and Electra Jackson, start staring at us like we're crazy. Paris sighs "Sorry about that. We were just...talking about something funny." Beetee smiles "Well, I'm glad you two are keeping your senses of humor." Dayta grins "We're glad too." she plops down on an armchair "So, any requests for alliances?" Electra sighs "Not really, but you two do have each other, so finding allies isn't a super big problem." I look at Dayta "That's true." she shrugs, and then Beetee says "So, what have you observed about the other tributes?" I take a deep breath "Well, the Career pack is weird this year." he raises one eyebrow "Oh? How so?" "The leader is the girl from D1, both tributes from D2 aren't violent at all, the girl from D4 is thirteen, and, just today, the girl from D5 joined the Careers." Beetee bites his lip "That's certainly interesting. What about the other tributes." Dayta sighs "Well, there's the boy from D11 seems to be allying with two twelve-year-olds." Electra stares "Okay, that's a little odd." Dayta bites her lip "Also, the pair from D12 and the girl from D9 are in an alliance." Beetee nods "Go on." Dayta bites her lip "The pair from D7 and the boy from D10 are in an alliance." I nod "That's right. Also, the pair from D7 are really close." Beetee nods again "Good work." he looks at us "You two should go get some rest. You have another long day of training tomorrow." Dayta groans "Don't remind me." then we go up to our rooms.

As soon as I go into my room, I collapse on the bed.

I'm exhausted.

I roll over onto my side and close my eyes, deciding to take a nap before dinner.

I'm asleep within seconds.


A/N Only one more day of training to go, and then it's the private sessions! Yay!

This time, I'm just going to skip straight to the alliance list.

Alliances:

Alara, Jade, Topaz, Atlas, Sebastian, Marlin, Sierra

Brent, Ryker, Arabella

Charlotte, Orlando, Isabella

Vine, Sasha, Eve

Paris, Dayta

Loners (as of now):

Bloom

Crispin

Jessica

Cellos

Elias

Jasper

I hope you liked it, and please review!