You knew just what I was there for You heard me saying a prayer for Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly, appeared before me The only one my arms would ever, hold

I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me" And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold,

Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Cordelia Franks, 18

"Screw you!" I winced, clutching my stomach. Kai let out a breathless laugh as he swung his wooden sword around as if fighting off an invisible foe.

"Crying?" He teased, flashing me his characteristic crooked smirk.

"No," I spat out, pushing myself to my feet. "But you didn't have to hit me so hard." Kai looked good in this lighting, his dark blond hair slicked back with sweat and his green eyes catching the light in a way that gave him a mischievous glint.

"I'll be sure to ask everyone to stab you lightly in the Arena." He knew what I was getting at, he was just trying to push my buttons.

"Well I'd hope you wouldn't stab me of all people," I laughed as I walked up to him. He stopped swinging his sword and crossed his arms across his chest. He was slightly shorter than me and I had to admit I enjoyed the powerful feeling I gave off.

"Of course, who doesn't want to be Victor?" He said with a small wink.

"Oh really? And what would you use all of that money Mr. Martin?"

"New teeth," he said without a second thought, flashing his current ones littered with missing spaces. A gift from Kronos when he broke Kai's jaw. "What about you, got any plans?"

I thought for a moment before a smile spread across my face. "I want to adopt all of the abandoned children from back home." Kai seemed to take the bait for a moment, raising one of his brows.

"Really?"

"Fuck no!" I laughed. "Can you imagine me being a mother?"

Kai paused for a moment before giving a shiver. "Those poor kids," he laughed.

"I would like to see you with a new set," I said, leaning in closer.

"And I thought you wasn't shallow," Kai winked. He pulled away from the shortening gap between our faces and walked away swinging his sword. "Round 5?"

I shook my head. "Time to do something I'm good at, drop the sword." Hand to hand combat was more my area than fighting with long, heavy double handed swords. He spent an hour beating me with a sword, I spent an hour beating him with my fists. It was a simple arrangement.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't go easy on him. Maybe he went easy on me as well. It had been something I was avoiding for many years but maybe I did have something for Kai. The time to admit it had been and gone though. In two weeks we'd be in a death game. Maybe something such as that was best left to after our victory. Last thing I wanted to do was push him away.

"Fine," he sighed, throwing his sword off to the side. "Just don't aim for the face?"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Kai Martin, 18

There was a time when the sweet store in the market place fascinated me. The walls of colourful, sugar filled teats, organised by colour and shade. Ten years later it fascinated me no more than a flushing toilet. Yet it was still one of my favourite places to hang out.

Cordelia sat perched on a ladder that led up to the upper floor balcony, her fingers tracing the gradual darkening of the blue sweets as she moved further down the jar. Her red hair was braided back into a braid that ended at her hips and her fringe placed back with a set of hair pins. The colourful blue display behind her complimented her pale skin that was dotted with freckles that spread across her button nose. It was almost like a beautiful painting.

Next to me a child happily pointed out the array of sweets she wanted. Fat faced, she would have only been about the age I was when I was reaped for the Games. I was starving, alone, I didn't even know my name until the reaping. Meanwhile this child's hardest choice was what flavoured lollipop it wanted. Sure, that was the life the Capitol had so generously given me but the child would never have to worry about the games in ten years time.

"Excuse me," the mother of the child said to me, bringing me back to reality. "You're Kai... District Five Tribute, right?"

I crossed arms across my chest and gave a nod. "That's right." A large smile grew across the woman's face as she clapped her hands with glee.

"This is amazing...you must be so excited!" I felt my lips twist at her words.

"Who wouldn't be excited?" I wondered if she was that brainwashed she would have been as overjoyed about her child being in my place. Without asking she pushed her child next to me and pulled out a small thin camera. Now they're not even asking to take my photo.

"I come from a District Two house myself, I'd put my life savings on that Kronos winning this year, plenty of time for photos with him!" She chuckled as she fiddled with her camera settings. She was really that oblivious that she had thrown her child into the arms of a trained killer. Not that I'd ever hurt a child.

"Kronos to win!" The child cheered, looking back at me like I'd agree with her. Instead I noticed the stack of already payed for lollipops in her fur coat pocket.

"Smile!" The mother beamed, snapping a photo of me and her...darling child. The two then hastily wished that the odds would be in my favour before rushing out of the shop to spend their money elsewhere. As I lowered my hand from waving, I pushed into my pocket now filled with lollipops. I was above hurting children but stealing? Was time the child got a rude welcome into the real world. Brat.

I'm not dead! I'm sorry for the gap in updates. I got these two and just life got in the way. Hopefully I can get back on track now.

So that's Kai and Cordelia, our District Five pair. I'm sure they'll prove to be very interesting. I also still have plenty of spots open.

Until next time!