I find myself waking up, groggily. For a second, I'm a little confused as to where I am. Though, it doesn't take me too long to remember exactly where I am at the moment. The Capitol. Preparing for the 100th Hunger Games. I slam my head against my pillow in response. Worry already fills my heart and holds me down. Today is training right? I... I have to meet up with other tributes today, right? Great. Just great.

I eventually pull myself out of the bed and notice that my clothes are on the door not too far away. I breathe out as I pick them up. A red and black shirt that has the number 11 on the back. Nothing very special, but it's here for training.

I put the shirt on and notice some pants not too far off. I put those on as well. They fit me perfectly. As I look at myself in the mirror, I notice my older brother peaking his head through the door. "Good morning." He waves. I walk out of my room and see that avoxs are preparing to serve breakfast.

Ceres sits at the table, her head down and staring at her own feet. Soya is looking over at us with a mysterious look on her face. Right next to her though... is an old woman that I think I can recognize a little.

"Wait? You're... Willow Poppa?" I say, running over to the table. She looks up to me. Her hair is in a grey ponnytail and she just looks up at me. "Victor of the 67th Hunger Games." She replys.

"Well. At least we know one of them are alive." Ceres rolls her eyes. Alma quickly slaps her across the head. Ceres comes extremely close to starting a fight but she just sits back and awaits breakfast. Soya is scraping at her nails. Alma is partially asleep while I can notice a distant grin forming on Ceres's face. Fantasizing about the tributes we'll meet today?

Whatever. From what I know, Willow isn't here to mentor us for some reason. I guess she's too old but she seems to be in the talkative mood. She asks a lot about Ceres though Ceres doesn't bother answering much. Though we do get some info on her parents. Apparently, Cere's mother was shot to death. Her dad was killed in a fire. Willow then goes to Soya and asks about life as the mayors daughter.

"Well... We had so much more than the other children in the District. When I was younger, sometimes I'd look around and see people envying me and my sisters. At first, it was confusing... but as I grew much older, than I got to understanding." Her voice quietly fades. You can tell, she has a hard time talking about her life in 11.

However, Willow turns to me and Alma. "What about you two boys? I heard that you were both brothers. What could possibly have gotten you into such heat?" She asks. I look up to my brother for anything. However, he only shrugs.

"We don't really know. We originally blamed it on our Aunt, Rue. But she's been dead for decades now. She didn't even do anything wrong to th-," I begin. However, Willow interrupts me. "Wait? You're both related to that girl?" Rue?" She asks.

Me and Alma both nod at once. She stops for a moment. She seems to be remembering her time as a mentor. Obviously, she must have mentored the girl at some point.
"Well... any other facts about you two?" She asks after a brief silence.

By this point, Soya and Ceres are already digging into their breakfast. However, me and Alma seem to have a hard time touching our food. "I went to school." I admit after a while. Soya quickly raises her head. "Oh. I think I... recall somebody like you. You were on of the youngest and poorest their." She says.

"Huh? 11 has a school?" Ceres asks. Alma nods. "Yeah. A very small school for only those who want their children to not work in the fields. Alt here went to school for most of his life instead of working in the fields." He puts his hand on my shoulder. For a few seconds, I feel some nostalgia. Being in the schoolroom with other students was very fun... but I wanted to help my brother, mother and father out there...

"Yeah... but didn't you leave eventually?" Soya asked. I slowly lower my head. Alma licks his lips. "We... We don't like talking about the reasons." He admitted. Eventually, we both began to eat.

Ceres than spoke up. "I see. That's why the younger one speaks with a more professional tone in comparison to other people in 11." She admits. "It matters on your version of professional." I sigh.

Eventually, we finish and decided it'd be best to go head to training. Willow salutes us and we all head to the elevator.

As the elevator slowly descends down to the training center, I swallow my spit. This is the first time I'll actually be able to see most of the competition in person. Soya is also shaking a little. Ceres has her arms folded as she stares at the door. Alma is looking up, though he keeps glancing down at me.

As the elevator finally opens, we find ourselves in the training area. Already here are the District 2 teens, District 3 tributes and also District 9. I take a deep breath as we all get off the elevator and walk around.

The center actually has a multitude of different training areas that seem like good practice for pre-games. I really don't think I can fight with throwing knives or anything, not like I use them for a living. Maybe I can fight with them hand to hand though...

One of the District 2 males seems to be fighting against a trainer, practicing his skills. The others are just sitting around and waiting. It takes a while for other tributes to begin flooding the room and after a while, all 48 tributes are in the room. Surprisingly, they don't crowd the entire room as we are called by the gamemakers.

"Greetings tributes. Just like every year, we welcome you to the training center. Before we show you the pairs, some rules. No fighting is permitted in the training center. Obviously, you have time to do that in the arena. Anyways, we recommend training with survival tools if you're already skilled with other weapons. Even if you aren't, it would be good to spend time trying traps and things like that. Now, training will officially begin. We have a large sign over that reveals your other partner."

We all quickly dash to the board that shows each tribute and their partner. Though it is way too crowded over by the board, I'm actually able to see my name. Next to my name... the District 6 Female...

I sigh. Of course, I get a girl. That and she's from six. Though to be fair, I'm lucky it isn't a career. They don't exactly need supplies or anything meaning that killing me wouldn't change anything in the long run.

Whatever, I try and squirm my way out of the crowd and I just barely do that. Then, I look around. From what I can see... there seem to be so many places to try new things with. Though I'm tempted to try weapons, I don't think I'll do too well.

Because of this, I quickly head over to the fire making section so I can distract myself while watching the other tributes train. Though immediately after I grab the stick and begin trying to make the fire, I find myself confused over how it works. It seemed easier than what it really is...

I'm so annoyed by it that I don't even know of the amount of people circling around the area. After realizing the amount of people around me, I look up to see who these people are.

"Are you guys here for an alliance?" I immediately ask, looking back down to the fire. Two District 5 tributes and another from 9 both stand above me. "Huh? How'd you know? Uh... well we were thinking of it but-," One of them begins. "Yeah, no." I reply.

As I begin to get up and walk off, I find myself moving over to an area that seems to be attracting some of the younger tributes. "It's like the playground from back at home." The District 3 female says. A playground? I actually don't know what those are...

As I get closer to the structure, I notice the few that are over here. The young girl from 2, The small District 3 Male, the small District 3 female, the District 6 female and one of the boys from 12. Right as I get over there, they all turn to me.

"So. You here to train." The boy from 3 asks. It takes me a moments to actually find my voice and respond. "In a way, I guess?" I say. Though, I just turn around and walk off. However, I'm find myself bumping into the District 1 male.

"Hey kid. You lost?" He looks down and gives me a smug grin. I give him a confused look? "Are you? The action is that way." I point behind myself to the younger tributes. He laughs. "Oh. I think you should be over their. It's necessary for you safety." He jokes.

Now I'm annoyed. "Oh really?" I play along. "Yes. Playing with knives is dangerous for a child like you." He says. I sigh. "I play with fire back in 11. Knives are nothing new." I say.

By now, I can feel the gaze of those other young tributes. "Alright. Let's see if you're joking or not." He motions me over to the knives area. "Uh. I... I guess." I breathe in. I find myself near the other careers who all seem to be keeping in their laughter. I'm handed a knife and I'm in front of a few targets. Of course, I actually have used knives before. Just we don't throw them in 11...

Even then, I'm forced to at least try. "Hey. Don't worry. Only one shot. One shot to screw this over. Hell, if you make it... I'll probably let you live in through the bloodbath." He gives me a fake smile. I glare up at him. I wonder where Alma is during all of this...

I sigh before aiming the knife at the target. I quickly release it, throwing it at the target.

"WHACK!" The knife manages to hit not too far off from the target. I look up to the District 1 Male. "Yeah... about that one shot?" I tell him. He only rolls his eyes. "F*ck. I actually didn't think that would happen..." He sighs. I notice Alma behind me. He puts his hand on my shoulder and smiles down at me. I give a smile in return.

"So. Older 11. We saw you training over there." The District 2 career girl says to my brother. He turns to the careers. "Would you like the join us?" She asks. My brother shakes his head. "I'll be too busy protecting little Alt over here." He says to me.

The girl rolls her eyes. "Really now? Question: How long do you think your little brother will actually last?" She asks. Alma just shrugs. "Why do you ask. Maybe I'm just being paranoid and he can take care of himself." He says.

By this point, I'm walking back to the area of the other younger tributes. "Well 11. You just showed him." The boy from 12 admits. I laugh a little. "I'd say I did. Just don't expect me to pull that during the games." I admit, looking back at my hands.

I never really thought about my skills with the knife. I'm a little worried in fact... will I have to kill someone to survive the first arena? Maybe. Maybe not. I sigh as I sit up and watch some of the older tributes practice.

The groups from 9 and 5 are having a quiet conversation. Alma is busy training with a trainer while the careers watch in aw. As I continue watching, someone comes up from behind me.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Someone asks. I turn around and notice the girl from 6 behind me. "Why? There isn't anything I can do without actually embarrassing myself." I sigh. She rolls her eyes. "Oh really? Like tying knots and burning fires are something you can embarrass yourself with?" She says sarcastically.

"I already know how to do that. We make fires and knots in 11 all the time." I breathe out. She rolls her eyes. "Okay then smart one. You have to try at least ONE thing today." She orders me. I roll my eyes.

"Fine. But don't follow me. Please." I tell her. "Why? We're partners aren't we?" She asks. I sigh. You see... it isn't official until the games begin so I just walk off. From this point onward, I start looking around for things to do.

I'm tempted to just head to the knives section and practice their (Having Experience and all) but... I can't really do that. I don't want anyone to know that I have the capabilities or to know why I have them.

However, by this point I don't really feels as if I should care. I just need to hurry along and get something done today.

Some Time Later...

I sit in the fire starting area. I find it coincidental that they put this station right next to the area with all the weapons. I mean, right across from it. Good excuse for me to go and spy on the careers while they train.

However, they seem to be on break and just spend their time laughing and making fun of the weaker tributes. Me included...

I was struggling to begin any spark to my annoyance so I just sat down to watch other tributes train. Sometimes they have trainers teaching the tributes how to use the items... but nobody is here. I find it actually quite peaceful over here when nothings going on. The sound of silence has never been this beautiful. However, I focus my eyes on the careers ahead.

I'm glad they've kept their eyes off me. You know, the one who can't make a fire. I sigh as another tribute comes forward... and than another... and another. After a few seconds, it seems almost all the District 5 tributes and a girl from 9 seem to be sitting far off from me. "Hey. So... you wanting to join our alliance?" The boy from 5 asks. I shake my head. "No. That's stupid." I say.

"Then why are you here?" The girl from 9 asks me. "Uh... because this is a training station." I argue before moving to another station. I sigh as I look around once more. So many tributes. I can't find Alma anywhere in this storm of tributes because of it. However, I think I notice Soya over at a mini-game. From the looks of it, the game is about seeing which plants are poisonous and which ones aren't.

Considering how we're from 11, I would think we'd all know which plants are good and which ones are bad. However, considering she's the mayors daughter... I begin to watch as she seems to fail a lot.

She frantically checks after testing herself with it. From what I can tell, the thing gives you info and you're supposed to think on if it's poisonous or not. It's like at school. They score you on a scale of 1 - 100.

She scores a 35% before she breaks down into tears. I turn around and see the careers coming extremely close to laughing. I roll my eyes in response. I find this utterly sad honestly. Even I come close to crying watching this. Shes two years older than me, failing at a plant test... and she knows she's going to die. I want to go up and try and cheer her up but I don't. I can't bring myself to do anything but watch.

I walk off and leave to another station. However, I'm unable to really find any. Instead, I sit around at a table. I notice a knife on the table so I spend the next 30 minutes watching the other 47 tributes train as I stab the table with a knife out of boredom.

I see myself looking up at the Gamemakers. Currently paying no mind to me. I'm glad. Nothing to exciting about a 12 year old stabbing through a table. I'm tempted to go to the area where the careers are and begin practicing my knife skills. Well, throwing knife skills. Anybody can use knives. However, it isn't exactly something you pick up over night.

That's when I find myself falling into my memories. I remember that school day when I was 8. It was the day after the conclusion to the 96th Hunger Games. Probably one of the most shocking outcomes in Hunger Games history had taken place. The two District 5 tributes attempted a double suicide at the very end. Being the last two, only one could live but they would try and break this outcome...

The boy died suddenly and violently. The girl lived. Her family was gone. Now, the Capitol knew that their was some sort of rebellion being planned in the background of the games... just where did it start and where would it stop?

My teacher had a sinister look on her face as she laid down a pile of knives on our desks. She told us to be careful... and throw them at the wall...

For about two years, I remember that she would teach us how to improve our aim. At first, it was kind of a weekly thing we did inbetween learning... then it became the only thing we'd learn...

Other children were confused and didn't know how to use them. They'd drop out. I didn't. Momma didn't know what was happening. To be fair, neither did I... But I was one of the best when it came to that. I didn't understand why it was important to our teacher... but I found it intriguing.

Eventually, when Momma noticed that I wasn't learning anything new, she stopped spending dads money on it and I dropped out of school just like that. I can assume even two years later that I still have those skills. Even as I stab the table, I'm thinking of how I'm going to hide this skill. When I go back to 11... who's going to get in trouble for me learning this ability. The mayor? My teacher? Momma? Please. Not her...

I sigh as time passes. Eventually, my older brother sits down next to me. "What are you thinking of?" He asks me. I look up, expecting his signature smile to pierce through me. However, he has an exhausted face on. Like nothing matters anymore...

I look back down at the table. "Nothing. Just... after seeing Soya break down like that... I can't bear what will happen to us weaker tributes in the games." I look up at him. "It matters. Maybe me and the boy from 8 will be their to protect you." He admits. However, I didn't realize he just revealed his partner. "Speaking of that. You got the girl from 6, right?" He asks.

I nod. "Heh. Well... don't fall for her or anything. We don't want a 74th Hunger Games do we?" He stands up as all the other tributes begin leaving for the day. I look back up at him. How can he bring up something like casually...

Night Falls...

As I toss and turn in the night, thinking about all the tributes I saw today, I look up at my ceiling. I'm actually kind of curious. I get up out of my bed, not bothering to put on anything professional. I walk through the dark living areas as I touch the elevator touchpad.

I press a certain number and the doors open. Light enters the room and I quickly enter the elevator, my vision a little tired and blurry. After a while, the elevator doors open once more, I find myself in training area once more. Everything is right as we left it in the day...

Though, all the weapons are confiscated sadly. All... but my knife under the table...

I snatch it up and head over to the knife area.

I may be unable to improve my skills over night... but maybe over three nights?

And thus, concludes this odd chapter. At first, I wasn't interested in doing the training sequence. However, I found it very... intriguing at the end. In the original draft, Altar would just randomly be good a knife throwing. Because that was stupid, he's just good at survival in the 2nd draft. Well now I finally made a good compromise. He went to school... but when rebellion became a big thing following the 96th Games he was taught things up until he was 10.

I hope this idea makes sense to you guys? Does it? Tell me. Thanks for reading this chapter. See you again soon!