My eyes slowly begin opening. They clearly don't want to as I find myself wanting to go back to sleep. The world seems to be spinning when my eyes open. Snow is surrounding and covering me as I begin to get up.

I groan. "Wh-What happened?" I say, my body feeling cold and numb. My head feeling the worse out of the bunch.

Surprisingly, I'm a little slow recollecting the events of whatever day I got knocked out. The area around me seems to have been leveled by somethi-,

"Oh right! There was a thunder storm!" I say, reminded of what had happened.

The events ended up nearly getting me killed and I'm really lucky to even be alive at the moment. I stand up and look around. The sky is grey... a far cry from the other day where the arena was bright and blue as ever.

Still reminds me of 11 though so that's a thing. I begin to get to my feet, feeling a little light headed but otherwise kind of fine. I grin.

"And I thought I couldn't depend on luck huh... Ah well." I say, beginning to walk away.

I step through the snow which has only seemed to get worse over the day. My attitude is less than upbeat about what's been going on. Why don't they just kill me already. Drop a bridge on me or something. Obviously the gamemakers are just toying with my emotions... *Sigh*

I've been feeling so lonely since I've had to abandon Monica and the alliance. I managed to slowly get over the feeling of dread and failure... But I won't be able to forget it. The traumatizing moment where Troy stood up for Byke only to be killed instantly. Byke fleeing before being suddenly killed. It's all too real for me to take at once.

Maybe as time goes by I'll be able to get past it? Probably not... Not in the time I have left at least. That makes me think for a moment. Why am I still alive? I guess since I'm the youngest tribute the Capitol kind of wants the cute one to stay around until a shocking moment ends in its death. Well they're doing a poor job because the 12 year old is now emotionally scared. Good job...

I giggle before shaking my head. I should think about something else to pass the time. Which direction should I head in?

I look around. There are some mountains in the northern direction and I can't see elsewhere. If I recall correctly, the swamp was the south... The cornucopia is east and... I think the ocean is west...

I begin trotting north, no goal in mind. The chill of the snow is causing me to shake badly and I feel my hands starting to numb. It gets my mind off of the emotional pain building up but... Hooray I guess?

By the time I exit the forest, I find myself in a surprisingly new-ish area. I don't recall seeing it before. It's a flat, plain area. The grass is frozen and almost blue. I'm a little baffled just looking at it.

I don't see any mutts or tributes surrounding me which I'm thankful for. That actually reminds me. I was trying to keep track of the remaining tributes. If I'm correct I'm in the top 7. Lot better than I honestly thought I'd do. My heart begins to warm. It kind of comforts me. As I begin walking forward though I feel numb again remembering another fact.

There's still the other arena... The tributes here and there will all converge. It's annoying honestly. If I haven't noticed any tributes I hadn't seen in here though... There's a possibility that they're not even at the bottom 14.

I sigh, my breath taking a cold misty form in the chilling air. I wish Byke was still around since our sponsorship was connected. Being dead, I can't receive any gifts. Basically we were life linked. It's disappointing...

My brother was connected to the District 8 Male. He lost his sponsorship privileges early into the games... Maybe there's a possibility that he isn't okay. I close my eyes, hoping... praying... that just like me, he has a chance of survival.

I haven't seen a Hunger Games where the winner didn't have the sponsors. Hell, even the careers who usually already have EVERYTHING in stock need them. To be fair the 98th was an exception but I don't even want to count that (One, nobody actually had time since the games were awfully short that year AND nobody dared sponsor the District 8 boy after he broke the rules and managed to kill 16 tributes before the games even began).

"Greetings remaining tributes of the 100th Annual Hunger Games." The announcer comes onto the intercom.

For a second, I jump. Considering they only have announcements when there's a feast or something like that but otherwise there isn't really a chance that we'll hear anything like this.

"We congratulate you all for reaching this point in the games. Staring today however, we'd like you to know that the arena divides between both arenas has been lifted finally. Though previously small pockets had been opened, starting today they are completely lifted meaning that the remaining tributes will be able to converge soon. Happy Hunger Games, we'll see you to the end."

For a few seconds, I'm left dumbfounded. The arenas will finally converge? Well first off that means more tributes. I better be careful. There isn't telling how many tributes are in the other arena, at least right now. Hopefully Alma is one of them...

Far Later...

I remain silent as I sprawl across the grass in the great plain-ish part of the arena. I haven't bothered leaving in the hour or so I've been here. I'm anticipating the moment when it becomes day so it'll become easier to get out of here. However, the snow might make the trial a bit harder the necessary. As I ponder on about what I should do next... Suddenly the anthem comes on.

I jump, not expecting it at all. I could have sworn it was the morning of the 5th day. I give a great sigh of disappointment.

There are only two faces up right now. Byke and Troy.

I feel myself becoming emotional again. I quickly take a deep breath and think for a moment.

I don't even really know what to say about either of them. Byke was idiotic half of the time... but she wasn't awful. If we had the chance, I even would've considered her a great friend. She was so innocent... She didn't deserve her death.

While I thought Troy was kind of annoying, he was just like Byke. Innocent and had heart. He would honestly be me in a world where I didn't live in District 11.

I'm suddenly think about Byke and Troys families. I cannot imagine the pain their families are going through as their childrens bodies are sent back in coffins. And I was supposed to protect them... Actually no. I only alligned myself with Byke because I wanted to make sure she didn't randomly die and thus, causing me to lose the ability to get sponsor gifts. The fact that they were so innocent though caused me to think of it differently though as if... as if me and Monica were there for the sole purpose of watching over them.

I look back up to the sky, raising my first three fingers before promptly kissing my pointer, middle and index fingers at once, holding them to their images. District 12's three finger salute.

"Thank you." I mouth, feeling myself tear up a little on the inside.

Just some context, the salute I did was something the District 12 victor did following the death of our Aunt, Rue. Apparently, it's a sign of goodbye in the District 12. Momma told me to respect the fallen by saluting them with this.

"I wish you were still here..." I admit, turning around.

I lay back down, looking up at the dark clouds. "Momma... I'm sorry but I may not be coming back." I say, not to anything in particular but I hope a camera picked that up. Hopefully it'll be seen as a tearjerker of sorts and maybe I can earn the audiences sympathy.

Not like that'll do me any good right now...

Whatever. I hold in laughter from how stupid I just sounded and rest a little. Heh. Nobody's going to buy that. I'm not even a good actor. I sprawl across the grass, feeling out of it before I close my eyes to rest...

However, I suddenly wake up to the sound of movement. I get up quickly, looking around. It's at this moment that I quickly grab the bag of knives from my backpack. I rummage about, looking for any traces of tributes. At this moment, I'm actually glad that the blizzard stopped. Though it's VERY dark. Not even a star in the sky...

I continue searching looking high and low for the place the movement must be coming from.

Something has to be around here.

However, after a long while... I give up. "Okay. Maybe I was wrong. Nothings here." I take a breath of relief.

Before I can do anything else though, I hear a loud whaling sound. A cry of agony if I must. And I stand corrected! Is it a nearby tribute?! A mutt?! Whatever it is, I'm getting the hell out of here!

I frantically jump out of the snow and stomp my way through it and into the opposite direction. I turn around, taking another gaze. Then, I hear another onr... This one sounding even closer.

My heart is already trying to jump out of my chest. At least when we fought with Ceres and that girl from 10, they didn't try to build suspense to make me look like a little kid! This is absolutely torturous! "WOOOOOORFFF!" The sound is caught in the wind. I'm unable to tell which direction it's coming from.

The fact that I can barely see 2 feet in front of me is also not helping matters and this piercing sound... as almost like somebody crying. However, it almost like a wolf.

I think it's a mutt. I hold my knife out in front of me, my body shaking exponentially (And I can't tell weather it's from the cold... or my fear).

Nonetheless, I'm still scared. My mind scampers. What type of death am I going to suffer? Am I going to get mauled to death? If so, I hope it happens instantly instead of slowly and painfully. I'm pretty sure that'll be the case. Not even the Capitol would like seeing a 12 year old like me suffering like that.

Though to be fair, I'm already emotionally broken. They're watching a 12 year old go through the 8 or so (Cannot remember) stages. Assholes.

However, these thoughts begin to build up. My fear, worry, anxiety, sadness and anger all start pouring through.

My body shakes like mad. My heart pounds harder than before and my eyes start feeling with water. I don't know what emotion to feel. I completely break down at that moment.

"WOOOOR!" And at the exact moment a Mutt jumps at my head from the snow.

The mutt pounces on me. Next thing I know, I'm in the snow with my knife in my hand. While I'm still struggling to even register than THIS is now happening, my rage begins to build up.

"You! ARGH!" I shout as I begin to escape from its claws. It begins to start stabbing down, sinking its paws into my chest. However, I begin pushing it off me. All at once, it gets knocked off me. I grip my knife in anger as the wolf begins to charge at me.

I should be running, I know that. However, I know I'm going to die if I run and yes I'm committing suicide doing this but at this rate what should I do-,

It sinks its teeth in my ankle. I scream in agony, nearly falling forward. However, I glare down at the wolf, sinking the knife I have right into its head. It howls, jumping back from me.

I step back, my ankle burning in pain. The knife is still in the head of the wolf as it yelps. I pick up my bag and scamper through for another knife. All at once, I jump the wolf, attacking it like a maniac child.

However it won't even stay down. It jumps up, tackling me to the ground.

I won't let it take me down yet! "GET OFF!" I shout, shoving it off me with all my strength.

It falls over onto its back, though it quickly jumps up and is ready to strike. I scurry backwards, slowly getting to my feet. My eyes are concentrated into a pure glare of anger. For some reason, I want this thing DEAD. I throw my knife at the wolf, hitting it only inches from its eye.

If yelps once more, still not giving up.

I yell in annoyance. "You people aren't going to get away with me like you did my allies." I grunt, slowly limping towards the wolf.

It only stands still as I hold up my knife, ready to strike. However... It doesn't even move this time, almost like it has given up. I pause, confused.

It... It almost brings me back to reality all at once. I put my knife down, taking a few steps back.

W-Was I really... That willing to kill that? Even if it was a mutt... I shake my head. I have to remind myself that the games are known for changing people. I'm no exception. I hold my knife, slowly limping away from the wolf.

For a few seconds, I feel completely awful about what I did without even a reason. Why did I do that? What in me caused me to snap like that? I question myself for a few seconds before I think I can come up with a legit answer.

Then I think I see it clearly. That mutt was designed to kill me. I was meant to join Byke and Troy next. My anger was only boiling more and more and to my brain, that mutt was the personification of the Capitol.

Somehow, this makes me giggle a little. "Even I'm a little confused." I admit, turning around to the wolf.

However, its body now slumps into the grey snow. It doesn't seem to be breathing anymore...

I shake, taking in a giant deep breath. "Let's just agree I never did that, okay Altar..." I say to myself, slowly limping from the site.

At least I'm still alive...

Remaining Tributes

District 4 Female (Monica)

District 5 Male

District 9 Male

District 10 Female (Bella)

District 11 Male (Altar)

District 11 Female (Ceres)

District 12 Female

Originally this chapter was barely over 2K words but I finally decided to try my hardest at dragging it out. Surprisingly, I did a good job at making the chapter longer. Hurrah! Altar nearly reaching his breaking point as the 4th [And longest] day come to a close. Coming up next, more tributes! Oh, and the return of the careers...

And yes... This does mean there are 3 chapters for just one day... Yes, I suck...

Icytopia (Chapter 14) - Yay. I actually managed to make a death of a character sad a not... well abrupt and kind of overlooked like in 99. Well... Maybe it isn't that much of an improvement but that's up the reader. Also you're lucky that the outline of the story is 3 years old because I'd probably just have killed Altar right then and there at the idea that he'll win since he's the protagonist XD. And since Byke is dead now, Altar is unable to receive sponsorship gifts. Don't worry though, the boy has armor on his side. Plot armor that is lol.

Icytopica (Chapter 15) - I'm glad you found some enjoyment and something to like in this chapter. Also, 5 and 9 volunteering... *Looks around* I surprised the gamemakers haven't put the plan together as fast as you did... #FireSomePeople

Thanks for reviewing. It's always fun hearing what people have to say about the story. (Wish I had gotten the time to submit for your SYOT, I was too slow)

See you all next time!