Byk Shepherd, 18

District Ten Male

I seriously considered finding us some more allies. But no. Vivian and I can make it by ourselves. Now, on the third day, as we stand at the camouflage station, I can clearly see who's planned to ally. And I see how they look at Vivian.

They think she's an easy target.

But I'm standing in the way of them hurting her, and they know this. Vivian... she'll have some idea what's happening, but I don't know how much. What I do know is that the most dangerous time for her is the bloodbath. We'll be separated, and all of the tributes will be near each other. I tried to get her to learn how to fight, but she wasn't getting it. I've given her instructions on what to do, but instructions don't protect you.

"Byk, which of these looks the most like the dirt in our yard?" She shows me two patches of brown she's painted onto her arm.

"That one." I point to the one that looks less hopeless. Those won't fool anyone if she tries them in the arena, but I don't want to tell her that. I can let her believe that it will all be fine for a couple more days. Until the games starts. I'd rather treat her this way and have her feel babied than overwhelm her. And sure she might be annoyed at me, but I'm trying to keep her alive. She'll forgive me when she's old.

I look over to where she's now trying her best to attach actual dirt to her arm.

"Hey Vivian, why don't we go somewhere else?"

"Alright then." She replies. We make our way over to the station that we always end up back at: fire starting. I tell her to work on that, and leave to get some much needed weapons skills.

I walk over to the station where the boy from Nine is slicing a training dummy to pieces with a scythe. He doesn't appear to notice me arriving, and the trainer approaches me with a scythe. I trained with her yesterday, and she knows me. Sort of. We begin to run through some basic techniques for parrying. Then she shows me how to use the blade to slice an opponent. It's deceptively hard to not just stab them.

I have a new-found respect for the boy from Nine. It takes a lot of skill to do what he's doing now, and if I remember correctly, he's only sixteen.

That's just a year older than Vivian.

And he seems to care about his District partner too.

I wonder how they know each other. Maybe I'll find out on interview night.

The trainer knocks the scythe out of my hands.

"Concentrate. If this was real, you'd be dead."

"Sorry." I reply.

"Apologise to yourself, I'm not the one who'll die if you get it wrong." She says.

I go back to attempting to use a scythe, and failing miserably. I would love it if this were easy. If I could just pick this up easily, so that I'm ready. So that I'll be able to protect Vivian. That's the whole reason I'm here, right? To make sure she survives.

I block the trainer's attack with her scythe, but when I try and knock hers on to the floor I miss completely, and she pushes me over. I stand back up, and pick up my weapon again. And when I lose it again, I pick up the scythe again. And again. And again.

I must be getting at least a little better.

Eventually she tells me I should try and use my skills on a training dummy, and once I've started she offers to spar with the boy from Nine. His name is...come on Byk, you can remember this...Salvo, I think. I slash at the dummy, leaving it's right arm half hanging off and several deep cuts in it's chest. I turn to watch as Salvo and the trainer fight.

He's so much better than I am.

He's like one of the careers who've trained for years, only it's not made to be a weapon. And you can tell he isn't as used to using it as a weapon, instead he's used to using it as a tool. It shows. And he's still terrifying.

I kick the dummy in the stomach and it topples over onto the floor. Then I stab it through the heart with my scythe, only I miss and the blade goes through it's shoulder. I let go of the scythe and walk off to find Vivian again.

She's still at the fire starting station, and she's got a flame going. Even if it is only small. I watch as she keeps the flame from dying, so carefully. I don't want to disturb her, so I decide to throw some spears. I head across the training room. Past all the other tributes, spending their final morning training, aiming to be the survivor. The Victor.

But I won't let it be them.

I would love to have any of the others survive.

The little girl from District Twelve. Or the boy from Seven who's lost all his siblings.

But my job is to keep Vivian alive.

Vivian. The priority is Vivian. Not any of these people I barely know.

It has to be me and Vivian.

No other allies.

Just us.

Kasia Grant, 12

District Five Female

One, two, three. I tap each of the edible leaves as they appear on the screen. I know that I remember all of them, and yet I need to check it again. And again. And again.

I don't recognise the names. I haven't heard them before. They aren't the sorts of plants that appear in District Five's meadows or barely-there forests. And many other tributes have been finding it hard, which means that they aren't usual to most District's environments either. Which gives me my first clue abut the arena: there will be forests of some kind, and they are from a climate we barely have in Panem. Hell knows where they got the seeds from. They probably manufactured them in one of their labs.

Correct. As it has been all morning. I need to do something else.

On the final morning of training, most of the weapons stations have at least one person doing something. Even the survival stations have a couple of people. I go back to one I need more practice at - fire starting. As I start to rub the sticks together, I stop focusing on the task at hand. My mind wanders to my private session with the Gamemakers this afternoon.

A thin wisp of smoke starts to rise from my pieces of wood. I continue to move my hands back and forth, until a flame actually begins to flicker on the wood. I slowly add more twigs and pieces of bark to my fire. Then, once I'm sure the fire won't die, I douse it with the water provided and leave the station. I walk past the knot-tying station over the smooth black floor. Where am I going? I don't know. I need to know.

I should know this.

Calm down Kasia. Just think. I remember which bugs are edible, right?

Better go and check.

I turn around and walk to that station. Quickly. Then I sort through every edible insect that is listed there, and some which aren't edible. Which of these can I eat? No that, or that, but this one is okay. Can I eat this one?

No. I can't eat these, because they will poison me.

This one has an inedible shell, but if you can find a way to remove it it's fine to eat. No information on how to remove the shell, but that's fine.

This one is safe to eat, but looks incredibly similar to that one, which is always fatal if consumed.

After I've finished, I check in with the trainer. They check my work and confirm that I haven't made a single mistake.

I won't be poisoning myself in the arena, that's for sure.

Where do I go now? What do I do now?

Focus, Kasia. Just choose somewhere and go there. Maybe I should try making a hammock. That could be useful. I turn myself towards the hammock-making station. The trainer there smiles at me and hands me a piece of fabric. She demonstrates how to tie some knots and how to hang it from two branches. I have to try several times, but I manage it eventually. Then I have to take it down and try again. And again. And again. I have to do this until it's perfect. I cannot afford to make a mistake in the arena, so I need to remove all of the problems now.

By the time I can complete the hammock completely, it's lunchtime. The tributes make their way over to the lunch area. As I go and collect my lunch, and then head to a corner to eat, I wonder what the private sessions will be like. The Gamemakers have been watching us for a day and a half, since the start of yesterday morning. They must have been watching all of us, seeing who have formed the alliances. They will have seen that the boy from One has been thrown out by his District partner and their friends. They've probably seen the boy from Seven form the only other large alliance. They will have seen Axel join the boy from Eleven. He calls him Dominik.

I think it's easier to call him Eleven Boy.

The alliances between District partners are normal and expected, so those won't interest too many people. Apart from the fact that they both seem to have stories to help them through the Games. Ten Boy tried to volunteer, got turned down and then got Reaped again. Nine Boy and Nine Girl obviously know each other.

I worry that the competition have too many stories to tell. Especially as we're all here because someone else died. That makes everything ten times worse for everyone involved. The families have to lose more than they already have. The tributes have to wonder if someone else's death will cause their own. The only people it benefits are in the Capitol - more drama, if they can figure out who the dead relatives are. Maybe there'll be competitions between friends. Ten quid it was her older sister that died.

That's something they'd do in the Capitol, isn't it. My mouth feels dry and I choke on the bread I'm currently eating. Damn it Kasia. At least seem competent. The best I can hope for is that I'm able to convince the Gamemakers to keep me around for as long as possible.

Trevor Box, 17

District Six Male

Laberia was very happy when she found out I got the Careers to let me in. She told me that I needed to make them trust me. Which I'm not sure is possible. But some of them seem nice at least. Omega and Klymene. The other three spend a lot of time ignoring me, talking over me, and glaring at me. Most of the time I just talk with Omega and Klymene, and occasionally the others. They act friendly, but it's obviously just that - an act. None of them actually mean what they say, which is fine, because I don't either.

Kyna hates me. Which is, again, fine, because I hate her.

She has an ally too - the girl from Three. I've seen the two of them doing stuff together, and I think she's told Laberia about it because Laberia seems pleased whenever she talks to either of us. I don't think we've ever had a full conversation with all three of us. Kyna and I just leave when the other shows up. Or ignore each other if we can't.

"Hey. Trevor. You want to throw some spears?" Asks Storm. I like Storm. I don't know quite how much she likes me, but she's the one I find myself...drawn too. Which is stupid. We're all in this alliance, and they probably hate me. The whole thing with her District partner has definitely made her more hostile towards the entire alliance.

"Sure."

We walk over to the spear throwing station, and once we arrive the trainer there greets us. He tells me to try throwing some spears, and I agree without much trouble.

There are five targets, and as I get ready to throw, I feel somebody grab my arm.

"You're aiming too high." It's Storm.

"You sure?" I ask.

"Yes. I am." I ignore her, and throw the spear. It misses the target, passing just over it's head and clattering to the floor behind.

"You should have lowered it more." She says.

"Well I can see that now."

"You realise that I have more training than you?"

"What has that got to do with anything?" I reply. I realise that our voices are raised, and that there are people watching us. But I don't care.

"It means that you should listen when I try and help."

"I don't need help!"

Instead of responding, they start to laugh quietly.

"I'm sorry, Trevor. It's not your fault that you're practically Ezio's replacement." She says.

Ezio.

Who is Ezio?

Then I remember. He's their District partner. He's not with the Careers, so they must have thrown him out.

"It's okay." I say. I'm not sure it is, but they're one of my allies. I really don't want to piss them off.

"Want me to show you how to throw one properly?" She asks.

"That sounds great." I reply.

So that's how I spend my morning. Throwing spears with Storm. And, despite what I assumed would happen, I do actually get better. I start hitting the targets more often, and when I do hit it, it's often somewhere that's more likely to kill them. Eventually we're all called to lunch. Which means that there is no more training time. Just the private sessions with the Gamemakers.

I'm not sure whether to be scared or not.

"You think the others are ready?" She asks.

"I don't think they'll tell us if they aren't." I rely.

"That's true."

As we sit down with the rest of the Careers, the others stop talking.

"What were you two arguing about?" Asks Arroyo.

"That's none of your business." Storm shoots back."

"If it could affect out alliance, then it is."

"Well it won't." I snap. He glares at me before going back to his food.

No one starts the conversation again, and the group ends up eating in silence for a few minutes.

"So," Klymene says. Everyone looks at her. Shockingly, we're all in unison. "Is everyone excited for the private sessions?"

"I am." Omega replies.

"Yes." Storm replies.

Arroyo rolls his eyes.

"The Gamemakers should be excited to see us." Replies Mason. A few of us laugh. The conversation is able to restart after that. Klymene starts telling us another story, but it's fine. She's telling us about her old friends and the time she helped one of her friends sneak out to go to a party.

It sounds like something one of the girls who hangs around me back home would say. Or do. Or talk about. Only here, I care about the story. Why? Well that's obvious. I have to get them to trust me. Well. No trust. Tolerate. I have no doubt I'll have to kill one in their sleep and run. Or they'll turn on me and I'll have to escape. Once they've eliminated enough outer District kids to have no use for me anymore, I'll be thrown out. Or rather killed. You don't just let your enemies escape in the Hunger Games.

"So Azure and I finally made it to the party, and when we get there we're greeted by Lana, who tells us that we missed Morgan dancing on one of the tables." Klymene says. It's obvious that she was annoyed to miss this event.

"Klymene, are you talking about Morgan Rafferty?" Asks Arroyo.

"Yes, I am." She pauses. "Why?"

"I know Morgan, I think. His family live in the same neighbourhood as one of my aunts. He went to school with one of my cousins. Cordelia." Arroyo replies.

"Wow! Really? That's so weird!" Says Klymene. Four is meant to be a large District, so it makes sense that she's surprised. I don't remember if I have cousins. Mother and Father never talk about their families, apart from Mother saying that hers threw her out for being with Father. It always seemed like another thing that set us apart.

Everyone else knows their grandparents or aunts or uncles or cousins. Georgia and I only had each other. And now she's gone, and soon I could be too. No. That's not going to happen. Georgia made a mistake and died, I will not. I will not die. I will not die.

I will not die.

Eryn Applewood, 16

District Eleven Female

Not long until the private sessions now. Just this one meal. There will be twenty one people doing their sessions before me. Rosa will go last. Chip will be the first in our alliance. Then Cypress, then Nylon, Cassie, me and Rosa. The wait will be terrifying. But not as terrifying as seeing the Gamemakers in person, I think.

"What exactly are the private session?" Asks Nylon.

"You don't know that either?" Asks Cassie, exasperated.

"What do you mean, either?" Asks Chip.

Cassie's eyes flick between the two, apparently unwilling to say anything.

"I...err...I never really watched the Hunger Games. I would always try and ignore it as much as possible." Says Nylon. Chip doesn't look particularly convinced. I can't really judge Cypress's expression. I turn to Rosa, but she seems as confused as me. Something about it seems off, but I don't think anyone really wants to point it out.

"Well, Nylon, in the private sessions, you have to show off the skills you learnt in training. You have fifteen minutes, and then you go back to your room. The Gamemakers use it to decide your training score. I don't have to explain what that is, right?" Says Cypress.

Nylon pauses, then replies. "Yes. I know about the training scores."

"Good."

"So. What do you think we should do when we get in the arena?" Asks Cassie. It's the first time anyone's tried to bring up the Bloodbath. We all know what we do after the Bloodbath, but the actual start of the Games hasn't been discussed. Until now.

"We all need to group together. As quickly as possible." I say.

"Eryn's right. Make your way towards any of us you can see. If you can't see any of us, go to the other side of the Cornucopia." Cypress says. This plan is non negotiable. I can tell from his voice. He doesn't want us to argue, and he'll be angry if we don't. But it also make sense. If we're all together we're less likely to die. Especially the younger ones like Rosa or Nylon.

"If you have a chance get supplies. Especially food or water. Finding food for six isn't going to be easy." Chip tells us. Cypress nods in agreement, so do I.

"Any questions?" Asks Cypress. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Rosa pointing at the Careers. "No? Good." He notices Rosa's point, and adds. "Avoid the Careers as much as you can." Rosa nods.

"That...was...shorter...than I expected." Says Chip. "It seems like there should be more conversation."

"What more is there to say?" It's not a question. that's meant to be answered. We can all tell when Cassie says something like that. Somehow we've all learnt it in the past few days.

It's surprising, really. No one does that normally. It takes for ever to get to know people normally, right?

We're silent now. There's only the sound of us eating. There's no more to say, really. We'll soon be in the Hunger Games. And then we have to face the fact that some of us are going to die. Most of us are going to die. All of us are going to-

No, Eryn. You are not going to die.

I will not die.

I refuse to die.

The Gamemakers could still kill you. Like Haily-

No.

Do. Not. Think. About. Hailyn.

I can hear the Careers chatting at their table. I want to say something, but I don't know what to say, or how to start a conversation. What would I even talk about? How do I avoid thinking about the Games? How do I avoid thinking about my sister? I wish someone would say something. I should say something. But what would I even say? What would I say? What would I say. What would I say. I don't know.

"Ezio Palmer, please come for your private session!" Somebody yells.

The private sessions are starting?

"Well that's terrifying." Says Chip. He's watching the boy from One (his name must be Ezio) walk out of the lunch area. I notice they've removed the food tables, so we're all just sitting at the tables with nothing to do but talk.

"Says you. You barely have to wait." Cassie replies.

I'm glad something distracted me from my thoughts. I don't need to think about that stuff right now.

"Yeah, I know." Chip says, not turning from where his eyes are focused. "That's why it's terrifying."

"That's fair."

It feels like barely any time passes before Ezio's District partner is called. Time shouldn't pass that quickly. It's strange. We have two more days, then we're in the Games. And that scares me. I assume it scares everyone.

A couple of the tributes are talking quietly, the ones who have allied in pairs. The Careers too. Everyone's quieter now.

It just makes everything worse.

So here we are in April. We've officially finished training, which means that we're getting pretty close to the Games now. So that's exciting. The next chapter should be up on the 13th of May, so I'll see you then.