Hey everyone! With the new enlightenment of my recent schedule I have no other choice but to cut the rest of the reapings out of ETAW. Don't worry however, I have many chapters to replace it. The train rides will work as follows: I have three chapters planned with twelve povs, which means by the end of train rides nineteen tributes will officially be introduced overall. The last five povs introductions will be done in the parade prep and parade event chapters. Train Rides part one will contain three povs. I'd like to mention that some povs will be shorter than others depending on what I've planned and how I write it. So, let's dive in now shall we?


Bridget Tanner, 9

District Ten Tribute A


The reaping had Bridget on the edge of her seat.

It wasn't the fact she was going into the games. That was a problem of its own. The problem was the circumstances surrounding how she was reaped for the games. Her family had an historical number of rebels. Bridget knew it was a long stretch to accuse the Capitol of rigging the reapings. Bridget's mother has always taught her not to abruptly accuse people, but Bridget had a gut feeling something fishy was happening. While Bridget usually never got these gut feelings, they usually were right down to the bone.

Watching the replays of the reapings further proved the accusation. It only became stronger when the reaping of Yorick Denaro, infamous serial killer, happened. Now, Bridget knew it was a possibility that Yorick was actually reaped wasn't impossible, she found his entire reaping suspicious.

Bridget glanced over at her mentor, Bless. Bridget could see the anger in her eyes, and Bridget knew exactly why she was angry. Bless was not expecting a nine year old, and a twenty four year old to be her mentees. The whole quell twist took a toll on Bless. There wasn't anything she could do about it either.

Bridget stood from her seat and moved over to Bless nervously. "Excuse me Miss. Alinafe?"

Bless was reading the Capitol Times newspaper, but looked up at Bridget with a countenance frown. "Yes Bridget?"

Bridget was not sure on how she could ask how Bless was doing. She knew Bless wasn't the most silent kind of victor. If she had something to say, she was going to say it no matter what the outcome was. "Um- How are you today?"

Bless suspired and placed her newspaper down on the table. "I'm beyond stressed. This whole quell twist is giving me more on my plate then I can handle. But thank you for asking, Bridget." A few seconds of awkward silence goes by. "How about yourself?"

How was Bridget doing? She never thought about it until now. Bridget's mind went blank, trying to figure out an answer. "Um- well I suppose I'm doing fine. The whole ordeal has made me numb."

Bless somewhat could understand what Bridget meant to say. "Yeah I understand-" Bless is interrupted by the obnoxious noise of the train cart door opening. Charlatan entered the room and sat down next to Bless and Bridget.

Bridget knew very little of Charlatan, practically nothing about him. Charlatan only spoke to Bridget once after they both were reaped, and from what Bridget could tell he was pretty nice. And Panem seemed to like him too. He checked most of the boxes for being a great potential victor. He was intimidating both mentally and physically.

Charlatan cleared his throat and gruffly spoke. "Hello, you two. What are you discussing?"

Bridget looked up at Charlatan. "Nothing really. We just ended our conversation on how we were feeling."

Charlatan nodded. "I've been trying to keep my head up if you're curious, and should we start strategizing?"

Bless raised her head and nodded. "Yeah, I suppose we should start strategizing."

Bridget nodded, but the way Bless's face turned melancholic, she knew she had enough strategizing. Bless has been mentoring for twelve years, and twenty-four dead bodies were brought back in small coffins. She had enough, but what was she supposed to do? "What's the plan, Bless?"

Bless took a moment to think. "Try to stay alive, don't trust anyone, always be prepared to kill, and don't stop believing in yourself. That's all I have to say about that." It was obvious to Bridget that Bless wanted to help more, but she didn't have hope. Bridget didn't take offense to that, because she herself didn't have much hope in herself.

Bridget took mental notes from what Bless tells them. "That's all?"

Bless sighed and nodded. "That's all I have to say for now." She sighed again and got up from her chair and left the room.

Charlatan frowned as Bless left the room. "I wonder what's up with her?"

Bridget knew something was up with Bless. She couldn't picture what was happening with her though. Bridget knew she was beyond stressed, but Bridget's gut feeling is making her feel uncertain that's really what's happening with Bless. "Yeah, me too…"

"If you'll excuse me," Charlatan sighed and opened a book from the table and started reading. "I'm going to read to pass up some time." Clearing his throat he started reading.

Ellie, District Ten's escort, entered the room. The first thing Bridget always noticed was her burning red hair. "Hello you two, do you know where Bless went?"

Bridget bit her lip. "Yeah, she just left the room a few minutes ago."

Ellie nodded with a frown. "Oh dear, this girl is always on the run. I'll catch up with you guys later. First I need to find Bless."

Bridget nodded and waved. "See you later."

Looking down, Bridget crossed her arms. "So Charlatan…I was wondering if we'll be allies?"

Charlatan closed his book and looked up at Bridget. "Sure Bridget. You remind me a lot of my daughter."

Bridget was puzzled. "Your daughter?"

Charlatan laughed. "It's not normal for a tribute to have kids. I understand that you are shocked."

Bridget laughed. "You probably never expected a little girl like myself to be your partner did you?"

Charlatan shook his hand smiling. "No I did not, but that doesn't mean anything."


Pandora Castellanos, 20

District Two Tribute C


Pandora was anxious, she couldn't wait to see what would happen in the coming weeks. She volunteered her life to prove to her family she was worthy of being victorious. That's all she ever wanted, to appear worthy in her mother's eyes. And there was nothing that was going to stop her until she was. Not even Jun stood in her way. Jin was just eleven years old, but Pandora saw a fighter deep inside her. She may not be sided as a "career" but she certainly was the strongest of all the tributes in her age group.

Pandora exhaled, Karl Gadise, District's Two's victor and mentor, was banging his head on the wall. Pandora rarely worked with Karl when they trained at the academy, and Pandora always knew he was a perfectionist. And he wanted his tributes to be just as perfect as him.

Karl stopped banging his head on the wall and groaned. "I can't believe who I'm mentoring this year. Someone please pitch me awake."

Luciana, our mentor, rolled her eyes as she was waiting with me and Jin awkwardly. "Karl, give them a chance. You need to stop being uptight all the time."

Karl twisted around and looked up and down and Pandora and Kin. "Look, I don't have time for this. I need to have a drink." Sighing, Karl left for the bar cart.

Luciana shook her head. "Don't listen to them you two. He's always acted like this. It's not about you guys, I promise you that."

Pandora nodded. "I don't care what he thinks. Mentor or not I know what I'm capable of." Jin stood up and stormed out of the main cart, ignoring Luciana and Pandora.

Luciana watches as Jin leaves the maincart.. "Oh my- we should give her some space."

Pandora nodded "I planned on it anyways. Now, if you excuse me I'm going to find Karl."

Pandora stood up and left the main cart. She walked into the bar cart where Karl was drinking his usual glass of whiskey.

Pandora crossed her arms. "Mr. Gadise, can you please give me time to speak with you?"

Turning his head around, Karl stared at Pandora. "Fine."

Pandora sat down in the seat next to Karl. "Why don't you like me Karl? Is it something I did?"

Karl sighed and placed his glass down. "It's not you, it's me. I'm just stressed out and I can't deal with all of this."

Pandora nodded. "Look, I understand your frustration, but you shouldn't be taking it out on me, nor Jin and Luciana. It's not their fault to begin with."

Karl sighed. "I know, I know. I'm trying to get under control. Can you leave me be for the time being?"

Pandora sighed, but nodded. "Yes of course. I hope to see you later."

Pandora smiled slightly and got up from her seat. Clearly it'll take awhile, if not the whole journey for Karl to understand the situation and help. But that didn't matter, she was going to get her way no matter what she had to do. Pandora left the bar cart, proceeding back towards the main cart.

The main cart was completely without occupants when Pandora returned. Finally she had some alone time. Sinking back into her chair, Pandora finally noticed how beautiful the train's surroundings were. The crystal chandelier, the gold encrusted wallpaper, the beautiful furniture and paintings, everything on the cart was beautiful down to the tiniest details. The creamy scented air even smelled delightful.

Pandora turned her head when Luciana entered the cart. "Where's Jin?"

Luciana sighed and shook her head. "Jin wants time to herself. Let's both give her the rest of the journey to rest."

Pandora nodded. "Yeah, she really does need time to herself."

Did Pandora care for her District partner? In some way yes. But does that mean she'll get in her way at victory? Absolutely not. Pandora was going to win, and nobody was going to stop her. Her family was watching over her, judging her every move. Pandora has had enough judgment. She no longer wanted her family to judge her. It was her time to shine.

Now, how was she going to get her way? Pandora knew just the way to be led to victory. She had to take advantage of everyone. Now she knows taking advantage of people is wrong, but she has always done so, even as a young girl.


Odette Maverick, 23

District Fourteen Tribute C


The Capitol trains appeared so beautiful for Odette. They always admired beautiful art, and everything on the train was art at its finest. It reminded of how beautiful the Capitol citizens dressed whenever they came to watch Odette perform in musicals. She admired the fashion Capitol citizens wore, and besides why wouldn't she?

Despite being reaped for the Hunger Games, Odette wasn't afraid. She was ready to return back home. She was ready to return home to Matthew and James. They weren't gonna let their emotions get the best of them, because they were going to return home. They hadn't seen their district partner since the reaping, this only strengthened their beliefs that they would return home.

Odette had always loved the stage, so they were going to put on a show for all of Panem. Odette knew that most of the Capitol citizens had either seen or heard of Odette Maverick. Odette was a star back at home, no one could deny it. They had to make a plan, a stretched out plan. Odette never stepped foot onto a stage for an audition without having a plan and a backup plan. But what was the plan for something as life threatening as the hunger games? That's when it hit them. The first thing that they were going to do was to get help from their mentor. Now, Odette knew that was a pretty normal move, but they've always thought out of the box.

Mickey entered the room just as Odette finished up their plan. Odette saw themselves in their mentor. Mickey was as big a star as Odette was before he was reaped for the one hundred eighty sixth annual hunger games. Even though Mickey made it out, he never returned to the stage. Which was disappointing to Odette. But Odette knew he had his reasons, and she wasn't going to judge him.

Odette got up from their seat and walked over to Mickey. "Hey there, party bear." Odette chuckled playfully.

Mickey chuckled softly. "Oh boy, what do you need, Odette?"

This was Odette's chance to put a start to their plan. "I was wondering if you have any tips for me? I know, I know, you probably get this question thousands of times over the past decade."

Mickey smiled slightly, shaking his head. "No, no, don't worry it's fine for you to ask me questions. That's one of the reasons I'm here, you know." Mickey put his hand through his blonde hair.

Odette grinned brightly. Looks like things were going their way. "Alright, well whatcha wanna know about me first? Assuming that you want to know my skill assets."

Mickey nodded. "Oh, yeah- Of course. What are your best skills and worst skills?"

Odette took no time to think because she already knew what their best and worst skills were. "Well I'm decently skilled in fighting considering I had to learn how to in a play production, I'm flexible, and I'm really agile. I'm not that great as plant knowledge because I failed a senior year herbology class, and I'm not the best at keeping "

Mickey nodded after listening politely to Odette. "Yes, those are all good skills that we can both work with. Are you ready to start discussing strategies?"

Odette smiled brightly. "I was born ready."


With that- that ends our first train ride chapter! I've hoped you enjoyed this chapter like I have while writing it! I want to let you all know I'll be available more after my summer classes and, which is in two days. So expect more updates after that!

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