Ryena Shore,16, District 4 female

"Oh my god shut up!" I giggle as Caspian is standing up doing a funny pose while I sit against the sofa.

"I'm serious though!" He protests as he jumps back on the sofa next to me.

"A shark really bit your ass? How does that even begin to happen!?" I laugh even more.

"Well you know, I'm just scuba diving like i usually do and I just feel like a slight nudge on my backside, I didn't pay it any mind at first but I turn around, see a shark behind me and that's when I realize, he just bit my behind!" He explains to me.

"I see a giant shark behind me, that'll be the last thing that crosses my mind, you didn't like freak out or anything?" I finally manage to compose myself.

"Ah I've been down in the sea so many times, was a little freaky at first but I eventually got used to it, feels like I belong down there now, besides the 'bite' felt more like a love tap anyways!" he takes takes a sip of his sparkling water.

"I'm not the only one then!" I say way more excitedly than anticipated.

"Huh?" he questions.

"Uh I'm always kind of embarrassed to tell people this but, whenever I'm under the water, I feel like a mermaid, often I just want to stay down there, live the aquatic life and uncover all of the mysteries and wonders." I admit and I expect him to laugh or even make fun of me but he only gives me an understanding nod.

"Yeah I know the feeling, it'd be cool if we were just born as a marine species, it will be pretty awesome to just live down there." He agrees with me.

"I know right, and we can even bring all our loved ones with us too." I suggest and his smile seems to fade a little afterwards, did I say something wrong? Still though, I…enjoy his company. Speaking to him made me calm down quite a bit, like I wasn't even going into the arena in the first place. I know how this is, but maybe it will be ok to just relax a little while i still can. He none the less seems a little uncomfortable with what I just said but I notice the ring on his finger and it looks like an engagement ring.

"So Ryena ready to scope out our competition?" He suddenly changes the subject.

"Right now?" I give him an odd look.

"Yeah, why not? I especially want to see our allies, maybe a tribute we can bring along into our alliance." He grabs the remote.

"We usually do those stuff when our mentors come…" I counter.

"We can get a head start." He insists and flicks on the television, why is he acting so weird all of a sudden?

"Hey Caspian…" I give him a worried look.

"Hmm?" He looks over at me.

"You seem a bit…tense, was it something I said?" I ask and he remains silent for a moment.

"Well, looks like I made it too obvious, sorry about that." He apologizes.

"No, you don't have to apologize, If anything I should be apologizing." I insist.

"It's ok, I've...lost someone close to me recently and yeah sometimes I just remember them and start acting all strange." He says in a more serious tone but he's still trying to remain in high spirits.

"I'm sorry…" I apologize.

"It's fine, you didn't do anything wrong." He smiles.

"I don't know what loss feels like, but my own sister wished death on me right before I left." I gaze at the floor for a moment and think back to that moment of my own sister telling me that and honestly, it's hitting me pretty hard, knowing that she really hates me that much.

"The one I met? The one that said I was so hot and wanted to use my butt as a pillow?" He casually asks and I can't help but sigh and roll my eyes, he actually did hear all of that, oh god…

"That was my younger sister Heidi and just to let you know I had nothing to do with any of that." I clear my name immediately and he only smirks but nods.

"I have another sister though, we're twins and we used to be very close but she just started hating me as I trained and got stronger and now it's to the point where she wants me dead…" I continue.

"I doubt she really meant that." He states.

"You don't even know her though." I respond.

"True but what I do know is that while you may want someone to do well, no matter how much you try to hide it, it hurts a bit knowing they're doing better than you. It makes you question yourself, what you did wrong, what you could've done better and it can make you bitter and also envious and that's usually when awful words come out of someone even when they don't mean it." He explains to me.

"Maybe you're right...all we ever did was fight and argue, and it was over the most silliest stuff, like we fought over a freaking swimsuit yesterday, but I just wish things could go back to how they used to be." I lament.

"Well maybe it still can!" He says rather optimistically.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Well if you win, you'll get to return home and from there you two can work on restoring your relationship!" he proclaims.

"Well yeah…but for that to happen…" I hesitate.

"I'll have to die? Yeah I know!" He completes my sentence but he still seems to be so jolly .

"How can you say that so, happily? you're not afraid?" I frown a little.

"Well a part of me is but it's not like that's going to change the outcome of whatever happens, but use her harsh words as strength. I bet it sucks hearing that from your own sister but use it as fuel. Fight your way back home and hug your sister, tell her you love her and that'll be enough for her to release any kind of animosity she's holding, but I don't think she truly hates you!" He tells me and I feel my eyes begin to water but I have to fight it off, I don't want to break down in front of him…

"Thanks Caspian…" I thank him, he gives me a nod and that's when the door opens and our two mentors walk in. We're short a victor cause Maria Waters was brutally murdered by Vendetta last year and there's some theories that the capitol got rid of her as a result. Our mentors this year are Tharja and Vanity, both are middle aged, Vanity looks nice but Tharja has a very smug look on her face, as usual.

"Well at least you two don't appear to be all dark and gloomy like those two brats from last year." Tharja immediately comments.

"Ryena, nice to meet you." I sarcastically say, she's already starting to rub me the wrong way.

"Tharja, but I'm sure you already know that." She flips her hair and struts past me.

"Caspian Delamar! Pleasure to meet you ma'am!" Caspian extends his hand but she scoffs and walks over to the refreshment table, I always knew she was an arrogant bitch, but she's working on my last nerve right now!

"Vanity! It's nice to meet you Ryena!" Vanity extends his hand and I shake it, at least one of them has proper manners.

"Caspian!" Vanity turns to Caspian with a wide grin on his face, these two know each other?

"Hello sir! Have we met before?" Caspian seems a bit confused.

"Well not personally but my son comes by your shop all the time haha, wonderful finally meeting you though!" Vanity laughs as they give each other a firm handshake, yeah that's right, He's a Delamar, I've heard the seafood market they own is all the rage, never tried it out myself though.

"Really now? Well I'll be darned!" Caspian laughs along with him and they continue engaging in their conversation but I realize I've just been standing right in between them the entire time like a weirdo so I exit myself out of their way and look over at Tharja who's arrogantly blushing up her cheeks while sipping her drink, she's likely well into her 40s yet still acts like an immature teen.

"So Vanity, looks like you're getting along with these kids quite well, so I'll leave babysitting duty to you!" she proclaims.

"Oh…you're not mentoring?" Vanity looks over at her.

"This is the only reason I'm here!" She raises up her glass of booze and that's when I've had enough, so I approach her and she gives me a glare.

"Can I help you with something short stuff?" she growls at me and is about to raises her glass to her lips but I immediately smack it out of her hand, the drink shatters across the floor and Caspian and Vanity's happy laughs come to an end.

"What the fuck you think you doing!" she immediately jumps out of her chair but I don't back down from her, she doesn't scare me.

"First off Tharja, just like I'm addressing you by your name, you will address me by mines and don't you ever call me 'short stuff' again cause I'll put you flat on your ass." I threaten her and she gives me a shocked look.

"Oh really well you sure got a lot of shit to talk, you forgetting who I am, how many people I killed who you're nothing compared to? You need to take a step or two back." She fires back at me.

"And you need to act your damn age, your child years are long behind you so how about you act like a proper role model for those around you. If you're just here for booze and to spread your arrogance and misery around then we don't need you here." I state.

"Alright ladies, that's enough. Ryena and Caspian why don't we sit down and take a look at the reapings!" Vanity tries to de-escalate the situation.

"Yeah maybe another tribute there will have a bigger butt than me!" Caspian comments and I roll my eyes having to force myself to contain my laughter, he is such a clown!

"Yeah good idea." I agree with Vanity and the three of us sit across the sofa as he flicks on the televsion. I look at Tharja again and she's looking at me as well but she doesn't look very arrogant anymore, she's only slowly nodding her head, giving me a look of respect.

Acer Deluca,17, District 3 male

"Wow Spectra! Look at all these goodies here!" Emmerane bounces up and down as she looks at all of the refreshments scattered across the table and I can't help but feel shivers down my spine, This creepy girl has been talking to 'Spectra' the entire time we've been on this train, I'm guessing that must be like her imaginary friend or something? It benefits me though so I continue sitting in the corner of the train just hoping she'll continue talking to spectra so she doesn't notice me.

"Hmmn how does that taste Spectra?" I hear her crunching something but hear her immediately spit it out her mouth afterwards.

"You're right, that was pretty gross…let's try something else!" I hear her say. I just want these mentors to hurry up and arrive, my life just feels like it's in constant danger when I'm around her. Something about her is just very off, like I know she's a total nutcase but there's something else I can't entirely pinpoint...

To try and get her out of my mind, I pick out a book from the shelf of books we have here and start reading about toxins. I already have some knowledge about this but it wouldn't hurt to learn even more, I know I might not stand much of a chance at all in a head on fight with a lot of these other tributes so I need to find alternative ways to neutralize them.

In the worst case scenario, I can heal myself from any mild wound but it's only a one time use…

I clutch the small vial around my neck and I can't even ignore the creepy laughs coming out of this girl.

"These really are all gross Spectra, like I agree, we should totally slow roast that tasty looking boy over there, he probably tastes like pulled pork with chocolate syrup!" She snickers to herself and I feel more chills coming down my spine, oh no…is she going to kill me, and did she just say I probably taste like pulled pork with chocolate syrup!? Is there anyone out there who actually eats that!?

I slowly turn my head around to look at her and she's only standing completely still grinning at me and I gasp before turning back to my book, mentors please come…please hurry up and show up!

I pretend I'm reading but I'm so terrified and my heart is beating so quickly that I can't even focus!

None the less I continue trying to ignore her and she hums some creepy tune for a little while but she suddenly goes quiet afterwards. I feel more shivers running down my spine and I slowly turn around behind me to see if she's still there, but she's gone! Where did she even go that quickly? Whatever maybe she just went into her room to take a nap or something, as long as she's away from me!

I look at my book and I feel like I can finally relax myself a bit now that she's gone and I even manage to read a whole page before turning to the next.

"malum amet…" I suddenly hear in my ears and I jump out of my chair letting out a bloodcurdling scream as I fall onto the floor and I see this creepy girl only shaking erractically as she mumbles a bunch of words that make no sense, ok I've had it, I'm out of here! I jump up to my feet and try making a run for it but she immediately cuts me off, blocking my path.

"Emmerane wonders where her victim is going…" she mumbles, victim!?

I try to cross around her but she cuts me off yet again, what the heck!?

"Couches are faster than trains." She mumbles.

Huh? That doesn't even make any sense!

I try to sidestep her once more but she quickly blocks my path again and I back up against the wall cowering.

"L-l-look just w-what do you want? Please leave me a-alone…please!" I have to practically beg her.

"Emmerane considers asking her victim for an alliance." She practically whispers.

"A-alliance?" I give her a crazed look. She just threatened to kill me and eat me and now she wants to form an alliance? Why is she even still calling me a victim anyways if she now wants an alliance?

"Emmerane will kill her victim on the first night but an alliance still interests her!" She continues speaking in third person rubbing her hands together.

Well I respect her honesty but seriously what kind of deal is that?!

"Uh…no thanks." I answer.

"Emmerane will just have to roast marshmallows over a freezer then." She mumbles.

"What?" I give her a confused look and she pulls out a kitchen knife, what the hell!?

"Whoa! Whoa easy!" I raise my hands backing up and she does a creepy smile as she etches her way closer to me.

"You don't need a tub to cook…" she creepily drags herself across the floor making her way closer to me.

"H-hey stop!" I plead but the door swings open and it's my mentors, oh thank goodness! The mentors are the same as last year Luther and Maige.

"Meat!" Emmerane randomly blurts out.

"Great another weirdo…" Maige grumbles over to the refreshment table, I guess the other weirdo she's referring to is Zananova…

"Luther Pierce…uh what's going on here?" He asks as Emmerane is still standing across me holding a knife.

I'm too scared to say anything though…what if she slits my throat?

"DEATH!" Emmerane suddenly shouts causing me to jump.

"DEATH IS COMING! DEATH IS NEAR! DEATH IS UPON US ALL! AH HA HA HA HA HA!!" She shouts and proceeds to run several laps around the refreshment table before disappearing into the back, good I hope she stays there!

"After that crazy girl we had last year nothing surprises me anymore…" Luther shakes his head.

"Y-you guys c-came just in time! I think she was about to k-kill me!" I finally feel like I can catch my breath again. "I-I-i'm Acer D-Deluca by the way!" I nervously state.

"Yeah i've heard about you, your mother is Ulaya." He nods his head

"Y-yes, Ulaya is my mother…" i confirm.

"I see, if your medical skills are even remotely as good as hers then you'll be an invaluable ally to have." He says.

"Well…my m-mom is in a l-league of her own, but we both h-have our own skills that make us u-unique from each other." I nervously say.

"Well said Acer! Now let's take a look at those recaps, you might even be able to scout out some potential allies, if you're even looking to be in one that is." He turns on the television.

"I…I absolutely am…" I state and sit across the sofa from him as the recaps begin.

Christmas Maloney,18, District 8 male

Genevieve wipes her eyes as she walks ahead of me and reaches the train door before opening it, but she looks back over at me.

"Hey remember, we're going to talk this out alright?" she pats my shoulder and I hesitantly nod before she pulls the door open. It looks like she's been crying too, but I understand. Pretty sure she has plenty of friends and family and she doesn't want to leave them but I can see how strong she is, it kind of inspires me.

She holds the train door open for me and I hesitantly walk in.

"Thank you…Genevieve." I thank her and she nods.

"No problem Chris!" she gives me a thumbs up, I guess she just prefers to call me that but I don't mind, I guess.

I walk by a table that's literally covered in food and sweets but I pay it no mind for now, I'm not really in the mood to be eating and my body is still pretty sore from the beating my family just gave me…

"Oh shit is that chocolate!?" Genevieve shouts aloud and I turn around to look at her as she's now jogging in place and starts jumping up and down excitedly before stuffing any chocolate she can get her hands on into her mouth, wow…she must really like chocolate.

I try to zone out Genevieve's chewing noises but they are so ridiculously loud along with the comments she makes to the chocolate afterwards.

"Dammit you're so fucking good! I need another!" She speaks with a full mouth before stuffing more chocolate into it. She is going to have a serious stomach ache later…

I look at my engagement ring and think of Hank as the train is getting ready to leave. I have to find some way back though, I just have to. I don't want to put Hank through any pain especially not after everything I put Maisey through. There's not a second that goes by where I'm not thinking of her, how I broke her heart, how I got her killed, how I probably could've saved her life had I acted faster or if I just had the courage to tell her the truth without bringing her anywhere. I know both our families put us in this situation but I can't blame them, no this is all my fault.

"Alright then!" Genevieve reaches the sofa I'm sitting at and is balancing two large plates covered in chocolate, she also has a bunch of chocolate residue over her mouth and clothes, is she seriously going to eat all of this?

"Chris you don't want to eat? There's an absurd amount of shit over there!" She points to the table which is now honestly half empty and an absolute wreck after she had her fun over there.

"Maybe later, I'm not h-" I start but she lets out a very and I mean very loud belch which cuts me off.

"Crap, sorry about that Chris, so you were saying?" she grabs more chocolate and stuffs it in her mouth.

"Maybe later, I'm not really hungry right now." I repeat.

"Well you better get over there sooner rather than later cause I'll clean that whole table out!" She stuffs even MORE chocolate in her mouth, yeah I believe her too…

"So Chris, I'll start first. My mother is Kaiko Altruzara." She starts and my eyes widen a little, so that is her mother then…

"Really wow…." I mumble.

"You know her?" She asks as she licks her chocolate covered fingers.

"Well yeah, she's regarded as one of the best fashion designers. My family bought stuff from there all the time." I reveal and her eyes light up a bit,

"Ah ok, you're part of the Maloney family so it shouldn't surprise me. Anyways I lived a pretty normal life until recently when my mother's sexual temptations got the better of her." She lets out another loud burp afterwards.

"What do you mean?" I curiously ask.

"Well she slept with the mayor, his wife found out about it after my bitch of a sister opened her mouth and managed to cook up some bullshit story how my mother was a rebel sympathizer and everyone ate it all up. Peacekeepers raided my house soon after and captured my mother while me and my younger brother fled. I thought this whole time my mother was probably shipped off to the capitol to become an Avox or something but no, the mayor's wife is holding her as prisoner. That bald woman that was on the stage screaming, that was my mother." She stares at the floor and I can see her fists clench. That's who that woman was then, I didn't recognize her at all!

"I'm sorry Genevieve…" I tell her but she only shakes her head.

"Well it's your turn now Chris, let's hear it." She wipes her eyes but leaves a track of chocolate near it.

"Well for starters I'm gay." I admit and her expression doesn't change one bit.

"Ok...and?" she continues looking at me.

Wow…I almost expected her to overreact but she didn'. She actually just accepts me for who I am, I just wish everyone else can be that way.

"My family wanted to merge their business with their biggest rival so they can both benefit off of high sales, so they put together an arranged marriage between me and their rival's daughter. I've only met her a handful of times but…she was probably the most pure and nicest person I ever met and I wished I could've been happy with her but…that's not what my heart wanted. I kept the truth from her and my family for a while and just tried to play along but everything came crashing down when my brother caught me kissing another guy.

My family doesn't accept me because I 'ruined' their dreams of having a good business, not being able to marry a woman and have their grandchildren and they made it no secret. I couldn't hide anymore and I needed to tell her the truth so I took Maisey out to a restaurant and told her. She was accepting of it but she was still so heartbroken. Almost right after these gunmen came and shot the place up, I tried to protect her, but a bullet went right through her heart which killed her instantly. She didn't deserve to die…It should've been me that took that bullet but look at me just…walking away scot-free. I shouldn't be free, I shouldn't just get to be after all of this so I volunteered to get the punishment I deserve…" I hold my head down and I can't control the tears that comes down my eyes afterwards.

"But Chris, you didn't do anything wrong, hell you handled yourself pretty well. I commend you for that." She pats my shoulder and some chocolate gets on it but I don't mind.

"I tried…" I sniff.

"And that was good enough Chris, you were forced into a shitty situation and just tried to make the most of it. If your family really can't accept you cause of your sexual orientation then fuck them, like seriously FUCK THEM!" She stomps on the floor.

"If there was just some way I can bring her back though…" I lament.

"You can't look at shit that way, you can't blame yourself. Sometimes things just happens and often times it's out of your control but you find a reason to fight and you use that fucking strength to smack anyone out of your way that wants to get in your way ok?" She instructs me and I look at my engagement ring for a moment before looking back up at her.

"Yeah…ok I will." I wipe my eyes.

"Good, cause we're going to be allies and that's the kind of energy I want you to have!" She sticks out her chocolate covered hand for a high five and I just give her a high five, I can always just wash my hands afterwards, but I have an ally now…and I won't let history repeat itself and let anything happen to her!

Hello everyone! This concludes the train rides and the next chapter will be the arrival at the capitol. Like i said in the last story, some tributes may get more povs than others because there are some subplots developing that'll involve them but i still plan on showcasing each tribute as much as possible whether it's them getting a pov or being featured in another pov. As you can see, alliances are already starting to develop but i won't be making an official list until we reach the training center. Let's just say that i have quite the pairings planned and i can't wait to get around to it! Thank you so much for your reviews everyone and I'll see you all soon, till next time!

UPDATE: This chapter orgininally included 4 povs but i came to the decision to remove one of them after realizing the portrayal of one of the tributes did not fully capture the way their submitter envisioned them. These two tributes will still get an interaction at a later point however so no development will be lost!