Lane Freely, 17.
District 7 Male.


Lane had always been used to others relying on him. His brothers and mother to keep their family afloat, his friends to watch their backs and keep them out of trouble, and now there was nobody to rely on him but himself. He'd never been good at relying on himself, never confident enough or sure enough in his abilities.

But now he'd have to be. Now there was nobody but himself, and if Lane didn't make it home, who would look after his family?

"Good mornin," Qarza mumbled blearily as he pushed his way through the room, taking a seat across from Lane at the large dining room table, depositing a large white cat onto the table as he slid down into his seat.

"Morning," Lane mumbled in response, the cat padding across the table to sit in front of him, staring him down expectantly.

"You can pet him, don't worry, he's friendly," Qarza said, smiling at the cat, "Aren't you Rommie?"

The cat meowed loudly, as if responding to Qarza's question, Lane reaching over to run a hand through his soft white fur. Romulus began purring loudly, jumping off the table into his lap.

"I think he likes me."

"Of course he does, little traitor," Qarza muttered, as an Avox placed a mug of something hot in front of him, steam rising through the cool morning air. Sunlight poured through the large windows on either side of the train car, only broken by the occasional clump of trees or outcropping of rock. They were far away from Seven, farther than Lane ever thought he would go, but he was here nonetheless, rocketing towards the Capitol to be shown off like a prize. And following that, he'd be thrown into an Arena to die in front of the entire country, for the Capitol's entertainment.

Lane had often thought nothing could get worse- nothing could get worse than the sinking he'd felt when his father died by his own hand. Yet somehow, life found a way to further screw him over, everything only devolving further. There was a likely chance Lane would die on TV for his entire family to see. He couldn't protect his brothers here, but he could do his very best not to die horribly in front of them.

"Qarza, your little rat woke me up," Mor grumbled, stalking into the room, with Qarza's second cat in hand.

"Ah.. I should've warned you…" Qarza snorted, Mor glaring at him until his face fell and he stood to retrieve the smaller cat, "I'm sorry though."

"Whatever," Mor muttered, slinking to a chair nearby. She was so short compared to Lane, even when she was sitting, he felt taller than usual compared to the girl.

"So.. what's on the agenda for today?" Lane asked, turning to Qarza who stood nearby, a squirming Athena cradled in his arms.

"Well, we'll be on the train for a few more hours and- Ow what the fuck!" Qarza yelped, dropping the cat who'd just bit him, unimpressed by his attempts to hold onto her. Athena jumped from his arms, skittering off under one of the nearby couches.

"She doesn't like that, I guess," Mor snorted, both her and Lane laughing at their mentor's misfortune.

"No I guess not… anyways, we'll get to the Capitol around midday, then you two go into prep."

"Prep?"

"Yeah, they prep you and get you ready for the chariot procession," Qarza nodded, "It's not as bad as most make it out to be, trust me!"

Lane... disagreed with this; being on TV in front of the whole of Panem was bad enough, but they had to be dressed in ridiculous costumes on top of that? It sounded humiliating. Lane was used to his fair share of ridicule, but this was far worse.

"Just fuckin' peachy," Mor muttered, voicing Lane's exact thoughts in that moment. Lane didn't know what to think of his District partner, he'd heard of her, as she was one of the best workers at the log mill, with a record he doubted anybody would ever break, and she was just as much of a hardass as the rumors said she was. Lane didn't trust her- certainly not, but she could make a strong ally if he could get past her thorny exterior.

"It's not that bad really!" Qarza insisted, returning to his spot at the table. Romulus jumped up from Lane's lap and back onto the table, returning to sit next to Qarza. Lane sighed at the creature's departure, as it was quite comforting, albeit odd that a Victor was allowed to bring cats onto the train. Lane figured it was probably just a perk of being a Victor, being able to do whatever you wanted. If he won, he'd have enough to care for his entire family, without having to work another day in his life- without having to put his life at risk. He'd be able to send Chris to a better school, pay for anything and everything they could ever want or need.

Maybe this wasn't a curse, maybe it was a blessing in disguise. All he had to do was win, and they'd be set. And sure, he might have to kill people along the way, but that wasn't anything he hadn't done before.

Lane's hands weren't clean, what was adding more crimson to the mix if it would provide for his family?

"If you say so," Mor rolled her eyes, as the Avoxes began bringing platters of food out to the table, heaps of food enough to feed his whole family for a week.

"I do!" Qarza nodded enthusiastically, "I do say so! And now we're gonna eat breakfast because I said so!" Qarza's comment elicited another snort from Mor as they began putting food on their plates, Lane sitting quietly as he thought.

He was set, all he had to do was win. No small feat, but if Lane could do it… they'd be set for the rest of their lives. He couldn't leave his family without somebody to provide.

And if this was his chance to give them everything they deserved, then he'd take that opportunity in stride.


Alfalfa "Alfie" Fielder, 17.
District 9 Male.


Alfalfa Fielder hadn't thought his life could get any worse, but he wasn't surprised it did. There was always something, somebody waiting, every time things started to look up, to push him back down again. His spirit- his pride -had long since been broken, so what was the point in trying anymore? Why was fate still so cruel to him, beating him while he was down? Alfie didn't know, he just knew he was resigned to whatever would come for him next.

How could he not be? There was nothing but the endless, crushing life he led, that he didn't even bother to fight against, so why start fighting now?

"So.. I'd like to propose a deal," Nugua said, sliding into the chair next to him, the incessant blare of the TV fading further into the background as she turned the volume down.

"A deal?"

"A deal, yes. We've known each other a very long time, and I know we haven't always gotten along the best, but.. I think we should be allies."

"Mmm, really? You want me as an ally?"

"I mean, yeah, why wouldn't I? It's easier since we already know each other, and I know what you're capable of."

"Capable isn't the word I'd use," Alfie laughed bitterly, "I mean, if I was capable I wouldn't have gone to jail."

"Certainly, but you're capable of more than that, and I'd be happy to have you as my ally. I've seen how you treat the kids back home, you're kind. You don't deserve any of this, and I think we can help each other in that Arena," Nugua said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Alfie thought about pushing it off, but accompanied by her words, it was almost comforting. It'd been a very long time since somebody had said anything that nice to him, and it'd been even longer since he'd had human contact that wasn't the prison guards pushing them around.

"I... guess. But I doubt I'm making it that far in the arena."

"Don't sell yourself so short, Alfie. We'll figure it out, and we'll do it together, alright?"

"Together. Right," Alfie nodded. Just the concept of having somebody with him, somebody he could nearly call a friend, was so foreign to Alfie. He'd lived within the same, grey walls for what felt like decades, although it was only really a few years, and now here Alfie was, in the lap of luxury in the middle of the country somewhere. He was so far from home- from Asphodel, from everyone he'd ever loved -and he almost wished he could go back

But he didn't. A single taste of freedom was more than enough, and Alfie knew he wouldn't go back home, but at least he got to be free, if just for a moment. At least he'd get to see something other than the endless grey vastness of the prison before he died. Maybe he could make something of himself in the short time he had, but Alfie doubted it.

If Alfie couldn't make something of his own life, maybe he could make sure Nugua made something of hers, his last tie to Nine, all he had left of home no matter how much he wished she wasn't here. It would be better if Alfie just... Didn't know the person he was going into the Games alongside, but Nugua was somehow both better and worse simultaneously. She was the reason Alfie was forced to pick sides between the Twelves and Nines after all. If she hadn't funneled all of the resources at the community home to the Nines, then Alfie wouldn't have been forced to steal to keep them afloat. It wasn't fair, but it was in the past, and there was no changing that.

All Alfie could do was make amends with what he was given in the present, and if that meant teaming up with Nugua, then so be it.

"So, um.. How are things at home? Is everyone okay?" Alfie asked.

"Of course they are, I've made sure of it," Nugua snorted, "I'm not stupid."

"I know, but you never know with that place."

"That's true, things change.. Fast around there."

"And… um, the Twelves?"

"Oh they integrated with the Nines easily enough. It's... A lot better than it used to be."

"That's good... Things weren't great for them before, I'm glad they're doing better," Alfie sighed, stretching out across the plush couch. He'd been.. Worried for so long about what was going on at home. Knowing that Nugua had taken them in lifted a great weight from his shoulders, and yet weighed him down just the same. Who would look after them, once Nugua was gone? Sure, there were his mothers, but they could only do so much on their meagre paycheques, and Alfie knew well enough many of the kids were forced to take tesserae out, just as he had. Nugua's business brought in enough money; they didn't have to do that so much, but she was here now, and they'd be forced to return to their old ways.

And thus, a plan began to form, in Alfie's mind. It was risky, yes but if he could get Nugua home, they wouldn't have to worry about money ever again. Sure it would come at the cost of his own life, and if Nugua found out Alfie didn't know how she'd react, but it was worth it.

What was his life even worth? Alfie would be better off dead, resting beneath the ground. He was tired, oh so tired, and if eternal rest was what took him then so be it. He'd have his rest, one way or another.

"I think I'm gonna head back to my room," Nugua yawned, stretching her arms over her head, "Maybe I can get a nap in before we get to the Capitol."

"Of course, go ahead," Alfie nodded, "Just, before you go- thank you for taking care of them for me."

"Of course," Nugua nodded, with a smile. And with that she was gone.

And with that, Alfalfa Fielder had a plan.


Jasper McCoy, 16.
District 12 Male.


Jasper McCoy had always wanted to see what was past the confines of District Twelve. All he'd ever known was Twelve, there was nothing past the borders of the District that he could see without the fence blocking him, the beauty of the world meshed over by the crisscrossing wires. But here, here nothing could interrupt him, there was nothing but Jasper, and the view outside the window. Since he'd been sitting there, they'd rocketed past looming, dark forests of trees he didn't recognize, over expanses of rolling green hills, occasionally broken by the sparking azure blue of a lake or pond. Now they were somewhere flat, with fields upon fields of waving golden grass, a wide mountain range stretching across the horizon, growing nearer with every minute.

Soon enough, Jasper would be captured again, held like an animal- caged by the Capitol. He wished he could stay here, on this train, seeing the world for what it was, but that wouldn't happen. Couldn't, unless he won the Games somehow which he couldn't do on his own, and who would want somebody like him as an ally? Jasper was nothing but useless, he'd do nothing but weigh any allies down. Jasper wished he was back in Twelve, dreaming of the world's wonders rather than witnessing the horrors of reality first hand, but no matter how much he wanted to be ignorant again he couldn't.

Reality was, Jasper was a tribute now, and there was nothing he could do about it except wait for his inevitable demise, the demise that had haunted him, followed in his wake for all his life, would finally catch up. He wouldn't go peacefully after a long content life; no he'd go out on the end of a sword by the hand of a killer trained from birth, or by somebody just trying to survive another day, and either way Jasper wouldn't blame them for it.

Despite death shadowing him all his life, he didn't want to give in to it. No matter how fucked Jasper might be, he'd at least put up a fight.

Jasper would fight. Just as Ethan and Morgan did, he would follow their footsteps as best he could. They weren't here now to protect him anymore, Jasper was alone, but just because Ethan and Morgan weren't here didn't mean they weren't with him. He'd do his best, for them, to fulfill his parents' wishes. They'd wanted to see the world, and they'd died for it, so Jasper would go in their stead.

He'd promised, after all, and he'd never been one to break them. He'd promised Ethan and Morgan he'd do his best, and so he would, and even if he did die, he'd die knowing he did the best he could rather than dying with regrets.

A knock rang at the door, startling Jasper from his position by the window. He'd pulled one of the chairs in his room up to the window, so he could sit and read the books in the library while watching the outside. Jasper moved the forgotten, half-open book out of his lap.

"Who's there?" Jasper asked, moving towards the door. He'd asked to not be disturbed, and their mentors had agreed to give him time alone to rest, saying they'd tell the Avoxes not to disturb him, so he didn't know who could be at the door.

"It's uh- Aithne, I was wondering if we could talk?" Aithne responded, voice muffled by the thick wooden door, "Can I uh- come in?"

"No, I'll be out in a second," Jasper sighed, adjusting the collar of his shirt and smoothing down any wrinkles in his clothes before pulling the door open. Aithne was indeed there, leaning against the doorframe, looking down at him impatiently.

"What do you want?"

"Well- I wanted to talk, since I've been doing some.. Research in the mines, and I think you might know a friend of mine?"

"A friend of yours? Who?"

"Ah- her name is Ashbie, do you know her?"

Ashbie, who'd died in a rockslide just a few weeks prior? How did Aithne know her, unless it was from before they'd all gone down into the mines, but Jasper doubted that. They were kept a secret, the kids in the mines, since it wasn't technically legal, and besides that nobody cared about them. here was a reason they were orphans.

"Ashbie? Do you know her last name?" Jasper replied, squinting at Aithne. He didn't know how she knew her name, but he didn't trust her or her information one bit.

"Uh- well, no but we used to go to school together?"

"At what school? If you went to school with her, then you would've gone to school with me too."

"Oh- I mean.."

"Don't worry about it, just I know you're not being truthful, and if you're gonna lie to me I'm not gonna stand here and listen," Jasper glared up at Aithne, who still stood over him although her confidence had deflated rather quickly. Jasper didn't understand why she was lying about Ashbie, or how she even knew about her in the first place, but he didn't trust her, certainly not after this. Any hope that his District partner would ally with him had gone down the drain when she'd blatantly lied to him, and for what reason? Jasper didn't know what she wanted, or why she wanted to talk to him, but he wouldn't give anything up without good reason.

After all, the children of the mines were a secret to most of the District. If he did let anything slip, it could come back around and hurt Jasper's friends- his family, and the last thing he wanted was to put them into more danger.

"Listen, I can't tell you how I know this, but I do, and I just want to talk," Aithne pleaded, "I just want to know what's really going on in those mines."

"I can't tell you anything you don't already know. Now if you'll please excuse me, I'm going back to my book," Jasper sighed, ducking back into his room, closing the door in Aithne's face. He felt bad about doing something so impolite- after all, his mother had raised him to have some decent manners, but Jasper didn't think he could handle the stress of somebody lurking over his shoulder constantly, hounding him about things he didn't want to talk about. Maybe she'd get the hint and leave him alone after this, and if not, he'd just have to be more firm like Morgan always told him.

Jasper had vowed to do his best, and so he would, no matter how much this interaction worried him. He would push it from his mind, and keep moving forwards as best he could.