This time I wrote a few POVs of Tributes in alliances before they were solidified. I didn't write all the meetings because of that. Tritium is not currently allied but I wrote his because I didn't get his training info until after I wrote the chapter.

NOTE: Is Olivine's submitter here or did she get submitted by someone else?

Aversa Jewel POV

I needed some groupies. I hated being just one of the crowd. I needed someone who would make me look better. Someone I knew I could beat in the end. Of course, that was everyone, but I didn't need to strain myself.

The first one I knew I wanted to ally with was Venus. Frankly, I wanted to be on her good side, since she was really scary. She was allied with another girl, so I'd ask if I could join later. Her other ally also looked strong, so I needed someone to balance them out. I didn't want anyone to think I was the weak link in the alliance. I needed an ally who would be the first target in a breakup, so I could run while they killed her.

Arielle seemed like a logical choice. Nothing about her Games impressed me, and she didn't have the skills I had. I found her sitting with the loud girl from Four. They were joking around and laughing. What a waste of time. I took a seat next to them.

"I'm looking for allies. You interested?" I asked. They looked up at the interruption and stopped their joking. The other girl frowned.

"Is anyone else-" she started.

"Not you," I broke in. She pulled her head back and cocked it. I turned away and looked at Arielle, who looked at the other girl and back at me.

"Oh, how could I say no?" she said. "You just have so many skills." The other girl looked at her with horror and Arielle shrugged.

"Good choice. I'll find us some more," I said. I left to find Venus and her ally. Arielle and her friend started whispering as soon as my back was turned, and soon they were laughing again. Seems I'd made a good choice.

Tritium Paine POV

My time in the Games had changed me all over, but so many of my fellow competitors stayed the same. That's why I wound up in a psychology class, trying to understand them. It felt weird learning about the human mind from a Capitolite man whose own seemed entirely different from mine, but maybe he wasn't as nutty as he looked.

Probably the most important thing I learned was rationalization. It's easy to think of people as either good or evil. Really, we all think we're the good guy and the hero of the story. That's why some people find it so easy to kill other people. They say it's not really killing, for whatever reason. More often, they say it's because the people they killed aren't really people. People love to categorize. It's always "us" and "them", and "they" aren't worth as much as "us". It's okay to kill "them". For most Careers, there were Careers and cannon fodder. When there were only Careers left, there was the main character and the side characters. It's obvious who's the most important, and who can't die, even if that means killing other people.

What I most wanted to learn was body language and nonverbal communication. I never saw it coming when my allies killed me. This time around, I wanted to know what they thought of me. The instructor talked about "microexpressions", but said they're too inconsistent and most people just end up with false positives. He said a better way to gauge intent was with a few simple tests. Most people add uneccesary details when they lie, and they tend to shift their gaze. Perversely, man people act vulnerable before they attack. They try to goad you into attacking first so they can have the moral high ground.

All the lessons seemed so esoteric and theoretical. It was hard to imagine using them out in the field. But the most important part of a fight is knowing your enemy. After all I'd been through, I didn't really want to kill anyone else. But it was the only way I could get home. The instructor was right about at least one thing. I was already rationalizing, and it was easier than I'd ever imagined.

Whyte Roberts POV

I didn't want to miss Vera. I wanted to be mad at her. But everything seemed to remind me of her. I'd turn to point out a ridiculous Capitol hairdo, and she wasn't there. There were so many jokes and pranks she was missing out on. I felt like peanut butter without the jelly.

I had to stop moping around. I wasn't just Vera's friend. I was my own person. I could be whatever I wanted. I could totally reinvent myself if I pleased. I didn't want to go that far, but maybe I would change a few things. I needed to kick up my game if I was going to last with only other Careers. I'd never wanted to be too brutal around Vera. She was about the only one who liked me, and I didn't want to scare her off. I didn't have to worry about that with Floki. There probably wasn't anything that would gross him out. I wasn't going to go all bloodthirsty Career, but I didn't have to pull back, either.

I was starting to realize I didn't have to prove anything or please anyone. I could be me, as unpalatable as most people found that. I could be my erratic and hyper self. I didn't have to stay chained down to a Career camp. If Floki and I didn't end up allying with anyone else, we could move around all over. We'd have to, since we'd be one of the smaller alliances.

I'd been through two Games with Vera. This one was going to be entirely different, and it was sort of exciting. Anything could happen. In the best-case scenario, I'd win this one and she'd win hers, and then we could be together again. Until then, I would enjoy finding out more about me, myself, and I.

Odeda Titan POV

I hadn't seen much of Akari since we all got resurrected. She spent most of her time with Quora, watching older Games and studying them. I was surprised when she came up to me.

"The pack is sort of messed up, since we're all Careers, but Venus and I are allying. We're trying to get the strongest of the Careers. Are you interested?" she asked. I had planned to go it alone, but she was on to something. There may not be one clear Career pack this time, but there were sure to be a lot of alliances. Any loners were likely to be the first targets.

"Actually, that sounds like a good idea," I said. It probably wouldn't last long, but a little security wouldn't hurt. I didn't trust Akari, and I definitely didn't trust Venus. I'd wait until the alliances were starting to break up and I'd leave. I preferred to work alone, and as soon as it was safe I would.

It was going to be good to be on the hunting side of things. Instead of constantly looking over my shoulder for the others, I could seek them out and kill them myself. That was the best part of the Games. I was almost happy I died the first time, since it meant I got a chance to do it twice. If something got messed up and I died again, it was nice to know I could come back for a third sweep. I could keep killing and killing for as long as Panem existed. It was like I'd already won.

ALLIANCE POSTINGS:

Troy: With Steel, seeking Olivine

Aversa: With Akari and Venus

Cierra: With Steel

Floki: With Whyte, seeking Hunter and Priscilla

Marley: Seeking Olivine

Lottie: Allying with Marley

Ole: Seeking anyone

Tally: Seeking anyone

Sometimes it's hard for me to tell if an alliance is agreed on by both sides, so if something is wrong tell me and I'll change it.