Jersey Yeung, aged 14

The second day of training is in full swing. The outliers are growing less shy and many are no longer afraid to prove themselves as challenges to Careers. Jersey has also grown a little more familiar with weapons, to the point where they no longer hesitate to fling knives at targets and wield axes against a trainer, though they lose every single time.

Now they're standing in line for a ropes course.

Jersey isn't gonna lie; they're nervous. But Birch is squeezing their shoulder, telling them that it's fine, they can do it. He's their ally, he doesn't lie. He trust them and he wants them to prove themselves. And Jersey's nodding because they've always had no choice but to prove themselves and now is their chance.

They just think that Birch is a little more harsh on them ever since he found out what pronouns they're using this morning. But everybody is like that. One little word form Jersey about how they're not exactly a guy all the time, and everyone shies away from them.

The Careers push through to the front of the line, because of course they are more important than everyone else. Jersey makes a small hissing noise as the boy from 2 shoves them aside, then sneers in their direction. What the hell? It was their turn! But the Careers ignore Jersey as the girl from 1 scurries up the ropes course and her allies cheer her on.

Now that they've been pushed further into the line, Jersey has time to think. And they're a little nervous. They're horrible with heights and they've never climbed up something like this before. But Birch insisted and they want to prove themselves to be a good ally that's worth all the hassle, not someone who shies away from a stupid course made from taunt ropes. No, they're useful and they're trustworthy. They're gonna prove that however they can.

The Careers all finish with some exceptional times; Jersey feels a little intimidated. Across the room, Birch flashes them a grin. Right. Jersey takes a deep breath and wipes their sweaty hands on their pants. It's their time to shine.

The trainer gives them the mandatory safety talk. Don't do this. Don't do that. Jersey nods; they get it, but it doesn't make them feel any better. Maybe if the trainer just shut up so they could run up the ropes without time to feel any sort of second thoughts or regrets, that might make them feel a little braver.
"You ready, kid?"

Jersey nods again, too nervous to make any sort of noise. The rope is coarse in their hands and turns their pale skin red. It's rough and wicked and it's going to hurt.

Jersey should play it safe and just back out.

But they can't.

Not now.

And so they start to climb.

Up, up, up, and into the rhythm they slip. Right, left, right, left. As it turns out, climbing is much easier then it looks. Until Jersey comes across a series of rings hanging from steel bars and the nerves kick in. They...they have...to cross...that!?

But a small noise distracts them and Jersey looks down (oh, why did they do that, the ground is so far away) to see the Careers watching them. The girl from 1 giggles and raises a hand to cover her mouth. Her district partner shakes his head. The tributes from 2 nudge each other and whisper, pointing at Jersey. Birch's expression is unnervingly neutral. As if he's waiting for Jersey to fail. Or fall.

Whichever comes first.

Jersey grabs the first ring. It's surprisingly smooth and their sweaty hands make it hard to get a good grip. Quivering, Jersey reaches for the second ring. Now they're left hanging in the air. They stretch out their legs, but they can feel nothing underneath. Now the panic has set in.

"Come on," they say quietly to themself. "You can do this...you're almost there."
They swing themselves to the next ring, then the next. They're halfway there. They can do this.

Their hand misses.

They're falling.

Next thing they know, they're on their back staring up at the ceiling. Pain shoots through their body and Jersey bites back a scream as they cradle their leg, which took most of the damage. As they touch it, they wince in pure agony. It's broken. They can only there in a state of hurt and shock as Peacekeepers load them onto a stretcher and carry them away.

The Careers laugh over the silly little outlier kid that tried to prove themselves and only ended up as nothing but Bloodbath fodder. Jersey is doomed for sure. There is no way they'll ever be able to recover in time for the Games. Now, they'd be an easy kill. Their sentence has been handed to them.

Birch just shakes his head and goes back to training, the smallest of grins twisting onto his lips.

Woof Casino, aged 69

"Not him," Plutarch says. "He's too unpredictable."
"He can hear you, Plutarch," Cecilia hisses.
"There's too many risks involved. Risks we can't afford to take."

"We need him!" Cecilia is pleading now. "Please...I trust him! So does Tweed!"
"What does he know about the importance of the cause? What does he know about the loss of valuable life?"

More than you, Woof thinks to himself. Idiots. They think that he can't hear Plutarch badmouth him. No, he can hear every word. He just chooses not to react. Instead, he sips his coffee and hums to himself as he watches the odds of all the tributes of the 74th Hunger Games grace the big screen.

The tables around him are empty.

It's sad, because the tributes are so young this year, so they're basically worthless, no matter how many sponsors Cecilia talks to and Woof stares at, until they feel uncomfortable enough to acknowledge him. And Woof really wants to help; he always wants to help. He doesn't like watching kids die year after year. Woof may seem like a senile old man, but he's not careless.

Woof knows what it was like to stand powerless as a child died right in front of him and he'd hate to ever replicate that feeling again. It's why he spends so much time mentoring, despite the fact there are newer Victors, younger Victors, that could take over for him and leave him in peace. Plus, he's got a soft spot for kid, even though he's never had any of his own.

Woof was the oldest of six kids. One of three to make it to adulthood. Daddy got offed during the Dark Days by some sadistic Peacekeeper, Mommy struggled for a long time until the pressure of keeping her family together overcame her. Both died from a bullet to the heart, five years apart, on the same day.

It was Woof, his grandmother, his brothers, and his sisters. And every single day, they were on the verge of death.

Chintz was the second oldest, only a year younger than Woof. They were partners in crime, thick as thieves. And as much as Woof loved him, he had to agree that his brother was an idiot. Chintz died at 15, when he was caught with his hand in a Peackeeper's pocket and found himself facing the noose as a result. Woof never stopped loathing Peackeepers.

Poplin was the baby of the family. A sick but lovable baby. Woof knew what it was like to hold him in his arms, to cuddle him close to his chest. But Poplin was a sick baby and Woof's family was a poor one and he blamed himself for weeks after all he could do was sit beside Poplin and hold his baby brother as he coughed, and choked, and cried and passed on in Woof's arms.

Voile was the middle child. A bright and curious little girl. She was chatty and open-minded and loved to come up with the most whimsical of stories. She could melt hearts of steel and all her siblings loved listening to her. Woof still remembers their final conversation when he held her hand and wiped away her tears and told her "I believe in you."

She placed 19th in the 27th Hunger Games. She was 12 years old. Woof was mentoring that year, and he hated himself for the longest time afterwards.

Those siblings of Woof who weren't killed off by vengeful Peacekeepers, cruel illnesses, or bloodthirsty Careers...well...they didn't really get along. That last time Woof saw his sister Charmeuse (who became the youngest Casino sibling after Poplin died) was at his grandmother's funeral. She told him that she was planning on moving across the district to live with the son of a rebel leader after three months of dating and he called her a traitor. He wasn't invited to the wedding and she had three sons.

Sometimes, Woof thinks when he sees her walking with her infant grandson around the district, he envies Charmeuse and wishes he had said something different. Because she escaped the pain and suffering, while Woof was left behind.

The last time Woof saw his brother Batiste (who became the second-oldest Casino sibling after Chintz died) was after he won the Hunger Games. Batiste called him a murder, and he was right to an extent, and Woof had punched him. He broke off contact, Batiste married the girl of his dreams and had four children, three daughters and one son.

Sometimes, Woof thinks when he sees him and his wife holding hands and smiling at each other, he envies Batiste and wishes he had done something different. Because he escaped the pain and suffering, while Woof was left behind.

Because what does Woof have?

Every year he goes to the Capitol. Every year, two kids from District 8 cry in his arms and beg for hi help to return home. Every year, he begs for all the sponsor money he can get, but comes back empty-handed. Every year, two children die horrible, lingering deaths. Every year, he say nothign and two families stare at him with accusing looks over the little white coffins.

He's let so many families down.

He let his own family down.

But he can still help.

He hasn't given up yet.

"We trust you, Woof," Cecilia whispers when she accompanies him to meet Plutarch and Woof smiles back at her.

Took a little while, and I had a bit of a hard time figuring out what to do with Woof, but I hope you enjoy!

Note: Please remember to use the correct pronouns when referring to Jersey in this chapter.