Author's Note: This chapter was also going to include Chrisjen and Ezra's POV but I go to University this coming Sunday. I don't think I would have got their POV's completed in that week with how long they are and I am not sure how long it will take to get settled into University. So, just in case it takes a bit, here are two POV's from training to tide you over.

Frederick Loophole, 16

District Ten Male, Pair Eleven

Paired with Althea Falen, District Five

I and Althea were the last of the pairs to enter the training room, mainly because we had spent the night apart. I was still deeply embarrassed about my previous episode and shaken by Snow's words. Yet, Capitol technology meant that only me and Althea knew the truth. My wounds had already healed.

The room the Tributes stood in was colorless and dark. Every inch of ceiling, floor, and walls being made out of some grey metal. Dotted around the large room were hundreds of activities, each accompanied by their own attendant. These ranged from climbing ropes that zigzag across the ceiling to a tank full of a vast range of fish.

In the center, away from any particular station was the group of Tributes, each stood in their pairs. Wearing their black gear that proudly displayed their pair number. They formed a half circle around a short, muscular woman with striking silver eyes.

The dark haired women glared at me and Althea as we joined the crowd like she had been waiting for hours. It was a few minutes at most. Once we had taken our spot next to Andrew and Chrisjen, she cleared her throat and began.

"You may think that this year will be different. After all, there will be two victors. However, do not let the twist lure you into false security. In a few weeks, anywhere from two to seven, twenty-two of you will be dead." Her voice was harsh, like sandpaper on a chalkboard, her words clearly revised and rewritten many times to captivate the audience. Even the Careers seemed to be listening intently. "As I always say, who that is will depend on the skills you learn over the next three days. Yet, do not head straight for a sword. Although a useful weapon in a fight, it will offer little help during a storm or dehydration. Most years, ten percent of Tributes die from infection, twenty-percent from dehydration. The elements are far more deadly than any Tribute."

I shifted awkwardly as she said this. Growing up in Ten, there wasn't much you learned in the form of survival. I had a pretty good head on me for what was edible and I had more survival skills than both. However, Ten was not the best place to learn this. Water came from two wells, either end of the District. Plants were far and few between and almost anything edible came from a form of livestock. At least in my experience anyway. The section of Ten I lived would have been a sandy wasteland if not for the population and there was a reason you hardly saw Arenas with the same landscape.

"Rules!" Our head trainer barked, shaking all of us back into attention. "They are simple, few and must be followed. Fighting with the other Tributes is not permitted. Save it for the Arena." Althea glanced up at me with these words. Lucky for her, she didn't hold her gaze long. "You also must stay within your pairs, thirty-minutes is permitted for bathroom breaks of activities requiring separation. Lastly, you will be required to complete four exercises. The assault course, hand to hand combat station, the climbing station and monkey bars. After these are completed, you are free to spend your time on whatever you require. You are dismissed."

As the trainer walked away, the low rumble of chattering echoed through the room as pairs started to talk about what stations would be the best to start with. I myself looked around at the compulsory activities and sighed. My heart was drawn to hand to hand combat, it was my strongest suit. However, aside from the fact Althea would be beaten to a pulp but the trainer and show me up, it was a senseless move. If I was to perform badly at the other three stations, then even my impressive efforts with hand to hand combat would be out-shadowed by my shortcomings. If I was to do it last, I could redeem myself of any failures. That left three more to choose from.

"Are you okay?" Althea asked, trying to look for a scar on my head.

"Yeah, I hardly did any damage." That was a lie and the girl knew it, I dragged a knife into my forehead, it didn't exactly leave a graze.

"I was just worried, it looked fairly bad, I was worried. Y'know, you wouldn't make it?" I should have been angry at her words, that I would foolishly kill myself. However, my mind was elsewhere.

"You are in the Hunger Games, you should want people dead?" I grumbled. Althea just smiled in reply.

"I guess so. Well, what do you want to do first?" The subject change caught me off guard and it took me a few seconds to find my words.

My blue eyes darted around the room until I saw Akhal and Niko heading towards the monkey bars.

"Monkey bars, looks like the easiest." Althea didn't share my thoughts on the station as with a small whimper, she agree and trailed after me.

When we got there, I was thankful to find myself behind Akhal in the already short que, Niko, stretching in front of her. As Althea trailed in behind me, having to push in front of Noelani and Ellie, I tapped the blonde girl on the shoulder.

Akhal jumped as she turned to look at me, her grey eyes visibly calming when she saw it was me. In the few seconds, we made silent eye contact, I found myself looking deeper into her looks that I had on the train. She wasn't the prettiest girl ten had to offer nor was she the ugliest. The same applied within the Tributes. Then again, maybe it was the nose. Her rather large, crooked nose. Other than that, she had a well formed, hourglass figure, crystal clear grey eyes, plump lips and thick, golden blonde hair and a few freckles that dotted her sharp cheeks. A girl I would sadly be punching below my weight with but a girl, for the sake of going home, I wouldn't mind being with.

She looked behind me at Althea and smiled. "You okay?" She asked, Althea went to speak when I pulled Akhal's arm, bringing her attention back to me.

"We are fine," I said quickly, watching the line vanish before my eyes. "You and Nicholas?"

Akhal gave a small nod, glancing back at the distracted boy. "Yeah, slept better than I thought we would-"

"That's wonderful!" I said, forcing a smile onto my face. Akhal just laughed at my efforts.

"Are you okay, you seem skittish?" Akhal asked as Nicholas got ready to take his turn. Even if I would have told her, she wouldn't have believed me. Hey, Snow says you are my only chance of going home, so here I am, just forget that time I upset you on the train. No, I needed to be more smooth than that.

"Yeah, I just need to talk to you-"

"Next!" the attendant shouted to Akhal as Nicholas swung off the final monkey bar.

I swung back, grabbing Althea by the shoulders and placed her infront of Akhal. "Here, Althea will go first!" Neither girl had time to object before the attendant barked her order again, causing Althea to race to the starting position.

Akhal turned back to me with her lips pierced. "Quick then," she grumbled with a small hint of venom.

Not having time to plan out my speach, I pulled her ear towards my mouth and word vomited. Utterly embarrassing.

"Well, as you know, I have to go back to Five and I really don't want to-"

"Is there anyway you can swap partners?" Akhal offered.

"Not swap, kill, that apparently is the only way-"

"What-"

"Anyway, even if I did that, none of the other girls would get me home-"

"What about one of the guys?"

I scrunch my face up. "I am not marrying a guy-anyway, no other girl will get me home, aside from you."

"What are you asking of me?" She questioned, Althea, let out a small scream as the monkey bars started to swing. Akhal turned to look but I quickly pulled her face back towards me.

"Win with me-"

"But that would mean Nicholas would have to die, he is a nice guy-"

"So what? Think about it, both Tens win, we both get to go back home. Sure we have to get married but I am sure we could work something out?" I sounded a lot more desperate than I intended.

Akhal thought for a second then quickly shook her head. "No," she said bluntly. "I can't-"

"Next!" The attendant yelled as Althea celebrated making it to the end. Akhal went to move forward but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Please," I pleaded. "On the train, you said you didn't like change, just as much as me. You said you wanted to go home, well so do I. Before you reject the idea, please think of the lengths you would go to, if within my shoes."

"Next, Miss Breker!"

Akhal looked back at me with pitiful eyes, I felt a pang of hope in my heart. "I am sorry." She whispered. "I-I promised I will make it up to you." She pulled away from my grip and made her way to the starting position.

"What can you do?" I muttered to myself as she swung onto the first handle, only to miss it and fall to the ground with a thud.

"Next!"

Akhal Breker, 18

District Ten Female, Pair Four

Paired with Nicholas Davenport, District Four

I am not going to lie. As I registered hitting the ground, even with the soft padding, I expected to have broken something. Thankfully, as I pushed myself to my feet and quickly jumped towards the medic, everything felt in working order. Even if slightly sore.

I looked back up at Frederick who was getting ready to swing and I couldn't help smile, despite my disappointment. Only I could fail before I had even started but maybe it was for greater good. My upper body strength was not the best. I knew for a fact I could not support my own body weight. At least it looked like an accident rather than weakness. When Frederick saw my smile he returned it, laughing to himself as he reached for the first handle.

"Can you move everything?" A Capitol attendant asked, rushing over to me. To my left, Niko and Althea came over, Niko looking far more concerned than the girl. After all, if I was to hurt myself, that would put him at a disadvantage.

"Yeah, I don't think I have hurt anything," I hummed. The medic prodded areas of my skin, moving my legs as he looked for any registering of pain on my face. After a few moments, he pulled away and started to fill out a form.

"Is she okay?" Niko asked the man, just as Frederick cheered for himself at the finish line.

The medic gave a nod. "At the most, she might come up with a few bruises and ache for a bit. You are permitted to spend your time at the fire making station if you please. Until she feels up for the compulsory tasks." He tore the form from the pad and handed it to me. "Hand this to the attendant there, he will know what it means."

I said my thanks to the middle aged man as he placed the pad back into his first aid kit. As he and the attendant walked away, Niko knelt down beside me. He hooked his arms under mine and pulled me to his feet with much more ease than I expected.

"Can you walk?" he asked, pulling me close so I could lean on him. I gently pushed him away, walking with a slight limp.

"Yes thank you, I just have cramp...I'll walk it off."

"Do you want to sit at the fire station for a bit?"

I let out a small chuckle. "Of course, less exercise-"

"Althea!" Frederick shouted for the girl who had been lingering around us the whole time, like she hoped to follow. Frederick then looked at me and Niko and his face softened. "Where are you two off?"

Niko watched out of the corner of my eye as I leaned on the wall. "Fire making, for a bit...why?"

Frederick shrugged. "Just wondered, Althea, come on!" He bellowed to the girl again, already walking away. "The que is getting bigger!" The girl mouthed a goodbye before running after Frederick.

Niko watched the two run off and sighed. "Why does she look so skittish around him?"

"That's just Frederick's presence, she will find her two feet soon enough, just like everybody else. She isn't the type to follow, from what I could see." Niko nodded in agreement before turning back to me and offering his arm to lean on, I would have refused but even my stubborn ass had to admit I was still shaky on my feet.

As we made our way past the ever expanding que of Tributes, I felt each one of their eyes burn into us. As I made eye contact with a few, I couldn't help but wonder if it was them assessing how injured I was or if they hated me for something.

"How many people do you think saw our interview?" Niko shook his head.

"I am not sure, I get the feeling a few of them did, or atleast know of it...Finnick did say it would cause issues with other Tributes-"

"We just have to hope he was right about the benefits, if not, all we did was earn enemies."

"On the bright side, no doubt everyone will be doing it soon so if it has a negative reaction, maybe we will sink into the background?" I smiled at the words, knowing Niko was trying to be positive.

"I hope so."

When we reached the firemaking station, we found ourselves in a quieter, Tributeless area of the Training yard. Right under the Gamemakers. I looked up at the Gamemaker, Zircon as he sat with his underlings, watching me and Niko intently.

I leaned against Niko, so he could hear my whispers over the drone of the other Tributes. "I am not sure I feel comfortable with them watching us."

Niko sighed as I handed the medic's form to the fire making attendant. "Neither do I, but, if we ace this, at least they will notice us more?"

I offered a weak smile to the blonde man as the attendant placed the form in his pocket and lead us to a set of two kits on the floor. The station itself was meant to resemble a dark, wooded area with faux tree trunks surrounding us.

"Why is so dark, you can hardly see," Niko asked the attendant, crossing his arms and biting his lips.

The attendant smiled. "It is to mimic life in the Arena, you won't always have sunlight on your side." Niko didn't answer, he just gave a silent nod. "Anyway, you will be learning how to make a hand-drill fire...have either of you made one before?" Niko and I glanced at each other before shaking our heads. "Don't worry about it. I will show you once and you can try yourselfs!"

The man sat down at his station and picked up a clump of dried grass and leaves or, how he called it, a tinder nest. He then took a unsanded piece of wood with a v-shape notch and an small impression at the top. Then bark was placed underneath to catch any stray sparks. He then placed the spindle in the notched and started to spin until a spark appeared. Once placed on the tinder and with a bit of work, it turned into a flame.

Me and Niko were then sent off to work on our own fires. Sadly, Niko and the attendant made the whole thing seem simple. Within thirty-minutes, Niko had started a fire and looked very proud about it, I, on the other hand, couldn't create anything.

See, I didn't like getting frustrated. Deep down, I could become slightly aggressive if put in a position to feel that way. Not in a way that caused harm to other people, more ways that caused harm to me.

I spun the spindle around in my fingers yet I felt I was causing more heat on my hands than the wood. Cursing under my breath, Increased the speed until Niko clamped his hand on the bottom, brining the spindle to a stop.

"If you don't understand something, ask for help, don't get frustrated," he said sternly, looking me in the eye. I wasn't the type to protest, most of all when I knew someone was right.

Embarrassed, I let go of the Spindle. "Can you help me, please?" I mumbled.

Niko offered a smile as he lined up the spindle and started to rub. However, unlike me, he moved his hands up and down. After a few seconds when a small amount of smoke started to curl around the stick. He gestured for me to have a turn.

Praying that this time it worked, I copied the man until a spark flicked out onto the wood. Quickly, I transferred it to the tinder and started to nurse my fire with a large grin. Once I had the fire to a reasonable size, I looked up to Niko, the fire illuminating his green eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered to the man. Niko grinned in reply. I pulled my eyes away from Niko and towards Zircon who turned his gaze away when he saw us looking.

"They seem impressed with you-"

"I'm sure they are impressed with you too," Niko added. "Nothing wrong with help, after all, it's what they are looking for in pairs, right?"

"I guess so," I said through a smile. "Anyway, I think my leg is better now, so where do you want to go?"

"Climbing? You must have strong legs with all that horse riding," he said with a grin.

"Sounds good-"

"Just, don't fall off this time?" He said with a wink as he rose from his station. I pierced my lips, trying to hide a smile. I'll try.

Sorry again for the missing POV's, they will be in the next chapter.

Questions: What did you think of the POV's? What do you think of the longer POV's? Should I keep longer POV's or shorter ones?

I also have another SYOT that is taking Tributes called Another Brick In The Wall. I'd love if some of you could submit!

I will try and get another chapter out before University classes start. I have two weeks before they do. However, chapters will take longer because of the long format.

Anyway, thank you for reading!