Just wanted to mention for new readers that Atlas is the victor of my first story (24 to Life) and Lux is the victor of my second (Hell Island).

Right, this will most likely be the last story I write at home for a long time. It is currently about 3 am Saturday morning here. I move into my dorm room tomorrow. Yay for adulthood. So I stayed up extra late to get this out there. Glad that I got the tribute introductions done before I moved.

In this, we have TWO cannon victors. The morphling from District Six and Woof. Some things may have changed because it's not like I following the book timeline fully (hence why this is even a thing). But yeah, they are there. Gerhard is my character who has been part of my SYOT's since my first.

Fun Fact! Noah (read Gerhard's POV, you will understand) was a character in Hell Island (my last story) so this storyline ties in with everything nicely.

Enjoy and let me know what you think, I like this chapter :)

District 5

Lux Hymnoor, victor of the 25th Hunger Games

Lux wondered if this is what being a single father was like, raising two Warriors by himself. Not that he was the only victor from District Five. His mentor Lujza won the Second Hunger Games but had been drafted in for mentoring District Twelve as they yet to have a victor. Not that Lux wanted his help anyway. Lujza had his moments but most of the time, he was an arrogant fool who could not accept that The Games had changed since he won. Proven by the large number of outer District victors who slowly dwindled when Careers started to compete. The victor won during a time of confusion where every child was a frightened, untrained tribute.

Lux felt that, even without a helping hand, he had done well with his brood over the years. Not that his time as a victor had not been completely jarring. For your homophobic District to vote for you to die just because you are gay. Then to get hit over the head with a trident and knocked out and wake up ten minutes later to find the other tributes had blown themselves up and you were the victor, that's was stressful enough. But to then be taken away from the man you love for ten years and forced, at sixteen, to look after and mentor a seven and six years old for the same amount of time. That was just the fruit on the cake.

It was not all bad, though. Being in The Capitol meant that when Brites, his fiance, visited every six months, he could treat his love like the king he was. The six-month was reserved for the family but Lux did not have any. Not as far as he was concerned anyway. They disowned him after his victory because, surprisingly, being in a death game did not make him straight. He did not care though because after these Games were over, he and Brites could start their own family and hopefully, they would have a new victor in the village aside from grumpy old Lujza.

Lux was not sure who had the best chance of coming back, they were both strong in their own right. Nathalie was cunning and a good with plants. Damon was strategic and good at anything to do with survival. Overall, the pair were as ready as they would ever be and there was nothing that Lux could teach them anymore. Not that there was anyway.

There was not much a boy who won by luck and only killed one person could teach two trained killers. And even if there was, they already knew it. The Capital underestimated how good their training was, drafting in the Mentors. The mentors that the Warriors quickly outgrew in knowledge. Their job description was to help the victor settle in at home, learn the etiquette of a victor and to make sure they were not making any mistakes. Lux could see how they would come in handy but he knew, it was just The Capitol covering their backs.

The one thing Lux could do was listen. The thing that doomed tributes were mental issues and suppressed emotions. He did not get much out of Nathalie other than she hated not being in control and craved stability in her life over the looming threat of death. He was not sure how to help her with that but he was trying his best. Damon, on the other hand, was far easier to help. The boy was bisexual but his attraction leaned more towards men. And a few days ago, he finally admitted he was dating Vulcan from District Eleven. The issue was, he knew he would lose Vulcan in the Games and was frightened to say anything about their relationship. Lux's advice for the boy was to not hide from who he was but keep his relationship with Vulcan a secret until after the Games. That way the two could enjoy their final days together without having camera's pushed in their face. Damon was also worried about losing Evelyn but Lux could not help him with that. Being from a normal Game, Lux never developed such deep relationships with his fellow tributes so he could not say anything more than "what will be will be," a phrase his father always used to say that angered him as a child. Even after all his father had done to him, Lux was becoming him.

District 6

Hix May, Victor of the 23rd Hunger Games

Hix had been working on her camouflage from the second she saw the dark clouds move in and now, just as the rain started to fall, she was applying the last leaf to her hair. When a crackle of thunder shook the arena, the seventeen-year-old dived into a thick bush that grew at the entrance of the cave. It did not allow much when it came to warmth but it was far enough in that the rain could not get to her. With a defeated sigh, masked by the growling sky, Hix took a shattered cracker out of her pocket and started to eat it slowly. Nibbling a bit at a time and trying to savor the taste, hoping it would calm her hunger. She was lucky to have found the crackers in the first place, scavenged off a dead tribute but now she only had a few left, she had to make them last. It's not like anyone was going to send her anything.

The night before, the twenty-second canon sounded, meaning Hix was currently in the final two. She made no attempt to kill the final tribute and only moved from her hiding place when the rain clouds rolled in. Camouflage was not much good if it was washed away. For the two hours the girl had been working on her stealth, she had been anxious about the final tribute finding her but now she had her food and was hidden in the depths of the bush, she felt safe from whatever horrors waited for her outside. It was unlikely the tribute would continue to look for her during the storm.

She was right about the storm putting the final tribute off but when a figure walked into view, lit up by a lightning strike, Hix cursed herself for not thinking of that flaw in her plan. There were many caves on the island, Hix choosing the largest one, thinking it's depths would put people off. However, what she also did not take into account was the fact that the Gamemakers would not have started such a violent storm if the other tribute was not close. They wanted to draw them together and Hix played right into their plan. Now there were together, it was unlikely the storm would stop until one of them was dead.

The tribute held a flashlight that he darted around the cave, looking for any signs that he was not alone, missing the bush at the entrance. He walked as he looked, even making sure he checked the ceiling. The figured stopped when he came to Hix's camouflage supplies, the different shades of mud mixed together on a slab of stone. His breath hitched as he shone towards the large dip in the cave. "Come out!" he shouted, waiting a few seconds for an answer. "We have to fight at some point, might as well get it over with!" once again, there was no answer. The boy's voice was shaky and with another lightning strike, the boy jumped into the air, shivering.

Over the next hour, the boy started a fire, revealing himself to be the boy from District Three, Gizmo. His curly brown hair had only been kept dry because of his raincoat but he still shivered from the dropping temperature. Hix thought he was stupid for starting such a beacon to his location but then she realized his words to her. He wanted to fight, he just wanted to go home. As the boy munched on a cooked rabbits leg, Hix started to feel sick but if that was hunger or the knowledge that one of them had to die, she was not sure.

He seemed like a nice boy, all through training and even now, yet Hix admired his bravery, even if he was only fourteen. His bravery to call her out for a fight was something she could never do. Part of her wanted him to win. When a small parachute floated down, a large three carved on the side, she even felt happy for him.

The boy pulled it in, unlocking it and opening it up in front of him. Inside was a silver dagger, nothing too fancy but mesmerizing nonetheless. It also came with a note that, with a smile, the boy looked at. However, his smile dropped by the end, he was looking over his shoulder, once again shining his flashlight at everything in the cave.

Hix stayed still as the flashlight drew closer to her, begging for her camouflage, she scored so highly for, to not fail her. Sadly, there was one thing Hix forgot that night, the same thing that doomed Gizmo. She forgot to close her eyes, her big, blue eyes. When the flashlight stopped on her, she tried to keep her eyes open for as long as she could, hoping he might just think they were flowers. But after a few seconds of the intense light, her eyelids shut.

Gizmo leaped to his feet, drawing his blade and slowly maneuvering towards the bush. Hix opened her eyes again but stayed still, hoping it was a mistake or she could frighten him enough to leave but the boy just came closer.

"I can do this, I-i'm brave," he muttered to himself as he drew closer, Hix staying as still as she possibly could. She stayed still, her body poised until the boy ran at her, falling into the bush as she jumped to the side. As quick as the lightning that flashed outside, Hix grabbed the knife that clattered to the floor. As the boy scrambled to his feet, his frightened eyes fell on the dagger.

"T-that's mine," he whispered. "Please give it back," Hix replied with a silent shake as she backed away towards the fire, hoping to hold him off long enough that she could flee deeper into the cave. "Give it back!" the boy bellowed once more but this time, he leaped at Hix, the girl screaming as she jabbed the knife at him in defense and pulled it away. As she fell to the floor, dragged by the force of her knife, she looked over her shoulder at the boy.

He lay on the ground, clawing at his wound, his breath shaky as he tried his best to breathe. However, the thick blood that he coughed up prevented this. His neck was sliced open, blood spewing out onto the cave floor.

Hix watched in horror as he struggled for air, his body twisted on the ground from the intense pain he felt until, he fell still. Through tears, Hix watched, hoping to see some sign of life from the boy but a few seconds later, his canon sounded.

She must have been announced as victor but Hix could not remember it. The constant drum of thunder was the only soundtrack that played when she found Gizmo's sponsor note.

Look around until you see, in the cave she will be- Sebastienne

After that, she does not remember much either. She was not even sure what she did with the note. The final thing she remembers was the darkness as a gust of wind blew out the fire. The terrifyingly loudlightshow briefly lighting up the cave to remind her of what she had done.

District 7

Gerhard Liboria, Victor of the 22nd Hunger Games

For six in the morning, the shopping centre was surprisingly busy. Gerhard watched as people rushed to and fro, chattering loudly over the tranquil music that played throughout the building. With a loud, mechanical bing, the doors to the glass elevator opened, a brightly dressed family stepping out. The parents argued amongst each other as they pushed through the crowd, trying to figure out what bag they had placed their wallet into. Behind them trailed the children, a boy in his late teens with sky blue hair and green eyes, towering above his parents. Running circles around him was his younger sister. Her dyed blonde hair tightly curled and her grass green dress made her look like a princess. She was only in her early teens but she acted like an excited child as she giggled at her brothers angered face.

"Poria, stop it!" he whined, crossing his arms and storming off after his parents, his giggling sister skipping behind him. Gerhard watched them walk away, a faint smile on his lips, memories of his own childhood with his little sister flooding back. Maria Liboria, the most beautiful girl in District Seven with her flowing, blonde locks and happy green eyes. Every guy in Seven pined for her but to Gerhard, she was just his baby sister. The memories they shared were happy until he came to that final, dark memory at the back of his mind.

His smile dropped as the family vanished into the shop, his green eyes flickering back to the large mocha. His hands were clasped around it, taking in the heat as he watched the steam rise from the top and float away from him. Maria had passed away ten years ago, not long after Lux's victory in the twenty-fifth Games.

The same year, Maria broke up with her longterm boyfriend, Noah Prones, a religious boy who was as sweet as anything. The break up came with a shock as the two always seemed close but rumours spread that it was because Maria cheated on him. Gerhard could never believe his sister would do such a foul thing, though. When he questioned her about it, she broke down into tears, telling a terrifyingly vivid account of how Noah had raped her. Gerhard believed it, why wouldn't he?

Refusing to have his sister knocked down to a shell of her former self by, what he assumed at the time, by monster, Gerhard started to campaign. The first Quarter Quell allowed the District to vote for their tribute so he told them to vote for Noah. As expected, the District followed their only victors advice and Noah was chosen as tribute.

Through his time in the arena and The Capitol, Gerhard offered little help to the boy and when he died, although feeling slightly guilty, he was happy to know his sister was safe. That was, until the letter came through.

Maria wrote a heartfelt note to her brother, begging for him to forgive her for lying. Forgive her for lying about the rape and getting Noah killed despite being innocent. Maybe after reading the confession, there was more Gerhard could have done for her but he thought speaking his lack of anger towards her in person was better than a call or a note.

When Gerhard arrived home, he arrived home to his broken parents, Maria's open coffin in the front room of his mansion. They had place makeup on her face to make her seem alive but she could never be given how still she was. She hung herself two days after Gerhard received the note.

After her death, Gerhard felt empty and pathetic. He stopped caring for his tributes. Fearing that if he could not save his own sister from death, could he save anyone?. However, that was until one defined the odds and came back, filling up the void that had been empty for years.

"They did not have a milkshake so guess who got a hot chocolate," Laurel said with lack of enthusiasm. Gerhard looked at the tall mug she place on the table, two inches of whipped cream at the top including sprinkles and cherries.

"I think it looks nice," Gerhard offered, taking a sip of his own drink.

"Hm, could be worse I guess," Laurel said with a soft smile. "Did Grover come to his mentoring session today?" she asked as she took as seat, steering her hot chocolate with a light blue spoon.

Gerhard scoffed. "No, like always." Laurel looked sad, like how a parent looks when they are told their child threw up over the teacher.

"I'm sorry, I will have a talk with him tonight-"

"Are you sure you don't just want to swap?" Gerhard asked, cocking his head to the side.

"No, Balina only wants to be mentored by me," Laurel laughed apologetically, knowing she was just making the situation harder.

"Huh...am I really that bad?" Gerhard asked, a worried look on his face.

"I personally think you are sweet but they don't spend as much time with you as I do, I have lived with you for five years," Laurel giggled, bringing a smile to the man's face.

"It is going to be strange for you when we get home, you have never lived at the victor's village or in a different house to me."

"Nah, I will still be living with you, we can be bunk buddies," Laurel laughed, tapping her spoon on the side of the glass and placing it on a napkin beside her. Gerhard knew she was joking, to her, they were nothing more than friends. That just made his feelings towards her feel worse.

He loved everything about the girl, from her natural beauty to her contagious smile. Most people saw her job at the strip club as shifty but Gerhard viewed it differently. Maybe that is why he was the person she always invited to see her shows. Her voice was so stunning that his eyes never even focused on the stripping females either side of her.

Maybe it was also his desire to have a family that drew him to her. She was much more than breeding cattle but she was the only other victor, the only person who understood him, that wanted children. No other woman had interested him like she had. But sadly, she was with Grover.

She told him about a year ago when Gerhard asked her out on a date. Thanking him for the offer but explaining she was already dating the boy before begging him not to tell anyone. He kept his promise, no matter how much it hurt him. Even though he could not have her, he wanted to keep her happiness.

Sometimes, when she fell asleep on the roof while they had some drinks under the stars, she would talk about him. How he promised her a ring and children once he had won, how she wished it was public so she did not have to hide it anymore. However, as Gerhard watched her speak, her sleepy, blue eyes reflecting the stars, part of him hoped that Grover would never come back.

District 8

Woof Casino, Victor of the 17th Hunger Games

Woof was all alone, the only victor from District Eight. Not that the middle aged man cared for the loud noise a second mentor would bring. He did fine by himself, a devoted mentor in the day and a quiet reader at night. Yes, there was nothing he loved more than arriving at the libary after a hard day of mentoring, sitting down with his book and letting all his stress go.

By the window, in a worn out leather arm chair was where he enjoyed to sit, against the dark sky outside. The crackling of the fire in his ear, a small glass of whisky on the oak table in front of him and his latest read in his hand. There was just something about the laid back nature of the library that allowed him to be taken away by the books, transported to faraway lands. Go on adventures he could only dream about. To Woof, books where the only way to escape the twisted world of Panem. They might have been able to control his physical form but not his imagination.

Tonight was a particularly stormy night, the sound of the raindrops and grumble of distant thunder only making Woof more comfortable in his seat. He was not alone tonight either. Aside from the book keeper, a small hermit looking man with elf like ears, was Ares, his Warrior.

The boy would glide along the upper part of the library in the plant section until he found a book that sparked his interest. The boy would then shimmy down the rickety old ladder and take a seat at the table near Woof. The sound of him flickering through the pages and the scribbling of the pen on the ruff paper being music to his ears.

It had been like this for a few nights now, Ares joining Woof on his evening trips to the library. The victor did not mind as the boy kept to himself, his childish nature able to accept the beauty of the room he was in. The library was built to resemble that of a period long before the dark days. With creaky old, wooden furniture, leather chairs, crumbly old books and a large, stone fireplace. When he was young, Woof would come to the library and hide out, his nightmare's soothed by the warm feeling the place gave off. A safe feeling.

However, tonight, Woof could tell something was off about Ares. He seemed distracted, looking over his shoulder and studying less than normal. When the boy finally spoke, Woof was slightly relieved.

"I don't know what to do about Snow, I really don't like him," he whispered, placing his quill back in it's holder. Woof looked over his wire framed glasses at him, assessing his worried expression.

"You don't need to like a president to be a victor-"

"But he is horrible, he has no right to be in power-" Ares stopped when the bookkeeper loudly placed a book in it's correct place, glaring at Ares for his raised voice. "I just wish someone would do something about him," he sighed, the bookkeepers footsteps echoing as he moved away.

"Someone will, in time...these things do not happen overnight. Water has to boil but if you wait, there will be a spark and things will change for the better," Woof said softly, tenderly closing his book, his thumb keeping his page as he picked up his whisky and took a mouthful.

Ares thought about his words, nodding to himself. "But what will we do until then?" he asked.

Woof didn't look back at him, opening his books. "We wait-"

"I don't have the luxury of time," Ares sighed with pain, looking down at his black, canvas shoes.

Woof smirked, weather it be from a funny line or the boys defeatedness. "Boy, then make sure you do," he said softly, licking his finger and turning the page of his book. Ares gave an understanding nod and stumbled back to his seat. It seemed like useless advice but that was all Woof could give. He only won after a mistake caused the Arena to collapse, killing everyone but him.

Woof could only give his tributes overused cliches. That's Why he made them learn from books, a far more reliable source of information.