Warning Sign by Coldplay

I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign.

Cosmic McKee, 17, District Three

I splash a bit of water on my face from the stream, desperately trying to rub the sleep from my eyes. The nights here are impossibly long. I close my eyes to sleep and wake up realizing that the sun has hardly risen another inch in the sky. I think this is the worst part of all, not the Bloodbath but the waiting. Endless waiting for something to surprise you, and you can be sure that something will eventually.

I spot Caia waddling over from the edge of my vision and I can't help but smile to myself. I couldn't even make a guess at how old she is, I am not used to being around such tiny children, but even I can tell that she has likely only just started walking recently.

She plops down beside me, half-leaning into my side with her wide eyes looking up at me. I grab another scoop of water and dip a finger in and take to wiping the little smears of dirt from her cheeks and forehead. She crinkles her nose but doesn't move away. It's weird that everything seems to bother the child and yet she still stays put. Bless her parents, they must have taught her well.

I hear a low growl come from my stomach and I look down at Caia. "I think it's time to go find something to eat."

Unfortunately, neither mine nor Dallon's backpack held more than a tin of dried fruit in the way of food. With the help of Caia, I finished that off far too quickly. This is a forest though, or some kind of twisted version of one. There has to be food to be found somewhere in here.

I hoist Caia onto my back and she hangs her arms around my neck instinctually. I have to say I was skeptical about having even Dallon let alone two babies hang around with me, but having Caia here makes the whole thing just a little less lonely. Even if she doesn't talk in full sentences just yet.

I begin walking in a random direction that gives way to even more of the willowy trees. I would be lying if I said I had any idea where we came from or where we're going. At least we're going somewhere though, hopefully somewhere with food.

Before long I am humming softly to myself to calm my nerves. I have never had the chance of being amongst so much nature, having spent my entire life in the industrialized District Three, and even in pure exhaustion last night it took me far longer to fall asleep than it should have. I walk along with my eyes glazing over the trees in search of anything that might catch my eye, humming tunelessly, when two pitched chimes cut through the silence.

I spin around in the direction the sounds came from and see nothing. I listen carefully, the made-up song fading from my lips, and hear soft giggling come from behind me. I sigh in relief and grab Caia from my back. She looks up at me with a short smile on her face. I part my lips and whistle, imitating the two notes I heard earlier.

Just as I suspected, she does the same. I am unable to keep the smile from my face as I try again, this time with three notes that she once again copies perfectly.

Fleur Aisley, 14, District Eleven

Even as night comes and goes, I can't so much as tear my eyes away from the Cornucopia. At first I think it was in expectation that Valerian would be walking out of there at any moment to come and rescue me. I heard the dual cannons and that idea seemed even less likely to happen, but I think some part of me refused to let go of the fantasy.

I had to clamp my hands over my lips to muffle the whimpers when the faces of the dead were revealed in the sky last night. There he was, floating away from me and into the sky. I hated him for a moment for leaving me here. I hated him for saving me from the District Eight boy and for not being able to save himself. I hated him for segregating me so much that I had nothing else to do but remain camouflaged in the trees and stare at the last place I was with him.

I know I can't stay here for too much longer. I need to find food, to find water and do something about Vin eventually. I move my hand to touch his arm and find only grass. My heart takes a leap in my chest and I am sitting up in less than a second, my eyes searching frantically around me for the little boy. He was just right here, I swear he was just right here. I stand up and survey the surroundings for anything- a trail, an article- to give me any idea where he is.

This can't be happening right now. First Valerian and now Vin. I've only been in charge of him for a night and he's already gone. Probably dead already or near to it. I can't even keep a little kid from leaving me, how am I supposed to survive for two weeks in here on my own?

"Is this one yours?"

The sudden noise makes me jump and I whirl around to see the little, curly-haired boy from District Four holding a blonde toddler in his arms. Upon closer look, I can see Vin standing between the boy's legs, his tiny hands clamped around one of his ankles. Vin sees me and cocks his head to one side, a tight smile coming over his lips.

I nod and kneel down in the grass, holding my arms out to Vin who walks over to me. "Thank you."

"No problem," the boy smiles and reaches out with his free arm. "I'm Maynor, District Four."

I eye his hand suspiciously, making no move to accept the handshake. His smile falters for a second and he drops his arm. "No much of a talker, I get it. I remember you anyway, you were always hanging out with your district partner in training. District Ten right?"

"Eleven," I say softly, lowering my eyes. I consider walking away, knowing full well how much it would upset Valerian to see me talking to another boy. He always was the jealous type, but it was never much of a bother. It just meant that he really loved me.

"I know," he winks. "I just wanted to hear you say something."

Amstel Hafelin, 18, District One

I can feel them both staring at me even as I make my way around the clearing. I started doing this since Kiera and Cicero left. Half to get away from the remains of my alliance and half to see if maybe I could get some idea of where the other two went. I wish I would have said something when Kiera approached me, just before she left, but I had no time. She simply told me the message to give to Aquila and took off. Without me.

Even back in training I felt like Kiera and I had some kind of special connection. Not in the romantic kind of sense, more in that we just understood each other better than the rest of our alliance did. It seemed to be like that with Kilin and Aquila as well, the kind of connection that they had when they were around each other that told everyone that they would always be on the same page.

I guess that's why it hurts that much more that Kiera would leave without me. Worse even, she took Cicero with her. Cicero, of all people, I would have thought would be her very last choice to have as an outside alliance. Or maybe it just feels like it should be because I always thought I would be her first choice.

Now I'm here, alone with what is probably the most powerful and deadly combination of people in the arena. In the beginning it was Arissa and Cicero that were on the outside of the alliance. Now it's just me and it royally sucks. I can hardly stand to be around them since I always get the vibe that there's something in the works between them that they haven't told me.

I wonder if it was like with me and Kiera before she left.

I take a quick glance back to the Cornucopia and see Aquila and Kilin talking about something. This is the hard part in being left in this alliance. I feel stuck, like there's nowhere for me to go and I guess there really isn't. If I leave I'll be on my own, kind of like how I am right now, but with Aquila and Kilin keen to catch and kill me just like they currently are with Kiera and Cicero.

Right now I think the best choice is just to take it day by day. I know I can't trust Kilin or Aquila even remotely, because they will always be more loyal to each other than they will be to me. But I can't further distance myself from them either. They already feel threatened that two of their members have taken off. I get the feeling that if they suspected I might follow suit that I would quickly become the next on their hit-list.

I turn and start walking back to the Cornucopia. As much as it feels weird to stick around with them I know I wouldn't make it on my own. For now I have to just do my best to stay in their good graces until I can figure out a way to get myself out of this mess with as little drama as possible.

As I get closer, I begin to make out what they're saying and I freeze. "They're nothing but a liability. We kill them now and we have the advantage of having only ourselves to worry about. Tactically, it makes the most sense to be rid of them now before any attachment can be grown."

Kilin Shicts, 18, District Two

"No."

Aquila and I both turn to see Amstel standing just outside the Cornucopia with his cheeks flushed with red. He must have overheard us talking. I wonder how long he was standing there. Couldn't have been that long if he's still standing here. Amstel may be a few things but I don't believe being an idiot is one of them.

"Excuse me?" Aquila is the first to respond, her chin set and eyes narrowed in his direction. I am about to put a hand on her shoulder to tell her to relax but think better of it at the last second. When she gets into this type of stance it's a much better idea to just leave her to it or risk a whole lot more damage to come out of it.

"What you just said," Amstel says, almost all of the strictness of his voice from earlier fading away as he faces her. "We're not doing it, we're not killing them."

"See?" Aquila says, turning to me and grabbing onto my arm. "This is the very reason I suggested it. He's already attached. The only attachment we need it to ourselves and this alliance."

I swallow thickly and force myself to nod. Amstel eyes me and his lips set into a thin line when he sees my submission. His hands ball into fists and he breaks our eye contact to take on Aquila once again with a new fire in his eyes. "They're toddlers. You would really kill a toddler to further yourself, Aquila?"

"It's the Hunger Games, I will do what needs to be done," she spits. "And you will listen to me because I am the leader of this alliance."

"I didn't think even you would sink that much to be able to think of five toddlers as a barrier for your own victory. It's disgusting," Amstel fires back with just as much venom.

"Hold on, guys," I interject. "This is getting ridiculous."

"Stay out of this," Aquila hisses before turning back to Amstel. "I didn't think you would be so weak as to choose something that has its fate already decided for it over yourself."

"Something? It's not a thing!"

"Guys," I try again. "Why don't we just take a step back for a second."

"What do you think about this?" Amstel says calmly. "You never told us your opinion, Kilin."

"Yes, do share," Aquila agrees.

I consider my options for a moment. If I disagree with Aquila, I risk the sort of friendship we have managed to form and possibly label myself as another enemy instead of ally. From a purely strategic perspective it seems like the only choice is to agree with the one holding the power. Then there's a not-so-strategic way of looking at things. The part of me that proves Aquila's speculation right, that I have some sort of attachment to Tinder and the other tots.

Maybe the Capitol has already decided their fate, but I can't be the one to make the choice to end their chances so soon. I could never live with myself if I tried to deny them a chance at going home and growing up.

"I think now isn't the time," I say carefully, splitting my eye contact between the two of them. "We bring them along, but don't risk our own necks to save them if it happens to come to that."

I take a deep breath and gage each of their reactions. Amstel looks pleased, his face a bit more relaxed than before and the slight hint of a smile on the edges of his lips. On the other hand, Aquila seems to have taken on his old stance- clenched fists and narrowed eyes directed at me. I'm relieved, there doesn't seem to be more discussion to be had. That means for now I think the tots are safe, or as safe as can be considering. I ensure that my face doesn't speak of victory though, that'll just put salt in her wounds and the last thing I was to do is aggravate her damaged ego.

Kiera Wentz, 17, District Two

I'm beginning to wonder if I made a mistake by approaching Cicero to be my new partner. He seemed like the best choice yesterday. I knew it was best to leave Amstel with the others, he and I had the closest connection and I am pretty sure that I can still count on him to fight for my side if it comes to that. Besides, he never asked to come along when I told him what we were doing.

I obviously knew that I wouldn't be able to come between Aquil and Kilin. So that left Cicero. Quiet, unpredictable Cicero who was already wronged so early by his alliance and who had no strong ties to anyone left in the pack. It seemed almost too perfect, but now he hardly talks to me at all. Usually by now I would have gotten at least some sort of idea of how to gain his trust, but it feels like I haven't yet moved from square one with him.

"Were you and Arissa close?" I figure I may as well try to capitalize on the few things I do know about him. Maybe bringing up a painful subject will make him open up a little. It's worth a shot anyway.

"No, not really," he sighs and quickens his pace just enough that we are no longer walking side by side. I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. It has already been made apparent that he cared for her at least somewhat. This whole thing is proving to be a lot more challenging than I thought.

"Neither were Kilin and I," I say, allowing my voice to drop a few octaves.

"Funny," he snorts. "I would of thought you two would have been childhood best friends. Since you're both volunteered it's pretty obvious you would have trained together."

"We ran in different circles," I admit but don't offer to explain any further. It's true at least, we did not know each other before we volunteered for the Games this year. However, it's not exactly how I choose to display it to people. The truth is I never trained at a different centre like I told Kilin and our mentors. It was just easier to tell them that then to have them reconsider my place in the alliance.

"Arissa and I as well," he sighs.

"It's a shame, she seemed to care for you."

This catches his attention. "Really?"

"Yes of course," I smile sheepishly. "Didn't she ever say anything to you?"

He breaks eye contact and I reach out and touch his arm. Unlike what I expected, he pulls his hand away and stares up at me as if I had burned him. This time I am the one that looks away. This is not something new to me, I know that people will be less likely to show their vulnerable side to someone unlike them. To get to him I have to make him think that he has gotten to me first.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, letting my voice crack on the last syllable. "I didn't mean to bring her up. I just thought the two of you were close. I hated seeing the look in your eyes when Aquila did that to her. It wasn't right."

I am surprised by what he does next. He reaches out and touches my shoulder. I've never seen him make contact with anyone in the group and I can't help but notice how cold his touch is against my skin. "You're not how I thought you were. I apologize."

I am speechless as he breaks contact and continues to walk down the path. For a moment it's as if his cold touch has frozen me in place and then I take off after him. Perhaps I didn't make a mistake when I chose him. It doesn't happen often, but I think I may also have been wrong about his character.

Briar Elway, 17, District Five

Today has a sense of foreboding about it. These days come every once in a while, the last one being on the morning I was chosen for the Hunger Games. If I can help it, I like to stay in on the days where everything I see seems to be enveloped in a thick, grey cloud. Good things don't come on days like this.

I've come to trust in my own instincts more than I believe most people do. It is not often that my feelings have proven to be wrong, and I can usually attribute those times to a conscious change in my behavior that I made to avoid the situation. I expected the first day of the Games to be cloaked in grey such as today is, but it was not. That is why that while all my fellow tributes shook on their plates I was able to breathe without issue. I knew that I would have no reason to feel afraid for nothing wrong was fated to happen.

Today is not like the first day of the Hunger Games. Today something is going to happen, but I cannot stay in and hide from it. I must face the grey clouds and hope that by my own means I am able to outsmart them.

"Does today feel colder to you," I say, attempting to keep slight conversation going in order to take my mind off my intuitions.

Erin looks up and ponders it. "No, I don't think so."

"Oh, strange how we can feel different things."

"I guess?" She says but I can tell she is just being polite.

"Do you know where we're going?" I ask.

"That way," she smiles and points straight ahead of us.

"Funny," I roll my eyes. "But you know what I mean, is there a destination or?"

"Not yet, I'll let you know when we reach it."

I nod and continue walking on in silence, nothing else on my tongue to say. The scenery around us has not changed much since the first day. Hundreds of beautiful willow trees with branches swaying around us as we walk, caressing our cheeks if we get close enough. There has been no sign of any tribute other than the four of us and I find some comfort in that. Some time ago yesterday we saw a field of red off to one side and considered venturing for it, but the safety of the willows just felt more comforting to all of us I think.

I pause we round a corner and we nearly walk out onto a bridge, if one can even call it that. Basically it's just a long, flimsy plank of thin wood held to four posts, two on each end of the canyon, with two more pieces of rope and a sort of handrail. Even as we stand here looking at it, the thing sways slightly in the cool wind.

My throat feels tight as I look at it. I have never had any kind of issue with heights as a child, but right now just the thought of stepping across this bridge makes me feel faint. I have to believe this to be a warning. An intuition from inside of me that will help me to survive the grey, cloudy day. I grab hold of Erin's forearm as my body begins to shake.

Ashidel Heprin, 15, District Seven

"What's the hold up?" I call forwards to the other two. Amita eyes them with curiosity and breaks into a jog to catch up. I follow quickly behind her.

"No, I-I can't," Briar says softly just as we get within earshot, her eyes never wavering from the rope bridge in front of us.

I look at Erin and raise an eyebrow in silent question. She shrugs and shakes her head. "She's scared, she won't cross."

Briar's shoulders sink inwards and she nods.

I look to both sides where the bank stretches seemingly in each direction. "Well there doesn't look like there is any other way across, so now is as good a time as any to get over it. There'll likely be plenty more bridges coming up ahead anyway."

Briar looks to the, admittedly flimsy looking, bridge. When she turns back to us her face is as white as snow and I notice her blinking back tears. "It doesn't look like it will hold."

I roll my eyes. I didn't realize that people actually had this kind of crazy, irrational fear. I mean a dislike of heights I can kind of understand, but a fear? That's just stupid if you ask me. she's probably just overreacting for whatever reason. "Sure it will. We'll go one at a time."

Briar doesn't look very convinced but before she can say anything else Amita interjects. "Don't worry I'll go first, then you'll see that there's nothing to be scared of, Briar."

"No Amita," I say. The thought of her being alone at the other end for even a moment doesn't sit well with me at all. "Erin, you go first and then Briar can follow you. Amita and I will go last."

Erin shoots me a look but she knows she can't argue. If she refuses she both admits her own fear and solidifies Briar's fear. Maybe I am overestimating her just a bit but I don't think she would take the chance of doing either.

"Fine," she smiles. "I'll go first."

To her credit, she doesn't hesitate before placing a foot on the bridge. It swings just a bit under her weight and she gasps, but continues a second after. In a minute or so she is on the other side waving Briar over with a comforting smile.

"I don't have a good feeling about this," Briar whispers, her arms shaking as she grabs hold of the rope-handrail. "It feels wrong to tempt fate like this."

"It's just a bridge," I remind her.

"I know, but it feels wrong."

"Just go already," I urge her. "The less time we spend out in the open like this the better."

She closes her eyes and takes the first step out onto the bridge. Just as it had for Erin, the bridge gives a little under the new weight and she squeals. After a moment of pause she continues, slow step after slow step.

I am about to call out for her to move more quickly when I notice the ropes tethering the bridge to the post are beginning to unravel. "Briar, hurry!"

I grab one of the posts and use all of my body weight to try and keep it together. Amita sees what I'm doing and tries to do the same on the second post. Her rope continues to undo at the same pace and my efforts hardly do anything to slow it either. The force of the rope throws Amita to the side, dangerously close to the edge of the bank. "Ashidel, it's not working!"

I pour all of my strength into trying to hold the rope for just a few more seconds until Briar can reach the other side. But f anything the rope seems to be uncoiling even more quickly than it was before.

I close my eyes just before I see her fall. I hear Amita shriek and Erin calling Briar's name over and over. Then I hear a muffled splash as the bridge hits the shallow stream at the bottom of the canyon. I finally allow myself to open my eyes when Briar's cannon sounds.

Briar Elway, District Five + Aven, District Eleven

The artist theme for this story will be Coldplay.

Song: Warning Sign.

The blog for this story can be found on my profile. Deaths will be notified here.

I am really sorry to those submitters that have lost their tributes. You all knew when you sent these beautiful characters in to me that they had a very slim chance of being the one to win. Nevertheless, I hope there are no hard feelings and I hope you will continue to read on to see where the story goes. Anyway, thank you for submitting and again, all decisions on deaths are very hard for me. Thanks again for your tribute.

Briar was undoubtedly my favourite tribute form out of the ones I received. I think that ended up being the problem with her. I had such high expectations of how she would end up that no matter how I wrote her I thought I was failing her. Rather than struggle with her any longer I thought it best to let her go early. Thank you for her, though, she was lovely.

A couple of questions will be asked at the end of each chapter, it would be great if you would answer them along with a general review of the chapter's writing. Much appreciated!

Who is your favourite alliance at this point and why?

I tried to get this chapter out as quickly as I could, but I did go on vacation last week so I guess it is a little bit late. Just a reminder that submissions for my newest SYOT, Pitfalls, closes on July 18th. I hope anyone that hasn't already will try and submit!