So we have reached the first monumental Quarter Quell ! How exciting! I want to thank kisses-A, jeenathespectrobesprincess and my anonymous Guest for their reviews they are all so lovely :D 3

Hope you enjoy!

25.

Swash Kingsnorth, Male, District 4.

I hate my home, I hate the Capitol too. I don't know if I want to live or die right now. I don't understand what is happening, the tiny ripples are swaying the raft I've built and I'm starving for a decent meal. The only food we're allowed is from sponsors. This year was special. This year they pulled out all the stops. The Capitol have called it the First Quarter Quell, it's an anniversary so to speak of the Hunger Games. For twenty five years children have been murdered in this tournament. It made me nautious to think about it. If I'm honest I don't think I could stomach any food right now anyway. There is only myself and another boy left right now, I can't even remember what District he's from. What does it matter? Neither of us want to return home, not when they voted for us to go in the first place. They took the envelope out and President Snow read out what was to be our fate.

The Male and Female Tribute from each District will be elected by the members of their District.

I still don't know what I did to deserve being chosen. I was strong, not overly strong. I had a brain, nothing like the genius' from 3 or 5. But there I stood a seventeen year old man crying his eyes out in front of the whole of Panem, I got a lower training score. I did better in the arena, I killed yes I killed. Everyone was vicious, it was the deadliest games I had ever seen. Everyone was angry this year, they didn't allow anyone to volunteer either so even the pampered Districts were vengeful too. At least we all had mentors who sympathised with us. I peer over the edge of my boat and decide to try fishing again, most of the arena is just water and District 4 seems to only ever be able to win when the odds are in our favour. I see something approach me in the water and it coils around the spear I've fashioned into a oar, I nearly drop it when I see the small jellyfish on the end. I had known better than to just wade into such a large expanse of water. But then I see him a little way off, he's panting heavily and looks as tired and hungry as I am, he too has built a raft, nowhere near the standard of mine however and as if by fate itself small waves begin to push my towards him. I know it is the gamemaker's wishing to end the games and I allow them to. The boy has seen me and is trying to swim away but the current is too strong. I can't help the smirk widening on my face as I anchor near enough to drop the jellyfish right into his lap as he glares back at me in pure spite.

26.

Ferocity James, Female, District 2.

The arena is carviorous. I have just seen the very ground itself eat a tribute alive. That tribute was from District 7, how he could not see where the safety was is completely beyond me. Not that it matters now there are only three of us left. I am in the top 3, but it's becoming a thing as natural as this arena when you are from District 2. I toss my hair over my shoulder and shake my head. I've just struck away from the career pack I've been with. The earth itself has begun issuing a deadly poison which curls up like geysers into the air and many have fallen dead as a result. Better for me anyway, the trees are the main point of safety, they often are. I can't climb very well but a few branches is enough help anyway. I see the other two final tributes heading towards me, one is my District partner, he volunteered. I didn't, I was going to wait a year before heading into the games. He deserved to win, it was his year. But I'm not going to die for him. He extends his arm towards me and the boy from 12 is just behind him. Then I see what is the source of their torment. A Venus Fly Trap, it's vines creeping towards us all as if on legs is slowly hunting down the two tributes and my District Partner begs me for my help. The boy from twelve stumbles and latches onto my District Partner's leg. We exchange a vicious look, we weren't going to let someone from District 12 of all places to usurp us, so he kicks the tribute hanging onto his leg so painfully in the gut he hear something crack and both wince as the stunned tribute falls to the poisonous earth below, his body convulsing on the ground. I couldn't have held on to the both of them for much longer anywhere but I realise as the canon sounds that now there are only two. We are both from the same District. My partner looks up at my fingers still clenched around his and his eyes softened and he smiles ever so gently up at me. I stare back and it rocks my world. I blink and look below me to see the mutant Venus Fly Trap opening it's jaw wide below us waiting eagerly for his meal. In that some moment my mind and that plant's are one and a let go of the boy, his expression changes as he realises he's falling and I'm forever hailed as one of the more ferocious winners of the Hunger Games. Just as my name fortells. But I can never wipe the betrayal in that boy's eyes from my mind whenever I dream of him at night.

27.

Iris Delatour, Female, District 6.

I didn't think I'd be able to get away with blatantly copying my mentor, but then again not many tributes remembered how he won his games anyway. We both scored relatively low in training and no one had seen either of us as any huge threat, I know part of my win was just sheer dumb luck. I stare at the small needle in my hand, it's easy to get them now we use them often in the hospital when accidents happen on the train lines or during construction. A tiny injection of morphine to ease the nightmares and the memories of those I killed. I found a way to use a simple slingshot, the weapon most of the twelve year olds use, and dip the stones and needles I was sent in trackerjacker venom while concealing myself amongst the trees and tall grass. The sponsors commened my sheer audacity. The venom of trackerjackers is so deadly that even a slight contact can have disastrous results. Another flash of a girl tribute, younger than me writhing around in pain makes me cringe and my hands shake as I prep the needle. I think Shaun is right, it is easier to just dull the pain. The Capitol have begun sending him the morphine now instead of him stealing it from the hospital. I allow the mellow, beautiful sensation to wash over me in a perfumed cloud and sigh happily, maybe he can give me just a box of his own till the nightmares fade.

28.

Twine Caldwell, Male, District 9.

The refer to my games as the 'Retro Hunger Games,' apparently it is commerating the original games by having no shelter at all, instead it's a giant arena of rubble and the only weapons we have are maces. We have blugeon each other to death if we want to survive. I feel nothing while I'm committing these acts, but I cry a few tears of remorse when I see their body again. For as in the earlier games, no hovercraft is going to come and collect them this time, all the dead tributes are unrecognisable thanks to me. It's just a carnal desire to not die that keeps me going, there are still sponsors but they are few and far between. I always thought the highest body count would go to one of the killing machines from 1, 2 or 4. Not me, but here I stand on a bloody battlefield with a mass of bodies and the commentator is counting off my victims as the canon signifies the end of my games.

29.

Orbit Joules, Male, District 5.

The landmines which go off if you step off your plate too early had been in my mind ever since that tribute from 12 got scared and thought they could jump past the blasting range. It's been two weeks since the games began and it has no sign of ending soon, there are too many of us still alive. Only four had died in the bloodbath making it more of a bloody power shower. But I examined those landmines in a ring around the Cornucopia and know something can be done with the wiring. Perhaps I can recalibrate it but for that I'll need to ally up with the girl from 3 if she can be of any use. It makes sense to ally up, Power and Technology. And I was right, she is useful very useful indeed and our plan goes off without a hitch. We pile a huge mound of food into the middle of the Cornucopia and hide inside, the only place it is safe from the blasts, then when all the landmines go off the career pack are all blown to pieces before our carefully shielded eyes. Now there is only her to go, our alliance is over now and I have a live wire in my grip.

30.

Marble Highbrow, Male, District 1.

I owe my life to Caesar Flickerman. His Capitol couture, his fanciful hair colours and eccentrically snazzy personality save my life as I sit down and flash him a smile as white as his own. The Capitolites as we call them are craving my attention and I sent a wink to the nearest woman who prominently faints, my polished good looks are sending their hearts racing. But I love it, I live for this new moment.

"So Marble, this is the first time the public, the Capitol itself is getting to meet you in person and I'm sure we'd all agree that we are dying to know, being the first one out, how does it make you feel?" Caesar was a master of tone and charisma. He knew exactly when to stress a point, which word to exaggerate and how to stir the crowd towards any tribute.

"It makes me feel terrific." I answered smiling at them all again and they tittered. "I know the Capitol will support me in the arena because we share a unique bond, Caesar, something I couldn't have had the opportunity to tell them before the interviews this year..." I trailed off reeling them in and they all lent towards me, a sea of faces clinging onto my every word.

"And what is that?" Breathed my host.

"A bond of love." I answered and they all awwed and cheer their agreements. "I know the Capitol loves me and you will treasure me as you have to all the victors who have won before me, but this time, I love you just as much. I will return to you all, I will be crowned and I will not let anyone stop me from joining your ranks." My words are passionate, but unlike every other tribute that night who lied or pretended to enjoy the limelight, I meant every word I said. I knew the Capitol understood, me and my desire to win. Just five days later I was sitting once again with Caesar Flickerman, this time the Capitol were tossing me red roses which I scooped up and kept at my mansion with me, I was watching myself be crowned and I was determined to never let the smile slip from across my lips again.

xoxo