A/N: Thanks to those who've reviewed! Sorry if you really wanted to see your tribute's POV. If you still really, really, really, really want to see their POV, PM me, and I might do some one-shots or drabbles, depending how much free time I have. This chapter is sort of a two-in-one.
Disclaimer: No matter how much I want to, I don't own the Hunger Games
The Goodbyes
As soon as I was alone in the room I let out a sob, but quickly composed myself – I didn't want to upset my parents anymore, and besides that, I didn't want to look I'd been crying in front of the cameras. After a few minutes of waiting my parents burst in and both flung their arms around me in a tight embrace. We stood like that for about a minute, just savouring each others' company – after all, it would most likely be the last time I ever saw them. I tried to stay cheerful, and we just chattered about little things. When the peacekeeper knocked on the door, however, my mother broke down completely and clung on to me like I was a tree in a flood. Even my father had tears in his eyes. One last squeeze of my hand and they were gone, shepherded out by the peacekeepers.
Soon after that, my only friends, Talli, Coprin, and Firo came in. I could see they'd been crying too. They each gave me a small hug, then sat down on the sofa. Talli cleared her throat. "Lyra, this is for you." She held out her hand. In it was a small compass, that I remembered as the basis for most of our games when we were kids. It may not have fetched much money at a market, but to us it was priceless. "I-I don't know what to say", I eventually stuttered. "Right then," Talli said, her voice sounding choked. "You need to play to your strengths – your smarts, your skills with wire and stuff like that. If you find a water source, stay near it and set up a trap to kill anyone that comes near. Got it?" I tried to take it all in, but it was too much. "Guys, chances are I won't come back!" I almost yelled, my voice starting to break. "There's gonna be 24 of us. Already that's only a 1/24 chance I'll survive! Factor in the careers, mutts, lack of food and water, and I'm dead. Just face it, I won't come back!" I was crying now, and I tried desperately to stop, but I just couldn't. They were crying as well, until suddenly Firo, who is normally so quiet, started shouting. "Lyra Flay, just you listen to us! Of course if you go in with an attitude like that you'll die! And did you stop to think how we feel about this? You're like a sister to me, Lyra! So please just listen to us, we're trying to help!" and after that he sank back down on to the sofa, tears pouring down his face. His sudden outpour shocked me into silence, and Coprin carried on where Talli left off. "Don't try to start a fight, because you won't win, especially against a career. You're a great runner, so flee. Make sure you have a way to get out from your hideout, you never know when the careers will turn up." Now he was crying too. Then the peacekeepers arrived, so after I gave each of them a last hug, I was alone with my thoughts.
I don't know how much time passed before the peacekeepers came to take me to the station.
The Train Ride
As I walked through to train, I tried to keep a straight face to the cameras. People thinking I was weak was the last thing I wanted, but I couldn't hide the redness of my eyes. Luckily, it was over quickly, and then I was in the relative privacy of the train. I went through the first door I saw, and found myself in a lavish sitting room. Glissa Shine, and the mentors, Aliana Sparksmith (my mentor), and Jonas Linman (Barry's mentor) were already in there. I was just about sit down in one of the many armchairs dotted about the place, when Barry sauntered in. "So, you guys ready to watch me win this thing?" he boasted. His mentor responded quickly. "So what're gonna do at the start of the games?" He sounded fed up with Barry already! "Well, I'll grab a sword from the cornucopia, then go slay the careers. I'll use their supplies, and hunt the rest of the tributes. Easy!" Jonas laughed a dry, brittle chuckle. "You do that, and you'll be the first to die. I've seen boys like you before." Barry looked a little taken aback by this, but only hesitated a few seconds. "Yeah, well, I beat all the boys at school at sports." And with that parting lie, he left, presumably to find his room, grabbing an immaculately iced cupcake as he went. "What a rude little boy!" Exclaimed Glissa. "Between us guys, I don't think he'll make it through the bloodbath" added Jonas. "I'm glad I don't have to mentor him!" said Aliana finally, giving me a wink. "So, Lyra, have you got a strategy yet?" she asked me. "I'm going to avoid the bloodbath, apart from if there's a weapon or something I'd find really useful near to me, because I'm a good runner. Then I'll find a water source, and stay near it. I'm gonna set up a trap, so that anyone who comes near me and my water source is killed." I finished finally, silently thanking my friends. "That sounds good" said Aliana encouragingly. "I guess" I replied "When's dinner?" I asked, after hearing my stomach rumble. "Whenever you want it! It's one of the many great things about the Capitol. You can do what you want, when you want!" Although I'd only had breakfast a few hours ago, I was really hungry. I started to eagerly fill up my plate with delicacies only available in the Capitol. I'd always been fairly well fed, but we only ever ate bland, quite tasteless food. I never tasted anything like any of the food from the Capitol.
After I'd eaten, I went to my room to have a nap. I fell asleep surprisingly quickly considering the harrowing events of the day. I was woken up by a knock on the door. It was Glissa, telling me they were about to watch the recap of the reapings. I left my room and followed her to a TV room, where I was given a glass of something sweet by a Capitol attendant. None of them really stood out. None of them looked as intelligent as me. Maybe this would be easier than I thought.
We arrived in the Capitol at about 10pm. The train station was filled to the brim with people that didn't look entirely real, screaming and cheering. Who knows whether they were screaming because they wanted me to win or because they were looking forward to see me die?
A/N: Just realised this isn't going to be canon because Enobaria won the 62nd Hunger Games. Please review!