It was a valiant effort. We ate all we could, and we did some serious damage. What came next was almost as fun. As wasteful as it seemed, it had to be done. We took the rest of the food and trashed it. We smeared sandwiches across the pinata, stomped pastries underfoot, and tossed bits of cake into the air like confetti. We were a royal mess in our royal gowns.

"Ready to go?" I asked.

"I was born ready," Emma said. I wasn't sure if it was what Rose intended or not, but she would have been happy with what we did next. The Arena was flat and open. We weren't going to be able to stay out of sight, so it didn't matter how conspicuous we were. That meant we were moving in style.

"Way back when, only the best warriors rode horses," Emma said as she stood beside a skewbald pony. It was a huge advantage in battle. The horse was a weapon all by itself, since war horses were big enough to break through battle lines. Also, it meant the rider was above his opponent and could stab downward with gravity."

"Did the war horses look like this?" I asked, fiddling with the ribbons in my pony's brushed black mane.

"I don't think so," Emma said. I noticed her watching me intently and paused as I was about to jump on the pony's back.

"What, did I grow another head?" I asked. Then it clicked, and I looked back at her with a wicked grin. She read my thought and scowled as she started to blush.

"You don't know how to ride a horse," I said in a singsong tease. Only us bumpkins know that.

"I do so!" she said.

"So get on," I said. Emma glared at me over the horse's back as she tried to heft her leg over. She flopped onto it on her stomach and wormed her way over as the horse nibbled some grass. She pulled herself into position awkwardly and sat up, huffing.

"See, piece of cake," she said. I jumped onto my mount easily.

"Nailed it," I said. "And I'm sure you know how to make it go."

Harmony Griffith

I'd be a good friend for Rose. I'd play with her and let her win and listen to her. I'd try to tell her about what we needed in the Districts, but I wouldn't be preachy.

It wasn't impossible. I had a real chance. There were six of us left after the cannon earlier. I knew Mei, Angus and Jonathan were dead. There were seven possibilities left, and some of them didn't make sense. Emma and Rapture were Careers. A Career wouldn't be a good friend for a little girl. Calvary wasn't anyone's friend. It was really down to me, Aimee, Eleanor, and Demetria, and one of them might already be gone.

If I won, I'd live in the Capitol. A lot of Tributes wanted to get back home, but I wouldn't mind leaving. I loved my family and I loved my District, but that was why I wanted to go. If I lived in the Capitol, the people there would see what people from the Districts were like. It would be harder to ignore us if they saw me every day. I could do so much good there for my District. I could send back money, and I'd be one less mouth to feed. I'd miss them, but it would be worth it.

I already had my talent all lined up. I was so happy when the Bloodbath was about to start and the music started playing. I sang as loud as I could, and I hoped Rose heard it. Her father might have been a monster, but every little girl should have a good birthday. It was wonderful to sing again, even if it was just a simple child's song. I'd sing for Rose every night if I won. I'd sing before bed so she wouldn't be afraid of the dark. It sounded silly when I first thought it. She had nothing to be afraid of. No monsters would come to her house. Then I remembered the monster owned the house.

I watched for the new face when the Anthem played. It was Demetria. Somewhere in the Arena, a little girl not much older than Rose was run down and killed by Rapture. Emma and Calvary wouldn't have done it. They weren't that cruel. I sang the words to the Anthem along with the music as it played. It might be my last chance.

Harmony got a bum rap last time, since she was in a voting Games and despite the odds, she was submitted with the only other singer I've ever gotten. So I gave her a POV so she could at least have a minute to shine. After this it's back to Calvary.

This is off-topic but I wanted you all to know I published my first original novel on Kindle, so you all are welcome to look at it! It's under "Others" and has birds on the cover. It might not show up for a few hours since it just went up.