District 7:

Sheila and Linden were eagerly waiting the moment they meet their mentors. Okay, actually, they were worried sick. Any step foreword, like meeting mentors and the Tribute Parade, meant one step closer to death. They saw how brutal Kade Reaves was killed last year. No matter how many times Jada apologizes, District 7 still can't forgive the death of Faith Brice. Luckily, Sheila and Linden are both seventeen and can fend for themselves.

Sheila turned her eyes to the windows. Trees zipped by, a reminder that she was approaching her death. Her attention turned to her district partner. Maybe 7 will have a victor this year. But, in order for Linden to be a victor, Sheila must die. She faced the chance that she may fall into the steps of Rivet. Her eyes notice something sticking out of Linden's shirt pocket. It was green and looked like a leaf. The more she looked, the more she realized it was a leaf. Linden's eyes caught Sheila's staring.

"Like the leaf?" He asked, his voice booming. She has never heard him speak louder than a mutter. Her heart raced.

"Oh…I didn't mean to…" Her voice squeaked and the heat raced to her cheeks. Linden giggled as the girl sank to her chair. Whenever Linden saw Sheila do that, he always thought she looked cute. Not that he thought that on a daily basis. A door slid open and Berry Punch led in two women to meet their tributes.

A woman named Palma Nazer took her seat in front of Linden. Palma won her Games (oh dear, how long ago was it?) by striking everyone down with her axe. In her interview, she said that she has been using axes since she was a toddler. Palma's gray hair was tied into a tight bun and her blue eyes were still as bright as when she was fifteen. Her body was riddled with age, wrinkles appearing everywhere. When looking at her tribute, she felt older than she was.

A woman named Sinus Alba looked over Sheila. The young woman knew that, although not as strong as Linden, Sheila might be a strong competitor. Sinus looked like that fourteen years ago, when she was eighteen and chosen for the Games. Sinus mentored for ten years and never saw so much promise in either tribute. She moved some black hair from her gray eyes and opened her thin mouth to speak. "Now, the main focus of the train ride is to assess what you are good at. Sheila, what are you good at?"

In a timid voice, Sheila spoke a few words. "Herb and berry knowledge. I can also use swords." Her small voice carried to Sinus, who nodded her head.

"Linden, what about you sweetie?" Palma turned her attention to her tribute. A moment of silence passed. Palma almost asked again when Linden spoke up.

"I am strong and smart." His voice overpowered every female in the train put together. "I can also use axes rather well." Palma's eyes grew. Perfect!

Sheila and Sinus began talking strategy. Linden and Palma followed suit. As the talked progressed, Linden's thoughts wondered to the arena. What would it be this year? Last year's arena was a forest. There is no way that it would be a forest two years in a row. He hopes that it is something that plays to his strengths. If it is something like a forest, he should be crowned victor!

Just like clockwork, Berry led Sheila and Linden to the entertainment car, for them to watch the Reapings. As Sheila took her seat beside Linden, fear filled her stomach. She feared that District 2 would have brought in monsters, just like last year. Lucifer made her jump when District 2 showed up on screen last year. This year won't be like last year. The monster of a tribute comes from 7.

Linden's eyes stayed onto the screen. He noticed each tribute that was called or volunteered. The siblings from 2 could make a lethal team. The girl from 4 looked too cocky. The boy from 9 looked weak. The siblings from 14 might be a force to fear. Well, they are from the medical district after all. Sheila saw Linden's eyes light up when he saw the pair from 14. The pair looked promising, but they are from the poorest district. Although they have medical experience, they might be a weak pair.

The Reapings wrapped up and Sinus asked the question. Linden responded with no allies. Sheila didn't see a person she liked either, but how would she survive alone? Then, she realized: allies do not ensure your survival.

District 8:

Flim's frail fingers kept running through her short hair. If you were being sent into a death match, would you be calm? The train began to speed away from 8, rain landing on the vessel. Her fingers trembled on her hair. Her body can't stop shaking. How can Camden be calm? He is just sitting there with a blank look on his face.

Camden's eyes are focused on the seat in front of him. Flim and Camden must share a mentor, because one of the final two mentors died last year. Only one remaining victor is from 8, and Camden hopes to expand the victors. Who was the remaining victor? A door slid open and a slim man with blue-black hair and dim blue eyes entered. Cosmic Sky led the man to his chair.

The mentor looked at his tributes. Flim looked like she was ready to fall over dead, and they aren't at the Capitol yet. She may not earn sponsors that way. Camden was as still as a tree, not moving at all. His eyes show no emotion, still probably in shock of being on the train. Many tributes refer to this as 'The Death Ride', as 8 doesn't reel in many victors. A four year gap between victors is rare for 8.

"My name is Danyel Irvine and I'll be your mentor." His voice is raspy, clogged, and hinting of sickness. "Congratulations on being on your Death Ride. By tomorrow afternoon, you will be in the hands of your stylists, and ready to show off to Panem. Before we do anything, what are you good at? It might get you past the bloodbath." His dim eyes look to the male tribute, expecting an answer.

"I'm fast and a quick thinker." He says. "I prefer to use a dagger."

"Because it bears a resemblance to a small needle, right?" Unsure, Camden just nodded to Danyel. "What about you sweetheart?"

A moment passed before Flim answered. "I know what berries and herbs are good and I am very stealthy."

"Any weapon preference?" Danyel hoped. Flim shook her head and Danyel sighed. What good is a tribute if they can't use a weapon? Cosmic gave Danyel a look and everyone moved to the entertainment compartment. Just as Flim and Camden sat down, the anthem blared and the Panem seal flashed on screen.

Dusk starts up the Reapings and Camden takes a look at all the tributes. Which would be good allies? 1, 2, and 4 are out. They were Careers, and Camden might get knifed in the back. The boys from 5 and 9 were promising, and looked like good people. The boy from 12 looked too young to work with, although he was two years younger than Camden. 5 and 9 might do.

Flim winced as each tribute showed up. One of these monsters would be her killer. Even the youngest tributes, the boys from 11 and 12, could take her down. With every tribute, Flim knew her chances of returning home kept going down. It's not like it bothered her; she signed her death certificate when she signed up for tessera. She can only blame her death on herself.

They went back to the main cart and had their dinner. Pastries, entrees and everything they were deprived of back in 8 filled their eyes. Flim ran over and filled her plate. One bite of a chicken leg or a cream filled pastry would send her flying. The food here was way better than her tessera rations. If her parents were here…No, if they were here, they would face a terrible death from a teenager who was raised to kill. Flim pushed the thought from her mind and bit into a chicken leg.

Camden just placed a pastry in his mouth when Danyel began speaking. "So, are you going to be allies with anyone?" Camden swallowed the strawberry pastry to answer his mentor.

"I am thinking about the boy from Five and the boy from Nine." Danyel's eyes lowered to his food.

"One upper and one lower district." He says, spreading butter on his bread roll. "Interesting. What made you choose them?"

Camden shrugged. "Something about them. I'm not sure what, but maybe they'll be trustworthy in the arena." Danyel took a bite out of his bread and faced Flim. "And you?"

Flim keeps looking at her food. As thunder cracks overhead, she opened her mouth. "No allies for me." Danyel nodded in approval.

"Nice." He said, his voice cracking. "I like the way you think. Not a lot of tributes think that way." Flim managed a broken smile. Maybe she might come home and survive with her life.

District 9:

"Panem, welcome!" Dusk Shine's voice says on T.V, hitting Jayd's ears. "Today is the first day in our Hunger Games journey. All the tributes have been selected or volunteered, and they are making their way to the Capitol as we speak. Overlooking the Reapings with me is Head Gamemaker, Chal Sherwood!"

The camera pans to a round, peach colored man next to Dusk Shine. On the small T.V back home, Rye (or is it Farro?) Corn never noticed how flawed Chal was. Wrinkles littered his face and his cheeks were twice the size of Dusk Shine's. Not a typical look of a Capitol citizen, but he is Head Gamemaker. Once he started to speak, everyone paid attention to the weird, paunchy man.

"Thank you Dusk." His high pitched voice just killed it. "Must I say that this year's tributes are an interesting mix."

"May I ask why?" Dusk Shine questioned the Head Gamemaker.

"I'm not trying to spoil anything here, but two twelve year olds actually volunteered! That goes in the history books!" His voice soared on the last word. He might have actually broke glass with that.

Jayd's eyes rose. Two twelve year olds actually volunteered? Why would they risk their young lives? Jayd didn't care for their reasons; she knew they would die in the bloodbath. And their killers would be the tributes from 1. The girl looked more than ready to kill and her partner looked the same way. Maybe they might be so focused on killing the twelve year olds that they would let Jayd slip right past them and live past the bloodbath. Is that just wishful thinking?

Rye was focused on looking at the tributes. Which tributes could he pair with? The boy from 5 looked like a good ally. Maybe the boy from 10, if he isn't a loner type. He didn't look at any female tributes. If he did make an alliance, he might fall for one of the girls. And his survival did not rest on him forming a forbidden romance.

The screen changes to a snap shot of all the tributes. Under each photo, a name was displayed. He looks at the boy from 5; Rod Bolts. The boy from 10; October Huxley. Rod and October. The screen clicks off and Film Reel stands up, fixing her film reel necklace. "I'll come get you when dinner is lain out. You will meet your mentor then." She strides out, leaving Jayd and Rye alone.

Jayd begins to stroke her hair. The red made her completely stand out where ever she went. It was soft red, like the dying embers of a fire. Her eyes were as blue eyes the sky and her skin was white as snow. She didn't belong in 9, where children had dark hair and tanned skin. In her mind, the only place where she will fit right in is the Capitol. People already look weird. However, her looks might be a disadvantage in the arena.

She turns to her silent partner. Something is not right about Rye. Normally, Rye's hair would be slicked back, giving him a different look than his twin brother. And Rye would have to be told many, many times to be quiet if anyone wanted peace. Jayd has seen him in school and seen how teachers work with him. She is one of the few people, other than the teachers, who can tell the twins apart just by their personalities. Her voice flows through the room and reaches Rye's ears.

"You don't look like yourself." She says. Rye snaps his head to her, eyes widening.

"What do you mean?" His voice didn't even sound the same. Jayd opened her mouth as Film Reel walked in and collected her tributes. She led them to the main car, where food filled their vision. They also noticed a middle aged man. He must be Axel Rolan. He won the 151st Hunger Games, but he'd rather not talk about it. His glossy black hair was down to his ears. His brown eyes look to his tributes, who sit in front of him.

"You are my lucky tributes, huh?" His voice was cold and unforgiving. Blame it on the alcohol. "Well, enjoy it while it lasts. We haven't had a victor in over twenty years. Every tribute I mentored died."

"Axel!" Film shoots him a nasty glare. "What about Amy? That little twelve year old…"

"She uprooted and moved to the Capitol. She's dead to me, anyway." Axel says, sipping his wine to calm him down. "Ugh, anyway. What are you two good at? Your strengths just might bring pride to Nine once again."

"I'm smart and good at climbing." Jayd speaks.

"I can climb and I am a quick learner." Rye quickly follows.

Axel sips his drink and lets the silence eat away at the tributes. While they were eating the food the Capitol has graced them with, his voice said a few words that made Rye and Jayd's hearts stop. "Brains will only get you so far."

A/N: And it's the weekend! I don't have school Friday for Wavier Day, so I get to post this glorious chapter up. What do you think? I worked on it all week so it would come out wonderful! Thank you for the reviews! They mean so much to me! Also, I would like to ask a favor. If you haven't already, please take my poll on my page! I will get a good sense of who you like and such. Also, I make a ton of references to my story Seventh Quarter Quell. Kade and Faith are mentioned in that story, so if you haven't read it yet, do it! As we say in the Capitol, Happy Hunger Games!

Oh! What do you think of the mentors? I personally love them! Well, I did make them up. Tell me your thoughts in a review! :)