Jones Relling

Jones didn't feel like taking part in the whole tribute thing. He knew he was going to die, so why bother putting up the façade of some lunatic who was happy to be going into the games. He crawled under the covers of his bed, in his shared room with Galvin. If anyone from Nine could win, it was that kid. He was the biggest, and probably the strongest. Jones made a note to try and ally with him.

He ignored Graylia's call for everyone to get washed up for dinner, and Galvin's prodding to at least eat something. He slammed the door in Sloan's face when she asked if he wanted to watch the Reapings. All he wanted to do was get this over with, even though he knew it would end in his death.

"Jones?" Called Mary, Nine's mentor. "Jones, I'm coming in." He groaned under the blanket, and he heard the door open. Mary was young, only eighteen now. She'd won the games four years ago at the age of fourteen. Jones had to admit that she was beautiful, but she was also a murderer. Every Victor was, even if no one wanted to believe it when they were lucky enough to get their child back.

"Jones. Talk to me. I know it's rough, but I went through the same exact thing four years ago" Jones sat upright, because she was wrong.

"No you didn't. You were reaped in a normal set of games, not one where the odds were four times worse. You only had to fight off twenty-three people. There are ninety-five people that will want me dead."

"Eight-eight…" she added.

"Not helping. Just go, please. I don't plan on being Nine's next Victor, so you can go focus on the people out there who are more likely to survive the first day."

"Don't ever talk like that in front of me!" She yelled. "Kendall talked like that, and he was the first one to die! I hate losing tributes, and I would love it if you guys could just make it through the bloodbath. Try, dammit!" Jones felt the sting of a slap on his cheek. His glasses slipped off his face. "Don't just give up! What is that saying to your parents back home? Sorry, mom and dad, but it was easier to give up and die!" Mary wasn't known for being aggressive; she'd won out of luck. It shocked Jones to see her this way. She really, truly cared for her tributes.

Aleah Marcus

Aleah sat down to watch the Reapings. The only two people missing were Jones and Mary, but Aleah could faintly hear yelling coming from the end of the hallway. She ignored it.

She listened to Finneon as he commentated on each Reaping. How he felt the tributes of One and Four were particularly strong this year. How he knew the brother of on of the girls from Two. District Five having its first-ever volunteer. She was able to find amusement in his highly affected accent, but still, seeing the faces of her competitors frightened her to death. The menacing, murderous glares of the Careers, the determination on the faces of the regular tributes, willing to go to any lengths to see their families again. That was what Aleah looked like when the Recap came to district Nine. She heard Finneon say how he particularly liked the guys from Nine this year. Aleah remembered the boy who died in the games last year. His name was Gil. He had only been twelve years old when he died in the bloodbath.

When the Recaps got to the point that every had started on, Graylia told everyone to get to bed. She said it was going to be a busy day tomorrow. Busy for her, maybe, though Aleah. The tributes were going to be put through 'Prepping', which she'd heard was a painful process of beautification. She wasn't looking forward to it.

Damien Greyson

Damien had the room to himself. Bren, who he was supposed to be sharing it with, dragged his mattress and blankets across the hallway and was sleeping on the floor in Galvin and Jones' room. Did everyone really hate him that much? He figured the other tributes wouldn't be too happy about having to spend so much time with him, but he hadn't expected the shunning from everyone except Graylia and Mary. Even Mary, when she spoke to him, didn't seem all that happy about it. He was a thief, not a murderer. Not yet anyway. Surely the Capitol would transform him into one. If he didn't die first, that was.

He had to admit, he wasn't too afraid of death anymore. Damien had expected a public execution months ago. It was the punishment for stealing. But after he was outted, life went on. Except for the shunning, Damien's life wasn't any different. He hadn't known then about the deal his mother had made. He would have begged her not to make it. A hanging was a much better way to go that being put through the Hunger Games.

Damien's stomach rumbled. He crawled out of bed and slipped out f his room. The door to the dining car was open. He knew he wouldn't be heard; he'd had years of practicing his stealth. He stole away a couple of pieces of fruit, not that it mattered. All the food was meant to feed the tributes, anyway.

When he got back to the main car, he looked down the other hallway, leading to Graylia and Mary's rooms. He saw a light under the door of Mary's. He snuck over and stuck his ear to the wall. She was talking to someone, but they ever responded back. Damien realized she was doing Mentor Commentary. He remembered watching her do it on TV since she won. The Mentors gave their honest opinion of the tributes during the games, and what they thought would be needed for them in the arena. It was both an entertaining feature of the Games, and a way for the mentors to send messages back home to the Districts. Damien picked up on a few comments she made. He heard his name.

"I don't know what I am going to do with Mr. Greyson. He is unanimously hated by the other tributes, but he shows promise. The fact that he got away with theft for the past few years and was never caught is something that will keep him alive in the games. I've mentioned this to the others, but they are being stubborn in their alliance against him." Damien was glad to have at least one person on his side. He'd work on winning over the other tributes in the Capitol. He'd be nice, and confident, and he would show them what a strong ally he could be in the arena. He needed to be the person Mary was talking about.

Amber Stalk

Amber couldn't sleep. She was too afraid. Her roommate, Giana, was already sound asleep. She could only stare up at the glass ceiling and wait either until morning or the point where she just passed out. She though about what she would do at the Tribute Parade, which took place the first night in the Capitol. Nine wasn't known for having the best tribute costumes. Grain wasn't something that could be conceptualized ad made attractive. Many times the tributes were simply painted to look like straw. She hoped that that wasn't the case this year.

She knew she'd be waving to the crowd, to try and win them over. Who would sponsor a twelve-year-old unless they were memorable. She'd be memorable. She wouldn't let them forget her. She'd be the happiest tribute they'd ever seen, even if it was all a lie.

The next thing she knew, she was waking up to the glow of dawn above her head. When had she fallen asleep? It didn't matter, anyway. Amber looked out the window, at wherever the train was now. She saw the slightest hint of large building on the horizon, beyond the water. They were nearing the Capitol.

So what do you guys think of the tributes of Nine?

A little surprise here: When the Chapter showing the outside POV of the Tribute Parade is finally posted, I'm giving everyone a free 250 points to sponsor a tribute as if they were a Capitol citizen. But please, this time, don't sponsor your own tribute. Sponsor the one(s) who feel have the best outfit. Try and view that chapter as if you are seeing the tributes for the first time, like the Capitolites are. I'm opening the field for Chariot ride outfit submissions. Each submission will earn you 20 points, and I am going to be picky, so an accepted submission will earn 50 points.

Also, when the interview chapter is posted, everyone will get another 100 points, the only catch is that you cannot sponsor a tribute that you submitted.