District Seven:

Rory Cedarby (D7 M 16)

We walk onto the train, and I get my first full look at Mapelle. I can't help noticing that she's very pretty. She's got shoulder-length, auburn hair, green eyes, and freckles. Her cheekbones are high and her eyelashes are long. However, she's very skinny, and clearly malnourished. There's a certain sadness that lurks in her eyes.

Mapelle and I are introduced to our mentors. My mentor is named Woody, and he won the 107th Hunger Games. He's very talented with an axe, so he might be able to help me with that. Mapelle's mentor, Ava Taylor, won the 104th Hunger Games. She's very quiet, and stares out into space as our escort, Petunia, introduces her to us.

Petunia tells us we've got some time until they replay the reapings on the television. "Go explore your rooms or something," she squeaks. I decide to take her advice, and walk off to the back of the train, Mapelle at my side. When we reach the fork in the hallway, I turn to Mapelle, smile and wave. She doesn't wave back, but a small smile forms on her face. The smile disappears as soon as it appears, and she walks right into her room.

Mapelle Green (D7 F 14)

Hours later, I sit in front of the television, next to Rory. The reapings finally start. District One appears, and two muscular teenagers volunteer. District Two surprises me because the girl isn't a volunteer. She's only fourteen. I wonder how she'll do. District Three reaps an old tribute and a young one. In District Four, the girl isn't a volunteer, but she's seventeen, and looks fairly strong. District Five brings two fairly old tributes. In District Six, a older girl and a younger boy are reaped. I think the boy's sister was in the Hunger Games last year. Poor kid.

Then I see District Seven. I watch myself take the walk up to stage. In a minute, Rory joins me. I've realized he likes to constantly swish his dark brown hair to the side. A girl volunteers in District Eight. The same thing happens in District Nine. Both tributes are reaped in District Ten, but the boy looks very strong. District Eleven is mid-aged, but they don't look very tough. District Twelve is the same way, but they're younger. At last the program ends, and Petunia announces dinner. Finally; I'm starving! I haven't had a proper meal in years.

District Eight:

Lukas Cottingham (D8 M 16)

Aria and I walk onto the train. Ridiculous introduces us to our mentors, who are standing right inside. Both mentors are female, because the three District Eight victors are all female. My mentor's name is Allison Cann, the victor of the 119th Hunger Games. Since she won only seven years ago, she's young and very pretty. Aria's mentor is Hannah Menkins, victor of the 103rd Hunger Games. I think she won by sticking with the careers until the final three, and then tricking the remaining two tributes.

Once our mentors and escort leave the room to go somewhere, I get some time to talk to Aria. I ask her the question I've been dying to know the answer to. "Why did you volunteer?"

"For my little sister," she says. Seeing my confused expression, she says, "She died four years ago, in the Hunger Games. She was twelve, I was thirteen. Ever since she died, I knew I would volunteer when I got older. I wanted to avenge her death."

Although I don't really agree with what she's doing, I have to thank her. "Thank you," I say. "If it wasn't for you, my sister would be in here."

She just shrugs. "You want to be allies?" she asks.

Now normally, I'd say no. I wouldn't want to ally with a volunteer. However, she did save my sister, even if she didn't do it on purpose. Besides, she's probably had some training and stuff. That could come in handy. "Sure," I say. And we shake on it.

Aria Law (D8 F 17)

I'm very happy my district partner accepted my ally request. I've always thought that allying with your district partner is the best way to go. He's a year younger than me, and he's kind of thin, but that's okay. He's probably smart, so we'll manage. My strategy for the Games involves hiding out until the end, so we won't have to engage in too much combat.

A few hours later, we sit in front of the television, waiting for the reapings to begin. I need to start looking out for threats. Both District One tributes qualify as threats. So do the ones from Two, even though the girl is younger. The District Three boy is sort of a threat. Both District Four tributes are threats. District Five is older, but they aren't particularly strong-looking. Same with the girl from Six and the boy from Seven. The District Nine girl stands out; she volunteered just like I did. She may be a threat, and the boy from Ten may be too. Districts Eleven and Twelve are nothing special, like always. At last the reapings end, leaving me to think about who I should watch out for, and wonder when we'll get to the Capitol.

District Nine:

Harvest Anson (D9 F 18)

Once Peter and I board the train, we get to meet our mentors. They're both guys this year. I guess our female victor wanted to take a break. My mentor is Thorn Becklow, winner of the 114th Hunger Games. I was only six when he won, so I don't know how he managed it. He's twenty-seven now. Peter's mentor is Ceci Colvert. He won the eighty-third Hunger Games, so he's a bit older than Thorn.

Praxis, our mentor, tells us to go check out our rooms, because we have two hours until they replay the reapings. I am very surprised at what I find. I always knew that Capitol trains were fancy, but I didn't realize they were this fancy. My bedroom includes a king-sized bed, a gigantic dresser, a huge closet, and a humongous bathroom. I mean, my bedroom at home could fit in the bathroom! Investigating the shower further, I discover it's got all these neat nozzles and buttons that I'd love to try out. I undress, and step into the shower. The warm water feels so good as it flows down my back. I can't remember the last time I had a warm shower. I've forgotten how heavenly they feel.

Peter Grane (D9 M 13)

Two hours later, I sit on the couch next to Harvest, waiting to watch the reapings. I'm nervous to see who all the tough-looking tributes are. Chances are, one of them will kill me. I'm only thirteen, so I don't expect to make it far in the Hunger Games. However, I won't let that keep me down. I'm going to make the most of my trip to the Capitol. I've heard it's extremely nice there.

At last, the reapings begin. The only tribute from Districts One through Four who doesn't look intimidating is the District Three girl. All the rest look ready to fight. District Five is older, so they scare me a bit two. District Six is tiny, but the girl is seventeen. The District Seven boy is borderline-intimidating. Same with the District Eight boy, but the girl scares me a bit, considering she volunteered. The District Ten boy looks ready to fight, but his district partner is only my age. Districts Eleven and Twelve don't look that tough. At last, the program ends.

I really don't know what to think about all of the tributes. There's some strong-looking ones, and some weak-looking ones, like me. If I play it safe, and find an ally or two, maybe I can make it far. The trouble is, I don't know if anyone will want to ally with me. Maybe the boy from District Six, or someone from Eleven or Twelve will want to. I guess I'll just have to wait until training to see.

District Ten:

Swirl Winters (D10 F 13)

Not long after the train takes off, Osborn and I are introduced to our mentors. My mentor is only eighteen. Her name is Lilliana, and she won at a very young age. Osborn's mentor, Rikard Tailler, won when he was sixteen by using a lasso to strangle the other tributes. He's in his forties now, and I believe he's a cutter. Our escort, Hila, tells us we've got a little over an hour until the reapings begin. "Be back here five minutes before they start, and make sure you wash your hands because we're eating straight after!"

I tour my room, which is as big as a small house, and then sit on my bed, not knowing what to do with myself. I spend a most of the time twirling my district token around my finger; my ring with a running horse on it. When it's time, I make a point of showing up to watch the reapings only three minutes early. Hila yells at me, and becomes disgusted when I tell her didn't wash my hands. I sit down on the couch, and two minutes later, the reapings begin.

Osborn Trevis (D10 M 17)

As the reapings start, I remind myself to look out for potential allies. I don't want to ally with the careers, but I want someone strong that I can trust. The District Three boy is the first one that may meet these requirements. I also see potential in the girl from District Five, and the boy from District Seven. The District Eight girl scares me a bit, considering that she volunteers for no visible reason, but that could mean she's had some training. The District Nine girl volunteers as well, but her reason is clear. She volunteered for the little girl that was reaped. I think this girl could be a great ally. She's the last one I pick out, though. Districts Eleven and Twelve are nothing special, which doesn't surprise me much. They rarely make it far.

The reapings end, leaving me to make a mental list of who I want to ally with. My first choice will be the girl from District Nine. She looks a bit strong, and she must be nice, considering she volunteered for the little girl. That makes her less likely to betray her allies. Next, I'll try for the boy from District Three or the girl from District Five. The boy is older, and slightly muscular. Plus, he's from District Three, so he's probably smart. The girl isn't really strong-looking, but something she looks very determined and serious about winning. If they refuse, I guess I'll go for the girl from District Eight, even though she scares me, or the boy from District Seven. If none of them say yes, I guess I'm on my own.

District Eleven:

Cherry Fairbanks (D11 F 16)

I'm very excited to meet my mentor. Piper won just last year, and interestingly, she's a year younger than me. However, she's very smart, which made her seem older in the Games. At last, she steps into the main train car. She waves to Ryland and I, and smiles, but it isn't a lasting smile. She doesn't seem very happy. Ryland's mentor is Metz Tearbee, who won the Games about twenty years ago. He doesn't look very happy. In fact, the only cheerful soul in the train car is our escort, June. She tells us we've got about half an hour until the reapings start, and suggests we take a quick look around our rooms. I decide to listen, and head for the back of the train.

My room's about the size of my one at home, which is surprising considering that I'm on a train. I expected it to be smaller. The bathroom is pretty big too. The shower has tons of buttons and levers that I'm really excited to try out. There's not enough time now, but there will be later. After briefly looking through my giant closet and huge dresser, I head back to the main train car to watch the reapings.

Ryland Yakavitz (D11 M 15)

District One appears. They're both muscular, and will make it very far. So will the tributes from Two, but the girl is only fourteen. She won't do as well as the others. The District Three boy might do okay, but the girl won't. Both District Four tributes are strong-looking, and the District Five tributes are old enough that they'll probably do very well. Same with the District Six girl, but the boy's very young. The District Seven tributes are in the middle in terms of age, so they could do okay. The District Eight and Nine girls volunteer, which is very surprising. District Ten reaps an older boy and a younger girl. Both District Twelve tributes are very young, and won't last long. At last, the reapings end.

There are certainly some interesting tributes this year. I don't plan to ally with any of them. I'll be better on my own. No one will be able to backstab me if I don't let anyone close to me. Instead, I'll just hide out in the corner of the arena, staying out of the way while the others brawl it out. That's what most of the tributes from the outer districts do every year anyways.

District Twelve:

Cobalt Cave (D12 M 14)

Misty and I step onto the train, and get to meet our mentors. My mentor's name is Dixon Duley, victor of the 94th Hunger Games. I'm pretty sure he won by waiting until the other tributes fought and bled out. Misty's mentor, Rose Jerome, had a slightly more strategic approach. She pretended she was mediocre, when in reality, she was trained by her father, just in case she got reaped. I'm actually very disappointed that my mentor won't be able to help me much. Well, at least Misty has a better chance with her mentor. If I can't win, I want her to.

One of the very few perks of living in District Twelve is we don't have to wait long for the recap of the reapings to come on. Well, that and we never have to wake up early for the reapings. Anyways, we're on the train for less than ten minutes before the reapings begin. I am kind of disappointed that we won't get to check out our rooms for a while, but I'm even more anxious to see my competition.

Misty Danielson (D12 F 13)

District One appears, making me remember how scared I am. Both tributes are huge. The District Two tribute redefines huge. He must be over seven feet tall! The girl isn't as intimidating; she's only fourteen, but she's got these black eyes that make her look kind of scary. The District Three girl has an even lesser chance of winning than I do. She's very skinny, and only twelve. The District Three male is surprisingly strong-looking, as District Three standards go. Both District Four tributes look very tough, even though the girl wasn't a volunteer.

District Five looks stronger than normal, but that might just be because they're older. The District Six female is seventeen, small, and skinny, but there's a certain fire in her eyes that tells me she won't let her height get her down. I bet she'll use it to her advantage; crawling into small spaces and stuff. When the male is reaped, my mentor whispers something about his sister being in the last Hunger Games. I wouldn't know; Cobalt and I don't have a television, so the only place we can watch the Hunger Games is in public.

District Seven is surprisingly good-looking, but not particularly intimidating. The District Eight girl is, though. She's a rare volunteer. Her district partner is sixteen. I'm surprised again when the girl from District Nine volunteers. I can't believe these people are just throwing their lives away to the Capitol like this. Her district partner is my age. The District Ten girl is also my age, but the boy is seventeen. He's certainly strong. The District Eleven tributes are very skinny, so they won't make it too far. At last, my home district appears. I watch as Cobalt and I get unfairly reaped. Finally, the program shuts off. My stomach growls, and I'm happy to find out that dinner is on the table. Maybe this train ride won't be all that bad.

The train rides are over! Yay! Finally, we get to move to the Capitol for the chariot rides! I plan to do them in one chapter, in the POV of the Head Gamemaker. Since I sort of want the tributes in each district to match, I'm sorry if I change your tribute's costume a bit, but I'll try my best to keep it similar to the idea you gave me.

Also, I've finally put up a poll! Yippee! For those of you who have read my other fanfics, you know I love using polls, and I really do use the data to decide who dies and who remains alive. In this poll, since we still have all twenty-four tributes, you can vote for up to three tributes. You can vote for your own tribute, but try not to be biased. If you honestly liked someone else's tribute better than your own, go vote for them, not for your own.

You've probably noticed that alliances have started forming. Please review to let me know what you think of these alliances, and what alliances you think should form!

Thanks for reading this super-long author's note! :-)