Day Two.

A Cannon in the Wind;

The Fifth Hunger Games.

Tet Kender, 13;

District Three Male.

The first thing I hear when I open my eyes is the thunder. I immediately jump awake, looking around at the environment around me. The clouds above are dark and dreary, while a blast of lightning hits the ground a few miles away. The rain is heavy — and combined with the powerful gusts of wind, it's almost impossible to see in front of me.

This is so different from yesterday's atmosphere. What the heck happened? I feel like I've awoken into a nightmare...

"Good morning, Tet."

I turn my to the left, and I'm instantly greeted with Daniel's calm smile. Even with the wind and rain whipping his black hair everywhere, he emits an aura of pure tranquility. For a moment, I just stare at him, amazed at how relaxed and unbothered he is. I haven't even been awake for five minutes and already I feel like hyperventilating.

"G-Good morning," I say, standing up from my spot on the ground. I look around for my farm hat — but I guess the wind blew it away, because it's nowhere to be found. I turn back towards my ally, who seems to be staring off into space.

And just like that, the memories of yesterday plow right into my brain. The Bloodbath, or whatever they call it. Iris' death at the hands of Vesper Quinn. Calla's smiling face in the sky, killed by who-knows-what. It all comes back like a punch to the gut, and I have to force myself not to cringe.

When Iris was killed, Daniel ran after Vesper in cold anger, while I struggled to keep up. I don't know how long I ran; I just know that my heart was pounding way too much to be healthy, and my feet felt like they were burning. When I knew I wouldn't be able to run anymore, I yelled at Daniel to stop.

It was the first time I've ever really screamed at somebody. And for a moment, a blood-curdling moment, Daniel looked like he was going to leave me. I... I wouldn't know what to do without him, guiding and reassuring me. I've placed my ally on such a high pedestal that if he were to abandon me, I'd be...

I don't even know what I'd be. Lost, most-likely, stumbling around until the inevitable happens...

The inevitable. That's right... I'm in the Hunger Games. Five kids died yesterday. And by the end of this week, nearly twenty more kids are going to succumb to death's embrace. Meaning I'm going to die. I could never kill Daniel, even if I wanted to.

I shake my head, realizing I'm staring off into the distance as well. My ally is probably thinking about the events of yesterday, when Calla's face showed up in the sky at night, signifying her death. It was hard to swallow the fact that both of our allies were dead — and even more horrible was the fact that we practically left her in there.

Daniel had the same calm look on his face as he does now. I'm not good at reading people, but even I know how much pain and sadness lies behind those dark eyes of his. He blames himself.

It's a bittersweet feeling, knowing how relieved I was at surviving while both Iris and Calla died. I miss them both so much...

I... I want revenge on Vesper. He killed Iris, my sweet District Partner who wouldn't hurt a fly. I still remember the looks she would give me, the way her face would light up whenever I opened my mouth to speak. He deserves to pay for what he did to her. I'm not exactly behind killing him, but...

...But what? It's what he deserves, right? Daniel wants him dead, and Iris would want him dead. So... So that means I need to want him dead as well.

"This puts a damper on our plans for today," Daniel suddenly says, breaking me out of my thoughts. I give him a quizzical look. "We were supposed to find and eliminate Vesper today, but I don't think we can do that in this weather."

"Oh..." He's right. Fighting in this type of environment would be a horrible idea.

I nod my head, letting him know that I agree with anything he wants to do. Even though I sorta feel the thirst for revenge, it still doesn't make sense to me, talking about lives like pieces in a game.

But during my time in the Capitol, I realize that nothing in this world makes sense. I'm scared — but the only thing I can do now is adapt.

"Let's find some shelter until this storm stops," Daniel says, his voice so blunt and emotionless. I never would've thought that the Arena could get to my unstoppable ally, but it is. He was so cheery and compassionate in the Capitol. Now, he's like a robot.

And his main objective, avenging Iris, is the only thing he cares about. It's almost unnerving.

Nonetheless, I nod my agreement and start packing. The only thing I have in my backpack is a few pieces of food, some rope, and a single knife. Daniel, on the other hand, was only able to get himself a sword.

After I'm done packing, we start walking through the fields. With the wind, rain, dark clouds and thunder, it's a lot more dreary than yesterday. It's almost frightening — and I keep on having this bad feeling like something is going to pop out at us.

It's like the feeling you get during a recurring bad dream, when you know something horrible is going to happen yet you don't know when.

"Open your mouth while you walk and drink the rain. Until we find a lake or something, this is the best thing we've got," my ally tells me.

"Oh... Yeah." I do as he says, closing my eyes to keep the rain from blinding me. I don't know if drinking rainwater is good...but it must be better than dehydration.

When my throat doesn't feel as dry as before, I stop, wiping my face. I glance up at my older ally, and on his face is a determined grimace.

He grips his sword. I realize, then, that he feels the exact same thing I feel. Unnerved. Like danger is approaching.

"Tet, take out your knife." The words come out of his mouth so quietly, I almost miss it with the wind blowing so violently.

Take out your knife. I'm right. Something is coming. I quickly unzip my backpack, my hands shaking, my entire body shaking. Something is coming — and for once in my life, I'm not oblivious to the danger. I'm scared. I could die. I could die.

I don't want to die. I may not have any friends back home, and I may not understand the world I live in...but I do not want to die.

"D-Daniel—"

I don't get the chance to talk. As soon as my shaking hands find the knife, a loud howl cuts the air. Both Daniel and I whiz around, back-to-back, staring at the empty fields around us. What was that?! I've never heard that sound in my entire thirteen years of living. I keep on looking around, trying to locate the origin of that deathly noise, but I can barely see past a few feet in front of me. There's too much rain, too much wind, too dark.

And then, it hits me. That noise definitely didn't come from another tribute. I know exactly what it is. After my session with the Gamemaker, I did what he told me, and my Escort played the First Hunger Games on the television for me to watch. It was almost haunting to look at, knowing each of those kids were going to die except one. And when they all refused to fight, going their separate ways, I knew right then that each of them were going to have an agonizing death.

Muttations, my Escort called them, as set after set of mutated animals tortured the tributes to death. They're designed to give the Capitol audience a good show while punishing an unruly tribute or two. From as small as bees to as big as bears, an encounter with one is nearly fatal.

A cold shiver runs down my spine. What did we do? Why are we being punished like this? I don't know — and from the looks of things, I'll never be able to find out.

"Tet," comes Daniel's eerily calm voice, cutting through the sound of my beating heart. "Whatever you see, no matter what it is, you kill it. If you don't—"

He doesn't get the chance to finish. A large animal with big ears and piercing brown eyes comes charging at me, running on all fours. It's fur is a dark orange color, smooth-looking, while it's tail is bushy and lighter than the rest of it's body. It doesn't make a sound; as soon as it's in my vision, it opens its jaw to reveal a set of deadly teeth.

I scream, my body moving on auto-pilot and kicking it right in the snout. It barely looks offended; instead, it seems to let out a deep laugh that shocks me to my very core. Animals don't laugh. What is this? What is this what is this what is—

"You're going to pay for that, human," it speaks. And just like that, I feel my entire body shudder until I'm practically convulsing. This...doesn't make any sense..!

The knife in my hand is practically useless, because my hands can't find the strength to move. Before the animal can pounce, though, Daniel jumps in front of me and swipes at it with his sword. He doesn't hit it, and the animal quickly runs around, coming for me again. It's moving too fast, and I'm too astonished to react. It comes close, deadly close, and opens it's jaws.

I don't hear Daniel screaming my name, or even the sound of the rain pattering on the ground. All I hear is the squelch of my arm being torn into as the animal sinks it's teeth directly in my skin. I don't even feel the pain; time seems to go in slow motion as the animal's brown eyes stare at me, and my left hand clenches the knife's handle.

Time goes back to it's regular speed as I plunge the knife inside the animal's head. Blood shoots out at me, and I can practically feel the life draining away from the mutt. I scream, tearing my arm away from the animal's mouth, and then I scream again at the agonizing pain coursing through my right arm.

"Tet!" Daniel comes rushing to my side, and I barely manage to see the blood smeared on his sword. "Shit, I thought you could handle it! There was a pack of them, and— Dammit, Tet, please don't do this to me!"

It's the first time I hear my ally speak like an actual human and not like a pretentious instructor. I almost want to smile — but then the pain ripples through my body again, and it takes everything in me not to cry. For a moment, my vision blurs, and I feel like the pain is slowly ebbing away. But just like that, my vision jumps back into focus as another wave of agony eats at me. It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it HURTS!

"D-Daniel, I..!" I don't know what to say, or how to even say it. I killed a mutt, but in return my arm feels like it's on fire. I know, deep inside, that a wound like this won't kill me. But I can barely focus on a single thought right now, because my arm feels like it's going to explode and I don't understand why this happened!

I close my eyes, not wanting to see, touch, or even think about what a mess my arm must be in right now. The rain pattering down on my wound just makes it sting even worse. And to top it all off, I think I'm lying in mud.

For a second, I just moan in pain, letting my arm hang away from me. And then, all of a sudden, I hear a soft ding that somehow manages to stand out against the wind. Just like that, Daniel shoots away from my side, and an excited yell escapes from his throat.

"It's a sponsor gift! We got a sponsor, Tet!"

I don't know what to say to that, so I say nothing. Inside, though, my mind is whirring. Why would the Gamemaker send Mutts at me? And why would the Capitol send a sponsor gift right after? Is my pain just simple entertainment to them? Are they going to hurt me and heal me and then hurt me over and over again?

For a second, I think of refusing the medicine. But then, the fear of death has me quickly reconsidering.

More than ever, I finally understand what kind of world I live in. A world fueled by the pain of others, a world enamored with making it out on top.

Now, I understand.

And I know exactly what I have to do.

Adeline Callard, 18;

District One Female.

"This is just great," Echo grumbles, staring at the ground. Her hands keep clenching and unclenching, visibly trying to keep herself calm. "Why would that old Gamemaker make it storm? How is he supposed to get entertainment now? Nobody in their right mind would fight in that weather!"

She's right. The only thing I've been doing ever since I've woken up is staring out the window — and nobody should even be walking out there, much less fighting. With the wind blowing the rain everywhere and the clouds shrouding everything in darkness, I'd be terrified. Even now, safe and sound in this spacious barn, I'm still scared beyond belief.

You're one of the lucky ones, Adeline! I try and tell myself. The other tributes have to deal with that storm while you're dry and unharmed. Stop acting like a victim!

I'm not the victim here. Not yet, at least — and hopefully not ever. Terrance and Kostos moved the dead bodies outside to be picked up by a hovercraft, but I can still see their mutilated corpses, still smell their blood, still hear their screams. They're the victims.

Every year, I watched the Games, hoping to form a type of resistance to death should I ever get reaped. But watching it on the television is nothing like experiencing it for yourself. Every time I close my eyes, I can see Vesper chopping that little girl in the head. I see Kostos shooting an arrow and stabbing that girl from Seven straight through her body.

It makes me want to throw up, cry, scream, and then whimper in the corner. But I don't. I still want to be liked, by the Capitol and even by Echo, and nobody will like me if I go crazy like that. I want to be strong. Strong like Echo, who can cut through a person without batting an eye. Strong like Kostos, who can kill and still give me that charming smile. Strong like Terrance, who can stay calm and assured no matter what's going on.

Compared to them, I'm useless — but I don't want to be. I'm trying hard, so very hard to keep it all together. And maybe it's working? Maybe I'm slowly getting stronger as the minutes pass?

But suddenly, I see a lightning bolt strike the ground and thunder roars through the air. I squeeze my eyes shut, screaming. This is torture! Get me out of here! Please, somebody, get me out of here!

"Adeline, calm down! Have you never experienced a storm back in District One?" Snaps Echo, who's immediately at my side. I open my eyes and stare her in the eye, trying but failing to apologize. She leans closer to me — and for a moment, I think she's going to hit me.

But thankfully, she just sighs and storms away. I stare at her retreating form, feeling a surge of emotion fly through my veins. It's not fair. Why can't I be like you? It's not fair!

"Y'know, it's getting tense in here," says Kostos, suddenly appearing in my line of vision. He smiles a little, showing teeth — and just like that, I feel my face getting hot in embarrassment. I like him, I really do.

But then I see him shooting that arrow into that girl's stomach, and the attraction ceases. In the Capitol, I tried to distance myself from what was soon to come, how Kostos volunteered to kill. He was just so charming, so nice, so endearingly flippant that I couldn't stop myself from gaining an eensy-weensy crush on the boy. But now that we're in the Arena, I'd be disgusted with myself if I tried to pursue a relationship while people on the outside were dying.

And for him to be the cause of one of those deaths...

"And what do you have to suggest we do?" Echo replies snarkily. "Go on a field trip?"

"Nah, I wouldn't want to get my hair wet," he jokes, and I find myself giggling. For a moment, I forget about where I am; I forget about the storm, the dead tributes, and the bloodstains just a few feet away. "But we should play a game."

"A game?" Echo repeats, incredulous. "Is this game not good enough for you?" I find myself about to laugh again — but the meaning of her words stop me right in my track. The Hunger Games. I'm in the Hunger Games. Why should I be happy when..?

Stop acting like a victim!

"We're stuck in here with each other until the storm stops, so we gotta do something." Kostos looks behind his shoulders, searching in the darkness for our District Nine ally. "Hey, Terrance! You wanna play?"

The boy in question steps out of the darkness, a glint in his dark eyes. His arms are crossed, but it's not hard to see the flash of a dagger attached to his belt, or the weird-looking sword attached to his back. Unlike Kostos who's too carefree, or Echo who's too arrogant, Terrance is ready for anything.

"Depends on what it is," he responds, blunt. "I'm not going to strip for you."

At that, Echo bursts out laughing, while Kostos just shakes his head. "Don't be like that. Come here, all of you."

Curious for what Kostos wants to do, I get up from my spot by the window and hurry over next to him. Back in One, I've been to a lot of parties, and I've played a lot of different games. It was always fun to hang out with friends, ignoring the injustices of Panem and just bathing in our own luck. Now that I'm here, it's a lot harder to ignore just how cruel a world I live in...but I can still try. Just like how I'm trying to be strong. Just like how, even now, I'm trying to get everyone to like me.

When we all circle around the boy, Kostos grins. "Okay, so the game is called Two Truths, One Lie. The rules are simple: When it's your turn, you tell everyone two truths about yourself and then one lie. It's the other players' job to figure out what's what. Understand?"

"That sounds really fun," I speak up for what must be the first time since coming here. Everyone's eyes dart towards me, and my face heats up in embarrassment. "Um, I'm sorry—"

"Don't be sorry. You can go first," Kostos says, grinning. Echo snorts at that, while Terrance just stares at me. I nod, chuckling nervously. Okay, okay... Two truths and one lie? That should be easy.

But in reality, it's not easy for me at all. I want to make it hard for them, but I don't want them to think I'm lying. And what if they think I'm boring? I can tell that everyone in the Capitol must be listening right now, and everyone from the districts, too. More than anything, I want them all to like me.

"Okay, well..." Think, think, think! "I used to have a crush on a boy older than me..." That's true. I still think of Declan sometimes, but I know better than to pursue something like that. Besides, he has a girlfriend...and she looks better than me. "I used train with weapons, every day, so I'm pretty skilled at fighting." That's the lie. I've never picked up a weapon prior to being reaped — and by the way Echo rolls her eyes, I can tell she knows. "And I'm really jealous of my younger sister."

I am jealous of Delaney. Despite being younger than me, I feel like she's the better of us. She has a boyfriend, and she has so many friends, and I feel like our parents take more pride in her than they do me. It really hurts me whenever I think about it — because it's not fair. I try my hardest to be the best I can be, and my sister comes along and beats me at everything.

"How obvious could you be?" Echo says, shaking her head. "Everyone has crushes on someone older than them, and you seem like the type to get jealous easily. Those two are the truths, and you training is the lie. Next?"

As soon as the words leave her mouth, I can feel the embarrassment clawing through my body and tearing me limb from limb. The Capitol is probably laughing their butts off right now, teasing and making fun of me just like Aeliana Devrine did. I bite my lip, trying not to cry. Don't let it get to you. Don't let it get to you!

"Y-You're wrong," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. Echo's eyes widen and then narrow in suspicion, while both Kostos and Terrance just stare at us. "You're right about the first part, but I'm not jealous of my little sister. C-Come on now..."

"Really? So you trained?" Terrance asks me. His eyes bore into my own — and I know that he knows I'm lying, just to make myself seem better than I actually am. I mentally plead for him to not tell anyone, before nodding.

"Of course I trained..."

"That's surprising," Echo mumbles, before standing up. "This game is boring me. I'd rather get struck by lightning than continue this." Just like that, she storms away, probably angry at being proven wrong. But she was right. You're the one who's wrong, you pathetic liar.

I get up, too, mumbling some sort of excuse before walking back to my window. I was stupid to think that playing a game could distract me from the real problems, from my real insecurities. I'm in the Hunger Games — and I'm going to die. Everyone's going to die.

Someone, please... Get me out of here..!

Ula Dylan, 18;

District Four Female.

I rush inside the house and slam the door behind me, holding it down as the animals outside bang and bang on the wood. I can barely contain the fear in my voice as I snap at Kaya to find something, anything to place against the door. Without a word, she rushes deeper inside the building, while I keep my hands pressed against the wood.

A bang. A flurry of curses. Another bang — this one harder and louder than any of the others. Was it the horse? Oh God, how am I going to hold out against a horse?

I know I've been putting on a mature act for the Capitol — but I can't, I just fucking can't. Why did I place my trust on those frilly pieces of shit?! Of course the innocent animals would turn out to be bloodthirsty and crazy! And now, now they're going to slaughter me.

"Kaya, hurry up!" I scream, just as another hard bang hits the door. I can practically feel the wood tearing apart, bit by bit, just waiting for the right opportunity to crack and let loose a barrage of teeth and claws on my face. And to make matters worse, thunder hits the ground, shaking the earth and almost bursting my eardrums at that.

I bite my lip, forcing back a sob. I can't break down now. If I do, all the good attention I've received from the Capitol will just fall away. They'll think I'm weak, pathetic — and I've worked too hard for them to have that image of me. I bit my tongue, smiled whenever they wanted me to smile, and made sure not to let any of my hateful intent bubble out the surface.

I've done so much to stay alive and go back to my family, and this is how they repay me?! Bring down my defenses with cuddly animals and have them attack me the moment I turn my back?

"Kaya!" I scream again, feeling the wood breaking more and more. Another bang, more promises of torture — and just like that, I feel the first drops of tears start to pool out of my eyes. "KAYA, HURRY UP!"

"The only thing I can find is this bed, and I can't move it on my own!" She yells, rushing back to my side. But it's too late. The moment I open my mouth, a loud CRACK cuts through the tension, and the top of the door flies right off.

It's a miracle I manage to duck in time, or I'd have been beheaded right then and there. As I fall to the floor, time seems to slow down, and a rabbit's small head looks over the broken door at me. Yesterday, I thought the animals were unnerving, but cute at the same time. Now, all I can feel is fear as it smiles, showing off it's unnaturally sharp teeth.

I don't think rabbits have teeth.

"You bitches are dead," it says in that squeaky voice — and lunges straight at me. I squeeze my eyes shut and strike out with my fist, knocking the rabbit to the wall. Before it can recuperate, Kaya quickly impales it with her sword.

I stare at the furry creature, wondering how they could put on such a happy facade and turn murderous the next second. When I woke up this morning, I was drenched from the rain, and Kaya was complaining about how uncomfortable it's going to be moving around in wet clothes. We didn't realize things had changed until it was too late; one of the squirrels had violently tore up our two bags and ate all of our food, leaving us hungry and without any supplies. And then, one of the pigs bit Kaya on her leg, while the other animals started screaming a barrage of curses at us.

I thought I was having a nightmare.

"Ula, let's go!" Kaya yells, grabbing at my shoulder. I stumble to my feet and start racing down the hall, just as the two horses break the other half of the door and let all the other animals inside. We run into what looks like a kitchen — and there, right on the counter, is a large butchering knife. It's almost as if the Gamemaker expected this exact scenario. I'd scream at the cameras no-doubt following our every move, but I still have hope of keeping up my image.

I can't let my emotions ruin my chances of going back home.

I quickly grab the knife, just as two squirrels come charging at us. Kaya swipes her sword and quickly beheads one, while the other one lunges at my face. It's the exact same thing that happened a minute ago — but this time, I have a weapon of my own. I slash in front of me, cutting the squirrel right across the face and knocking it on the floor. It screeches in pain, writhing. For a second, I just stare at it, knowing what I have to do but not knowing if I have the stomach to do it.

These things aren't human, Ula. They aren't even real animals. They're Mutts, made by the Capitol.

Made by the Capitol. The squirrel looks up at me, growling, frothing at the mouth — but before it can do anything, I stomp on it's neck. I can feel the bone breaking away, feel the blood pooling out of it's wound...

But it's not human. It's a monster. I'm doing what I have to do to survive.

"We need to get upstairs!" I tell my ally, watching as she slashes at two more squirrels. She nods at me, trying to step away from the scene without losing focus on the creatures trying to tear her limbs apart. A pig comes barreling out of the hallway and straight at me — and I plan on kicking it away, or even stabbing it, but it does the unthinkable. It jumps.

I'm taken by surprise as the large animal crashes into me, sinking it's teeth straight into my shoulder. I scream, feeling the pain coursing throughout my entire body, traveling through my veins and setting everything aflame. "Get off!" I yell, stabbing and stabbing it's meaty flesh. "Get off of me!" The pig doesn't seem to be letting go of my shoulder, no matter how many times I stab it, and the pain in my shoulder only intensifies as it crunches down harder and harder.

For a moment, everything freezes, and images of my family flash through my mind. My father, who's both my role-model and my best friend. River, my little sister who we adopted after both her parents were burned alive by the Capitol. Isla, the one I'm the closest with and the reason I'm here in the first place. Brooke, who can always find time to sing our sorrows away. Even Solomon, my strong older brother.

I can see them all, crying, watching as I meet my end at the jaws of a pig. I won't let that happen..!

Feeling a fiery determination surge throughout my body, I grip the knife and stab the pig straight in his head. The knife pierces straight through his brain — and just like that, the pressure on my shoulder fades, right along with the Mutts life. I shove the animal off of me, wincing at the blood running down my arm, at the pain still coursing throughout my body.

I can deal with pain, though. Struggling to my feet, I see Kaya fighting against one of the horses, dead animals all around her feet. Squirrels that constantly talked with us, rabbits that made sure we were safe and sound, even the little chickens that bossed the other animals around. Now, they're all dead — because the Capitol doesn't care who or what dies, just as long as they stay in power and get the entertainment they feel like they deserve.

It's sickening. For once, I just want to scream and kick the wall, vociferating just how much I hate every single one of them.

But I don't. Because I was this close to death, and even thinking of how my family would react to my demise is too saddening. If I lose control of my emotions now, I lose everything.

Still wincing from the shoulder-wound, I rush past my ally, trying to find the stairs to the top floor. At the sound of her finally slicing the horse's head off, my eyes locate a ladder going up to the second floor. It looks unsafe, definitely — but staying down here is what's unsafe. As soon I open my mouth to call for Kaya, she's already at my side, covered in blood from head-to-toe. Looking at the red liquid on her makes me look at myself, and I cringe at the blood covering my own hands and shirt.

"Seriously? This thing looks like it'll break apart the moment we put our hands on it!" Kaya exclaims angrily.

I shake my head, pushing her forwards. "It doesn't matter. You climb up first." Even in a crisis, I'm still acting like a big sister. Bad habits die hard, they say — or in this case, they die painfully.

She does as I say, holding her sword between her teeth and quickly climbing the ladder. It wobbles for a second, like it's going to evaporate into dust, but Kaya quickens her pace and makes it to the second floor before it can break. Now it's my turn. With thoughts of death lingering at the back of my mind, I place my hands and feet on the ladder and start climbing as fast as I can, not caring if this thing splits into two.

Suddenly, my leg starts to burn, and I wince at the reminder of my injury. Don't think about it. Just climb. Just climb! I continue going, biting my lip, fighting back tears as pure agony spreads from both my leg and shoulder. Kaya holds out her hand to help me — right when another wave of animals start to rush into the room. With one last burst of energy, I jump onto the second floor and kick the ladder down on the floor.

I can't help but smile in satisfaction when I hear it break apart. Those creatures won't be able to get up here.

"That..." Kaya holds a hand to her heart, panting. "That was insane."

"Yeah..." I can barely breathe myself. Nobody should have to go through what we just went through. I feel like throwing up — and when my thoughts wander to our torn supplies, or to the blood dripping from my shoulder, the sensation of being totally fucked over makes me wants to cry.

We needed Caio. Whenever I think of my District Partner, all I have the energy to do is shake my head. Last night, he abandoned us. I don't know how Kaya feels, personally, but it really hit me hard. And what's worse is the fact that I don't even know why he decided to leave. Was it the fear of the animals? Or was it the fear of us?

I'll never know. Because he's gone — and it doesn't look like he's coming back.

Stop thinking about it, Ula. It'll do nothing but upset me if I focus on the negatives. For now, all I need to focus on is the fact that we're safe. We survived. Things are going to be hard for a while, that's for certain — but for now, we're alive.

In the Games, that's all you can really hope for.

No Deaths.

Author's Note: Yeah, I talked about there being a death this chapter, but I decided to move it to the night. I'm glad I did, too, because none of this good action and development would've happened otherwise. And for the first time in forever, I am actually really satisfied with how this turned out! I thought the Arena was going to be hard, but maybe it was just the tributes that were giving me a problem. Hm. Whatever it was, hopefully I don't have to feel it again, because I finished this extraordinarily fast!

What are your thoughts on each of these tributes? Which POV was your favorite and why? Which POV was your least favorite and why?

It's your second day in the Arena, and everything seems to have changed. The weather is horrible and the animals have decided that killing you would be in their best interest! Do you think you'd survive — and what do you do to survive?

Remember, don't forget to review! It doesn't necessarily make your tribute go farther, but it does determine how much I like a submitter xD And it does determine how fast I update as well, SO REVIEW!

Bai! :P