Pontifex- King of Spades

After chariots, I can't say I'm as afraid as I was during the reaping recap.

By the time I'm dressed up in the official training garb, I feel great. Amazing, actually. I can't believe it's actually real, that I'm officially training and I'm going to be observed by Solitaire Chiarella along with a bunch of professionals… It's a free-for-all, and I'm all ready for it.

Nick and I eat together and talk strategy, January and Priam in another room. Soon, though, Janie comes in the room, clearly upset.

"What's up?" asks Nick.

"Priam and I are not getting along," says January, sounding upset and angry.

"Oh God," says Nick, sighing.

"I told him I'd much rather have no mentor at all than have him! Misogynistic bastard!" I've never seen her so worked up. "I was just being polite but he is such a jerk!"

Nick glances at me, and I know what he's going to ask before the words come out of his mouth.

"No, I'm not doing any kind of double-mentoring," I cross my arms. "If she lost her mentor, it's on her."

"I'm sorry I'm not letting my mentor degrade me!" she says, sighing.

Now, I don't know what it's like to be hit on. But I do know what it's like to be uncomfortable, and feel unwanted, and I don't want her to feel that way. Nick gives me a look and I sigh.

"Alright, don't get me wrong, we are not friends." I pause. "But, we are allies. Which means that you're going to be looking out for me, and I for you. So…" I'm going to regret this. "Fine. Nick can help both of us."

January smiles and goes over to sit next to me, smiling. "Thank you, Ponty. Really, thank you."

"Don't you dare call me Ponty."

"I promise I won't in front of the others. Alright?"

I grunt, knowing that's the best I'm going to get from her. "Alright. Fine."

She smiles and grabs some breakfast.

"Alright," says Nick, "So now it's time to go into slightly… Rocky… Territory."

"Hm?"

"The Career alliance. You don't seem intent to let the 4 tributes in."

"That's right," I say.

"We'll see how they train," Janie says at the same time. I sigh and know that I'm going to have to compromise on that one. I don't see how a reaped girl and a 14-year-old boy will fit in at all to the Career alliance of my dreams.

"Well, a small Career alliance can be both a blessing and a curse. Usually collapse faster, but tighter and win more battles."

We both nod.

"I think you should look outside One and Two. Some of these tributes are formidable, and they can be the scapegoats for any tension that might arise between you guys."

I consider. There are a select few I might consider asking to consider joining the alliance.

"Take the Seven girl, for example," Nick tries, and I immediately know why he even mentioned it.

"No way."

"Victor's children are sometimes smart," Janie says, "Os was definitely smart." Nick doesn't look phased this time; I'm sure he was prepared to hear a lot worse being said about his old friend at bringing up this conversation.

"Sometimes. But other times, they're also spoiled."

"We can talk to her and see how she trains." I definitely don't like the idea of a Victor's daughter in our alliance. Not at all.

"We can talk to Empress and Dream, and get their input." At least one of them should side with me, right?

Janie finally nods. "Alright. We'll talk to them first, and then to her."

I huff, willing to do whatever it takes to keep her from traveling with us.

"Come," Nick says, standing up. "It's time for your first day of training."

Janie perks up with an excited squeak, and I stand up, definitely feeling excited as well. I want to terrify these people and make them stay awake with fear. I want to score high, as high as I can, and make my father eat his words about me.

Together, the three of us walk to the Training Center. We're only the second group to arrive, and when we arrive, Priam is waiting for us, a smirk on his face. Nick pulls us closer to him and I stumble, a scowl spreading across my face.

"I trust you two know how to train," says Nick with a small laugh. We all try to ignore and avoid looking at Priam. "So go out there and show off your skills. Intimidation is a big thing around here and since you're from Two, it'll definitely work." We both nod.

I haven't mentioned to anyone, not a single word to a single soul, but I want to be the leader of the Careers. I was going to ask Nick how to assert myself, but didn't want to ask with January there. I respect this alliance more than anything and I know I have what it takes to be a good leader.

Soon, Empress and Dream show up with their mentors. We don't talk directly to them, but Empress waves at us with a huge smile, and Janie waves back. Dream puts up a hand, looking uncomfortable but waving a bit to us. We continue our conversation with Nick quietly.

The Four tributes come next, looking a bit flustered, their escort squealing unintelligibly. I see Salvador Castillion and my heart stops. These Victors are amazing…

The other tributes soon pour in, their mentors in tow. Each pair that comes in makes my heart pound harder. Big names. Cade Belrose, Victor of the 12th Games, District 11. Cyprian Schmidt, Victor of the 10th Games, District 7. Brody Abel, Victor of the 6th Games, District 9. Marlowe Glaiser, Victor of the 21st Games, District 7…

Marlowe Glaiser… Wait a second… Before I can connect the two ends of the wire, the Head Trainer silences us and starts explaining the rules.

No physical combat between tributes, careful with weapons, blah blah blah, I can literally recite this speech in my sleep. After what seems like an eternity, the mentors are gone and the tributes are released. Some quietly scurry to various stations, some meet up (like the girls from 4 and 6).

I go with Janie to meet the One tributes.

"Hello allies!" Empress chirps. "This is so exciting! Can you believe it!?"

"Not at all!" Janie says. Even Dream looks enthused.

I take a small breath to scatter my nerves, balling my hands into tight fists and standing taller before I speak up. "I'm taking the lead of the alliance."

I feel three gazes immediately on me. Janie arches her eyebrows, impressed.

"What about the rest of us?" Empress asks.

"You can…" I give myself reassurance in my head: you're relevant, you've trained and know what you're doing… "You can find a way to be okay with that."

"Assertive," Empress whispers to Dream, who nods.

"Alright," she says, "But if things go sour you're the first to die."

I think that's fair. "Alright." My heart swells with warmth and happiness on the inside, though. I can do this.

"So, Leader, what's the game plan?" asks Empress.

"Impressing and scaring the others is important, but we can't be stupid, either. So balance out your time."

"Sounds good to me," says Dream, trying a friendly smile, and the others nod.

Janie speaks up just then, "Also, we wanted to ask you about the girl from District Seven…"

.

Katherine Tracey has been let into the alliance and I'm pissed. I train well when I'm pissed, hitting the targets with precise accuracy that makes even Empress nod in approval. It hasn't even been one day and I'm already tired of Kathrerine's fucking boobs in my face.

I throw a spear so hard the trainer jumps. Some of the other tributes that were waiting in line, like the girl from 12 and boy from 9, scurry off to survival stations.

I notice that January avoids knives the whole time. She trains vigorously with everything else. Empress cheerfully shoots five arrows and hits lethally with each one. Dream seems focused with the knives he throws.

After a couple more violently angry spear tosses, I retire from that station to hold up to my word practicing survival skills. When I glance at my allies, Janie trains side-by-side with the boy from 10, both of them tossing projectiles at alarming speeds. I go for the trap-building station to clear my head a bit.

The girl from 10 and the girl from 4 already have traps made, and I become immediately determined to make one that's better than both of theirs combined. The trainer at the station is talking to me as I work, but I don't listen much. Katherine Tracey joins me at the station and takes some materials. I hear her annoying voice but don't listen.

By the time I'm satisfied with my trap, my head is a lot clearer.

"Not bad," says the trainer. It's not very good, and wouldn't fool any tribute with a brain, but I take it because at least I feel more civil.

And if I thought mine was bad, Katherine Tracey's is an absolute train wreck, and she doesn't look too bothered by the fact. "I got to have some bonding time with Pontifex here," she chirps. I get up and walk away before I blow another gasket. I know she's just getting into my head, and that my allies will play off that if they know anything about strategy.

So, I decide that if the others can add a wildcard behind my back, I can do the same to them.

.

I choose the boy from District 10 because there's no way I'm adding another simpleton to the alliance I love and respect. I just couldn't make myself go talk to that girl from 11 or girl from 5 or even boy from 4. They're either too young, too inexperienced, or both.

The girl from 11 spent her morning at the survival stations and then trying to climb. The girl from Five was everywhere (though easy to keep track of because of that hair) and more intent on looking around than training, it seems. And the boy from Four, though he has proven some degree of training through spear-throwing, is just too young.

The boy from 10 seems to have a knack for training, proven by his ability with a machete and throwing knives. And besides, if I add a threat to the alliance it's sure to get the others pissed enough that I can manipulate them into dumping Katherine and 10 boy.

I train with throwing knives on the second day to talk to him. I'm a little rusty at it, where it seems he's somehow picked up on some kind of extra training back at home.

"You're not too bad at that." This hurts so much. But I realize that I hate Katherine Tracey and the idea of letting her into my alliance so much that this is absolutely necessary.

"Hm? Oh, thanks." He scratches the back of his neck with a hand, looking pretty comfortable with all those sharp weapons.

"I've got a proposition for you, Volunteer from 10." I don't wait for him to respond. "Four's out this year, and I want you in." I take my time to throw the next set of knives, and they're much more accurate than the last one.

"I dunno about that," he says, throwing a couple of knives and pausing. "I might have an alliance already." He glances back, but briefly enough that I can't tell who at.

I blink, dumbfounded. What kind of idiot would turn down a spot in the Career alliance!? His undermining of the importance of Careers makes me seethe with rage and I can tell already that it's going to be a very long three days.

But, I train better when I'm mad, so who's complaining?

"Never mind then, if you think we're not worth your time, then you can die on your own and see who's laughing then."

I turn around and head towards the maces, where Dream is focused on destroying a dummy. Soon, I join him, determined to prove everyone that ever doubted me, my alliance, or my capabilities as a leader so wrong they cry.

~.~.

Gio- Joker

I start off my first day of training feeling extremely uncomfortable in this jumpsuit.

I decide to stay away from the Careers, who flock straight to weapons. Careers train with weapons to show off how great they are. I think they also do it to scare other tributes away from learning weapons. It's certainly worked on me.

So, I decide to go to the knot-tying station first.

I watch and listen as the instructor tells me what to do, trying to get my fingers to keep up with his words and actions. I watch how easily the boy from Four does it, like he's been training for a while, which I'm sure he was. Why else would he volunteer at such a young age?

I know that there's not a chance I can survive past the first day without an ally, so I immediately scout out those around me for someone that might be nice enough to take a loser like me under their wing for a while. I have to have something I can provide for them besides irritability and organization, though.

I decide to start scouting right away, and turn to the boy from Four, who has just finished a terrifyingly precise noose. I wouldn't like to see that in action.

"Wow. That's one nice knot." He looks up, the noose falling from his fingers smoothly.

"Uh, thanks. Yours is…" His eyes go down to the straight rope, riddled with knots but not taking any kind of noose-like shape.

"I…Yeah, I know." I awkwardly start trying to untie it. "I can't tie."

He laughs a little bit. "Yeah. That's alright, though."

"I'm trying to find something I'm good at and get an ally."

"Huh. Well, I'm not allying unless it's direly necessary." I should've guessed.

"Oh, yeah, right. Well, good luck." He nods a bit and I get up, walking to the poison station. The girl from Four and the girl from Eight are there, and I decide that's a good bet. I take a seat and listen to the trainer, trying to follow her.

The twelve-year-old from Eight starts off slow at first like me, but she gets ahold of it faster than I do. The girl from Four looks experienced, though not quite as confident as the boy from her District. I think that's just a personality difference, though.

"You're getting better," I say quietly. The girl from Eight looks up. "Oh, thanks."

"I'm not getting it."

"Maybe try to think of it like this," she suggests, then goes into an explanation I follow only slightly better than that of the trainer.

I nod and try it. "I guess I should focus on something else, then. But maybe we can talk later…" I don't know how I feel about allying with someone dramatically younger than me, but the way Dawn carries herself makes her seem older than she really is, which is definitely not a disadvantage.

As for me, I'm the exact opposite. By my constant jitters and irritability and breakdowns, I seem much younger than 17. My Dad says it's just the look I've got about me. I dunno how tall and skinny screams 13-year-old to anyone, but eventually I just got used to it and let it stop keeping me awake at night.

She shrugs a little bit. "I'm not sure who I'm going to ally with. But I have people to ask around."

I know the rejection isn't personal, but I still get more and more anxious each time I get rejected. What if I can't find anyone!?

By lunch, my nerves are through the roof, and I'm nothing but tense. I eat by myself in the corner of the room, just like I used to do at school and work. I eat quickly, head down and staring at the table, as other groups of tributes talk and laugh and seem to be lively.

I hear loud laughing and see the boys from 5 and 8 red-faced and grinning widely. I sigh quietly, feeling like absolute shit.

Soon, everyone gets back to training and I go to the edible berries station, trying to focus but ultimately failing. I find this to be easier, though, and eventually start to improve my score on the test. However, things quickly go sour when I get every single question correct except the last one. That one red square messes up the whole picture, and my nerves fly angrily to my throat and my eyes.

I quickly turn away, not very keen on having a nervous breakdown when I'm trying to prove why I'm worth allying with. In my frenzy and trying to calm my nerves, I crash straight into a large, strong frame, and almost topple backwards in shock.

He grabs my arms before I fall back on my ass and helps me regain my stability. When I look up, I see stubble, a sweaty forehead from some hardcore training with weapons, and unnaturally (or so it seems) blue eyes that don't look as hostile as I had expected them to look in person.

"Woah! You alright there?"

I swallow hard, and pretend to be rubbing my eyes as I wipe away tears. "Fine."

"You seem a bit frazzled."

Yeah, frazzled is an understatement. I sigh quietly and shrug a bit. "I guess I've been letting this whole reaped-away-into-a-fight-to-the-death thing mess with me." I didn't mean to sound so pathetic, but he nods understandingly.

"It is a lot to take in." I shrug a little.

"You seemed to be doing pretty good on that test," he says.

I shrug a bit. I'm about to talk but bite my tongue, figuring that saying "Yeah, I got one wrong and was about to have a panic attack" to the towering 18-year-old from 10 that volunteered and can also throw as well as the Careers and probably strangle me with his bare hands would probably be a bad idea. I need to be civil, but I can't let him know how pathetic I really am. "Yeah, I was doing okay."

"I'm not quite as good as you seem to be, though." I'm not sure if he means it or he's just being nice out of pity, but the sound of his voice sounds genuine enough that I try to get myself to stop worrying about it.

"Well I can't throw." I also can't assert myself, or tie knots, or make poisons. But, goddammit, I can pass the stupid berry test. It's something.

"You want help throwing? I'll show you how to throw." I somehow wasn't expecting this degree of kindness from the strong volunteer with piercing eyes, but I'm eternally grateful for it. It's a lot easier to face the weapons stations when you have a knowledgeable force that even the Careers respect to guide you.

As we walk over, he speaks up. "My name is Atticus. What's yours, again?"

"Giovanni." I pause. "You can just call me Gio, though. That's my nickname." I try to relax, to not be so stiff and awkward, but I can't really help it. Atticus takes a knife and starts on an explanation of how to throw it. This time, I really listen attentively. This could be my difference between life and death.

Soon, to my astonishment, I'm throwing knives, and they're actually hitting the dummy. Probably far from lethal, but could possibly mean the distraction that allows me to flee from a losing battle. Next to me, Atticus chucks them so fast and accurately that my heart jumps each time he throws. Meanwhile, he tries to give me some positive reinforcement.

Soon, I can hit a lethal area with a knife, even if it's not deep enough to be completely and immediately lethal.

My arm is going to ache like hell tomorrow morning. I may have worked in the factories, but not even a day in the assembly line was that much of a strain.

"Feel better now?" Atticus asks, when we pick up some knives from the floor and the tributes start to leave.

"Slightly, yes, thank you." I really can't put enough gratefulness into those words.

"That's good." We rack the knives one at a time.

Finally, I muster up the courage to ask, reminding myself that legally, the most he can do is say no.

"I'm never going to make it on my own, though. I'm going to need an ally."

"Yeah? I might be able to help you with that." My heart flies and relief floods my whole body. Don't get me wrong, I still feel incredibly awkward, and I'm still far out of his allying league, but there's no way I'm going to say no to an ally like him.

Unless he has a plan to destroy you in your sleep, says a voice in the back of my head.

And, of course, even with an ally, the worries will never stop. I go up the elevator to eat dinner with Juli, Ichabod, and the mentors.

.

My arm aches and complains the next morning like it never has before. I make myself get out of bed and go out to the kitchen to eat breakfast.

"Good morning," Ichabod says, getting up from where he was chatting with Juli to guide me to the table and sit me down.

"Morning Gio," says Juli, half focusing on me and half on the pile of pancakes and syrup on her plate, topped with whipped cream and strawberries.

"Hi," I say quietly, sitting down.

"Oh, Giovanni!" Ichabod says, getting up again. Like me, he has trouble sitting still. I know it's a miserable thing, but I can't help feeling appreciative of the fact. It makes me feel like less of a freak. "I've got something for you!" He grabs a canister and tosses it to me, pushing the thick black glasses up his nose.

"Here you are. It's what I take. Calms your mind a little bit and it'll hopefully help with your stress."

"Oh…" I take out a couple of pills. I've never taken a pill before, but close the container and pop them into my mouth.

"Giovanni, you might want to just wash them down with some water!" he says. I blink. Oh, that makes sense. I do as he said.

"You can call me Gio," I tell him. This is the fifth time, but I can't help it.

He shrugs. "I like Giovanni better. It's more… Proper." I had never been called or referred to as proper before, so it throws me off. I go back to breakfast, and none of us talks.

When we go down to the Training Center, Atticus greets me with a wave, though we're forced to line up for attendance before we can talk. After a brief conversation, I make more rounds by the survival station.

I find that I'm very good at building fires, and throwing knives have greatly helped my ability to shoot a slingshot.

When I look up, Atticus is throwing knives again, next to the boy from 2, who I might even say he's outshining at the moment. That's alright. The next time I look up, though, I see him talking to Pontifex, a serious conversation. By the look on Pontifex's face, my temperature must drop a couple degrees, because if I'm right, Pontifex is asking Atticus to join the Careers.

Of course! There are extra spots left by the lack of Four tributes, and Atticus is the most well-trained, Career-like person there… How could I not think of that!?

My heart: and spirits: sink. One more alliance out the window.

I decide my next best bet is to go over to the fishing hook station and talk to the only person that's reached out to me since getting reaped.

Ori, the boy from District Eight, is striking up a conversation with the girl from District 5, who isn't listening very closely to what he has to say, and the boy from District 11, who cheerily answers him. Soon, the boy from District 11 leaves to go to the berries station, and the girl from District 5 gets up and lingers.

Ori looks up and makes eye-contact with me (something that is probably not easy because I keep trying to avoid it). "Hi Gio," he says. I can hear his smile when he says my name.

"Hi," I say. He's doing the hard part for me, which I appreciate forever.

"How're things going with you?"

"Not that great," I confess. The medicine makes my head feel slightly better, but it makes me feel lethargic and slow, and I definitely don't like that. I can barely keep my head up as I'm working on my fish hook.

"Aw, Gio…" his fingers lightly trace my back, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's… It's fine. I'm fine."

He nods, but his eyes show clearly that he doesn't believe me.

"How's your ally search gone?" he asks. I glance back at Atticus, who is now training with a machete.

"Like shit."

"You're always welcome with me." It makes me feel so warm to hear that. I feel like we could be good friends if we weren't stuck here. Maybe even best friends.

"Thanks. That sounds great."

He breaks into a bright smile, "Awesome! Cool! Alright, that'll be great!"

I glance down at my doomed-to-fail fish hook. Ori glances down, too.

"I don't think this is really my forte," he says. I laugh a little bit, feeling a million times better now that I have at least one reliable ally. Maybe today I'll actually have someone to eat lunch with.

"Yeah, it's not mine, either."

~.~.

Dawson- Six of Hearts

I've never liked being awakened early, and unfortunately it's not something I've grown out of since having two little siblings. When Lorelei calls, I roll over in bed, pulling a pillow over my head and closing my eyes again, just for a little while.

I wake up again seven minutes later to Lorelei flicking on my lights and loudly clapping her hands.

"Up up up!" she squeals, obviously offended that I didn't get out of bed the first time she called.

I roll over and out of bed, my eyes trying to close themselves. I feel Lorelei's eyes follow me as I walk to the bathroom, and when I glance at the doorway she looks up at my face (what was she watching before?) and raises an eyebrow. "Going to stay awake this time?" she asks.

I yawn in response and grunt. I don't want to talk if I don't have to.

I figured that staying up until midnight last night would bite me in the ass...

I go into the bathroom and close the door, still trying to get used to the water pressure here and splashing myself by accident (though it did help me wake up). Then I brush my teeth and run a comb through my hair hurriedly. While I get ready for the day, I hear Lorelei screaming from the other room, her voice muffled to the wall.

When I go to the kitchen, I realize Tiffany's not there yet. I take a bagel and butter it as Lorelei enters the kitchen, her face turning its normal color from the angry red it had been when she was with Tiffany.

"God, District people can't even wake up right," she says under her breath, before realizing that I'm standing right there. "It's true."

I finish off the last bite of bagel, scowling. I'm about to blow up at our escort, but thankfully Tiffany appears before I can do so. She doesn't look very good. Pale and skinnier than usual, though she's eating more. Her eyes are sunken and dull. I think she's probably suffering from withdrawal.

The mentors emerge together, yawning. I like my mentor. Hannah Abbey is young, the Victor of the 33rd Games, and she knows what she's doing. She takes some food, and Tiffany's mentor, Mindy Leighton, takes some as well. Mindy won the 29th Games, and I don't think she would get along with me as much as she does with Tiffany. It's all a personality thing.

After everyone's done eating, we go down, right on time for the starting time.

When we get down there, though, we're the last to arrive. Lorelei sighs in disappointment, but Tiffany and I don't really mind. The extra sleep was worth it, and I think that's one thing we can agree on. AS soon as we get there, the instructions start. We're released, and the Careers practically sprint to the weapons.

I go with some of the younger tributes to the survival stations. Whereas the Careers already know enough about surviving to go straight to weapons, District kids don't have that luxury. I don't know who coined the term Careers, but they definitely weren't wrong. It fits them. They take it as a compliment, but we use it mockingly.

I go to the fire-building station first, determined from the very get-go to find an alliance. The boy from Six sits next to me, seeming focused on the sticks in his hands. I talked to him at chariots and he seemed pretty alright, so I smile a bit. "Uh, hey, Garrison."

"Hey." He starts rubbing the sticks like the trainer showed us. I mimic him as best as I can.

"You need to do it faster," he says. I try to keep up, but my arms can only go so fast.

He takes my hands in his and shows me how to do it. I feel really stupid as the sticks begin to smoke. Why can't I do that? As soon as he lets go, the smoke stops. I make it my job to try and get it starting again.

I find it much easier to use flint, though I'm not really sure flint will be accessible wherever the Arena is going to be.

"What's your plan for the Arena?" I ask him, noticing the red scars that slash across his rugged arms and his callused hands that are probably torn from years and years of hard, heavy work. I don't really want to ask about his past, though, he seems to be avoiding it.

"I'm not sure yet," he says. "Why?"

"I just wanted someone to travel with, but-"

"No, I see. That sounds good to me."

I feel a grin break across my features. "Oh, yes, great!"

He smiles and, in a split-second decision, he gently ruffles my hair. Then we split up, and I feel pretty damn good at knowing that I've got an ally. Looking around, I see the 4 and 6 girls talking and training together for a while before splitting up.

I take a seat at the camouflage station with the boy from District 12 and the boy from District 7. Currently, Asher is chatting happily.

"My mam says I'm gonna win the games and come home! It's a bit of an outrage that I'm not a face card, but I guess there are no knights, because that's what I am, y'know?"

The poor kid from 12 tries to focus on his camouflage, but the other 12-year-old knocks the jar of mud over in a dramatic arm motion, "I'm going to fight to the death and be great at it! I'll even get to use a big sword, Mam said so! What'd you say about your mam again?"

Copper keeps his eyes on the crudely-painted designs on his arm.

"I said that she sets high standards," he says, "And that she'd never praise me like that." He sounds pissed, and I don't blame him. Asher looks up at me. "And you, boy from 5? What about your Mam?"

My heart drops to my stomach. "Oh, uh…"

"My Mam says I'm going to come home and win the Games! I'm gonna use a sword like a knight!" I'm not sure how much of that is true and how much is not, but I just nod. "So, what about yours?"

I don't want to answer, and I'm sure my face falls and gets paler.

"How? How's she? Is she nice? My mam always lets me get my way!"

"My Mom…" I swallow hard, but refuse to cry during training. "She died." I can barely make myself say it.

"Aw, now that's too bad!" he says, though I don't think he means it. I want him to shut up already.

I take a brush and start to paint, tuning him out, and immediately my heart feels calm and peaceful. As I said, I am an artist. I can see colors, and I can use them. This is extremely easy for me, and I make swirls and spots and marks on my arm. I fly for a while in my own personal heaven while I paint on my arm. Not only do I like to see myself calmly swirling the colors, but I also like the light brushstrokes as the goop is caked onto my arm. It's oddly satisfying.

I zone back into it when I'm shoved a little bit.

"Oh, don't mess up!" squeaks Asher, grinning. I sigh.

"Yours is alright, but mine is much better!" he shows me his arm, painted moss green with mud-brown smiley faces. "Nobody will ever find me!"

The trainer comes over. "Wow, that's spectacular!" she says, admiring my arm. Copper's eyes flicker shyly from my arm to my face.

"What? You said mine was only alright!" Asher protests. His eyes tear up, "Mine is much better!" he says, voice wobbling.

"Dawson here has got some natural talent!" the trainer says, clapping me on the back.

"Tell me how to be good!" Asher cries, "Tell me how to be excellent, Dawson! Tell me!" he sniffles and bursts into sobs, "I want to be spectacular, Dawson!" Those in the surrounding area look over, and I can feel them judging me. I don't care.

I sigh quietly. This boy reminds me vaguely of my younger sister Sadie. No, he reminds me exactly of my younger sister. I spend a while trying to comfort him, but eventually give up and leave him crying, feeling much too pissed off to help him.

I wash off my arm and go to this slingshotting station before lunch.

"Hi Dawson," says Ori. I look up, smiling a little bit.

"Oh, hi." I'm still pissed off.

"You okay?"

"Not in the mood."

He nods understandingly. "Right. Well, do you want to eat lunch together?" I guess there's no harm in it.

"Alright." I know I should find Garrison to eat with as well. If we're serious about allying together, I need to reach out to him.

There are very few conversations going on during lunch, and most of them are very hushed. I sit with Ori and Garrison, and together we eat. Ori has a great sense of humor, and tells me a story about his antics with his best friend that makes me laugh until my gut hurts.

After lunch, I seriously consider allying with Ori. I have some doubts about it, though.

He's a nice presence and a valuable asset, but I'm a little bit afraid that I would get attached to him. I think I already have.

Not that I don't have that fear with Garrison as well. But… Garrison is a lot more closed off, though, and does a lot more talking than listening. He doesn't want to get attached. I can't blame him.

"So, maybe we can meet up?" he asks, his eyes sparkling hopefully.

"Er, uh… Maybe. I dunno…" I scratch the back of my neck. His face falls, and I immediately feel guilty.

"Oh, right. Uh, talk to you later… Maybe…" he turns around and quickly leaves, and I feel absolutely awful. Yeah, I've definitely become attached.

But I have a family to get back to.

.

The second day, I train next to the boy from Nine tying knots. He seems to be pretty good at it and has very nimble fingers, while I need a little bit of help before I'm very good at it.

"You're not bad at that."

"Yeah… I wish the Careers would let some weapon stations open, though…" he glances over, his eyebrows raising in surprise when he notices his District partner throwing spears next to the boy from One.

"Is she really scary?" I ask. I feel like she is.

"Scary is an understatement," Lyndon says, sighing a bit.

"I'm sorry."

He shrugs a bit. "I can manage."

"I'm sure you can." My relationship with Tiffany isn't great, but it also isn't terrible. I can't imagine having a hostile District partner, though. It must be a pretty big pain. She seems to be using her toughness to her advantage, though, and has somehow pushed her way into the big league. I wish I could do that. Too bad I'm 15 and scrawny and baby-faced.

"It's not that bad. Just give her some space and she won't lash out." He seems really down-to-earth.

"Huh." I nod a bit.

He puts his noose down and nods a bit to me. "Good talk." Then he gets up and walks away. I feel like we could be friends if we weren't… Here.

Then I look to the girl from 12.

"Need help?" I ask her. She nods. I go over and put my hands on top of hers, guiding her through the motions to make a good knot.

"There you go."

"Thank you," she says quietly. She seems pretty shy.

"What's your name?" I saw her doing pretty well at the berry test earlier, something both Garrison and myself haven't been very good at.

The first time, she says it so quietly that I have to ask her to say it again. "Caledonia."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Dawson." I don't even know if she'll realistically be able to make it past Day One, but it's worth it to raise someone's spirits. She reminds me a little bit of Gaylen, as odd as it may seem. She's got the same wide eyes, innocent air, though I can tell she's pretty well-informed about reality. Just like he is.

She nods a little bit.

"I think you're not bad at knot-tying. You can learn it by the end of the hour, I'd say!"

She shakes her head a little bit. I nod, trying a kind smile. "You'll be okay. I have faith in you."

She mutters a tiny little, "Thanks." I smile a little bit and can't help feeling bad for her.

I get up and start slowly toward the hand-to-hand combat station (seeing as it's currently not being taken up by some Career). I make sure the coast is clear before I talk to a trainer. I see Garrison over at the knife station.

I see the 11 girl, Krissa, talking to the 12-year-old from Eight. Together, they go to meet the girl from 3. I'm not sure how many of them, if any, will make it through the Bloodbath.

Then again, the girl from 11 volunteered. I need to watch my thoughts, I can't judge anyone on the first day.

.

The other two days fly by like a big blur. I desperately tried to learn everything I possibly could, about survival, and eventually about some offensive things. Garrison even shows me how to throw a spear, though I'm not very good at it.

Sometimes I accidentally make eye-contact with Ori. He smiles and waves, and I unenthusiastically wave back.

I feel so shitty about that. I bet he thinks I hate him, but the reality is that I'm just scared that if we travel together, I'd die for him. Or worse, he'd die for me. Garrison is much quieter. Not that he's not likable, but he's not as trusting and innocent as Ori.

I think we make a good match. And even if we pick up Lyndon, Caledonia, or even Copper on the way, then I guess that'll be better, too. Who knows what will happen?

But, for now, I decide not to worry about the future. As I said, I'm good at dulling the edges of jackknives. That includes not letting the future freak me out just as much as it includes not letting the past give me a panic attack.

So, I examine the present, and see an ally that I get along with (but not too much) and can protect me, the ability to camouflage, tie knots, and fight hand-to-hand.

So, as I'm dozing off after my private session, early so I have no problem waking up the next morning I figure that I'm actually not in all too bad a spot.

A/N: Phew, another long chapter! Oh well, this one had a lot of unique characters in it! I really liked how this turned out! To all those who didn't get much airtime this chapter, I promise you'll get some next chapter and those that follow! Remember, reviews/answers for chapter questions/favorites/follows for this story, Instinctive Travels, and Voices get you sponsor points that will become relevant later on when the tributes are in the Arena!

CHAPTER QUESTION: Of all 24 tributes, which three are the standouts to you/favorites (if you submitted, yours doesn't count ;) )? Any that you don't like?