God, he was finally sleeping.
Kat sat on the edge of the bed, her hand almost numb she had been sitting there petting his head for so fucking long… The night before the reaping always stressed him out, and for good reason. There were so many people left for them to hurt, even after losing Phil. She just didn't want to see him hurt anymore. When he focused in, he would only focus on the losses, but there was so much he was doing that was just so good.
She knew the reaping recap would start soon, but she wasn't going to wake him up. Not after he finally seemed to be sleeping deeply. Nobody could hurt Jill, and that was who he cared about more than anything now. She knew that all of this would be worth it, with time. But right now… She wasn't sure how she could justify Stellan doing this to himself.
The door quietly opened, causing Kat to stare over with wide eyes before quickly looking back at Stellan, about to get real mad if someone woke him up. Thankfully, he didn't stir.
One navy eye looked at her through the door. Kat made eye contact with him and nodded, so that he would know she got the message. It was about to start. Trap pulled the door closed quietly, and Kat sighed quietly. Never in her life did she have so many people that it would fuck her up to lose. Sometimes she didn't feel like she could pull through either.
But right now, she didn't have time to mull over this. Now, she had to go back out there, and face the teens whose names were all called up on that stage, one time or another. She had no idea how to provide them with any sense of comfort.
She slowly and carefully slid away from Stellan. The moment she was away from him, Stellan's eyes opened, his sleep once again interrupted. Kat frowned at that, wishing that she could just stay there with him forever.
"I'll be back soon, you go back to sleep," she whispered, leaning down to kiss his temple. God, why did she allow herself to be in so deep with him? She needed him… The thought that anything would happen to him… That was too much for her to handle. Just the simple thought brought tears to her eyes, and Kat Valentine was a strong woman. She pushed his long navy bangs from his eyes, bangs that were colored to match her own hair. She leaned over to kiss his temple, and by the time she did, he was already back to sleep. He couldn't fight it any longer.
Kat quietly slipped out the door and closed it gently behind her, into the living room where the rest of the group was sitting. Well, not the entire group. One of them was missing. Camellia couldn't be there with them – she was on duty escorting. They always said, keep your friends close but enemies closer.
"I can't wait to see Boss do her new job," Trap commented, as Jace snuggled deeper into his side. Numi was curled up in a small ball, against Trap's side and under his other arm. Tessa and Coda left a spot for her to sit between them, and quickly snuggled up when she did so.
"She's going to do well," Jo said resolutely. She really hoped that Camellia would do well. Otherwise… It was partly Jo's idea that she do this… If something went wrong… She would never forgive herself, this is true. But the thought that Malloy wouldn't forgive her either… To lose both of them again… It wasn't something Jo could even fathom. "I know she can do this."
"Oh, she's gonna do great," Trap said excitedly, but it was obvious that he was the only one excited to see it. At realizing that he couldn't do anything to lift the mood in the room, Trap sighed quietly and just pulled Jace and Numi closer to him.
"She's going to be just fine," Jo said quietly, as Viola chattered on excitedly about what a great time was in store for this year.
Malloy had his face pressed in her neck and hadn't looked up for a while. He missed Camellia, but he really needed Jo right now to be strong for him. And yet… He should be the strong one… He had suffered much less than she had after all. He couldn't even look at her, wishing he would be able to be steady and hold her while she cried, not the other way around. He knew that nobody's name could be called that would hurt him nearly as much as last year, but those feelings, and that fear… They were just all bringing back the memories of the past two years.
Jo gently pulled his face up from her shoulder. "There are those brown eyes that I love," she said quietly, wiping his tears away with her thumbs. "They can't hurt us this time."
Malloy nodded a little bit, sniffling and wiping his nose on his wrist.
"I'm here," she said, wanting to cry at just seeing the pain written on his face. She remembered how strong he tried to be after he was reaped, two years ago. She wished that he would have cried in front of her that day. Break down some walls. And now, they were here…
Malloy smiled a little bit at that, so glad that he didn't have to be alone for this.
"There's that smile I love, you beautiful boy." She kissed his temple and that made him smile more. Jo held out her hand and Trap slapped a tissue in it. "Or should I say, blue-tiful?"
"Sheriff, it's starting!" Trap said, but Jo didn't care. She just cared that her man was smiling at her, and wished that she could be there for her girl.
District One was just as beautiful as always. At seeing his home again, Trap's arms around the boys tensed. He pet Jace's long, soft white hair as he watched Maxim take the stage.
Maxim was a reliable and trusted escort, and they knew that he would take care of District One's tributes. Despite being in a Career District, Maxim's demeanor remained the same, greeting the District with a refined wave of his mahogany staff as his metallic boots glinted in the sun. His rainbow afro was extremely vibrant, even though his bronze-tinted sunglasses hid his eyes from sight.
As was to be expected, both tributes were volunteers. When Wendalia Alvarez stepped out on stage, the group all laughed a little bit, thinking about when they visited her District as part of their Out of Spite tour. That was… Certainly an eventful day, that ended with Kat hyped up on pain meds.
"She's finally going to get to pick on people her own size," said Coda.
"I could have gotten her if I just had a few more rounds to figure her out," Kat said.
"Coach, I love you, but I know Wendy and that was absolutely not happening," Trap commented. He was so torn. Yes, he was proud of her for getting here, but… He now knew that the Games were all a big scam, and he hated that she would have to learn that for herself now.
The male volunteer stepped forward. Basil Oberoi volunteered next, another strong showing from the eighteens section. Looked like District One finally got their shit together after three 17-year-old volunteers. Another bright-eyed, cheery fiend that would soon realize that nothing could justify murder. Not even his clean intentions of adopting kids with his partner. If he did make it out of here… He would always live in fear of what those kids would think of their father. Trap knew he sure did.
District Two was the next one on the screen. Cortland Augustine greeted the District curtly. Despite being the escort for a Career District, he was just as stone-cold as always, obviously not appreciating the honor of being there. Most eyes were not on his plain style and slicked hair, but were on the Victors behind him. Pit was cracking her knuckles, talking to the people around her as Pluto listened to wide eyes as Pit drove her elbow down onto her lap, pointing over at Cortland and pretending that she was slamming him on the table.
The first volunteer emerged from the eighteens section.
"He's unsure," Trap commented right away, pointing at the screen. "I see it in his face."
The others were quiet as Ryder Kota announced their name to the crowd, throwing in their preferred pronouns. From the back of the stage, Pit's violent glare was cut off and became a proud smile as she leaned over and whispered something to her husband Nikko, who raised an eyebrow and looked back over at Ryder.
The girl came out and volunteered next. She was a familiar face, but only to an astute few. Jo and Trap were the two that knew who she was, the former leaning over to exchange a look with the latter. The fact that she would have seen her best friend dead, and still want to follow his footsteps…
Nadia Beatrice was nothing but confident that she was going to get the revenge she so desperately craved on the District that was responsible for her friend's death. And the fact that one of them came home to see it.
"I hope Camellia can keep a cool head," said Malloy when he realized who that was. Camellia had killed Remus, after all, for trying to kill her District partner Cerulean. Ceru won, Camellia was saved and now living under an alter-ego… They had done so much training on steeling their emotions that hopefully nothing would come from that. It seemed like Nadia was not going to be the forgiving type.
"Chervil will protect her," Kat said. Stellan really trusted him, and that made her trust him.
District Three was the next one up. Mimi Arana Castilla was happy to greet the crowd for the reaping, her green puffy pigtails trying to make her look more relatable and youthful. Kat squinted at the woman. She was dressed so girly and cute, but… She couldn't read on this one. And that scared her.
"Good morning District Three!" She cheerfully greeted the crowd. "Let's get started." She strutted over to the female bowl and put her hand in, dramatically shuffling it around to find a name.
"Vyka Pérez!" she called out cheerfully. There was a long silence, before suddenly a scream rang out across the empty square. At hearing it, more than one of the teens cringed. In the crowd, one of the girls from the 14s section collapsed, and the rest of the girls moved away from her to make a path for the Peacekeepers that were already coming to retrieve her. The room was silent, the District dead except for the screams and sobs that were coming from that one girl, that was mercilessly dropped on the stage.
"Get up, Sweetie, this is just plain sad," Mimi said, for a moment showing her true colors as she stood over the girl silently. "Show them you're going to fight."
Vyka wasn't moving, still curled up tightly and screaming, crying.
Mimi sighed, turning away from her and going over to the boys' bowl. She made it fairly obvious that she didn't even pick a piece of paper, coming back to the microphone and announcing.
"Aristotle Demetriou-Lawrence!" she gave a clap of her hands. Numitor grabbed his face and let out a scream to rival Vyka's as the rest of them stared at the screen in shock. Out from the section of fourteen-year-old males came the boy in question. His teal hair obviously stood out on the cameras as he was sucking on his fingernail and walking out from the crowd. He looked so brave, like… He was expecting this to happen. Numitor screamed again, grabbing Trap's arm tightly as the tears started to pour down his face.
This is what happens when you play with fire.
"I HATE THEM!"
Trap grabbed him and pulled him in, as Numitor fought against him, trying to run away as Malloy watched them both in horror. Jace slipped away from Trap to allow him both arms, grabbing him as he kicked his legs, trying to get away, from him, and they all knew he was going straight to the boys' bathroom if Trap let him go. Kat was already up to bar the door as Numi broke away from Trap and ran towards her, his eyes on the ground as she blocked him from leaving the room and a voice brought all of their attention back to the television.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
Kat's face paled at the familiar tone as she tried to stay focused on keeping Numi from slipping past her. Trap's mouth hung open as Alvis Shirogane stepped out onto the stage. That same scrappy kid from before. The Capitol agent. Just like he said.
"That's him," Trap said to the others, taking Jace back under his arm. "The one that followed us."
The others murmured quietly as Aristotle ran off the stage, putting his face in his hands as he tripped down the stairs.
The screen switched, and Kat pulled Numitor back over to where the others were sitting, setting him firmly on the couch next to Malloy, who grabbed his hand, and Trap on his other side. Both brothers took one of his shoulders, ready to spring into action if he was going to run again.
District Four was much calmer in comparison. Ambrose Dionte was debuting a new signature style – a black fluffy coat, much different from the white one they had worn in years past. They were very level and calm when greeting the District, and Kat was proud of them. Another trusted person, that would take good care of Rose.
Ambrose picked the names, but it didn't matter as both tributes volunteered. On the female side was Ridley Ostreuck, who was wildly grinning as she announced her preferred pronouns as he/him and she/her, and identity as bigender. Keelan Teach volunteered for the males, strong and resolved as he deliberately strode on the stage. He also provided his preferred pronouns – he/him, but he just wanted to make Ridley feel more comfortable by also providing his own.
"Interesting to see what those two do," Trap commented, ever the strategist as he looked at each tribute and silently worried about Wendy. She'd been pushed down, but never as far as she was about to be.
District Five came next, a much different feeling than the ones so far as Numi was still breathing heavy. The first name to be pulled was Amiah Amaryllis. The girl in question didn't falter – she kept her head up high, her face set with determination as she mounted the stairs to join the uber-formal Edulcorante Verone on the stage. The escort kept a very calm tone of voice as he greeted her, sure to comment on her determination and bravery as she kept a straight face.
Amiah put up hands and signed a confident response, which was captioned underneath. "I will return to my home. See you all soon!"
Edulcorante didn't understand the signs, but he could see the determination on her face and it showed as he went to pick the next name. "Next is… Kaoru Morikawa."
It was an inconsequential name – until the group saw his face.
"No," Tessa said quietly. "It can't be…"
Kat's expression hardened at the boy walking up to the stage. He was a friend of the band's. When they toured in District Five, they volunteered at the hospital. How could Trap forget his face, sitting there with his sister who had so many bags attached to her… All she wanted was a turn trying on Pierre's sunglasses… And she still had them. But now, she might not have her brother.
Amiah's eyebrows shot up when he walked on the stage, obviously recognizing him as he swayed for a moment, grabbing his face with his hands. He only moved his hand to reach out and shake Amiah's hand as was tradition. Her eyes widened as he swayed once and almost threw her over before collapsing on the floor. Edulcorante worked quickly to move along the reaping and the footage cut out suddenly after he'd passed out.
District Six was just as gloomy as it always had been, but Anakyn Skyavich wouldn't stop from doing his best. He was standing with Gian and Riggs before the ceremony started – very un-traditional, but he wanted the support of his friends and more importantly, he knew that both of them needed it.
He was wearing a golden-yellow plaid flannel with a hood, accessorized with black buttons and drawstrings. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows to show off strong arms. Underneath it was an Out of Spite T-shirt, showing his support of the band for which he was a stylist. Of course, the black leggings matched, with 2 golden-yellow stripes at the sides. The thing that didn't match was the khaki green camo ankle boots which were embroidered with daisies and cornflowers. His colorful hair and part of his face was shaded by the black and off-white trucker cap with a mustard yellow brim, which had a motor engine patch on the middle. Numi recognized that one as Ani's favorite ballcap, one that he often would steal and wear when they hung out together. On his hands he wore wristlets over black and gray-striped fingerless gloves, which the crowd saw as he reached into the bowl to pick the first name, nothing but courage written on his face which was today bare from make-up. He wouldn't give them what they wanted. He would show them that he was a human being and was going to fight for his tributes. He was the mockingjay. He was going to try his damndest to keep other kids from suffering how Numitor suffered.
But for now, all he could do was announce what he read.
"Ruthie Mercras."
There was complete stillness, until someone was shoved out of the thirteens section. She tripped, fell to the ground on her knees, just barely keeping her face from slamming on the pavement as Peacekeepers came in.
"She's coming! Let her stand." Anakyn put up his hand as his voice boomed on the microphone. The Peacekeepers let her be, and Ruthie pushed herself up, still obviously terrified but making the rest of the trip to the stage. Anakyn put a hand on her shoulder gently so she would know she wasn't in this alone as Riggs and Gian both watched in horror at the young girl in front of them.
Anakyn walked to the boy's bowl, quickly choosing a name and coming back, clearing his throat. "Dante Day."
There was a despaired scream coming from the side, the cameras finding the woman with a man holding her as she sobbed out, probably his mother. Dante came out of the fourteen section and walked to the stage, putting a kiss on his fingers and sending it back to his parents before joining Anakyn and Ruthie on stage. It was a quick handshake and transition to the next District.
District Seven looked nice, but looking at it and worrying about her parents made Jo nervous. Malloy squinted, trying to find his older brother and father in the expansive crowd, but to no avail.
Jo looked away from the screen at the sight of Emmet there. His voice was weak, even if he was trying to make it sound strong, like himself. Jo knew how much this affected his twin sister, and wished she could be there. But she had to be here.
Em picked the first name quickly, not making a big show but stressing that this was a necessary event to the country's stability. "Rosemary Mariano."
The girl came out of the section for thirteen-year-olds. She remained strong as she mounted each step, coming forward. The only indication that she had just been reaped was a single tear that fell down her cheek. Em looked at her for a moment, his face softening before he let out a small cry and stood back up, turning away from her. He went to the next bowl and pulled the male name. Malloy was holding his breath – almost expecting him to announce Jack's name, despite his brother being far removed from reapings.
Thankfully, for the first time in three years, a name was announced that was unfamiliar to Malloy.
"Ren Fischbach."
There was a stir, the named boy stepping forward, before a shaking voice shocked the crowd.
"I volunteer!"
The crowd parted for the owner of the voice. A person stepped out from the section of fifteen-year-olds. With brown hair pulled back in a low ponytail and a hunting hat covering a dirty face, this was not the expected type of tribute that would volunteer. When they stepped forward, Jo squinted at the tattoo that was poking out of the top of their shirt.
"That… He's a Falconer."
Malloy glanced over at her. "But… I didn't think…"
"It's a supposed rebel faction in District Seven," Jo said quietly. "I… Have seen them around. But… It's not…" She didn't know how to explain it, but the vibe she and Camellia got was not a good one.
Robin Nyquist stayed strong on the stage as he announced his name, slipping in the preference for he/him and they/them. If it was true, and he was one… They would be in a lot of trouble upon arriving to the Capitol.
District Eight came next. Eros DuPointe stepped out on the stage confidently, his pink skin looking a little ridiculous next to all of the Victors and how distraught they all were.
Coda tensed up, and Kat pulled him in closer. She could feel how worried he was about his brother and didn't want anything bad to happen to him.
Eros picked the boy first, and thankfully it was a name that none of them recognized. But after just a moment, a voice came out of the crowd. The footage paused for Viola to giggle and rave about how there was another volunteer. Rory Kwan came out from the crowd. Piccolo just barely got to talk to mention their preferred pronouns of "she/her," "he/him" and "they/them." Rory was quick to state the reason for volunteering – to get custody of the daughter that was theirs.
The group was quiet at that, and thoughts of that little girl would not leave Trap alone. How would she react if she knew this was what her parent would do?
Rory was confident, and soon after their District partner was reaped. Eros threw in an inappropriate comment about how he hoped the two of them would fall in love, and give Amira a mother. Rory didn't appreciate that as Paisley Adams was reaped. The cameras found her in the section for eighteens, putting a hand on a girl next to her to keep her from volunteering for her. "This is my fate," she told the girl, before turning around and calmly walking on the stage. She shook Rory's hand and the footage switched to District Nine.
District Nine was one that was just… Sad. Lino Arkus was trying to keep up morale, but the way that June and Prentice were glued to Vale showed how nervous they all three were about which tributes would be chosen next.
First, Cadmus Brekken was reaped. He exited the seventeen section, but wasn't going straight to the stage, looking for others in the crowd as panic spread across his features. He had to be taken away, dragged on stage by Peacekeepers.
His District partner was chosen soon after. Odessa Anthony made the eyebrows of the tributes shoot out as she stepped out of the crowd. Her white hair caused her to stand out from the rest of the citizens of Nine, and it was something about her face…
"She was at Sweet Dreams," said Tessa. "She was taking pictures."
"Shit," said Trap. "Why are they targeting innocents just because they're friends of the band?!"
Numitor cried out again.
"It's what they do," said Jo, turning away from Malloy for a moment.
Odessa kept a calm face, but everyone could see the panic that was in her eyes as she greeted Lino and pretended to be excited to meet such a big celebrity.
Piccolo commented in surprise about now not one, but two Capitol citizens were going into the Arena as the screen switched to District Ten. Viola chirped about how excited she was to see what District 10 had to offer, after providing some trained tributes in the past.
Eryx Carroll was all put together and professional, talking about how happy he was to be in this promising District. And his hopes finally were not squelched. He finally got some actual Careers from this District that had been training tributes for so long. About time.
The first volunteer was a girl that came out of the eighteen's section. She was fit, looked strong and ready to go, and had a hollow look in her eyes. On stage, the most notable reaction was Arthur Warwick, who gasped and stood up, before being pulled back down by his mentor partner Daisy. He looked devastated as Wachiwi Emory looked past Eryx's bright smile to give him a serious expression and a nod.
Arthur stared in horror as the second name was picked, but it was also quickly deemed irrelevant as a deep voice chimed across the crowd. "I volunteer!"
The boy in question came out of the 18 section of the crowd. He took his good old time to saunter through the crowd, up to the stage, trying to give fist bumps to people that left him hanging. This made his face set with determination as he came up the steps to the stage.
"Wow, two volunteers! And what is your name?"
"Moi?! Why, I'm the one, the only… Kodiak Chay!" He struck a dramatic pose on stage, pointing his finger and thrusting out his hips as some people in the crowd awkwardly applauded. "I'm going to be your next Victor, District Ten! I will show you that Alfred Smith is not the best thing to come out of this District! I am a worthy rival and I'll prove it when I come home as a Victor. Then you'll see, Luke Parker! You'll be mine, just like you said!" he pointed in the crowd, as Kat raised her eyebrow at that.
"Luke Parker… Like, the son of the Victor?" Kat asked, pointing to where the Victor in question sat back, smirking at this.
"I guess so…" said Tessa quietly.
Trap was quiet as he looked at the boy on the TV screen, smiling as he put his hands up and showed off the cat eye on his face.
"Something's not right here," he said, as Viola was gushing over that ballsy declaration and Arthur had a tear rolling down his face. "Something isn't right at all."
They didn't have much more time to speculate before District Eleven came up and Rose appeared on the screen. Jo and Malloy held each other tighter, both of them relieved to see her alright and even to see Chervil smiling at her as he held Miracle's hand towards the back of the stage.
She was just as graceful as they'd practiced. She wore her trademark jean jacket with roses on the back, a coded tribute to her ally that died in the Arena, with a strapless top that showed off her tattoos and shorts and fishnets.
Rose didn't keep them in their misery – she had to act like she had no idea what it was like to be in their shoes, even though she had just been there one year prior. She picked the first name and came across the stage.
"Antonio Russo."
The boy came out of the twelve-year-old section, as parents immediately started crying out, begging Rose and the Peacekeepers to take them instead of him. Antonio stormed up on the stage, rage practically pouring out of him. Rose gave him time to come up, knowing that she wanted to comfort him. But instead of nurturing, Rose received a slap in the face by Antonio, crying out as the Peacekeepers closed in immediately, restraining him as he yelled curses at him.
Jo and Malloy stared at each other for a moment, trying to keep the other from getting any angrier at him for what he did.
"That fucking shit face!" Trap said, speaking what they were all thinking. "It's not her fault kid!"
Rose was obviously more emotionally hurt at the slap than physically, and kept the reaping going as normal. To see her operate through the hurt was breaking the hearts of her partners, and making them rage.
Rose read the second name, but wasn't even halfway finished before she heard a voice call out. "I volunteer!"
For everything she had just been through, she now had to act excited at having a volunteer, which was unheard of in District Eleven. Chervil's face was frozen in shock as Miracle was sizing up the girl that came up on stage with a grin just as wild as her pink curly hair.
"Another Capitol born!" Viola said, as Vasilisa looked at Rose's face.
"Are you okay girl? That was totally uncalled for."
"Oh, I'm just fine, dear," Rose said. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around.
"Nice to meet you, new best friend! I'm Vasilisa Castle and as soon as I heard you were escorting here I knew that I had to meet you!"
Rose gaped at her. To volunteer… Just to meet Rose!? What the fuck!?
"Oh… Well, I'm going to support you through your journey into the Games." She tried to hide her growing discomfort as Kat put her face in her hands. As if there wasn't enough stress.
"Thanks! And I'll support you, too, whole band, really." She grinned widely as Rose gestured her to give a nod of acknowledgement to Antonio, who was not going to be released any time soon, as Peacekeepers even carried him back into the Justice Building.
"Why couldn't this have just been a normal year?" Malloy asked, his voice sounding weak as he held onto Jo tightly.
"She can handle this," Jo said quietly. But that didn't make her less afraid for her girlfriend.
District Twelve was a welcome end to the recap. Angelina Santoro was a good mix of positive and genuine. She knew that she couldn't make it better, but she wats going to try. She stayed positive and encouraging, but not excited.
She greeted the Victors politely, and the group noticed how Bates's eyes followed her in her marroon jacket and skirt.
She then reached in and picked the female tribute. Ember Caine emerged from the sixteen section. She took a moment to get moving, her lower lip quivering slightly, before she set her expression, keeping the tears away that were pushing at her eyes as she took deep breaths and walked up the stairs. This continued even as her District partner was reaped… Until a voice came out to end the reapings on an intense note. A volunteer from District 12?!
Angelina didn't know how to react to the boy that raised his hand. He was dressed in prison orange, his hands cuffed together. The wardens with him whispered to each other as the boy wasn't allowed to move, among them trying to decide if he was allowed to volunteer. They unshackled his ankles, but not his hands, allowing him to walk to the stage.
Adrian Amberheim hung his head so that the District people couldn't see his face. They all knew who he was, from the murmuring that was happening.
"He does have a criminal record… For what? I guess we'll have to find out!" But even Viola sounded uncomfortable, as if she knew. Adrian stayed calm as he shook Ember's hand to the best of his ability. Angelina smiled at him, but she put herself in between him and Ember, obviously ready to protect her from him. Ember forced a grateful smile as the two walked back into the Justice Building.
"Well, there you have it Panem, our twenty-four tributes! Start placing your bets today! Who's your favorite? Who's going to come out victorious?"
"I'll be excited to see how these personalities all interact in the Capitol," Piccolo commented.
"Well, it's a good thing we don't have to wait! After the rousing success of last year, the twist of tributes designing each other's chariot outfits continues! This year, tributes were paired with each other and have already begun interviewing and designing each other's outfits! Tune in tomorrow to see the pairs – who will be together, and what will they come up with?"
"I can't wait to see this!" Piccolo said with a forced smile. "Be sure to tune in, and if you haven't already, buy tickets!" The others looked at each other as the faces of the 24 tributes once again showed on the screen – some of them tear-stained, some of them grinning in victory.
This was going to be a long few weeks for these poor kids, and for the ones that cared about them.
"Thank you again Panem, and good night!"
~.~.
A/N: Back again for more! I am excited to really kick this story off. I have now figured out alliances, POVs in the pre-Games, and chariot outfits, so I'm ready to go go go. And, we got to meet my characters and the other non-featured tributes! Review and let me know what things in this chapter surprised you, and what you'd like to see more of as we go!
POV Order is now up on the blog. See ya there!
CQ: What are some pairs of tributes you want to see together?
See you probably soon for train rides with Odessa and Amiah!
