Author's Note

I do not own the Hunger Games.

Here are the first of the introductions!

Apollo Gilmore, 17

There was silence for a long moment as the advertisement came to an end. Ares continued staring at the screen, while Apollo turned the information over in his head. His knee began to bounce. He turned to Artemis and Ares with a wide grin. "We have got to try that!"

Artemis turned her hand over to admire her new neon red nail polish. "Mm, sounds like I'd have to get dirty."

Of course that was what she cared about. Not the opportunity to win a version of The Hunger Games.

Ares huffed. "Only virtually. Come on, Missy, weren't you listening? It's all a simulation."

"I would much rather in reality get my hair done."

"What's wrong with the green?" Ares asked.

"It matches Apollo."

Apollo bristled, touching his own neon green hair. "Hey! I like it!"

Artemis rolled her eyes. "We look like the Sterling clones." She lifted a lock of her green hair. "I was thinking pink. What do you think?"

Apollo sighed. "Look, I'll tell you what. You come try this game, just once, with us. And I'll pay for all three of us to have our hair done afterwards."

Artemis thrust her hand out. "Done."

Apollo gave her hand a mock shake. "With three of us, one of us has to get a decent placement, right? And you never know, you might have fun."

Artemis grinned as she stood. "Oh, I'm sure I will."

Ares laughed as she left the room to fetch her boots. "Pol, I think we just got played."

Etheria Arquette, 17

Etheria added an extra line to the flower's edge, highlighting the shadow, and frowned at the result. "I don't think it looks quite right."

Armistice giggled, leaning over her shoulder to get a look. "It looks pretty accurate to me. See, you even got the tear in the leaf here."

"But what about to other people?"

Armistice rolled her eyes. "Does it matter what other people think? Do you like it?"

"I don't know." Etheria tipped the sketch from one side to the other. There was a smudge along one edge, and a wrong shaped leaf at the top of the image. "It's not perfect."

Armistice kissed her cheek. "No one and nothing is perfect. If it has flaws, that makes it all the better."

Etheria smiled. "Do you really think?"

"I do." Armistice stood. "Come on. If we're quick, we can get to that bakery at the end of the street before it closes."

They made it, though Etheria was panting and gasping for air as they reached the building. She bought them both rainbow cakes, and they sat outside to eat as the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, the rays igniting the manors like fire. Etheria wished she could capture that on paper.

Apollo Gilmore came sprinting down the street, followed quickly by his siblings. He'd dyed his hair blue recently, and applied a temporary blue pattern up the left side of his face. Etheria reeled back as the three shot past. Artemis knocked into Etheria as she ran, making her stumble and drop the rest of her rainbow cake.

"Hey!"

"Can't stop, gonna be late!" she shouted.

Ares slowed as he passed them and shot her an apologetic look. "Sorry!"

"Assholes!" shouted Armistice.

"Where are you going so fast anyway?" Etheria asked.

"They're running an extra Game at Adella's. First come, first serve!"

"Good luck!" she called as he sped up again to follow the twins.

Armistice gave her a look. Etheria shrugged. "He's not so bad. The twins are jerks. Come on, let's get more cake."

Phoenix Sterling, 13

"No," Phoenix said for the dozenth time that day. "I won't. I'm not doing it."

"Come on, Phoenix," protested Radiance, attempting to prise the book from her hands. "It's just some fun. You know, fun? That thing you never have?"

Phoenix wrenched her book back. "I'm not interested in your stupid game!"

"Radiance," sighed Iridescence.

Radiance turned to face her. "Look, I'm just trying to get this baby to come out and enjoy herself for once."

"I'm enjoying myself with my book!" protested Phoenix.

Luminescence shook his head. "Yeah, that's all you ever enjoy yourself with. Damn bookworm. Leave her, Radiance. We can't drag her there."

Radiance huffed and stomped over to join his other siblings by the door. Unlike Phoenix, all three of them shared their natural platinum blonde hair and ice blue eyes, though while Iridescence wore hers long and curled, Luminescence's barely reached his shoulders while Radiance's was cropped short, with a fading streak of yellow through the centre, an attempt from a few months ago at differentiating himself from his triplet siblings. Their looks were pretty and striking enough like that, and so none of them chose to dye or alter it. Phoenix just wished there had been some prettiness left for her. She was plain and brown eyed, with mousy brown hair.

"We best get going, anyway," he said.

Iridescence buttoned up her jacket. "Yeah, we don't want to be late. See you later, Phoenix! Enjoy your book!"

Luminita Summerfield, 17

"I came fourth place this time!" Sorcha was saying. "You know, I think next time I'll win."

Treasa laughed. "You will not! You're just bragging!"

Sorcha flexed her arms, showing off her muscles. "Am not! The people love watching this. I'm a fan favourite." She tapped Luminita's drawing tablet. "When did you get here?"

"I was here first."

"Well, are you listening?"

"You got fourth place. Congratulations."

Sorcha crossed her arms. "Well, at least I'm achieving something! What are you achieving with your little drawings?"

Luminita tucked her tablet into her bag. "One day, I'll be doing art for actual arenas. Original ones, not ones you've already seen and know about." She stood. "I'm going out."

"Dad says to feed ourselves!" Treasa shouted after her. "They're working late!"

She passed multiple advertisements for The Game as she walked. It had been Sorcha's thing the moment it opened. A chance to compete and prove her superiority? Sorcha was all over that. Luminita didn't mind; she'd rather dance.

There was a girl with a doll sat outside the toy shop next to the store Luminita usually got her fabrics from, fastening the doll's shoes. She looked a few years younger than her, but still too old for dolls, perhaps twelve or thirteen.

As Luminita approached, she raised her head and looked at her. "There's a little yellow bird flying around your head."

Luminita spun a circle, but found nothing. "What?"

"You shouldn't listen to it. It'll lead you astray." A boy around the same age as the girl emerged from the toy store, holding a red bag. The girl smiled and stood. "Nice talking to you. Zephyr, time to go."

The boy gave her what almost looked like an apologetic look before gesturing for the girl and leading her away. Siblings? Luminita had never had that kind of relationship with her sisters.

The craft shop was a little family owned place, as so many in the Capitol were, with paintings on the walls and shelves of pencils, paper, fabric, thread, and other assorted goods. Luminita wandered around it, passing by a blonde girl talking enthusiastically to a friend about a set of new paints as she picked out a few pieces that she should be able to do something with. A little wooden bird sat on a shelf near the counter caught her eye as she approached it. She hesitated a moment before plucking it out and sticking it into her basket as a new project idea came to mind. Turning, she returned to the aisle with the paint, where the two girls were still discussing paint sets.

"Excuse me," Luminita said, reaching for the shelf.

The girl holding the paints jumped. "Oh, yes, sorry! We were just…"

"I just want yellow paint."

She smiled and stepped aside to let Luminita scan the shelf and select a few different shades, popping them in her basket.

Sorcha could keep her game. She knew what she'd be doing in her free time this week.

Apollo Gilmore & Phoenix Sterling were created by me.

Etheria Arquette was created by ladyqueerfoot!

Luminita Summerfield was created by MoonlightSalsa!