Robin is screaming and crying in my arms. I have to stay strong for him. I stroke his hair gently, holding him tight. Why did he have to be reaped! Prim is very pale, and I can see tears running down her cheeks. Katniss is hugging her, protectively. Helayne is trying to comfort both of the younger ones, Jasmi is sitting next to Argent, their hands squeezed together tightly. Both are absolutely silent. Sapo is staring at a crystal chandelier, and Nathan is lying down on a sofa, staring up at the ceiling of the train. Peeta and Haymitch are sitting there, looking at us all. Effie is filing her needlessly long nails. Haymitch is emptying the contents of a flask into his mouth. He stands up, and walks into the next room to get some more alcohol. What a sorry bunch we are. Robin stops howling after half an hour, and I coax him into watching the – I must say, magnificent – view. Eventually, Peeta speaks.
"So. Should we… start – mentoring you?" He sounds mildly nervous. I don't blame him. "Do any of you have any particular skills? How about… Argent? You first."
Argent looks up vaguely at Peeta. "Oh… uh… I can… I have a decent aim."
"Alright, that's a good start. What about Jasmi?"
She stops nuzzling Argent's shoulder and gazes at Peeta. "I can make a decent meal out of pretty basic ingredients, for example squirrels and pine wood. One of my specialities."
"Great! That could be lifesaving. Sapo?"
Sapo grunts and glances at Peeta, then goes back to looking at the chandelier. Nathan says, "Sapo's got the mind of a child, but he's incredibly strong. He pulls wagons faster than five men working together at once!"
"Thanks, Nathan. What about you?"
"I can bend metal, and I know some poisonous plants, as well as how to identify if certain plants could be poisonous. My father's a blacksmith. I help him in the workshop often."
"Your plant knowledge will most likely come in very handy! I know Prim is an excellent healer, and can make some pretty good meals! So what about you two? Robin and Lark-Rose." So far Peeta seems pretty pleased with us.
"Our father's the carpenter. I'm a decent archer, I think. Nowhere near as good as Katniss though! I can climb, set snares, and I can build a shelter."
Peeta grins. "Brilliant!" he says. I can feel myself smiling with pride. "And Robin?" he asks my brother in a gentle tone.
I shake Robin a little bit, and he turns to look at me. He puts his mouth against my ear, and tells me, in a hushed whisper, "Martin showed me lots of edible plants, and I can set a snare."
"He wants me to say that he knows lots of edible plants, and he can set a snare."
"Wonderful!" he says. "Now, I'm handing you each a screen with all the other tributes. It's a list of names and photos."
It's a very long list. Ninety-six names. It's in District order, starting with Twelve. Within the Districts, it's alphabetically sorted by last name, so the first name is Nathan Alloy, then Helayne Cole, Jasmi Ember etc.
From Eleven, there's Sparrow Applesby, Buttercup Crocus, Onion Farmer, Asparagus Finch, Persephone Harvester, Rye Kendal, Rosabeth Pomelo and Delia Wheaton.
Reaped from Ten, Nadia Afton, Ling Carn, Mickey Cowton, Shi Flock, Nick Herds, Paisley Highland, Rex Pigerd and Xiu Shear.
The tributes from Nine are Colen Agro, Hern Bale, Ena Barley, Marl Hay, Poppy Sickle, Cornelia Stalk, Felia Straw and Cutter Wheton.
Eight's 'offerings' are Velvet Canvas, Selene Cotton, Polly Esther, Silk Loom, Tulle Weaver, Denim Woolet and Reed Woven.
From Seven we have Leaf Ash, Hilary Chestnut, Bramble Elder, Cuckoo Groves, Axel Pine, Meadow Shaw, Avery Song and Berry Woods.
Six has provided Horace Carriage, Haley Paver, Hart Rail, Tarry Road, Nivelle Trackington, Stema Train, Flick Undert and Pathetique Way.
Hailing from Five, Bolt Convection, Zara Current, Tron Elec, Copper Jolt, Wyren Radiatio, Xylo and Vibra Thunder and Hydra Zap.
Haymitch comes back in, even more drunk than beforehand.
Four's tributes are Annett Cyclone – Career number one, Salton Dive, Albert Fin, Sameth Odair, Tedwick Shell – Career number two, Coral Spray, Evening Tide, and Delphine Whirlpool.
Three has given up Panemi Bulb, Zap Latier, Electri Glow, Buttons Lumo, Cog Micro, Demi Parr, Clock Sheen, and Humm Wire.
The tributes reaped from two are Obsidious Gravel, Diamond Avala – Career three, Claudia Soli, Star Stone, Sandy Quartz – Career four, Axe Forge, Rend Vulcan and Pearl Magma.
Finally, the District One tributes are Gem Agate, Precious Braun, Jasmine and Jasper Emerald – the final Careers, Julius Fancy, Shimmer Gauzy, Sirius Rubison and Evony Zenn.
Wow. Long list – unsurprisingly. How am I going to get Robin and Prim out of this!? I'm already identifying the relatives of the victors – Sameth Odair, brother to Finnick and just so happens to be my age, Precious Braun, cousin to Augustus. Zap is Beetee Latier's niece.
Eventually, Nathan says something. "How are we going to kill eighty-eight other children!?"
Katniss speaks up, "Let them do the killing for you. Just avoid the others."
"Sounds like a good plan," I say. "We also need to decide which pair we want to get out."
"Agreed," Helayne replies.
Peeta says "Right then. Well this is macabre… Who do you vote, Helayne?"
"I vote Robin and Prim."
"Anyone else for Robin and Prim?"
Nathan and I both nod our assent. Robin looks terrified, realising that I am not coming out. He clings to me for support. He is so vulnerable right now, I just want to save him more.
"Prim? Robin? Do you both approve?" Peeta asks them, his voice cracking.
Prim nods, hesitantly. Robin, however, cries out "I don't want Lark to die! Please! Lucky! Please come out!"
I smile at him sadly. "I'll stay alive for as long as I can. But if I have to, I will die for you and Prim."
Robin begins to protest, but I shush him, and wrap my arm protectively round his shoulder.
Peeta then speaks again. "What about you? Argent and Jasmi? I don't think Sapo can vote." Sapo grunts, raising his head at the sound of his name, then goes back to inspecting the pattern of the mahogany tables.
They look into each other's eyes. I know exactly what they are both going to say. "Each other," they say in sync. I just know there's going to be a long, drawn-out row about this.
That evening, I put Robin to bed in our room – we're used to sharing a room, and he would be terrified without me – and promise to come back soon. I'm going to watch some previous games with Helayne. On my way there, I pass Haymitch, Effie, Katniss and Peeta, all talking together about strategies. Nathan is with them, avidly listening. I need to take a leaf out of his book. I arrive at Helayne's room, and we sit down on her massive bed, to watch a previous Hunger Games.
An hour later, everyone else has gone to bed. I'm walking back to my room, when I crash straight into Nathan. "Oh… sorry," I mumble as we try to walk past each other, but keep walking into each other. Eventually, we get past each other. I'm about to walk into my room when he says, "I saw you tell your brother not to volunteer for Robin. Why did you do that?"
That was unexpected. "Oh… Ash and I provide our family with most of our food. Seven siblings and two parents makes for a lot of food consumption. They would probably die if we were both not there. I mean, not definitely, but it would be far more difficult for them."
"That was quick thinking. You must know your brother very well."
"We all know and love each other, very much."
"I'm happy for you. You'll certainly be missed."
"Thanks… good night."
"Good night."
I walk into my bedroom, and curl up next to Robin, hugging him – he isn't asleep yet. When I feel his pulse slow down, and his breathing grow calm, I know he has fallen asleep. Eventually, so do I. Long past midnight. I haven't broken down yet. I know I probably will, but I have to stay strong for Robin.