The Careers

After the tribute parade

Concord Radiance D1M 18

"These kids look dumb, it's hilarious, the lack of competition this year is laughable," I say to Brielle as we are making our way back to the main area on the chariots. She glances over to me and kind of gives me this half smile head shake. I still don't quite understand her yet; she is a career and she volunteered to be here, but she still gives me this look whenever I talk down on another tribute. Whatever if she wants to get in her head then I'll let her, it means that she won't be in my way in the games.

I just wait with Brielle until Diamond and Justus, our mentors come over. Before then I don't let this opportunity slip. As the rest of the district's chariots arrive, I start to really see my competition first hand. There are a few standouts but for the majority, its full of kids who won't return my stares, the boy from 8 does briefly until he looks away, smart kid. I just stand there soaking it all in and I turn to Brielle and ask, "Is it too early to reach out to the others? I want them to know that I am the leader."

She stops staring at this little girl from 9 and responds with "I'm sure no one will challenge you, Diamond said to wait until tomorrow at training." I sigh.

I can't piss off the mentors this early, even if I am the strongest, which I am, the mentors can make or break a tribute. I hold off for now, I don't worry though, I am this year's victor, they will see. Everyone will see.

Brielle Storm D1F 18

Ugh, I know I have to get along with my allies and that includes Concord, but he is so pretentious, it's going to come back and bite him in the ass. He wants to get a head start on the alliance, but I tell him to wait. He catches me staring at Marigold from 9 for a sec and I have to look away really quick. I can't show weakness this early, but she is so small, and it reminds me of a slightly taller version of Meadow, the little girl I garden with, back home. Poor kid.

I don't really keep the small talk going well so Concord and I just stand there until Diamond and Justus come over and tell us to follow them to the elevator. We walk quietly along until Diamond breaks the silence by saying how much she liked our outfits, she said: "you two really stole the show!" I give her a slight smile and Concord doesn't even acknowledge she said anything.

When we get to the first floor I am about to head to my room when Justus says really loudly, "ok you two need to cut the act and no matter what the pack does tomorrow, you two are sticking together."

I give him a stare and Concord goes to open his mouth and Justus goes "I swear if you say something Concord you will die in the games." This gets Concord to roll his eyes and go to his room.

I say "Ok but I'm not babysitting him the whole games, if he gets in trouble early it's not my problem." I say and walk to my room, not giving the mentors time to respond. He isn't my problem, it's my job to live and go home, even if it means the career pack is diminished due to deaths early on, if I have to I'll leave, I just have to stay quiet for now, I know what's at stake and I'm not wasting my time, the games have just begun.

Morning on Training Day One

Tyr Zahnft Shah D2M 18

I wake up early and I write my letter back home to my fiancé, if I don't make it back, the capitol can send these back with my body, so she knows a was always thinking about her, even towards the end. I get up extra early to make sure I prepare myself mentally for the next few days, It's going to be hectic and I gotta make sure that I don't draw too much attention to myself in the pack, but I have to show that I am not to be messed with. I know that 2's are usually the leaders of the pack, but I am willing to sit back if that means the target is drawn on someone else's back.

I know Bellona is excited to be the leader and I am curious if she will challenge the others for it, who am I kidding, of course, she will. The only downside about being the tribute this year is I have to go through Bellona if I want any chance at winning. It's going to be a pain but I am hoping the other careers will take her out first. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her as a person, she is just a little much for me.

I try to clear my head so I take a long hot shower, mainly because I couldn't get it much colder but it's fine. I get out and get dressed in a plain jumpsuit with a 2 on the back, I go out to the dining area and it's just Bellona out there. She looks at me a just gives me a little smile, that's odd, she has never really been kind to me back home and I know she was easy on the eyes for other guys in 2, I was just never fond of her looks. I give her a half smile and I get myself a plate of eggs, fruit and this juice that's green. I just sit back and eat. I am going to need my strength for these games, it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Bellona Caccia Tzar D2F 18

Tyr gives me this puzzled look whenever I smile at him. I know it's odd, but I figured that for now, I got to get him on my side for the pack leader. It should be easy, who do you want to lead, some person from 1 or 4? No, you want a leader and someone who has a chance to actually be a victor. I am the obvious choice. Plus, I am easily the most attractive and lethal tribute in the games, I will garner the most sponsors. I think my only competition for pack leader is Kendall from 4, and Concord from 1.

Brielle doesn't seem outgoing enough to be the pack leader, Tyr has expressed no such desire to lead the pack and Dylan wasn't even a volunteer, I'm not sure if he wants to be in the pack or not but either way, he won't be leading it. I bet I could get Kendall to be my second if I make her realize that I'll be a better leader than Concord. That leaves Concord, he will be annoying, and I know he comes from a family of victors, so it'd be ideal for him to be leader, but I am not going to be bossed around when I am the obvious choice.

I'm not worried unless he wants to be isolated from the pack, he'd back me for a leader. With me being the leader, the careers will thrive. Brutus comes to the dining area and pushes us towards the elevator to the training center. I can't help to smile at Brutus's eagerness. The victor this year will be someone from the pack, I'll guarantee it.

Kendall Maris D4F 17

Dylan and I haven't talked much, and breakfast is not an exception. We've made minimal conversation throughout the pregames so far and I just really don't know what to say to him. He stares at me sometimes but other than that, contact has been minimal. "I think its time to go down to the training center," Dylan says to me while getting up from his chair. "Ok, Gold said that we should meet up with the pack," I say to him after wiping my hands off on the white cloth napkins they give us.

We both walk to the elevator and start making our way down to the training center. The pair from 10, I think, the two kids and they move over really quick when Dylan and I come into the elevator. The little girl from 10, I don't remember her name, just stares at me and she is kind of close to me too, she's wearing a weird hat. Freaks.

We leave the elevator and make our way to a circle with numbers on the ground where each of us stands for the head trainer lady to explain the training center and the rules. It's brief and then Dylan and I walk towards the spear throwing station and wait for the other careers to show up. The 2's get here and then directly after the 1's.

We all make small talk and introduce ourselves and then the girl from 2, Bellona, is the first one to address the whole group and she says " ok since the outlier group is looking weak we should decide a leader now, to prevent confusion later, I nominate myself. I feel like I can be effective."

Concord, the boy from 1, scoffs and says, "I think I should be the leader; I am the most experienced due to my family and I know how to survive in the games."

This gets a quick response from Bellona saying, "Just because you born into a family doesn't make you the automatic leader."

They both stare each other down until I say, "Lets vote and get to training." And this seems to appease all parties.

"ok then let's vote, who all wants me as their leader?" Bellona says. All hands go up except for Brielle, who might be abstaining due to district loyalty. "I guess that's settled," Bellona says smiling. Concord looks pissed and he walks toward the sword station, Bellona and Tyr go towards the mace and axes station, Dylan wonders off to the fish hook station and I go straight to the knives, my specialty.

I'm just glad the leader is decided and we can go about our business, tomorrow I think I'll try to get us to stick together to show intimidation but for now, it's probably best we do our own thing, cause if tensions don't cool down at all before the games the pack could be defective and a defective pack causes people to die.

Dylan Cove D4M 18

The vote was intense, but I'd rather piss off Concord then Bellona, especially since it seems like Kendall has taken a liking to her. If she thinks that Bellona will be the best leader then I do too. After the vote and Concord seemed pissed, so I went off by myself towards the fish hook station. I figure this is what I know and then maybe I'll go to the spears later, but I want to do something familiar right know though. I start assembling a fish hook when one someone comes beside me and starts messing around with some materials to make a fish hook. I'm surprised anyone approached me since most of the other tributes look terrified of the careers until I look over and it's the girl from one, Brielle.

She has this interesting beauty to her, and I just notice this until she says the words "look I know you will be the outcast of the pack and I'm willing to make you a deal if you're interested." I am taken aback a little by her straightforwardness, but I realize that she's right, if it comes down to it, I will be the first killed since I didn't volunteer, nor did I train for the last 6 years. I nod.

"With Concord and Bellona fighting, the pack is going to fracture earlier than usual, if we watch each other's back then you and I will split by ourselves when the time is right." She says while assembling a fish hook a lot better than I expected.

"How do I know I can trust you?" I say back while still focusing on the hooks, so we don't look suspicious.

"Look dude, we both don't want to be in the pack any longer than we have to, so unless you want to be on your own, you'll take my deal." She says as she starts to leave the station.

"Brielle!" I say and she looks over her shoulder at me. I nod in agreement and she nods back and walks towards Concord again. This is good, if I have a back-up plan if the pack breaks, I am not sure if I can trust Brielle since she approached me but I guess I have no choice, either way, I am gonna have to watch my back, not all of us are playing the same games.

Hey all! I know this is later than promised but finals are kicking my butt, however since summer is approaching, the games should be finished by the end of summer! Anyways thank you all for reading and let me know what you guys think of the interesting career pack this year! who do you or dont you like? The next few chapters are going to be establishing alliances and loners in the training center and I'm excited to write about them. Dont forget to review and the next chapter should be up shortly. P.S. sponsorship points are updated. Until Next Time.