Ophelia Veleno- District One mentor
Kallik was looking at her outfit, clearly calculating what the Arena might be and her chances within it. Kendall was going through a regimen of light stretches, both preparing himself and calming his nerves. He paused to look over at Kallik.
"Hope you do good," he said.
"Thanks," she said. "You, too."
"No, really though," Kendall said. "Of all the people I met here, you're pretty cool."
"Really for me, too," Kallik said. "I want everyone to do well." She looked down and sighed. "God, this sucks."
Amazon Stonn- District Two mentor
"Do you think there will be flashing lights in the Arena?" Octavia asked. As she sat almost primly on her bench, Val paced one way and then the other.
"Just the timer, I'd guess," I said. "Based on your outfits I'd say it's a fairly generic outdoor Arena." Octavia and Val wore drab olive shirts and pants with ordinary running shoes.
"So if we just don't look at the timer we'll be okay?" Octavia asked.
"You'll be okay either way," Val broke in.
Gidget Ford- District Three mentor
Yarrow watched from across the room as Ai and Beetee sat together on their bench, exchanging last-minute messages and trying not to cry. There was something like contempt on her face.
"I'm sure your family would give anything to be here with you," I said. I wondered if I should reach for her hand but thought better of it. She didn't seem the kind.
Yarrow's eyes didn't leave Beetee and Ai. "It wouldn't matter anyway."
Shane Donegal- District Four mentor
It was a bit of an awkward moment, mentoring both a Career and a non-Career. What was I supposed to do, remind Dorian to kill as many people as possible and then tell Alara to stay away from Dorian? Despite their cordiality, the two of them seemed to be thinking of the same thing.
"We probably won't end up next to each other," Dorian almost apologized.
"It's okay," Alara shrugged. I didn't like the look of resignation she had. It was the look of someone who had seen death before and knew seeing it again was only a matter of time.
Meenah Turbine- District Five mentor
"There's definitely going to be plants." Birdie was at once terrified and triumphant as she pinched the material of her shirt between two fingers.
"It's going to be dirty," Trydan said.
"It's going to be natural," Birdie sniffed.
"Corpses are also natural," Trydan said.
"All-natural fertilizer," Birdie said, her face falling a little but her manner still light. "Bury me in the woods and let the plants take me back."
Lancia Audren- District Six mentor
Lana stopped shadowboxing as the tubes began to descend into place. I watched her reflection distort and shift around the circular, sinking glass.
"Any last-minute ideas?" Trayne said, his voice quavering half with humor and half with desperation.
"For the first few minutes I don't think there's much of anything you can do," I said. "Just… be lucky."
Desiree Redwood- District Seven mentor
There was something not right about Cactus. He said with his arms folded loosely in his lap and never moved, even when the tubes started down.
"Well-" Rowena slapped her thighs. "I suppose." She stood up and got into the tube. "This thing going or what?"
Cactus looked over at her with distaste, then looked up toward the roof.
"They don't open the tubes until the top," I said. "Surprise, I guess."
Kjole Schmiecel- District Eight mentor
"Do you remember your Tributes from last year?" Taylor's voice sounded so much younger than her age.
"Bobbie and Taff? Yeah, I remember them," I said.
"But do you think of them? Do they matter to you?" Her voice cracked.
Truth be told, after so long I didn't always think of my mentees for long. They were a long, sad blur that eventually turned in on itself and seemed to cease to matter.
"Yes. They matter," I said confidently, just like I'd said last year.
"I think we matter more than we know," Tommy said. "Every one of us."
Randy Mills- District Nine mentor
Robbie wasn't pacing out of nervousness. He looked like he wanted to start tearing at the walls to get to the other rooms.
"I better not be far away from them." A few more steps. "They wouldn't do that, would they?" Another lap. "It would be a better show if I could protect them."
Amberlynne examined her clothes with distaste. She looked at me.
"Guess it will be food and water I need," she said. "I think my friends will be able to get me through at least a week. Maybe just send water at first and I'll see what I can figure out."
Calvary Warsaw- District Ten mentor
I wasn't sure about the vegan thing. Most Arenas didn't involve eating meat, really. It was always an option but it was just so much more effort than gathering plants. It was more of just her vibe. People who didn't eat meat usually valued life. People who valued life didn't win the Games.
"Probably a wilderness sort of Arena, then," Shep remarked. He continued to take this all with an almost eerie placidity.
"Right up your alley," I said.
"What's an alley?" he said. He let his confused expression evaporate after I looked over. "Just kidding, ha. I know what an alley is."
Soleil Kingston- District Eleven mentor
Clover and Persi sat on the same bench, their heads almost touching as they bent over deep in discussion. I hung back, catching snatches of conversation while I waited to see if they needed me.
"And if we're near the Twos we're going to…"
"What if there's no water in the Cornucopia…"
"Find the thickest foliage and try to lose them in it…"
Nubu Sanders- District Twelve mentor
"This sucks. I'm glad they get to be together but it sucks."
Enzo was clearly feeling the anxiety of being apart from his allies. He sat jiggling his legs, his arms folded.
"You don't think they'd double-cross me?" I didn't get a chance to respond. "No, they're cool. This just still sucks."
"Do you think I'll get some sponsors?" Josie sat hugging her knees and looking fearfully at the empty tube.
"I'll do my best," I said.
"Please do."