Shep Howard- District Ten male (17)

Huldra rolled up to the challenge field feeling like a million bucks. We'd all eaten until we were full for the first time since we got to the island. We had enough left over to probably last us until the merge. Ellekoner was down a member and maybe it was finally our time to shine.

"Good morning, tribes," Isabella said as Ellekoner approached. I craned my neck to peek even though she was about to tell us.

"Amberlynn was voted out at tribal council."

Really? She always seemed to have so many friends. It might have just been me, but it seemed like the air turned a bit colder. Maybe everyone else was thinking what I was thinking: that we were far enough along that people were starting to set aside feelings and do whatever it took to stay in the game.

"But I suppose you're more excited about our next challenge," Isabella said. We were quite more interested in the challenge, since the curtain behind Isabella was long enough to block our view of the entire field. She tugged the tasseled rope next to her podium and the curtain fell, revealing a circle of platforms.

"Today's challenge is the Hunger Games!"

My mouth went dry. We should have known it was too good to be true. A year with no dead kids? Not in Panem. How could I not have seen it coming? I glanced at my teammates. Taylor had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wild. Val was laughing crazily. Leo was already crying, and it was bizarre that what I noticed most was that tears only came out of his non-burned eye.

"But of course, not the real Hunger Games."

I hardly heard Isabella over the blood pounding in my ears. After her voice finally filtered in, the only thing I could think was listen here, you little…

"What?!" Yarrow muttered beside me. On Ellekoner's side, Rowena and Lana were still hugging each other. Dorian looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"In today's challenge, Tributes will be arranged on platforms in a marked-out circle." Isabella pointed to the circle etched into the dirt outside the platforms. "Each contestant will have a flag pinned to the back of their pants. When the challenge starts, contestants will attempt to steal each other's flags. If your flag is removed, you are eliminated. Last tribe standing wins immunity and reward."

As we were still recovering, Isabella revealed the prize at her feet. After what the Gamemakers had just pulled, intentionally or otherwise, I wasn't paying much attention at all to the basket of bottles and bars.

"The winning tribe will return to camp to find a brand-new camping shower," Isabella said. "I'm sure you're all ready to wash off some of that grime. To help out with that, we have shampoos, soaps, towels, and everything else you could want for the perfect spa day. Worth playing for?"

The response was not enthusiastic. Taylor was still bent over with her hands on her thighs as Trydan wiped his eyes. Val tried to come through for us.

"Woo-hoo," came the most unconvincing woo that ever hoo'ed.

Virgo Charleston- District Ten female (18)

"All right, so… that was messed up," Dorian started us off. Both teams had three minutes to strategize before the challenge began. We'd already sent away Lana and Rowena as our sit-outs, since they were the smallest. We had almost three minutes left to decide how to go about this.

"What if we all pair up and each pair has a specific target?" Enzo suggested.

"We could all gang up on the strongest Huldra and get them out early," Persi offered.

"That's definitely Shep and Kallik," I said. Sub-discussions broke out as we went through the details.

"Time's up!"

Trydan Briod- District Five male (17)

I climbed into the platform with my name and found myself between Octavia and Leo. Not a bad start…

A blaring gong almost startled me off the platform. I looked up and locked eyes with Virgo across the ring of platforms. She looked as uncertain as I felt. Without really thinking about it, I shrugged at her as I jumped off my platform.

Kallik- District Two female (18)

Dorian and Octavia had been staring at me since we all got into our platforms. I would have thought my pants were ripped if they both hadn't booked it for me as soon as the gong sounded.

Oh no. I put it together as I was turning tail to run. We'd had the same idea, though we'd decided in the end on a more disorganized approach. Clearly I was a prime target.

As I was fleeing Dorian and Octavia, I looked behind me and saw Taylor behind both of them. She beelined in our of nowhere and snatched Dorian's red flag.

"Ha!" she yelled, holding it aloft. Dorian turned around, saw it was her, and gave an unmistakable, okay, that is pretty funny shrug.

Val Vella- District One male (18)

Wow, they really don't like Kallik. Dorian hadn't been eliminated for five seconds before Cactus and Enzo shot off away from their earlier path and ran at her.

Not on my watch, I thought as I ran to help her. Then someone smashed into me from the side. I looked up at Persi grabbing for my pants as Virgo ran up behind her.

Ladies, please, there's plenty of me, I couldn't help thinking as I wiggled on my back under Persi's onslaught. My attempt to reach behind for her scarf was foiled when Virgo caught my arm. The two of them flipped me over and stole my flag.

I looked after them with distaste as I joined Kallik, who had been defeated as I struggled, on the loser bench. They didn't even buy me dinner first.

Cactus Cleo- District Seven male (18)

"Everyone!" Octavia yelled. "Shep!"

"What?" Shep yelled from the other side of the field. He saw the answer to his question when Ellekoner clustered together and then ran at him. All of us except Virgo, who was pinned between Taylor and Trydan. In the short scuffle that followed, only Trydan retained his flag.

I wasn't made for challenges like this. Everyone was moving so fast, and in our similar clothes we all looked the same, and it was all I could do to keep the teams straight. That was how Leonardo got so close to me. In the split second I was checking the color of his flag, he snatched mine.

From the loser bench I listened to Isabella's commentary.

"Enzo, taking Trydan out of the fight!"

"Yarrow with a funky half-cartwheel, just saving herself!"

"Persi just misses Leo's flag!"

Yarrow Venus- District Three female (17)

Surely it was the stupidest of plans, but sometimes, stupid works. As Ellekoner ran at Shep, I switched directions and ran with them. At the back of the pack I caught up with Alara. She looked behind her to see who was coming, but not before I was just about in grabbing distance

I'll take that…

Shep Howard- District Ten male (17)

All right, then, I'll take you all on.

They might get my flag, but they'd pay for it. I stood in the middle of Octavia, Enzo and Persi, feeling like a sheep between wolves. Yarrow and Leo lurked halfway across the field, trying to figure out the best strategy.

Persi made a grab for my flag. I twisted to the side and she ended up with a handful of my crotch. She yanked her hand back, looking scandalized. I had less shame. I saw the tip of the flag behind her and reached between her legs to snatch it. She reflectively clenched her legs shut, trapping my arm, but if already gotten her flag. Of course my trapped position made it impossible to avoid Octavia snatching my flag, but that was inevitable anyway. I was just glad I'd managed to get one of them, too.

Leo Fabrizio- District Six male (18)

Yarrow and I stood butt-to-butt to the side of Octavia and Enzo, who stood the same way. We faced off like two weird centaurs.

"All four arms go for Enzo?" Yarrow whispered in my ear. It was as good enough an idea as ever, so I nodded. The four of us waddled closer to each other for our final attacks. When I felt Yarrow's shoulder tense, I went for it. We both aimed for Enzo's flag with both arms. Enzo jumped back, but not fast enough to avoid my fingers just catching his flag. Octavia immediately grabbed for my flag and ripped it loose. Just as quickly,

Yarrow grabbed her flag. She held her two flags aloft as her defeated opponents retreated.

"Yarrow is the last one standing! Huldra wins immunity and reward!"

I thought it was about time Huldra had a double win. I went ahead and did another challenge chapter right away so I can write a breather chapter while I sit for votes to come in. So get your votes in and let's see who Ellekoner targets next