Tea Reed, 16

District 7 Female

Paul was one of the nicest people I'd ever met. He was very shy and he stuttered and blushed a lot, but he never raised his voice or said mean things. He also offered to teach me how to use an axe and forage for plants.

We spent yesterday at the axe station, but most of the weapons were too heavy for me. But whenever I wanted to cry, Paul told me how much I was improving. He also had the idea for me to lift weights to make my arms stronger.

That was what I was doing today. The trainer was a big man with even bigger muscles and a shiny bald head. He made me lift weights and then do push-ups and sit-ups without any breaks.

Finally, I managed to slip away to get some water. My muscles burned and I sniffled a little. This wasn't fair! I wasn't strong enough to be in the Hunger Games and three days wasn't enough to prepare. I was doomed. Even Johanna thought so.

My mentor hated me. She yelled at me whenever she saw me and called me all sorts of names. Our escort Meg tried to stop her, but she was relentless. It was her job to help me and she didn't even care.

I couldn't survive on my own. And I really didn't want to die.

I glanced over at Paul, who was fiddling with a plastic bag filled with water and a cup of sand. I knew he would protect me.

I wiped the sweat off of my forehead and started back toward the weight trainer, but immediately slammed into a taller, more muscular figure. He caught me by the shoulders right before I fell and I found myself looking up into the light green eyes of the boy from District 12.

"I'm so sorry!" he gasped. "Are you alright?"

"Uh… yeah," I stammered. The boy's eyes were the exact same shade as Josh's, but he was ten times more handsome. His warm skin and golden curls glowed, even under the harsh fluorescent lights of the training gym.

He seemed to pick up on my flustered state and smiled.

"My name is Dustin," he said.

"I'm Tea."

"That's a really pretty name," he said. "Very unique."

"Thank you," I said shyly, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

We stood in shy silence for a few moments before I met his eyes again.

"Would you like to come meet my ally, Paul? I'm sure he'd love to meet you too. Maybe we could even sit together at lunch?"

"That would be great," Dustin said. He grinned at me. "Lead the way."

Diesel Calator, 14

District 6 Male

The Capitol was the coolest place I'd ever seen. The buildings soared hundreds of feet into the air, everyone was colorful and lively, and the food was unlike anything I'd ever tasted. The chocolate alone basically made up for my impending death.

I wasn't afraid, which gave me an advantage over the other tributes. I knew I should be scared, but I only felt excited. This was the chance of a lifetime, and I was never one to shy away from danger.

Axel, my mentor, was definitely worried. He'd pulled me aside after dinner yesterday and lectured me about the seriousness of the Hunger Games. He told me that fear would help keep me alive, and that I couldn't trust anyone. He looked defeated when I told him I had things under control. I had a plan.

I knew for a fact that I wanted allies. I didn't like being alone and it would be beneficial to have another set of eyes and hands on my side in the arena. I'd spent the first day of training scouting out potential alliances and I was ready to make my move.

Isaac was the youngest tribute this year, but he was a baseball player. I'd seen him practicing with a club and telling the trainer about his team. Some people would write him off for his age, but that was dumb. He was an athlete and a team player; the perfect ally.

He was fighting with a club again today, brutally beating up a line of dummies. I made my way over, grinning.

"Hey!" I said cheerfully. "You've got great strength."

Isaac turned to me and wiped some sweat off of his forehead.

"Thanks. You're Diesel, right?"

"The one and only," I told him. "I wanted to ask if you were interested in teaming up. I think we'd be a great pair."

"What skills do you bring to the alliance?" Isaac asked. He was trying to look skeptical but I could see the relief in his eyes.

"I'm a skateboarder," I said. "And I'm not afraid of anything."

Adera "Addie" Laurier, 16

District 6 Female

I felt ridiculous for crying as much as I did. At home, I never cried. The last time I even shed a single tear was when our base was blown up and Eliza was killed. But now I couldn't stop bawling. I cried myself to sleep on the train and sniffled miserably throughout breakfast.

But today I was determined to be tough. If my district partner could put on a brave face, so could I. And I had an even better motivation to win. I had a family again.

Thinking of Mayor Harloy brought back the tears and I squeezed my eyes shut until the urge to cry passed. I had to get it together or no one would take me seriously.

I wanted allies, so I had to prove I was strong. Yesterday I got caught up at the edible plants station, learning about herbs and spices. I got excited about using them in the bakery and let myself believe I'd get to bake again. But that was stupid. I needed to learn to fight.

Even back at home, I wasn't a fighter. I was a runner. If a Peacekeeper spotted me, I'd bolt, and I evaded them every time. But the Hunger Games was a challenge I couldn't run from.

Lots of tributes were working with more conventional weapons, but I wanted to stand out. So I approached the trainer in charge of the uncommon and improvised weapons.

His counter was covered with materials for making weapons, as well as items that were two balls on a string, sets of short staffs, and whips of various sizes. Another girl was there, her head down as she carefully bored a hole into a forked stick. I sat on the stool next to her and flashed a grin at the trainer.

"Hey there," I chirped. "I was hoping you could help me learn some badass moves."

"I sure can," the trainer said with a bellowing laugh. "What's your poison?" He gestured to all the weapons.

"What are these?" I asked, picking up one of the short staffs. It was about two feet long and was light in my hand.

"Those are sticks used in the martial art form known as arnis or escrima. The fighting style involves both grappling and striking techniques while holding a weapon in each hand. It requires speed, good coordination and, spatial awareness."

"That sounds right up my alley," I said. I picked up the other stick and stood up.

"Alright. Show me what to do."

He walked me through some basic steps and then grabbed weapons for himself. As we sparred I felt energy pulsing through me, sparking the same feeling as when I ran from the Peacekeepers. It was pure exhilaration.

The cafeteria doors opened with a bang, startling me. The trainer smoothly knocked me down and I grunted as I hit the floor.

"Nice work," he said, peering down at me. His face was glazed with sweat, and I was sure mine was too.

"Thanks." I sat up with a groan to see the girl who was making a sling earlier standing over me. She smiled warmly and offered me her hand. I took it.

"You're tough," she said as she pulled me to my feet. I started to thank her, but then our eyes met and my voice caught in my throat.

Her eyes were the palest shade of brown I'd ever seen and she had a small scar on her lip that curled cutely when she smiled. A few wispy hairs had escaped her tight bun, framing her face and accentuating her sharp cheekbones. I felt heat rise to my cheeks. My tongue felt like lead but I squeaked out a pathetic "thank you". Her warm smile became a confident smirk.

"I'm Edam," she said, releasing my hand. "And you're Adera, right?"

"Call me Addie," I said.

"I like it," she told me. "It's cute."

Then she looped an arm through mine and led us to the lunch line.

Clementine Matson, 17

District 11 Female

Anger and vengeance had gotten me far in life and they weren't going to let me down now. Oliver wanted me dead, but I wasn't going to let him win. I'd fought tooth and nail to get to the top of the food chain and I was going to stay there.

Seeder's advice was to split my time in training between the survival and weapon stations. She'd pushed for more survival training, but I wasn't going to waste all of my time learning how to tie knots or track rabbits. I wanted to fight.

Logan in particular made my blood boil. He was a heartless bully who took satisfaction in kicking around those who were pathetic and helpless. He wanted to feel powerful, but picking on the weaklings meant nothing. If you wanted to be the strongest, you challenged the ones on top.

Those people were the type of allies I was looking for. People who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty but were willing to smile nicely and convince the big guys that they weren't a threat… until they proved they were.

The girl from 10 was at the top of my list. She was a volunteer, which meant she had some level of confidence in herself. And the way she carried herself made her seem like she was in charge; and she knew it.

But two strong leaders in one alliance could get messy, which was why I was going to let Edam lead. I'd use her successes to catapult myself to the top and crush her in the process. But I also needed a face; someone to look pretty and appeal to sponsors, but still be enough of a threat to keep Edam's attention.

Kyle Rush was the perfect choice.

He was handsome, strong, and cocky enough to think he could do anything. So when we were called to lunch, I went to sit with him. He flashed me a grin and held out his hand for a handshake.

"Hey there," he said smoothly. "I'm Kyle."

"Clementine," I said as I accepted his handshake. I batted my eyelashes at him. "I saw you lifting weights yesterday. You're so strong!"

"I'm the strongest guy in District 8," Kyle bragged.

"Ooh," I cooed. "That's so impressive!"

He shrugged in a fake attempt at humility, but I could tell he was preening.

"How would you feel about teaming up with someone?" I asked. "Maybe someone from 11?"

"I'm always happy to spend time with a pretty face," he said with a wink. I smiled.

"Likewise."

Robin Violet Clade, 17

District 12 Female

I was suspicious when Vignette, Anahira, and Missy came up to me yesterday. I'd wanted to join the Careers but I didn't expect them to approach me so early. They seemed genuine and I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I told myself I would stay alert. Still, the girls were managing to charm me.

Vignette and Anahira were excellent company. Missy was much more guarded and didn't make small talk, and Blue was even more reserved than her. Christopher talked nonstop, but it was always about himself.

I especially liked talking to Anahira. Her tattoos were beautiful and when I told her that, she blushed, thanked me, and then began to tell me the stories and meanings behind Māori tattoos. Hearing about an ancient culture that still had roots in Panem made me hopeful. If Māori culture could survive, so could the Covey.

Anahira was also willing to learn survival skills, so she and I were working together at the edible plants station. I was showing her some of the edible flowers that grew in District 12 when Vignette came to join us.

She leaned over me, eyes quickly taking in the array of stems and blossoms. Something in her right ear caught the light and I turned to see an intricate ruby earring dangling from her lobe.

"I love your earring," I told Vignette. "I used to make my own jewelry back at home. I would have killed for a gem like that."

Vignette chuckled. Clearly, the irony of my words were not lost on her.

"It's a personal favorite of mine," she said. "My father and I always agreed that red was my color."

"I'd agree as well," I told her.

There was always an ethereal aura around her, but when she smiled it was even more prominent. She tucked a stray curl behind her ear and I caught sight of a colorful tattoo.

"Well, have fun," she said. She wiggled her fingers in a childish wave and headed back to the archery station. I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until Anahira nudged me.

"So… lamb's ear?"

Vignette Cawthorne, 18

District 1 Female

Thunk!

As my arrow hit the bullseye with an audible thud, I sighed. Training was pretty much pointless. I'd been preparing for the Hunger Games since I was a child. Three extra days spent in a basement in the Capitol weren't going to make or break me.

I understood that the outer district tributes needed the time. It wouldn't be a fair competition otherwise. But the fact that it was mandatory was irritating. Still, I kept a smile on my face and pretended to be happy and excited.

Deep down, I wanted to break away from the rigid structure of my life. Everything I did was part of a routine. In the Capitol - in the arena - no one could dictate what I did. But I would be trapped until the Games began.

Still, I cherished the small amount of freedom I had. I didn't have to go for evening runs or put on makeup just to spend the day studying. I didn't have to wake up with the sun to practice the violin. I didn't even have my violin… which felt wrong.

I longed to be free of my instrument, but now that I was, I felt like a piece of me was missing. I still had my violin bow, but it wasn't the same. My violin was my last memory of my mother and I would win the Games in her honor. I needed to have her with me when I did.

I hadn't expected to feel so emotionally conflicted. I thought I wanted to get away from my father, honor my mother, and enter a new era of life. But now that I was in the Capitol I wanted to go back to what I had.

I let out a frustrated huff and set the bow back on the rack. I couldn't focus and I didn't want to miss a shot and look foolish. As Careers, we were constantly sizing each other up, comparing ourselves and deciding who was weak and who was strong. I had to prove I was one of the strong ones.

Luckily, it didn't seem too difficult to fit in. Blue immediately established himself as the leader of the alliance, which I had no issue with. My strategy was to be supportive, friendly, and easygoing. I wasn't going to cause problems; I was going to solve them. I would be a valuable ally but not a target. Though my sense was that most of my allies had the same strategy.

Missy and Blue were the ones I didn't trust at all. Missy seemed shady and Blue was too aggressive. And then there was Robin Violet… the Covey girl. Having her in the alliance had the potential to throw off everything. It should have worried me. But for some reason, it didn't.

Hey everybody. I'm so sorry for my unexpected disappearance. Writer's block and autistic burnout hit me hard, and then I was hospitalized at the end of July. I'm home now and doing better, but my health is not back to normal so fanfiction hasn't been a top priority. But I've been working on this chapter in pieces and I'm really happy to have finished it.

As always, please leave a review and let me know your thoughts, and thank you for sticking with me!

Also! I am still in need of Victor submissions for Never Forget, the Victor Compendium for my upcoming SYOT universe. I'm mainly looking for Victors from District 1 and District 11. If you're interested in sending me someone, go check out Never Forget.

QUESTIONS

1) Will Tea form a real friendship with her allies?

2) Does Diesel have a good mindset for the Games?

3) How will Clementine's scheme turn out?

4) What is going to happen to the girls who are catching some feelings?

ALLIANCES

The Careers: Vignette, Christopher, Anahira, Blue, Missy, Robin Violet

The Mathematicians: Louise, CT, Robert

Team Bro: Ivan, Diesel

Tea Party: Tea, Paul, Dustin

Pretty Faces Part 1: Adera, Edam

Pretty Faces Part 2: Kyle, Clementine

Loners: Harold, Dahlia, Jersey, Annoa, Vikram, Logan

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona