Blue Belittled

Chapter 6

Katniss was right, as we had been speaking, we were passing through the mountain tunnel that led to the Capitol. It only took another couple moments before we saw the city itself. My eyes widened as I saw it, the whole thing was beautiful, tall glass structures, and brilliant colours adorned everything. Iro joined me by the window, quickly throwing an arm around me as Capitol citizens noticed a tribute train and gawped at us. Normally, I would find this awkward, but then, normally he wouldn't do this and normally we wouldn't be about to be throw in an arena with twenty-two other people, who were out to kill us.

Some people pointed, others waved. I stood there, putting on the biggest smile I could manage, knowing that these people wanted to watch me die. Iro, being the good natured wit he is, waved, smiled, and otherwise made friendly with the crowd.

I breathed a sigh of relief as we pulled into the station, the views of the spectators blocked by its walls. Katniss called us to where we would leave the train, giving us one last piece of advice. "One last thing before you go. Your stylists and prep crew, what they will do to you, you will not like it. Despite this, don't resist."

Iro raised an eyebrow, I just blinked. "But -"

"No buts." She cuts me off, not wanting to hear any questions. "Now, they will take you into custody, and make you..." she paused, not to find the right word, but to show her hesitation of using the one she did, "pretty."

That made Iro and I exchange semi-nervous glances. Oh man, what have we been thrown into? The train doors opened, and we found out exactly what, as a man and a woman greeted us. It appeared that my stylist was a man named Vinec, and Iro's was a woman named Hista. Vinec and Hista whisked us away from Katniss and, apropos to her words, more or less kidnapped us. We were taken to a place called the Remake Center, and that was when I knew I was in trouble. "The Remake Center?" I mutter to Iro. He just shrugged and mouthed 'Uh oh.' Great, was that supposed to make me feel any better?

Vinec swept me out of the car and took me away, Iro and I exchanged one last glance before we were taken to separate areas. Supposedly to be beautified.



I bit back a yell as one of my prep team, a woman named Ravia, pulled a strip of wax from my leg with a Ri-i-ip. This had been going on for what felt like an hour. My arms were already done; they tingled and burned, overall majorly uncomfortable. Ravia looked at me, apologetic almost. I say almost because how can someone look apologetic when they're orange? I don't mean tanned, I mean orange orange. She also had multiple piercings, one on her lip, two on one nostril and one on her left eyebrow. I didn't understand why anyone would put that much metal on their body, but I'm sure she was mild compared to others. Vinec and my whole prep team were young; I would bet that Hista and Iro's prep team were also about the same age.

"Don't worry, that was the last one. Now you can stand up and we can finish. How does that sound?" It sounded crazy, annoying and a waste of time, but Katniss had told me not to resist. Ravia took my robe, the only piece of clothing I had been wearing, off of me and I stood, stark naked in front of the three members of my prep team.

A man by the name of Rio, and a woman by the name of Tria made up the other two thirds of my prep team. All three set to work, circling me and pulling out the last of the hair with tweezers. I felt like a bird, plucked for stew. They had taken off the hair from everywhere except the top of my head. I swear, the only bits of hair that I still had left were my eyebrows. The hair on my head hadn't been touched; Vinec had told them not to do anything with it.

First, I had been stripped down and bathed with a gel that had hard bits in it. It scrubbed away all of the dirt, and a little bit more for good measure, and a little bit more after that just to be safe. Then they did my nails, changing them from jagged edges to uniform shapes. Finally, they waxed all of the hair off of me. Of all of it, I didn't know what the worst was.

Once they were done they left, and I was stuck standing in the middle of the room, naked. I was tempted to grab my robe, but I would probably be told to remove it by Vinec, so there was no point. As I thought of Vinec, he entered. Looking me up and down, gazing at me from every angle. Satisfied, he stopped to stand in front of me. "You can grab your robe, and we can chat." As I adorned the little clothing I was allowed, he asked, "Who did your hair?"

I was taken aback, first by how my hair had stayed in its braid, second by how Vinec portrayed such interest in the styling of it. It was the same as every other time I went to the reaping, and nobody had commented. "It was my mother; it's the same as she always does it for the reaping."

"It's beautiful, and suits you perfectly. The way she braids the braids adds another definition to your hair." He smiled, and I couldn't help smiling back, he was the first to comment on it. No, actually he wasn't. My mind flashed back to when I was walking to the reaping that changed my life.

"You... You look beautiful you know." It was Iro who had been the first to remark, the first to say I wasn't just part of the ordinary. He hadn't looked at me when he said it, but I knew he meant it. It was then I thought of what must be happening to Iro, wherever they had him, and I couldn't help but giggle. If it was anything like what I went through, I was sorry I couldn't have seen his reaction. He has the best facial expressions.

Vinec walked into another room and I followed. He gestured to a table with two chairs, sitting at one while I sat at the other. "Are you hungry?" He asked, pressing a button of the side of the table. A dish rose from the table, it was a rich plate of chicken, adorned with creamy strawberries.

I sighed, if only food back home was so easy. Back home. I thought of my parents, and of Iro's family. They all must be clinging to the idea that at least one of use would survive. Which one of us was it going to be, if either.

Vinec looked at me. "You must be thinking of how horrible the Games are, of how horrible we are for wanting to watch them." He was right about that, I found that their enthusiasm for death was terrifying, but they were too petty to kill themselves, so they got tributes to kill one another.

"Anyways." He continues, still looking at me. "About your costume. Hista and I have been designing coinciding outfits, hopefully we will have something the audience likes." I smiled, only slightly but I smiled, he was cracking jokes. "There is only the one small matter of who will be the fire, and who will be the fuel." My eyebrows shot up my forehead, we were going to be lit on fire?! He's mad.

Vinec smiled at me. "It seems that you have quite the spark in you, perhaps you should be the flame that will ignite Iro, and the spectators." Now I was blinking like crazy, trying to get the situation straight in my head. I was going to be lit on fire, and then I was going to light Iro on fire? What was the world coming to. Did they really want to get rid of us that quickly?

Hours later, I'm dressed in an orange dress. It has flickers of red and yellow in it, even some white streaked without. There are rubies stitched into the neck and hems, giving red glints off to shatter about everywhere. The finishing touch is my cape, made of red fabric with more rubies stitched into it. On the clasp is a single, decently sized sapphire, Vinec says it's to bring out the blue in my eyes. Even just in the mirror, without moving, I look like flame. I can't wait to see what Iro looks like.

Iro and Hista joined us as we were preparing to leave. Iro was wearing a black shirt and black pants, his eyes were outlined in black and he also had a cape. The clasp had a sapphire on it, but this one was a lot greyer than mine, it really brought out his eyes. He smiled as he saw me. "Wow Kiar, you look like flame." He grinned and did a mock bow. "And I am your coal, here to burn with as you please." I grinned too, and punched him on the shoulder. He gave me what was supposed to be a hurt look, but it turned into a smirk.

"Now now children." It was Hista. "It's time for you to get your ponies." She guided us to our chariot and helped us onto it. "Now, sit tight while Vinec gets the fire." We both gave her wide-eyed stares. Oh man, here comes the fire...

The opening music started to play, and District One's chariot started to move. Both tributes wore crowns, the male had chain mail and the female wore a bejewelled dress. They sparkled as lights hit the gems, sending flashes off. Then District Two's chariot started off. It took no time until we began to move. Quickly, before we were too far away, Vinec lit me on fire. Well, not me, but my cape. I was waiting for the searing heat, but none came. Iro glanced at me, and his mouth dropped open. I didn't know what was so amazing until I saw the big screen. I blazed, my dress resembling the flames that flickered on my cape. The rubies that adorned me everywhere were alive with flame.

All attention was directed my way, it was a moment before I realized Iro had grabbed my hand, and was squeezing it to get my attention. "Kiar, Hista said that half way through you have to.." he paused, gulped and continued, "you have to kiss me, and touch your cape to mine." I stared at him, into his gray eyes, which flickered in my firelight.

I nodded. "Alright, just tell me when, or squeeze my hand or something." I was nervous, it would be the first time I kissed anyone, but it was Iro. Some parts about that made it worse, but something inside me was glad for the chance.

He smiled at me, then turned to wave at the crowd with his right hand, holding my hand with the other. I waved to the crowd on the other side, eventually growing bold enough to blow kisses to them. "Kiar, Kiar!" they chanted.

Half-way through, as promised, Iro squeezed my hand. My heart pounded as I turned to him, and he leaned towards me, I moved closer to him and... I kissed him. I was transported for that moment, I wasn't at the Games, I wasn't about to be sent to my death. I was with Iro, in the woods. We had gone there to get away from everyone, and we were talking. We had moved slowly closer together, neither of us realizing until our faces almost touched. We had almost kissed then, but I moved away, the thought frightening me.

I pulled away and looked him in the eyes, there was more than just firelight in them now. I could see the faint blush rise in his cheeks, masked by my fire, and the growing flames on his cape. I only now noticed that his costume was turning more and more orange until I realized, it wasn't turning orange, the black colour was just coming off. I turned back to wave to the crowd, who screamed my name, they were obsessed with me now, my flames, and Iro. We were the stars of the show, and as we paraded around the crowds a couple more times I could see the cameras just loved us. I hoped they caught us kissing, that would be a shot to remember.

We pulled up in front of the President's manor, where President Snow Jr. greets us from a balcony above our heads. During the speech he gives, the camera often cuts to the faces of the tributes. I can see that Iro and I are getting most of the camera's attentions, however.

When he finishes, we are taken to the Training Center, where we will live, or more accurately be imprisoned, until the Games.

We enter the Center and the door closes behind us. Vinec, Hista and the prep teams practically jump us, singing praises. The other tributes just glare at us, we stole their spotlight, and we burned brighter than them, literally.

I didn't let go of Iro's hand, and he didn't let go of mine. Half of it was because we were stiff, but half of it was something else. I pushed the thought away, trying to ignore our kiss. That didn't last long, Hista brought it up right after Vinec had mentioned how well the fire worked. "It was perfect, his cape lit as you were kissing. It looked amazing!" She was beaming, Vinec was beaming, Iro was beaming. Only I wasn't beaming; my mind was on the kiss, that amazing kiss. My first kiss.

Iro squeezed my hand. "Ki, are you alright?" I looked into his eyes, there was no firelight in them anymore, our capes had been extinguished by Vinec as soon as we had touched the ground. I saw something else sparking in them though, I wanted to respond to it, but part of my mind thought it was best if I didn't.

I sighed, shrugging. "I suppose, but it's not like that will last long." My tone was sour, the sarcasm dripping from it. Iro gave me a concerned look, but said no more. I was glad he knew not to press further.

Chapter 8

I woke up to an empty bed, blinking as I tried to remember where I was. I sat up instantly and looked all around the room for Iro. He was sitting in one of the chairs, fully dressed and drinking hot chocolate, a sweet drink we were first introduced to on the train that brought us here. Seeing my movement in the corner of his eyes he turned to give me a learn grin. "Morning sleepy, did you have a good rest?"

I just rolled my eyes at him and got out of bed, grumbling just loud enough so he could hear me. "He says after he woke me from a nightmare." Iro just chuckled as I walked to the door and opened it, coming face to face with Katniss.

She looks me up and down before peering around me to look at Iro. "When I said sneak into each other's rooms, this was not what I had in mind." I scowled and pushed past her to enter my own room. I heard Iro begin to explain as I closed the door.

Great, I thought, now Katniss is going to know I had a nightmare and think I'm weak. Just wonderful. Sighing, I found an outfit had been left for me. Tight black pants and a dark blue-gray long sleeved shirt. Putting it on, I fastened the mocking jay pin in its usual spot before exiting my room.

I wandered to the dining room, where breakfast was laid out. Only Iro, Katniss and I were there, I supposed everyone else was still asleep. They didn't have to do anything until later. Iro was wearing a deep orange long sleeves shirt, but otherwise we were in the same outfit. He smiled as he saw me and gestured to a seat. I sat, and he sat beside me. Katniss sat across from us. As Iro and I shovelled food on our plate, she began to speak. "First, I would like to ask, would you two liked to be trained together, or separately?"

Iro and I exchanged glances, understanding my eyes he answered for us. "We'll train together, we have nothing secret from one another." Katniss smirked, I would bet she was thinking about when she came to get us.

"Alright," she continued, "then let's plan. I don't want you showing off your skills to everyone. Learn something you don't know, wait until the private session to show off." She turned to me, gray eyes forceful. "That means no archery for you," her gaze shifted to Iro, "and no climbing for you."

Iro and I looked at each other and nodded, there were other things we were good at, and we could use that to distract attention from the places we didn't go. Katniss looked satisfied, standing up and turning back just before she left the room. "Meet Villay at the elevator before ten for training." With that she left, leaving Iro and I in silence.

I smiled at him. "Ready for training?" I admit, I was nervous, I wasn't sure what seeing the other tributes face-to-face would be like, let alone watching them use weapons.

Iro nodded. "I am, are you?" I just shrugged, I wasn't really sure. Iro knew it wasn't the training itself that was the problem. "Don't worry about the other tributes Ki, they can't do anything to you." He didn't have to add the yet, I knew it was there.

I just gave him a small smile, deciding to pull a joke on him while I had the chance. "It's alright, I know my big handsome friend will save me if anything happens." I make my voice sound like I was talking to a child. Iro gave me a grin before his face went serious. Maybe I shouldn't have made that joke, it just sparked his protective side.

Hurriedly, I stand up. "We should get going, it's almost ten." Iro joins me and we walk to the elevator together. We are met by Villay, who ushers us into the elevator where he presses the button for the training floor. As we go down, I look out of the elevator, Iro puts a hand on my shoulder, but doesn't say anything. As we arrived at the training level, his hand slid from my shoulder and down my arm until he held my hand. I flushed, but kept looking up as we walked into a large gymnasium. There are numerous stations and obstacle courses set up. I take a quick look at all of them before my gaze is turned to the other tributes.

There is the broad shouldered boy from District one, he's standing beside a tall, skinny girl who has a piece of fabric labelled with the number 1 on her back. It was then that I noticed someone pinning a number on my back, I can bet it's the number 12, for District twelve. The girl from District two and her partner stood side-by-side, but coolly. The girl's leaf-green eyes taking in the different stations.

It was only now that I realized how small the district eleven tributes were, and that boy from district five as well. I'm smaller than all of the Careers, but Iro is as tall as many of them. I'm comforted by him being at my side and holding my hands. The other tributes glare when they recognize us, still upset over their stolen spotlight.

Thankfully, before every tribute could get a glare in at us, the head trainer enters. Her name is Atala, a tall, fit woman with obvious authority. We all stand in a circle and she begins to explain the training schedule, as well as the rules. From there, she moves onto the list of training stations. I smile as I hear there are edible plant and bug stations, as well as camouflage and knives. I would have fun showing off those skills. Iro smiled at me and squeezed my hand. I knew he would go to whichever station I chose, and since we were decent at the same things it was the perfect thing.

Dismissed, everyone began to wander off to the different stations. I headed towards the edible plants station with Iro in tow. We both sweep through the test with ease, the man who was at the station even bringing out what he called the "difficult ones". Plants that looked like other plants, whether they were the poisonous ones or not. Again, we swept through it. The edible insects were a bit tougher, but neither of us got one wrong.

We moved onto the camouflage station and mess around with the berries and dyes. Somehow, we manage to create realistic representations of the sunlight through trees and even look like a bush.

The next day we tried the stuff we were poorer at, attempting to throw spears and tridents or swing axes. Iro even tried a bit of boxing, he wasn't too bad at it. The final day of training was the most important, it was our last opportunity to make our competition wary, without giving away our best abilities. First, though Iro and I split up. He went to do sword training while I used a slingshot. Neither of us was bad, but we weren't that great either. It didn't matter, we moved onto knot tying. Because of our experience with snares and traps, we did well and the man there taught us a trap that would send a tribute up into the air, dangling by their ankle from a tree. We mastered that skill, then moved onto the knife station. We spent the last of our time here, throwing knives at progressively further and further targets. Though when he threw the knife didn't go in as far, Iro had a more reliable aim when it came to far distances. I could sink the blade in deep, but my weapon often wobbled to one side or the other when I threw father.

After we had finished training, we were all moved into another room, where one-by-one we were called back into the training room for our private session. As always, they started with District one, calling up first the male tribute, then the female tribute. And so it went, District by District, male, female, male, female. Until Iro was called in I watched as he went it, wishing him luck. He was supposed to show off his climbing skills and his knife throwing skills.

After some time, I was called in. Obediently, I walked in, but I made my expression hard. I nodded to the Gamemakers, who paid almost no attention to me, except to chuckle to themselves about how small I was. I growled, alerting them to my temper as I grabbed a well-balanced bow, arrows and a quiver. It caught another couple of their attentions, which I used as a time to take my first shot. Taking aim, I pointed my shot towards the knife-throwing practice dummy. I shot two quick arrows, one through the heart and one right between its eyes. I swung around to fire three shots in succession at the archery targets, in order from closest to farthest away. All three were dead on bulls' eyes.

I looked at the Gamemakers, they all looked bored as tired. Only a couple seemed interested in my shooting. I grew angry and shot an arrow straight above their heads, they didn't budge. My temper got the best of me and, as quickly as I could reload, I shot an arrow between each of their heads, all in a straight line. Now they gawped at me. I snarled, and shot straight up at the light above me. A shower of sparks cascaded around me as I tossed down the bow and quiver, saluting them with a mock, two-fingered, wave. I stalked out after that, not wanting to deal with them anymore. If they didn't want to pay attention to me, why should I bother listening to them?

I stomped to the elevator and jabbed the number twelve button. Sighing, I let go of my frustration. As I did, I felt satisfaction take its place. I showed them, they thought that because I was from District twelve, and because I was the last to go, that I was not worth the bother of paying attention to.

I was smirking as I joined the others in the dining room. Iro raised an eyebrow at me, and Villay, Katniss, Vinec and Hista gave me curious looks. Katniss was the one to break the silence and ask the question everyone wanted to know. "So, how did your private sessions go?"

I gestured to Iro to go first, he nodded and began to speak. "Well, I went in and grabbed a bunch of knives. Then I climbed on top of the climbing booth. I threw knives at all of the different targets, but none of the Gamemakers cared. It was only when I served them up a dish of knives, and beheaded one of the practice dummies that they started to pay attention. I finished by stabbing the sword into the ground in front of them. They dismissed me and I left."

He smiled at me, and I returned the expression, now it was my turn to tell what I did. "I started off by shooting two arrows at the knife-throwing dummy, then I hit the three bulls' eyes. They weren't looking at me so I fired an arrow into the ceiling above their heads. That brought no stir from them so I shot an arrow between their heads, I managed to get them in a clean line. I finished by blowing the light above me with one last arrow and left, with a salute of course."

Iro grinned at me, I grinned back. Katniss smirked at the two of us. "Well, it seems like we've given the Gamemakers quite a show this year." A flickering smile suggested she was remembering something, and sure enough, "In my private session I shot an arrow at an apple in the mouth of a pig. It was one of the dishes they had come out while I was demonstrating my skill." Her eyes came back into focus, a glitter of mischievous glee in her eyes. "I got an eleven."

I wasn't that hopeful, but I was wondering what scores Iro and I would get, surely it would be something decent.

Chapter 10

When I woke Iro was gone. I was used to it by now; he was always the one to wake up before I did. I yawned and stretched, pausing half-way through doing a combination of both as it hits me. We were going to have our interviews with Caesar Flickerman. Oh joy, I thought, I get to be interviewed by one of the creepiest men alive. Along with the actual interview, I was supposed to talk with Villay about presentation and Katniss about content. I had to spend four hours with each. This was going to be a long day.

I rolled out of bed, sleepily changing into simple clothes and washing my face. The mocking jay pin ever present in its place over my heart. I drearily stumbled down the hallway to the dining room, but I didn't feel like eating. Iro was there, as we're Villay and Katniss. Iro looked as tired as I felt, my midnight screaming taxing both of us greatly. He smiled at me, and I returned the expression before sitting beside them. "A little less than a day-and-a-half." I whisper to him. He just nods, taking my hand.

Katniss sits across from Iro and Villay takes the spot directly across from me. I slowly wake up enough to nibble at some breakfast rolls. Katniss looks at me, "You can start with Villay," she turns to Iro, "and we can have a talk first."

Iro and I nod, finishing our food. At least Iro ate a decent amount, I only ate the one breakfast roll, and Villay is giving me worried looks. I pass them off, standing up and looking at him. "Could we start now? If it's alright with you, of course."

Villay nodded and stood up, leading the way to a single large room with a mirror and a giant closet in it. Instantly, he produced high heels and a full-length gown. I step behind a dressing screen to change. I don't bother moving the pin from my shirt onto the gown, I will just be putting the same thing on in a bit anyways.

For the next four hours I am taught how to walk, how to sit, how to hold my skirt. Everything I knew wasn't good enough, I had to be better. By the time my four hours were up I was sore everywhere from holding myself in careful positions, and walking in five in stiletto heels. Changing back, I thanked Villay and exited the room. I passed Iro as my way back to the dining room. He gave me an encouraging smile and I couldn't help but return it.

Entering the dining room, I went over to the now clear table and sat across from Katniss, who scrutinized me. I was wondering what exactly was she thinking when she as good as told me. "I'm just wondering what to do with you... Iro, naturally, is going to be witty." I smiled, it would be fun watching him play the witty, easy-going jokester who toyed with the audiences' hearts and minds. I, on the other hand, had nothing especially obvious about me. It seems as though an idea has clicked in Katniss' head though. "Try being mysterious, skirt questions but give good answers anyways. Here, let's try."

After an hour of trying out different personalities, and none of them working as well as they should, or actually must, Katniss sighed, seemingly searching her head for answers. "You just have to act solemn, be quiet and shy. If they ask you about your love life, pretend to come out of your shell a little bit and speak of Iro."

We tried that idea, and it seemed to work. Katniss offered up random questions and I answered them, not completely truthfully, but they sounded like the truth.

With a smile, Katniss nodded to me. My four hours had been spent in what had felt like no time at all. Iro, Villay, Vinec and Hista entered. Katniss turned so she could look at Iro and me at the same time. "I'm going to hand you over to your stylists now. They will dress you up for your interview, and then you will more or less have to go directly there."

Iro and I nodded, expecting that. It didn't surprise us that it would take a while to get us ready, the interview costumes were always way more elaborate than even the opening ones. So Iro and I were taken to two separate rooms to be dressed for the occasion.

First my prep crew did minor touch ups, then they coated my face in a pale powder, hiding my features before drawing them out again carefully with eyeliner, mascara, lipstick and eye shadow. It appeared my theme was once again flame, but only the eye shadow and lipstick gave me this clue, being that both were pale-orange which faded into pale blue-white. I was dusted with red, orange, gold and pale blue-white sparkles before they painted my nails like flames and sprinkled black flecks on them.

With that done, Vinec came in, holding a dress in his hand. I couldn't tell what it was, he had kept it covered. "Don't look, I want this to be a surprise." I shut my eyes and raised my hands above my head, feeling the cool silken inside of the dress slide down my sides. I was helped into my shoes, glad for the practice Villay had given me.

I kept my eyes closed for another moment before peeking through the narrowest slit I could manage to make. My eyes flew open as I saw what I was wearing. From the floor, my dress started off black. The colour slowly transitioned into red, then orange, then yellow. The top of the dress was the same pale blue-white as the sparkles that coated me. Vinec fastened a necklace around my throat, dangling from it was a sapphire, designed to look like it was part of the flame, and bring out my eyes at the same time.

It took me a long while before I came back to myself, I was so entranced by the person in the mirror. It wasn't me, and yet it was. They had done my hair up like my mother did it, except that in the braids they had woven strips of fabric that were the pale blue-white speckled with many black specks, as though coal dust had been blown on them. I looked amazing, it was as if I was a coal fire, starting to reach the hottest blaze.

Vinec smiled at me, throwing a gentle arm around my shoulder, careful not to upset my dress in any way. "Are you ready, it's time for the fire to come."

I smiled as I looked in the mirror. Oh man, I thought, confidence filling me, here comes the fire.

We exited the room, I had to be careful of my dress and shoes, luckily these were only three inch heels, or I would have fallen for sure. I had to lift my dress, but carefully, to ensure I wouldn't step on the hem.

We caught up to Iro and Hista as they stood in front of the elevator. Iro's jaw dropped, and I thought if I kept startling him like that he might just unhinge his jaw. I giggled, and admired him. Hista and Iro's prep team had done an amazing job. He was dressed in mostly all black, but the top of his shirt was a deep red, as though the fire was just coming to life. They had sprinkled him with black powder, to represent coal dust, and had outlined his eyes in thick black lines. A ruby rested on each lapel of his collar, glittering, and adding to the effect of a newly lit fire.

I stepped up beside him, smiling girlishly. "You look handsome." I mean it, he does, but I prefer the real him, not the one covered head to toe in cosmetics.

He smiled at me and winked. "You don't look so bad yourself." I blushed, my face growing hot. I pushed it down though; a bit of colour in my cheeks wouldn't hurt, but I can't be blushing from the get-go, it just won't look realistic enough.

I take his hand as the elevator opens and we get on. We go down to the level where the stage had been set up, a curved row of chairs set up across the stage. It was where I and the other twenty-three tribute would sit while we waited to be interviewed.

We were being lined up, the female tribute in each District first, then the male. Once that had been established, we filed into our seats. Iro took my hand, I was comforted by this and let him hold it. Once we were all sitting, everything felt like it took three times longer than it needed to, until everything was finally ready.

Lights, we were blinded momentarily as giant spotlights struck us in the face, camera, about four or five different cameras were all pointed towards the center of the stage, where everything would be happening, action, a man walked towards the middle of the stage. The audience gave a huge applause as he introduces himself. Caesar Flickerman, the one who would be hosting the tribute interviews. He had been doing this for so long now, and he still managed to find a colour to dye his hair that he had never used before. This year is was turquoise, like his eye shadow. Last year it had been lemon-yellow.

As ever, Caesar begins with a few jokes, warming himself and the crowd up. Then he begins with the first tribute. The District one female tribute stands up and gracefully makes her way to the front of the stage. Her stylists had dressed her like living silver, and I saw the boy tribute was dressed in gold. She was all mysterious, playing as though she wanted no one to know the truth, avoiding the actual question, but letting the audience in on another of her secrets or attributes.

And so tribute by tribute, District by District they went down the line of chairs. It was only once the District eleven boy had basically collapsed in his chair with relief that it was over, that I remembered I was up next.

Playing the shyness, and my love for Iro, I acted reluctant to let go of his hand. It wasn't hard, I actually was reluctant to let go. I glittered as I took the few steps forward to front of the stage. I heard a few gasps as Vinec's handiwork was admired. I meekly shook hands with Caesar, really playing up my shyness. It was a great routine for me, I could disguise my nerves easily and pull it off at the same time.

Caesar smiled at me before looking at the audience. "Isn't she lovely, and so shy." He turned back to me, speaking into the microphone. "There's no need to be shy, anyone as stunning as you can't always be shy." I smiled humbly, saying a quiet thank you. Caesar started his questions. "So, Kiar, as one of the tributes from District twelve, tell me something you miss about home."

I widen my eyes, as if I was afraid to speak to the audience. "I, well, I guess it would be my family, and my best friend's family."

The audience awed, I hoped it was because it was a good answer, or because I looked cute, and not that I had said something predictable or boring. Caesar moved onto his next question, spurred by my answer. "What is this friend's name? Would you like to give a shout out to them?"

I shook my head. "It wouldn't matter if I did, they wouldn't be watching it on a television."

Caesar blinked at me, I could sense his confusion and the confusion of the audience. "Why ever not, my dear?"

I turned to look at Iro, smiling quickly before turning a sad face to the audience. "Because, he is here with me." My voice is slightly stronger now, just as Katniss and I had planned, I would become less shy when I spoke of Iro.

Caesar waited as the camera flashed to Iro, who watched me. I reached back, as if I wanted to touch him, even though it was hopeless. He did the same, extending his arm to me, he was so good with picking up on what I needed. Caesar asked me another final question, "You two seem close, how did you grow to be so?"

Ah, here was my chance. I began to gush, explaining the story of how I, only thirteen years old, had to sit with a group of older kids. Iro was one of them, and he and I had hit it off right away. We weren't actually friends for a couple of months, but now we are inseparable. I continually looked back to him as I spoke, to enunciate points, or get a nod of confirmation. As soon as I had finished, I clammed up tightly, as though my shyness had come back, full force. The buzzer sounded and I twirled once for the audience, leading into a graceful bow before almost running to my chair, as if embarrassed. I could hear many oohs and aahhs as I did so.

Then Caesar called up Iro. Iro gave a small smile and kissed my cheek before joining Caesar. The two swapped jokes back and forth. When Caesar finally got to the questions, Iro answered them first with a witty answer, and then the real one. Until Caesar asked a kicker question. "How close are you and Miss Fero really?"

Iro pretended as though he had no answer to that, or that he did but he wasn't going to say it, until Caesar dragged it out of him. "Well... At first we were only just friends, but ever since a year ago I had the feeling that there was something more there." And he launches into this heart-wrenching mini-story about the time he had protected me from the school bully. Concluding, he brought us back to the moment as he said, "It was only as I saw her in her Opening costume that I realized." He paused and looked at me, pretending to pull the microphone from Caesar's grasp without recalling noticing. His voice dropped a little bit as he continued, and I knew he meant what he said, but what he said took my breath away. "I realized I loved her."

I was shocked, and I felt my face grow hot. I reached out a hand toward him as though wanting with all my heart to reach him, to hug him. And I did, my heart screamed at me to get up and embrace him, show him my love in return.

Caesar, who had been comically attempting to steal his microphone back, froze. He then turned to the audience and lifted the microphone to his mouth as Iro finally handed it back. "Ladies and gentlemen, you have just witness one of the most touching confessions of love I have ever seen." The buzzer went off and Iro came to sit down, but we weren't done yet, or at least I wasn't. I stood up as Iro was about to sit down and, grabbing the collar of his shirt, I kissed him. A loud awww was heard from the audience, and I would bet every camera was focused on us. I released him after a moment, and we sat down, hand-in-hand, as the audience roared in our approval.

When we were dismissed, both Iro and I dashed for the elevators, we wanted to talk before Katniss, Villay and our stylists complimented and criticized or actions. Fortunately we found an empty elevator, getting in and pressing the number twelve button. Neither of us spoke, we just exchanged quick, shy glances. He was blushing really darkly, now that he was able to show it. I was sure I was blushing as well, by the heat in my face.

As we exited the elevator, delicious food smells reached our noses, but we didn't pay any attention. Instead, we walked there slowly and our hands find each other. Once we enter the dining room, we turn to face one another. I look down as I blush more than I was already, but I force myself to make eye contact as I asked, "D-did you really mean it? D-do you actually love me?"

Iro looks at me, the softness in his eyes something I rarely see. Generally he only ever looks like that when he talks with his siblings, especially his sister. I feel like I'm about to cry, but I don't, I want to be strong for him and I don't want to ruin my make-up. Slowly, he nods. "Everything I said was true."

My breath catches in my throat, everything? I almost choke as I realize, tomorrow we will be sent into the arena. Tomorrow, our fight for our lives will begin. I instantly throw my arms around him, holding him close like something precious, because that's what he was. He is the most precious thing I've ever had, and I had to find something for him. Suddenly I think of the sapphire dangling around my neck. I release Iro and unclasp my necklace, sliding the gem off of the chain. Delicately, I handed him the precious stone to him.

He turned it over and over in his fingers. "I... What will Vinec say?"

Since my stylist had supplied me with the gem it wasn't rightfully mine to give away, but it didn't matter. Iro was worth any punishment I would get. "I'm sure he will understand."

Suddenly, he bent down and kissed me. From somewhere in the distance I heard the elevator open, and people get out. I realized that it was on our floor as Katniss says, "You might want to save some for the Games." Surprised, we broke apart and turned to look at her. She smirked at us, walking past to sit at the table. We all sit down at the table and make our way through the food. Iro and I keep looking at each other, though neither of us speaks. We were still wearing the masks of make-up, the glitter and the fancy clothes, but we looked past that to the person underneath it all. We were admiring the person we loved.

After we had finished dinner, we watched the recap of the interviews. When they showed my interview everyone commented that I looked amazing and that I had done it perfectly. I looked down, blushing fiercely.

And then there was Iro's interview. I smiled and laughed at the jokes, something I wasn't allowed to do before, Iro just smiled at me. And then there it is, his confession of love to me. They cut to my face, the longing clear on it. I reached for him, and then The buzzer rang, and we kissed. The audience approval was clear, the roaring and cheering and screaming. Our names were chanted as we left the stage, before our stylists were attacked.

The recap ended, the symbol of Panem on the screen before it went black. Katniss turned to us, "You should get to bed, you have to be up at dawn. Only Villay and I won't be going with you, Vinec and Hista will accompany you to the Launch Room tomorrow."

I nodded sadly, we would have to say good-bye to them, but Iro asked, "Any last words of advice?"

Katniss smiled, "Grab something that will protect you from knives, if you can. And if you're fast, one of you can bolt for the Cornucopia while the other gathers separate supplies. But keep in mind that whatever you do, find water as soon as you can."

We nodded, feeling determination rise in our chests. I had to ask though, "Anything else?"

Katniss nodded, "Stay alive." Her smile had faded, she meant it, and we both knew it.



I let Iro into my room. We decided it would be best if he just sleep with me tonight, give us one good night of sleep before the Games. We got into bed, back-to-back. I closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to come, when I felt Iro turn around and wrap his arms around me, pulling me close. He whispered in my ear, "Good night Kiar."

I smiled into my pillow, "Good night Iro." I tried to sleep, but one thought just wouldn't go away. Tomorrow was the Games, we were going to be thrown into the biggest hell-hole known to Panem. I just hoped, some way, somehow, we were able to survive.

Chapter 12

I open my eyes to blackness and a rustling sound. Pulling the sleeping bag from over my head I turn to look for the source of the rustling. It was Iro, getting out of his sleeping bag. He looked up as I undid my belt, wriggled out of the bag and pulled my pack out. I gave a look of distaste at the green colour, but I knew Iro's pack was worse because orange wasn't a natural woods colour.

I stuffed the sleeping bag haphazardly into my pack and put my quiver on my back before putting my arms through the straps of my pack and shouldering my bow. Iro had finished getting himself ready in the time I had taken to do the same. We nodded to each other and quietly climbed down. We'd wait to talk until we were sure there was no other person near us. Falling into our typical hunting jog, the one we could keep up for a long time, if we had to, while we looked for game, we travelled. We still had to find water; our supply was starting to run out already.

Drinking as little as possible, we continued for most of the day. Finally, the water ran out, leaving both of us a little worried. It was okay though; we had at least another day or two before we would be in danger of dehydration.

About an hour or so after that point I spotted a stream, which led to a deep pool. We were glad to find the water source, and made a mental note of its location. Taking out our empty water bottles, and a bottle of iodine drops I had found, in a pocket I had forgotten to check previously, we filled them and put the required number of drops in. While we waited for the allotted time, we thought we'd cool down and clean up a bit. The pool was plenty big enough for the two of us to be in there at the same time.

Stripping down to our underclothes, we slipped into the cool water. We relaxed, relief washing over us as we submerged ourselves in the clear liquid. "I was glad to see the stream," said Iro, we had been talking about our trek here and how it was a welcome sight to be here, "I thought we might have to drink each other's pee."

I laughed. It was a well known, supposed, way of surviving without water. I doubted its reliability though, and I knew Iro did too. "I'm glad we didn't have to do that, I can't imagine the taste would be very pleasant." I got out of the water, not bothering to dress for the moment because I was still soaking wet. I grabbed one of the water jugs and drank from it, passing it to Iro, who also took a drink. I put it and the other bottle into the packs, turning back to my companion. "You should get out so you can dry off. I'd rather the Careers didn't catch us with no clothes on." That brought a grin from him, and he got out. We sat in silence for a while as the sun dried the water from our skin.

Once we concluded we were dry enough to redress, we put our clothes back on and re-established our weapons. I hated to leave the pool, but I knew if we stayed there the Gamemakers would force us to move on, whether we were ready to or not.

As it first started to grow dark, I decided to alter our course towards the center of the arena, and the Cornucopia. I wanted to see what the Careers were doing. It wasn't the brightest of ideas, but at least it would keep the Capitol entertained, which would mean less unpleasant surprises for us.

We came in sight of the Cornucopia as night began to fall, the dark wisps turning into thick streaks of dark blue. We knew we would have to camp out, and searched for a good place to do so.

No sooner had we climbed a large oak tree than I heard the pounding of feet below us. Thinking it was the Careers, I loaded my bow, watching the ground below our tree carefully. There, movement near the trunk. I was about to draw back the bowstring when I realized it was the little boy from five, and it seemed he was with the female tribute from his district, as well as the remaining tribute from ten. I chirped to Iro, questioning whether I should go down. The tributes below us looked up, their eyes wide as they tried to see us in the darkness. Iro chirped back, telling me it was alright, I could go down.

I climbed down a few branches before whispering to the three people below me. "Before you run, my name is Kiar, I come from District twelve. I'm going to join you, don't be startled." The girl from five nodded. It seemed she was the leader of the little group, not surprising as she was clearly the oldest. I jumped from the branch I was on, landing cat-like in the middle of them. They flinched, but didn't run. I stood up, looking at them. They didn't look too badly off, but that didn't mean much. "Are you hungry, thirsty?" They all shook their heads. At least I didn't have to give them anything from our supplies.

Just then Iro called down to me, softly, from his spot in the tree. "Kiar, we just got two sponsor gifts." I looked up, just able to make out Iro's figure. He held something in each hand. Hesitating a moment, he stuck one of the things under his left arm and climbed down.

Reaching the ground, he showed me the gifts; both were attached to silver parachutes. One was a sleeping bag. I found it odd that Katniss would give us something we already had, until I realized it was bigger than the two we had. The other gift was a star-shaped piece of bread.

I stared at the gifts in confusion, before understanding flooded me. I whispered into Iro's ear, "Katniss is telling us to let them join us." For a moment I saw my initial confusion reflected in his eyes before apprehension dawned in his eyes. I turned to the three other tributes and, without saying a word, broke the star into five equal pieces. I handed the pieces, the five points, one to each person. Silently, we all knew that we would stick together, for now at least.

Iro touched my arm, whispering into my ear, "What about the sleeping bag?"

I smiled at him, "The one we just got is for us to share, and these guys get the other two." Iro smiled as well and went up the tree to fetch our gifts to our new allies. He handed them the two sleeping bags, which was perfect, we found out, because they already had one. Iro got our packs down after we decided there was enough of us, so we could have someone take watch while the others slept. Laying out our sleeping bags, we all got in, except for the female tribute from five. She was taking first watch. It turned out her name was Rita, the small boy's name was Alan and the girl from ten was called Lia.

There had been no deaths today, the sky confirmed that. I knew that we would have to be wary; the Gamemakers could strike at any moment. But even that thought couldn't keep me awake, not while I lay in the sleeping bag with Iro's arms around me.

I knew the audience still thought we were lovers, most likely inclined to do so after our continual demonstration of affect to one another. The truth is, though, I don't know what we are.



I am woken by Iro as he gets out of the sleeping bag, it's morning now and we are beginning to rise. Drowsily we pack our supplies, and start talking of a plan. We were unsure of what to do, but if we could think of a way to hinder the Careers, or finish them off, we may as well do it.

It takes us a while to decide, but eventually we all agree to head to the Cornucopia and let whatever happens happen. I take the lead, while Iro, Alan and Lia follow. Rita brings up the rear.

We reach the golden statue in about an hour, and are glad to see there is a lake not too far from it. Yes, it was in the open, but we would all take turns refilling our water and splashing our faces while the other four watched out for any signs of the Careers.

As time went on, I became more and more glad we had struck up this alliance. It gave us a really good shot at defeating the Careers. Alan was bending down to fill his water bottle when Iro chirped. He had seen a Career, following his gaze I saw it was the leaf-eyed girl from District two, behind her came the twins from District four and the broad shouldered boy from District one.

We all readied for a fight, I prepared my bow, loading an arrow to it, Iro drew his sword, Alan grabbed his daggers, Rita her spear and Lia held a slingshot. The Careers didn't stop, either unafraid of our weapons or unafraid of the others, while believing I couldn't kill all of them in the time it took them to get here. They were right of course, but I could bring at least one of them down. Pulling back the bowstring I picked my target. Lia stood beside me and loaded a stone into her slingshot. I loosed, sending an arrow flying towards the Careers to slam into the female twin's chest. She dropped. Maddened now, they charged us. Lia released the slingshot, sending the stone into the broad shouldered boy's eye. He faltered, then kept running, the eye started to swell shut even as we watched.

Iro came to stand beside me, holding one of his throwing knives. He and I exchanged looks. I loaded my bow and aimed. I loosed at the same time he threw. My arrow drove itself home in the neck of the male twin as Iro's dagger struck the leaf-eyed girl in the shoulder. To my shock, the male twin kept running at us, despite the arrow that stuck out of his throat and the blood that gushed down his front. Lia fired another rock towards the broad shouldered boy, striking his other eye and leaving him blinded. By now, the leaf-eyed girl and the male twin were too close for our long-distance weapons. Iro drew his sword and stepped up to face them. Rita took a place by his side. Lia, Alan and I went over to the broad shouldered boy and drew our daggers. He didn't try to hurt us though, so I didn't have the heart to kill him. Being blinded, even temporarily, was bad enough.

I turned around in time to see Rita being jabbed in the stomach by her own weapon. Her eyes went wide as the point of her own spear sank deep into her body. The leaf-eyed girl laughed and stabbed her in the chest with a knife. Lia screamed, grabbing her slingshot and firing a stone at the girl. It struck her in the jaw, making a solid thwap sound. The girl looked livid.

She stalked towards us, the dagger she had used to kill Rita still in her hand. I stepped forward, drawing my own dagger. We faced off, circling each other like wolves, sizing each other up. Like a viper she lunged, slashing at me. I jumped back, but not far enough, the blade slicing through the front of my shirt and giving me a deep cut on my stomach. I was glad for my fast reflexes, I would have been gutted right there if not for them.

It was my turn to strike, and I sprung forward. I had been looking for where to strike her, and I found the spot, but with my eyes I had looked at a place where I didn't intend to land a blow. My blade sliced downward, giving her a nasty cut to the area around her rib cage. She was slowly becoming weaker as the combination of the dagger in her shoulder, and the fight with first Rita, then me, wore her down.

Suddenly she lunged again, and I tried to dodge, but I slipped. I landed hard on my back as she fell on top of me, having been knocked over by my feet. Her knife flew out of her hand and landed a little ways away, point down. Snarling, she drew another dagger from her belt.

I tried to swing my own knife up in front of me, but she held my arm down. Pinning me helplessly to the ground, she is about to cut my throat when she suddenly doesn't have an arm anymore. She screams and I throw her off in her moment of terror.

Shaking, I see Iro standing behind her, sword in hand. He is about to finish her off when I growl. "No, this is my fight." He gives me a look, but backs off obediently. I go up to the girl, who is now standing as well. Her dagger is in the other hand now, as her more prominent arm had just been cut off. Clumsily, she lunges again, not even close to hitting me as I counter attack with a wide slash across her throat. Blood sprays from the gash, spattering my tunic and my face in the thick, red fluid.

I take a few steps back as she starts to convulse. Only seconds later, she falls still. I wanted to collapse in relief, to cry, to be swept up in Iro's arms a pour my heart out to him. Instead I look at the body of the girl, take a few more steps back and finally realize I'm bleeding.

I had a cut to my arm and another to my cheek, though I wasn't sure how I got either. The gash on my stomach was the worst, it was deep and the blood didn't seem to slow. I put a hand to the wound, putting pressure on it. Iro came over to me, his eyes widening as he sees my wounds. "Kiar. We have to get something to stop this bleeding." I just nod, I was starting to feel a little woozy, I hadn't realized how bad this cut was.

Alan came over to us and held out bandages and gauze. He said he had found them in his pack, but I saw that he had a wrap on one leg. I doubted this was given by the Gamemakers. It had to have been a gift. I was touched he was willing to lend me this, but I didn't really have much choice. I was losing too much blood.

Iro made a face, then asked Lia and Alan to turn away. I didn't see the point in it, all of Panem would see it, why couldn't they? I found out it was because he was going it pull off my bloodstained tunic and shirt so he could place a large pad of gauze over my wound and wrap it tightly with the bandages. "Not too tight Ki?" His voice was rough, full of worry. I just shook my head, not feeling willing to speak. The Gamemakers finally decided to set off the canon, now that our fight was done. It boomed four times.

"We should move, in case the other tributes are going to come here. It wouldn't be smart to be caught wounded." Iro's voice held its protective edge, but there was also a sense of leadership in his tone. He looked at Alan and Lia, "Can you grab Kiar's pack and bow?" They nodded and did so, also grabbing the leaf-eyed girl's two knives. I was going to say that I could carry my own stuff, and I was about to stand up and do so when a wave of dizziness stopped me. Iro kneeled beside me and put one arm under my knees and one behind my back. Straightening, he lifted me off the ground.

I squeaked in protest, it being the only sound I could manage. I felt ashamed for that fact, but I was more ashamed of having to be carried. This was not the way to win over the sponsors, or was it?

A package of special medical bandages floated down on a silver parachute, gliding gently down to land in my outstretched hands. I looked at Iro, shaking the bandages in a silent question. He shook his head. "After, I don't want to disturb the bandage you have on right now until the wound has healed up a little bit, so it won't just open all the way up again." I nodded, that made sense.

He smiled gently down at me before he started walking, Lia and Alan at his side and me in his arms. We reached last night's spot but don't stop, continuing until we had gone more than half-way back to the pool. We had just given the Capitol plenty of action today, and I was still hurt and suffering. We may as well enjoy the peaceful serenity of the pool while we had the chance, before we were driven towards the other tributes. We had only been in the arena for only three days, but it felt like three weeks.

We found a nice tree to sleep under and set up our sleeping bags, or everyone else set up our sleeping bags while I sat leaning against the tree and trying not to fall over. Iro helped me into the sleeping bag before taking the position of watch for the night.

I was so tired, the blood loss and fighting had sapped my strength. I just managed to stay awake long enough to see who was killed today. As I thought, it was just the three Careers and Rita. It was only as my eyes began to close that I remembered the broad shouldered boy that Lia had temporarily blinded. He was still alive, still out there, and probably looking for revenge. Hopefully he wouldn't find us for a while, while there are more of us, he is very strong. My eyes shut and I drift off to sleep, thinking about that leaf-eyed girl, and how close she had been to killing me. Until Iro saved me. Iro saved me... Iro saved... Iro...

Chapter 14

I woke to find it was almost evening, and that Iro had been true to his word. He was still by my side as I sat up, and he handed me a bit of rabbit meat.

I blinked at it, wondering where he had gotten it from, before I remembered he was a hunter too, and he could have used my bow and arrow to shoot down game. Gratefully, I took the strip of meat, chewing it slowly, trying to take the edge off of my hunger. When I had finished, Iro have me more. I protested, saying he needed to save some for himself, but he told me he could always get more.

It didn't take much persuasion from him to get me to eat half of a rabbit, a handful of berries and a few roots. I hadn't eaten much in these four days, and what I had had come up almost as soon as I woke. It was good to have nourishment in my body again.

I was propped up against a boulder, watching as Alan and Lia piled wood for a fire. I worried that the other tributes might come, but then I remembered that we were the biggest group left in the games. Let them come. I thought, as Lia lit the fire and coaxed the tiny flame into a good sized one. If they want to die that quickly, let them come.

But of course, no one came. Iro went off in search of game, taking my bow and promising to be back soon. I convinced him into taking one of my hunting knives as well. Lia wandered off in search of berries.

Alan stayed around our little camp to keep my company, tending the fire, checking and refilling the water, sorting the food, supplies and other things first into three piles, then he split them equally. He carefully placed everything into our packs, the less needed items towards the bottom, the more delicate and important items near the top.

He gave me food from the pile, having split our nutrients supplies into five groups, rather than four. I had one of the little piles to eat now, and one in my pack in case any of us got separated.

I managed to get up, wobbling for a few minutes before I steadied and the dizziness faded. Walking a short distance away I found the stream Alan had filled our water at. I stripped off my boots and socks and waded into the current, a knife in hand. If I could catch some fish then I wouldn't feel like I was taking too much of the food and not contributing anything. After a few clumsy attempts at stabbing fish as they swam by, I managed to get one. Taking it out of the water I hit it over the head with a rock and gutted it, tossing the head and guts into the bushes.

I caught two more before Lia came back, stumbling slightly but managing to walk to the camp with a couple handfuls of berries. "Hey Lia," I call, wanting to see what berries she had found, "what did you find?"

She staggered over to me and held out the handful of berries, popping one into her mouth before I could stop her. I saw the shiny black skin of them and instantly looked into her eyes. "Spit that out, spit it out!" My voice was frantic, those were not friendly berries. They were deadly nightshade.

Lia tried to do so, but she had already swallowed it. She tried to gag, but fell to the ground. Her pupils dilated and she convulsed. She tried speaking to me, but I couldn't understand her, her words were so badly slurred. "How many did you eat?" My voice was full of defeat, for her to have reached this stage she must have eaten at least three. There was nothing I could do to save her. Her convulsions started again and I put her head in my lap, trying to make her as comfortable as I could while she died.

I don't know how long it had been, but she stopped moving, stopped breathing. The cannon fired to signal her death.

I sighed and stepped away from her body, about to throw the berries in the river when I had an idea. What if I did what the leaf-eyed girl did and put poison on my daggers? I could keep one clean for hunting and gutting, but the other two... I shook my head. There was always the risk of using the wrong knife.

I kept the berries though, if I found a use for them and didn't have them I would kick myself. Maybe I should try and find some nightlock as well, it wouldn't hurt to have something I could shove down my opponents' throat if I had to.

I wandered in search of the nightlock, and doing my best to find something to carry the deadly berry mixture in. If I threw in some redoul then I could trick at least one of the other tributes into eating them.

It didn't take me long to find the nightlock and redoul. The Gamemakers had put plenty of the stuff in here. I also found some caladium and picked one of the larger leaves to wrap my toxic mix in. All in all, it was probably the most dangerous little package the Games had ever seen.

That was one thing about knowing what plants were edible, you also knew the ones that were the most toxic. It really gave you an edge here.

The hovercraft had taken away Lia's body by the time I had gone back to the camp. I took her back pack and cut a decent sized piece of her sleeping bag to wrap the berries in. With that done, I went to wash my hands and fetch the fish. I made sure to scrub my hands well before even considering touching what would be our food. I wasn't going to accidentally kill all of us by having the same poison that killed Lia come into contact with what we would be eating.

As I brought back the fish, and placed them over the fire on a spit to cook, Iro came back with a couple rabbits and a squirrel. He and Alan looked at me confused as I just stared into the fire. While I had gotten the berries and wrapped them I was able to push back the feelings that were threatening to swamp me, I was no match for them now that I had nothing to do. It was all I could do to keep from breaking down and crying.

Iro, knowing something was wrong, came over to me, setting his kills down as he put an arm around me. "What's the matter Ki?"

I looked at him, feeling the tears form in my eyes. "Lia.. she... She's dead." They had heard the cannon, but they had probably just passed it off as one of the other tributes.

Iro's eyes widened, and Alan looked at the ground. "H-how?" spluttered Iro. He was pulling me closer, rubbing my back in a soft, comforting gesture.

I choked back my tears, I knew I would have to let them out, but I wanted to tell him first. "S-she ate n-nightshade b-berries." I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "She d-died in m-my arms..." That was it, I couldn't take it any longer. I buried my face in Iro's chest, tears began to stream down my cheeks. Poor Lia, poor little Lia. Why did she have to die?

A little voice in my head told me she would have had to die anyways, and that it was only a matter of time. I did my best to ignore the voice, it did nothing to improve my mood or stem the flow of my tears.

Iro stayed quiet the whole time, just gently rocking me back and forth, rubbing my back and giving me the odd kiss on the forehead. I clung to him like he was life itself. In a sense, he was. He had saved me numerous times, not just in the Games but even before that.

Like the time I had been chased by a pack of wild dogs, and there had been no time to climb a tree. He had shot at them until they dropped or fled. We had a feast that night, and for a week or so afterwards.

And then there was the time where the school bully had been about to beat me. He had taken the punch meant for me before knocking the bully off of his feet and returning the punch twofold.

I realized how much he meant to me, how much I would die if he did. When I stopped crying I didn't move, I just stayed in his arms, not wanting to face the Games again just yet. My thoughts flicked to Alan, the poor kid must be feeling so out of place right now. That thought didn't make me move any faster, though.

When I finally did look up I saw Alan dumped the supplies to sort them, but haphazardly. It was nowhere near the neat sorting he was doing just half-an-hour ago. I looked down at my feet, still cradled in Iro's arms. "It's my fault." I mutter, just loud enough for Iro to hear.

He stiffened. "No it's not. Don't even think that Kiar. It was no one's fault, she ate poisonous berries of her own accord. No one told her to." His grip on me tightened, but I didn't say anything. I knew he blamed himself, he should have told her what berries to stay away from. But at this point in the Games you would think that everyone knew the hidden dangers every time they popped a berry into their mouth.

"It's not your fault either, you were hunting. How could you keep an eye on her and hunt at the same time?" I choked out the words, I didn't want him blaming himself for something that was out of his control. "If anything, it was my fault. I should have gone with her, or I should have realized what kind of berries she had sooner."

Iro looks at me, somewhat shocked. "Ki, you were hurt, there was no way you could have gone with her." To disprove his point, I gestured to the three fish I had killed, just now being turned over by Alan.

He sighed, kissing my forehead, then my cheek. "You can be the most infuriating person I know." He said it without anger, it was just a simple statement. I returned the kiss on the cheek.

Alan pulled the fish, still on their spits, off of the fire, handing one to me and one to Iro. He kept the last for himself. It was an easy divide, there were three of us, and three fish. Three... I looked to the empty spot around the fire. Lia should still be there, instead our lack of attention cost her life.