Near the beloved {alliance thread - Kaplan/Ems/Marr}

"I fell to the bottom of the ocean"

The first night in the Capitol was a rough one. All that I could think about was Jory and what was likely our final goodbyes back in the Justice Building of our home, District Eight. I wondered if I'd ever return to that place that I called home, so that I could see the boy that I called my Love, ever again. Some may say that I'm too young to be in love, but I beg to differ. Jory and I, despite our youthful ages, would do anything for one another, including carrying out a difficult request that seems almost impossible, and Jory did just that.

When I asked him not to volunteer, he didn't volunteer, and that shows how loyal he truly is. I hope that I can forever be loyal to him, too. Although, first, I have to make it home alive to do so. I need to show him that I'm in this to win and return home to be in his arms again. I'm not going to give up just because the going gets tough.

~

Waking up for the first morning of training was something that I imagined career tributes and volunteers were likely excited for. Or at least, they were likely to be far more excited than I was, as I wasn't at all. I was much more feeling a sense of dread, rather than excitement.

I'd barely communicated with my District partner, Sable, at this point, seeing her only really when we were on our floor of where we were staying. Then again, I hadn't really communicated with much of anyone since being here, and I knew that had to change, at least a little bit, if I wanted a better chance of survival. Friends, or at least allies, were likely needed in order to survive in the arena. Solo tributes usually didn't make it as far as those who had someone, or perhaps multiple people, fighting by their side.

That's why, today, when I went into the training center, I had the goal in my head of finding at least one person that I felt I could trust enough to claim as an ally in the arena. I wasn't entirely sure who to approach, though, as I entered the room. The careers looked too intimidating to me, as well as some of the non-career tributes. To be entirely honest, the least threatening tributes to me in that moment were the ones closer to my age, but even some of the youngest ones, such as the Theft twins from District Three, scared me a bit more than they probably should have.

As I was looking around the training center, a girl burst in through the doors, a little over-excited, which took me off guard for a moment. She looked to be around my age, if not a year or so younger, and was full of energy. I recognized her as Carmen from District Eleven, and when she'd come rushing into the room, she was approached by the girl from Nine whose name I couldn't recall in that particular moment, for one reason or another.

I took a deep breath. I needed to talk to someone who didn't seem like they were going to give up as soon as they entered the arena if I wanted a decent ally. The careers, however, were far too intimidating for me. That left anyone else who seemed at least slightly enthusiastic, meaning... Carmen Stirling of District Eleven.

The girl had volunteered for another girl with the same surname who I could only assume to be a relative or perhaps even sibling of hers, so I had some respect for her. She didn't volunteer out of selfishness or a want to kill, from what I could tell. Maybe this meant that she was a safe option. Hoping this was the case, I approached she and the girl from Nine, who was now speaking to her.

"I know you're eager to kill, but at least lets make it to the arena, please?" The words that Nine spoke made my heart skip a beat for a moment. Then, she switched to asking where Faux, Carmen's District partner was. That's when I decided that I was okay with interjecting. I needed to say something, after all, if I was going to try to communicate with her and get on good terms. Besides, maybe I'd befriend this other girl in the process, too.

"I don't think she's eager to kill, exactly," I said with a laugh, hoping this was a true statement. "She just seems ready to get started with her training. Maybe we should all be a bit more enthusiastic about it. It might help."

I extended my hand to Carmen in greeting when I spoke again.

"I'm Oliver, by the way. District Eight."

~

791 words

"I dove in after my pride"