Голодные игры

           Strappedinatree.Notdaringtofleesincemygenerallocationhasjustbeenbroadcasttoanykillerwhocares.Imean,Iknowit’scoldouthereandnoteverybodyhasasleepingbag.Butthenyougrityourteethandstickitoutuntildawn!

           IlaysmolderinginmybagforthenextcoupleofhoursreallythinkingthatifIcangetoutofthistree,Iwon’thavetheleastproblemtakingoutmynewneighbor.Myinstincthasbeentoflee,notfight.Butobviouslythisperson’sahazard.Stupidpeoplearedangerous.Andthisoneprobablydoesn’thavemuchinthewayofweaponswhileI’vegotthisexcellentknife.

           Theskyisstilldark,butIcanfeelthefirstsignsofdawnapproaching.I’mbeginningtothinkwe-meaningthepersonwhosedeathI’mnowdevisingandme-wemightactuallyhavegoneunnoticed.ThenIhearit.Severalpairsoffeetbreakingintoarun.Thefirestartermusthavedozedoff.They’reonherbeforeshecanescape.Iknowit’sagirlnow,Icantellbythepleading,theagonizedscreamthatfollows.Thenthere’slaughterandcongratulationsfromseveralvoices.Someonecriesout,"Twelvedownandeleventogo!"whichgetsaroundofappreciativehoots.

           Sothey’refightinginapack.I’mnotreallysurprised.OftenalliancesareformedintheearlystagesoftheGames.Thestrongbandtogethertohuntdowntheweakthen,whenthetensionbecomestoogreat,begintoturnononeanother.Idon’thavetowondertoohardwhohasmadethisalliance.It’llbetheremainingCareerTributesfromDistricts1,2,and4.