Chapter One: Pastries

A/N So this is my first HG fanfic published here and just a heads up, this chapter is just introducing my characters. More action and obviously more Cato in the next one.

-Effie/Haymitch have magically joined District 6. I couldn't just leave them out.

-Dany is based on the boy tribute from District 4 in the movie.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything to do with The Hunger Games.

He's still breathing. I can tell from the subtle swelling of his chest that he's not actually dead which ofcourse is a silly thing to think. Clearly he wouldn't be here if he was. His sword has been tossed haphazardly to the side, well from his reach. But other than that he looks as if he might have just set up camp for the night or possibly even sleeping. A few scratches line his arms but there is no serious injury that I can see. Despite all this I can't help but feel like this is a trap. My every instinct is telling me to run but I'm frozen. Where are the rest of them? And why in the world is the biggest threat of the Hunger Games lying half dead in the middle of nowhere?

The elevator ride down is frustratingly slow. It's only the second time we've taken this trip but it still feels like the first. I know what is waiting for us in the training room and it does little to ease my anxiety. The rows upon rows of weapons, the harsh odour of cleaning products and of course the threatening glares from the career tributes just waiting to rip me limb from limb. I can't let it get to me though, whatever happens they can't know how much the games are actually affecting me. If not for me than for the person beside me.

I glance down at the little boy next to me, my district partner, Dany. He's only twelve… or thirteen. I can't actually remember but talking to him he might as well be an eighteen year old like like me. And despite his childish tendencies, he's a genius. Though small, his head of wild orange hair adds about five inches to his height, a stark comparison to the pale skin common of District 6. I, myself, am quite pale as well, my blonde hair gradually darkening. In District 6, the transportation sector, we don't get outside much. Its school and then once your eighteen straight into the factories, manufacturing engine parts or if you're lucky sent out to different districts in the maintenance crews. Either way my future was pretty much written in stone until the reaping.

We're a strange pair, this small bright boy who doesn't seem to have a care in the world and myself. Unfortunately I fail to share the same optimism. I'm not coming out these games. I just hope in the end they will remember me as something other than the timid blonde girl who didn't stand a chance. I know I'm not completely useless but if my first training session yesterday proved anything it's that the odds are definitely against me.

"Time to put on the brave face, hey Ira?" Dany looks up grinning. I can tell he's mocking me. I have been on his back about putting on a brave face since the reaping. There's no doubt he's beginning to get annoyed with my little pointers, but something about him makes me want to keep him safe. I've never had any siblings before so perhaps this is what it feels like.

"Yeah, perhaps it's a good idea" I laugh back at his comment. I've said it more time than I care to remember.

"Well I'll going to be superman and you can be wonder woman" He strikes his best superman pose but this time the smile doesn't reach his eyes. I cringe thinking back to our reaping.

There was nothing particularly unusual about the day. Our escort Effie Trinket up on stage rambling about the joyous occasion, there were people crying, names were called. Ira Manning and Dany Millbrook. Our names. I blocked out the rest. They would be watching and I had to look immune to it all. And then was my partner. Dany was fisting his hands in his hair trying to stop crying; all the while Effie was pestering him to come up on stage. Once again I'm reminded that he still is a child.

The ping of the elevator signals we've reached the training centre. I take a deep breath before the doors open and force myself to stand up a little straighter. Before I have a chance to stop him, Dany is running out of the elevator, sliding down the stairs handrail and heading straight towards the buffet of snacks on the opposite wall. Typical. I try to pretend his immaturity doesn't reflect badly, even managing to crack a smile. In any other situation I would have been laughing but I quickly realise we're being watched.

The training centre is about half full with tributes. Some wander aimlessly, assessing each station while others try their hand at the different weapons. I recognise the two from eight out by the swimming pool and instantly remember I need to teach Dany how to swim. But it's not their glances that cause me trouble. The careers lounge together in the corner of the training room, sniggering and making comments as I make my way down the stairs. I catch the words 'easy' and 'spear' from the boy, Marvel. From what I learned yesterday, he isn't the brightest of tributes but he's not to be underestimated. Glimmer, also from his district, has chosen today to keep his lap warm. I still haven't made up my mind on her. Then there are the ones from district two. Clove is very verbal in her disgust of my district and the others add their share of comments on our 'repulsive little swamp'. The boy however, remains quiet, just watching. Despite my best efforts to keep my face impassive, I tense. Cato knows he unnerves me. Shaking it off, I make my way over to Dany who's currently stuffing his face with some sort of caramel pastry.

'Well at least he might put on some body weight. God knows he could use it.'

I slot in beside him and take a jar of red liquorice twists over to a seat behind the table. This way I'm partially out of the careers' view.

"He's staring again" Dany whines as he joins me.

"Maybe he wants you to join his alliance" I add sarcastically and grab a nearby book of medicinal plants.

"Perhaps I should stare back!" I think he's joking but suddenly he leans out from behind the table, eyeing the careers. I quickly grab him by the scruff of his collar, reefing him back. He laughs at my reaction.

"What did I tell you about encouraging them?" I hiss at him but can't help but find it a little amusing.

"That it's a 'very, very bad idea'. I'm going to fiddle with some wires. Coming?"

"I'll come by later. Try not to set anything on fire this time" I say as he walks over to his favourite station. Amongst the various bits of advice our mentor, Haymitch, has given us he did mention that Dany has quite the reputation in the district for being a public nuisance. He likes to 'fiddle' with electrical wires. In other words he has a talent for blowing things up. A talent I'm thankfully yet to witness.

I chew off another piece of liquorice as I flick through my book. I figure half the plants won't even be in the arena so I push it aside. Plants won't help me against tributes. What I really want to do is practice with some of the blades, in particular a pair of shiny metal daggers that seem to have gone unnoticed by everyone else. When Haymitch hasn't been drunk, he's been taking me through a couple of different weapons. The daggers are the only ones I have become accustomed to. If 'accustomed' meant most likely not to stab one's self. But my mentor has expressed we keep a low profile for now. Not that my district partner seems to care. Dany is off 'fiddling' with something in the one of the soundproof booths, content for the time being. The one good thing I can say about the Gamemakers is that at least they're accommodating.

A/N Review and let me know what you think!