Coriolanus walked towards the cage as Aletta quickly got up and walked over to him with Jessup trailing behind her as Coriolanus opened his satchel and grabbed out a stuffed napkin. 

" Is that for us? " Aletta asked and Coriolanus held it out to her and the girl grabbed it before opening it up and handing one of the sandwiches to her district member.

" I'm not hungry " Jessup replied.

" You think I can't hear your stomach growling?......you need your strength " Aletta raised an eye brow at Jessup, who grabbed it with a small smile and wandered away.

" What happened to his neck? " Coriolanus asked.

" A bat bite....first night on the train, he didn't sleep a wink the whole journey because he was keeping the bats off me so I could get some sleep " Aletta sighed as she looked to her side with a disgusted look watching as a mentor was playing with her tribute, who was trying to get some water " One thing I've learned in 12 is that hunger is a weapon.....your friend over there sure knows it ".

" She is not my friend, she is poison with perfect teeth " Coriolanus replied before grabbing the bars and leaned closer to Aletta " Are you gonna share everything I give you with Jessup? ".

" Why? You think I oughta build up my strength, so I can strangle him in the arena.....because I won't, he's my friend " Aletta scoffed.

" I might have a chance to help you.....to make some suggestions to the game makers " Coriolanus said " I might even be able to get the audience to send you gifts in the arena......food and water.....to keep you going, you just have to try singing again......to win people over ".

" I don't sing, when I'm told.....I sing, when I have something to say " Aletta replied " Besides I've seen your arena and there's nowhere to hide, whats the point? " she sighed before leaning closer to him causing his breath to stiffen " The guards say you get more money, if you get more people to watch and you said that you want you help me.....so.......which is it? ".

" Both " Coriolanus said before leaning away from her.

Aletta nodded before taking a bite of her sandwich, she noticed him eyeing the food and grabbed a cookie and held it out to him.

" Uh...no, thank you " the blonde refused politely.

" I saw you staring....please, eat " Aletta said and the blonde grabbed it as Aletta kneeled down and Coriolanus did the same " I always thought there was plenty of food in the Capitol ".

" You know one time during the war, I ate a whole jar of paste......just to stop the pain in my stomach ".

" and how was it? ".

" Pasty ".

They both laughed softly and Aletta looked to her right and saw Wovey sleeping on her district members shoulder " that little one.......she's so sweet...so young, something about her reminds me of a girl I know, Maude Ivory......I can't stand to think about her and the rest of my family with me like this ".

Coriolanus looked at the girl and he didn't see district trash as he should he saw Aletta Everdeen, a girl forced to participate in the hunger games knowing she might not see her family again " I'm sorry " he replied as he looked down and Aletta smiled at him softly.

" You seem like a good man, Coriolanus Snow " Aletta said as her smile turned into a solemn one " it sure would of been nice to meet you under different circumstances ".

" One of your shows, maybe "

" My cousin more of a singer than I am.......I prefer art.....but we could of had a drink and perhaps you would of let me draw you " Aletta smiled before a scream was heard and everyone looked and saw the mentor, who was teasing her tribute had been grabbed against the bars and the girl smashed the glass and shoved it into the academy students neck causing everyone to gasp.

Aletta stood with a shocked look as Coriolanus rushed over to his classmate and grabbed her as people ran away, a peace keeper came and shot the tribute causing the blonde to duck and the tributes in the cage to run away, the peacekeepers dragged away a teary eyed Coriolanus.

⎯

" It's starting again, this is how it begins......the war " Grandmanm said as she sat down in front of her grandchildren, who held onto each other.

" It was my fault......I suggest, we get closer to our tributes " Coriolanus replied.

" Your just lucky, your little mockingjay didn't pluck out your eyes too " the older woman snapped.

" She's not a rebel, Grandmam......she's just a girl " Tigris said.

" Trust me.....that one hasn't been a girl in a long time " Grandmam scoffed " Outside this Capitol.....their savages, one and all....however they may smile......she will use you.....you must use her or you'll end up dead in the trees like your father ".

Coriolanus looked down as he let the words sink in, he knew she was right but for some reason he didn't Believe it.