Winnow kept her head down, studying the intricate patterns on the tiles at her feet, ignoring the heavily laced arms that reached for her attention.

Daphnie waved at the crowd as if she were the one they where all here to see.

Sirco studied the crowd, screwing up his nose at the over the top clothing the people of the Capitol wore.

Seeder and Chaff quietly brought up the rear, ignoring the crowd, apart from the odd tilt of the head to subtly gawk at a particularly odd outfit.

After what seemed like hours of weaving through a fenced off sea of screaming colours, the group entered a building.

"I trust you enjoyed that little bit of publicity," Daphnie grinned.

Winnow scoffed. "I think you're the only one who did," she mumbled.

Daphnie eyed her but continued walking.

"Here is where you will be transformed from your old sad-sack selves into the perfect lure for sponsors!"

Winnow couldn't help but feel hurt at Daphnie's statement, and with a glance, she noticed Sirco felt the same.

"Are these our lovely tributes?" A voice asked.

The group turned to see four women and two men. All elaborately decorated in reds and golds and many other unnatural colours.

"Yes, they are!" Daphnie beamed. One of the men strode over, the other's following behind, and kissed Daphnie on the cheek.

"You never come and visit anymore!" He complained as he fiddled with a loose red curl of hair while taking her hand in his.

"Oh, Aias, I've been busy preparing for the games! I have a good feeling about these two!" Daphnie said, giggling lightly.

The two continued to talk until one of the women cleared her throat loudly.

"You can catch up later, but for now, we have work to do."

Three of the women swooped over to Winnow and began to push her out of the room, the remaining three taking Sirco.

* * *

Winnow rubbed her honey brown arms, feeling for the millionth time how smooth she felt after being waxed, scrubbed and heavily moisturised. It felt strange.

The smell of horses was hung in the air and Winnow did her best to ignore the other tributes, most of them clad in what seemed like nothing.

Winnow herself was dressed in a white leotard that had an unnecessarily tall fake grass collar. Around her waist a tutu made of similar material. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun which dangled three real apples from the band that hit painfully against her head when she moved too much. Around her forearms were stiff leather bands embroidered with golden fruits and vegetables and on her feet were uncomfortable leather sandals.

She shouldn't be complaining. At least her stylist had the decency to cover her up properly.

Winnow wanted to run. She wanted to run into the woods beyond the Capitol and never return. At least if she died out there she wouldn't have to have to live through the humiliation of the tribute parade. Or any of this.

"Hey."

Winnow turned to see Sirco standing next to her in a similar outfit, just with a single apple on a rope around his neck. It was all she could do to keep in her laugh.

"Ready to be the fruit bugs in the show?" Sirco smiled, raising his eyebrow.

Winnow laughed. When they were younger Winnow and the twins would often be tasked with picking bugs off food. The three would often put them on show, enlisting Sirco to judge the best bug. The winner would not be crushed. 

Around them, tributes began to get onto their chariots.

"On with the show, bugs!" Winnow cheered sarcastically and she too lept up onto their chariot, Sirco following her.

The next five minutes were filled with cheering and a sea of colour as Winnow tried to restrain herself from leaping off her moving chariot and running away. And after a long speech from President Snow which Winnow paid no mind to, the chariots rolled into the Training Centre.

"Ready for hell?" Sirco asked.

"Did we not just come from hell?" Winnow responded.