Dean Willow's P.O.V. (D12)

I watch Nathan and Blake walk off into the woods. The death toll will start soon and the trees are too thick for us to see the faces from here, so they are going to the edge of the forest so they can see the death toll. They will return and tell us who died today.

"I wonder if this will end tomorrow," Vance says.

I shrug, "Maybe. There are only two more deaths."

"I hope one of us won't be one of them," he says, "Cally would kill me if I died."

I laugh, "Wouldn't you already be dead?"

He nods, "I know. I'm just saying." Vance pokes the ground with a twig, "I want her to win. I volunteered to help her win, so I'm going to do my best."

I sigh, "I guess I'm gonna have some competition. I volunteered to help get Kaya out of this."

Vance shakes his head, "I still can't believe so many people volunteered this year. Even though I was one of them. All my life, I always thought that people just volunteered to be tough, but now I see that isn't always the case."

I shrug, "I don't know why people would want to do the Games either. I didn't want to, but I did, so that Kaya wouldn't be alone."

"But she has allies. Good allies. I don't have anything against her, but I don't trust Sara Higgins with my sister at all. Kaya has Grace. Grace Price is one of the older tributes."

"Right, and you would trust a thief?" I point out.

He frowns, "Well, I didn't think about that. But hey, at least she teamed up with Delinia and Brenda and them."

Suddenly the arena sky lights up, casting the shadows of leaves on Vance and I. We squint, trying to see, but the trees are far too thick to see the faces of the dead. We just listen to the anthem play out and watch the sky go dim instead.

Moments later, Nathan and Blake return to the campsite.

"We've got news!" Blake says with excitement, "Damon from District One is gone! And better yet, Don Jandin! You know, the guy who was so sure he would win?"

I raise my eyebrows, "Really? Those were some of the big tributes. Something must have gone down at the cornucopia."

"I know, right? This means that Jarus and Mason are on their own, and the remaining Career tributes are Tai, Brendan and Liam," Blake says.

"They must've put a show on for the Capitol," Nathan says, "Either way, one of those alliances is probably searching for tributes this very moment. I say we get some sleep before anyone shows up."

I nod as Blake offers to take first watch.

"See you all tomorrow, goodnight."