It's the morning after the night before and, without rest or warning, the Tributes are marched straight from The Signless' Crowning to the waiting hovercraft to be flown to the location of Arena 13. There the prep teams are waiting, hurriedly stripping the Tributes out of their glamorous outfits before pushing them to don sturdy winter clothing. No questions are answered except to confirm that this really is the arena, already happening to them again after only a paltry three week break in the Capitol.

They rise up out of their tubes to the chill of a brisk wind and the sun shining overhead. Around them is the waist-high green grass of an expansive meadow, beyond that on all sides stands a tall pine forest and further still, to the west, great snow-covered mountains loom in the distance.

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The Cornucopia stands in traditional horned form in the centre of the meadow, with the prizes of weaponry, food and survival supplies piled inside. Some objects are scattered further out amongst the high grass, tempting Tributes to risk their lives on an early prize.

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Observant Tributes might mark the passage of geese overhead or catch a glimpse of a deer in the shadow of the trees, indications that this arena might be bountiful with food for those who know how to find it in the wilderness.

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The gong sounds and the Tributes are free to make their choice to run or fight. Either way they better do something because the 13th Arena has officially begun.

As usual the Tributes are woken up early for the start of the arena, leaving the Tribute Centre before dawn. A few hours ride in a hovercraft delivers them to their destination where their excited prep teams will outfit them in skintight suits that are colour coordinated by District (D1 is White, D2 is Red, D3 is Orange, D4 is Aqua, D5 is Purple, D6 is Pink, D7 is Light Green, D8 is Blue, D9 is Yellow, D10 is Dark Green, D11 is Lavender, and D12 is Black) over which they will be put into what is instantly identifiable as a spacesuit, complete with oxygen tank and helmet before being loaded into the tubes.

They rise up into what appears to be outer space and immediately upon emerging from the tubes Tributes will find themselves floating upwards with a length of rope the only thing holding them to their podiums. The countdown crackles out from speakers built into each Tributes helmet.

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The Cornucopia sits in the middle of a dusty crater with buildings surrounding it, made up of a number of chained down cases and cubes in limited numbers. Cubes which sharp-eyed Tributes will note look like they fit into the slots beside the doors that lead into the spaceport.

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The mirrored visors of the uniformly white spacesuits make it impossible to tell friend from foe. Tributes fighting for goods will have to risk harming their friends but the alternative, floating off into space or suffocating when their oxygen runs out, leaves them little choice.

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The gong rings out and the countdown’s voice announces, “the Arena is now open” before the line goes dead. The Games have begun.