“That’s all right… condolences are always appreciated.”

“You bet! Me and Sis used to go together!”

“I’m not very good at it, but I find it quite relaxing. Or, I used to. Before I died.”

“I tried it once and found it rather dull.”

“You bet!”

“You bet! Although I have to admit it ain’t—wasn’t—always just for my health. if you know what I mean.”

“How else would I maintain my perfect physique?”

“I plan on taking Maya to a class the day she gets back!”

“Well, I answered that here.”

“And I here.”

“My answer can be found in this letter.”

“My arena was this awful, bare, frozen landscape. Luckily, finding shelter was one of my strengths. I hunkered down, lit a fire…”

“And lanced any tribute that came to my door.”

“I’m an excellent tracker, so it was extraordinarily easy for me to simply sneak up on my competitors one by one and finish them off. Child’s play, really.”

“I had lots of allies during the Games, but I kept myself out of any real nasty fights. No one saw me as a serious player…until I threw the last tribute—April, from District 1—off a cliff.”

“Well, it may surprise you, but when I was young I was the fastest man you’d ever find! All it took was a sharp blow to the head, and I was gone before they even hit the ground.”

“I played fairly and honorably, like any man should.”

“It came down to a sword fight between me and the final boy. He was bigger and stronger than I was, but my reflexes were better. He did manage to dislocate my shoulder, but I switched arms and kept pushing through.”

“Well it certainly wasn’t easy!”

“And it certainly wasn’t fun…I hid in a cave where nobody could reach me, and they hated that. They could reach my supply storage though, and they kept taking things. Mostly food.”

“Luckily, I used that to my advantage!”

“Traps, deary.”

“Well, my arena was just flat, empty grassland—I mean there was nothing there! Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.”

“I rushed straight into the fray at the Cornucopia, and walked away with a broken nose, a nasty cut on my thigh, and two long wooden rods, like the kind Peacekeepers sometimes use.”

“I’d never touched one in my life, but I turned out to be quite handy with ‘em!”

“I was the biggest tribute in my arena by almost a foot. Everyone wanted to be my ally!”

“I ended up taking three of the smallest tributes under my wing, and before you knew it there were only seven of us left. The other group of three found our camp one night, and went after the little ones. I smashed a few heads and ended up with a pair of throwing knives, which I had no idea how to use. The last one of them was holding the last one of mine, using her as a shield…and let’s just say my aim is less than perfect.”

“I caught him as he ran off, though.”

((If you want to hear more from any one mentor, please write them a letter individually!))

“What?”

“Well, I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m a little busy here, trying to keep my baby sister alive. I don’t have time for this!”

“I have to agree with the Miss Fey, sir or ma’am. Our tributes are the most important thing right now, ja?”

“Besides, I don’t think I’m really up for that sort of thing anymore. Although I am flattered.”

“I’m from District Four. And as for how I won, I explained that here.”

“…I don’t follow. Done what?”

“I’m not a marrying man.”