This is Rue's story on the path of Katniss, as you are aware. A little background, Dahlia is Rue's older sister of whom she never told Katniss about, because she died in the games. This chapter is the preliminary reaping, which Katniss was correct about.

Disclaimer: If I owned the Hunger games, Rue would have won and Finnick and Annie would have lived happily ever after on the beach. Obviously, this is not what happened so by the geometrical transitive property, I do not own the Hunger Games.

I love District 11. From the huge beautiful orchards to the people in it. They are so kind. Well, other than the peacekeepers. They aren't too kind. My older sister Dahlia used to say that you should love everyone, no matter once. I wonder if had she known her fate would she still say that. But, today's my first reaping, so I need to stop dwelling in the past. Of course, today isn't the real realing, just the preliminary drawing. Tomorrow the real reaping will take place. Then two children will be sent off to die, just like Dahlia. It could be me, I have six names in. But while that doesn't compare to the older kids, it's alot for my age.

The good news is, we don't have to dress up or anything today, just work. I love climbing through the treetops, feeling the wind in my hair and hearing the mockingjays sing my song. I pull on some shorts and a t-shirt. I skip along to the part of the orchard I work at. Thank the Lord it's Saturday, so no school! Mom doesn't have a job at the orchard, she stays back with my five younger siblings. I reach the tree I'm supposed to start on today and begin climbing. I scale the quickly, and am up thirty yards in a matter of seconds. I pick ripe fruit off the skinny branches.

I bounce on to the next tree. I shimmy up a little higher. By lunchtime, I fill my basket up with fruit. I give it to the peacekeepers and they hand me a little bit of money. I go to the market and buy some bread. It's only a little, but it can suffice for my little sisters.

On the way home, I run into Thresh Arrox. He was my sister Dahlia's old boyfriend. He is very nice and caring to me, but it is often aggresive and reserved around other people. "Hi Thresh," I say.

"Hey Rue."

In his hands he has a whole grooslong in his hands. I try not to stare, but Thresh sees me eyeing it. "Here," he says, handing it to me.

"Oh no, I can't, really," I say.

"Take it, you need it more. Y'all can eat it for dinner. It's just my grandma and I. You have a lot more mouths to feed."

"Okay, thank you so much Thresh! We'll eat it after the reaping tomorrow!"

He nodded and walked away. I skip home in joy. "Mother," I call, "I'm home!"

"What do you have here?" She says excitedly.

"Tesserae bread," I say hiding to bird behind my backs from my mom and sister. My little sister Paisey reaches around and pulls it out. All of the sudden, ten needy little hands reach for the food. "No, no, no. This is for after the reaping tomorrow," I say, pushing them away.

"Where did you get it?" Asked my ten year old sister Anne Lace, who we call Queenie.

"Thresh gave me it."

My mom sighed. "Thresh is a nice boy."

I nod in agreement. "Yes, he is."

For lunch we have tesserae bread and water. My dad was still in the grain fields, he wouldn't need lunch. The small amount of bread was barely enough to feed us, and that is with my mom and I only getting little sliver. Now there is no more work for a day and a half, for the reaping of course.

At about half past two, there was a knocking at the door. I'm playing with Paisey, so at first I don't hear it. My mom is out back. "Open the door now!" Shouts an angry voice.

I rush to the door. Outside are two peacekeepers. This can't be good. "Oh I am so sorry sirs, I didn't hear the door."

"Are you... Rue Winst?"

"Yes sir, that's me."

"This morning the preliminary reapings were held, you know about that right?"

I nod. District 11 is the biggest district in Panem, so each day, the day before the reaping, they pulled several peoples names so they could single out some people to not come to the real reaping. That way, it wouldn't be so crowded. "You are required to go to the reaping tomorrow."

My heart sunk to my stomach. I can't go to the games, I just can't. I need to be here for my sisters. They've already lost Dahlia. I try not to break down and hyperventilate. Mom comes in the house with Chrysanthemum, the second youngest sister. "Who was at the door?"

"No one," I say quickly. "I'm going to go see Jare and Dannie."

Jare and Dannie are my best friends. I need help before I go to tell my parents. On my way out, I see Thresh running to my house. "Little girl, you're okay, no? They didn't pick you right?"

"Well..."

"Oh no Rue! This can't happen. No you won't be picked, I promise," he said, trying to console himself.

"Are you going?"

He nodded. I hugged him. He didn't hug me back, but he wasn't that kind of person. "What did your mom say?"

"I didn't really tell her yet."

"You need to, it will be okay. You won't be picked, you don't have so many names in, compared to a lot of people."

I nod. My father came walking up the road. Go, Thresh gestured. I ran over to my dad. "Rue," he said, "You weren't there to tell us we could leave, so we ended up staying too long!"

I laughed unenthusiastically. "What's wrong sweetheart?"

"I need to talk to you and mom."

"Okay," he said.

I pulled him in. "Mom!" I yelled.

"Yes?"

"Mom, dad, today a peacekeeper came to our house and told me... Told me... That tomorrow I have to go to the reaping."

"Oh hon, I'm so sorry."

My mom pulled me into a hug. I felt tears pouring down my face. "Rue, sweetheart, it will be okay, no matter what happens."

I nod. I stay like that, in my mother's arms like a baby, for a long time. Until she had to fix us some dinner. I ate nothing, I lost my appetite at the thought that I would have to kill or be killed if I am entered into these infernal games.

Then I go to bed and quietly cry myself to sleep.

(A/N) This is just a little experiment. If not many people like it I won't continue. But please like it or at least review so I know your opinions!