It was Reaping Day all across the country of Panem, and all of the districts were getting dressed up in their best clothing, although that wasn't saying much in some of the poorer Districts. Today, twelve girls and twelve boys would be reaped into The Thirsty Games. It was a pageant that was supposed to bring unity to Panem, although it did no such thing. There was still a divide between the Capitol and the districts, perhaps because no one in the Capitol had to participate in The Thirsty Games, despite their insistence it was a "great honor."
There was one boy and one girl reaped from each district. There ages ranged from eighteen to twenty-one. Not too young that it was inappropriate, but young enough to be beautiful. It was widely speculated that the reapings were rigged so that more attractive tributes were reaped. In some districts, there were volunteers. All of them seemed to be the picture of ideal beauty.
It was important the tributes were beautiful, because the Thirsty Games, no matter how they were described, were essentially an excuse for the Capitol to embrace their inner voyeurs. Although the rules of the Games never expressly said that the tributes had to have sex on camera to win, it was a well known fact amongst the Capitol and the Districts. A reality show, essentially where Panem voted after three months, who was the "Sexiest Man and Woman Alive," based on challenges and 'extracurricular activities'.
Needless to say the process was exhausting for tributes. But one lucky boy and one luck girl would win the Victor's Mansion and enough money that they would never have to worry again.
Most of the young people who were of age to get reaped were hoping and praying they didn't get picked. The Games would keep them away from their family and in a remote location where they had to survive the elements and fight for food. The challenges were often humiliatingand degrading. So Katniss Everdeen stood very still and silent,thinking hard about what she was going to do as her mother braided her hair. There wasn't much Katniss could say about her mother otherthan she could make a beautiful braid. After her husband's death,Mrs. Everdeen had become silent and reserved in grief. Katniss had eventually given up trying to reach her. But still, she loved her mother and their family was starving. Her mother rarely did healing work anymore and all they had was what Katniss and her twin sister Willow could hunt in the woods.
"Are you ready?" Mrs. Everdeen asked.
Katniss turned around and nodded, forcing a smile at her mother and her sister, who both returned equally unenthusiastic smiles.
They made their way to the section of town where the reaping was. Katniss and Willow had to have a small sample of blood taken to verify their identities. They were both twenty, meaning this was their third year eligible.
"Just two more years and we'll be home free," Willow said, smiling at her sister as they formed a line. The Reaping was about to begin and they weren't supposed to be talking. Willow assumed that was why Katniss kept quiet, not that she was contemplating volunteering.
Effie Trinket, who was called an escort started her yearly speech. Katnisswas barely listening when she called the female tribute.
"Willow Everdeen!" Effie called.
Time and space seemed distorted and shaky to Katniss. Her vision tilted and blurred, her legs threatened to buckle beneath her. Her decision was made for her.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
In Districts 1 and 2, there were what was known as "Career Tributes". They started training from when they were eighteen and volunteered usually when they were twenty or twenty-one. Also sometimes called the "Pros" they were commonly compared to prostitutes. But Districts 1 and 2 ate it up. Winning the Games brought glory to the district, they said.
While Katniss was volunteering in District 12, so was Clove Kentwell in District 2. She was only eighteen years old and had been training for less than a year. The District was shocked. So shocked that for a second they didn't applaud her. But when they came to their senses, they screamed and hollered and whistled. She was one of the most attractive girls in the District, and those who knew her often commented that she was likely to win in the future.
One person not happy about Clove volunteering was Cato Hadley, Miss Kentwell's boyfriend. He was a year older than Clove, and they had agreed to volunteer in two years when she was twenty and he was twenty-one, so they had the best odds and the best training. He glared at her, but he doubted she even saw him. She was glowing from being picked as tribute, milking the cheers for all they were worth. She smiled sweetly at the audience.
Cato didn't even notice the name of the male tribute announced.
"I volunteer as tribute!"