(A/N: This is a rewrite of my fanfiction "Tintin in the Hunger Games". Hopefully it's better now. District 4 is not a Career District in this story.)

The salty smell of the ocean drifted through the town square of District 4 as it gradually began filling up with people. They all gazed with fear at the two bowls on the stage, for both contained slips of every teenager's names. Two would be chosen. Two innocent children would be taken away to fight to their deaths. And since District 4 was one of the poorer districts, most of the people had too little to eat, so the odds of survival were very low. There had only been 1 victor in the past 40 years, and that was Captain Haddock, who had turned to alcohol to cope with the trauma. Families huddled together, their hearts beating furiously as the teenagers all wondered if they had luck on their side. Every year, people stood in the square as silent chaos ran rampant throughout the square as breaths were held and fingers were crossed.

A group of kids of various ages stood in the back, quietly talking with each other. They were orphans that had been kicked out of their homes into the streets, where they stole food and money to survive. While they were still required to attend school, where they lived didn't matter to the Capitol. They knew each other well, although they usually didn't lift a finger to help each other. These orphans were all treated with respect, as they were the most hardened, most likely to survive out of all of the people who had their names in the bowls.

A 12 year old named Chang held the hand of the 14 year old boy next to him, quivering slightly and swallowing nervously. "Chang?" the boy asked. "Are you all right?" What a stupid thing to say. Of course he's not, how could he be? he thought.

"Tintin, I'm scared." Chang said quietly as his black eyes stared at the two bowls on the stage in terror. "What if my name gets chosen? You know I wouldn't survive."

"Chang, you're just 12." Tintin said. "You've only got one slip in there out of thousands of others."

"But it's happened before. It's not impossible." Chang said.

"No, it's not. But Chang, worrying won't change anything." Chang didn't reply. He merely buttoned his green jacket and shivered.

Tintin would have said more reassuring comments if Bianca Castafiore hadn't interrupted him. "Welcome, welcome." she said in a typical high-pitched Capitol voice. "The time has come to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 4 in the 40th annual Hunger Games!" She sighed in happiness. "Oh, why do you all look so unhappy? Perhaps I should sing a song to cheer you up!"

It was at this moment that Captain Haddock stood up and yelled, "BLISTERING BARNACLES, NO!" and collapsed in a drunken heap. Some people laughed but stopped when they remembered what they were here for.

"Ma'am, the reaping?" the mayor asked.

"Well of course, Mr. Blumenstein, of course!"

"My name is Bohlwinkel." the mayor muttered, but naturally Bianca didn't hear, or if she did, she ignored him.

"Ladies first." Bianca said, smiling as she reached her hand into a bowl and pulled out a slip. Everyone held their breaths. Parents clutched their daughters tightly. The orphan girls held hands and shut their eyes as Bianca unrolled the slip. "Marina Irving!"

There was a silence as everyone looked around to see who was the unlucky girl. They found her as she walked up to the stage, her poisonous-green eyes glaring at the crowd, her messy muddy-brown hair waving in the ocean wind. Her lips were pursed and her eyebrows were knitted in a scowl. If she was terrified, her pale face didn't show it. She lifted a skinny arm to swat a fly. People began whispering to each other, and Tintin caught the words "Peacekeeper's daughter".

"And now for the boys." Bianca said as she pulled out a second slip. "Chang Chong-Chen!"

The sighs of disapproval as the twelve year old slowly walked through the crowd were all just a muted roar to Tintin's ears. The odds of Chang being chosen were so low! Why, out of all of the slips in the bowl, did it have to be Chang's? All Tintin could do was watch in horror as Chang whimpered as he shakily walked up the steps towards his doom. He was so weak, he wouldn't make it out, not in a million chances! Tintin snapped out of his thoughts as he yelled, "CHANG!" and ran towards his best friend. Chang stopped walking as he turned to Tintin, his eyes wide in fear.

Two identical Peacekeepers blocked his way. One of them said, "We're sorry, but we cannot let you pass."

The other one said, "To be precise-" but was interrupted as Tintin shoved passed them, running to the stage. They caught him and dragged the screaming boy away.

"NO! NO! YOU CAN'T! YOU CAN'T LET HIM GO! NO!" Tintin shrieked as he struggled in vain to release their grips. The only thing that his frantic mind was processing was Chang is going to die. Tintin, long ago, had made a promise to Chang. And he was going to keep it. "I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" The crowd all murmured to each other as the Peacekeepers let go of Tintin in shock. Tintin didn't notice; all that he knew was that Chang was safe as he ran towards him.

Chang was horrified. "Tintin, what have you done?" Chang said, his voice an octave higher. "You're going to die! No! Let me go! No! NO!" All Tintin could do was watch as Chang was carried away, shrieking. He blinked away tears and continued up the stage.

Bianca, clearly excited, said, "Well I don't believe I've seen that before! What's your name?" She pointed the microphone at Tintin.

"I'm-" his voice cracked. He cleared his throat and continued. "I'm Tintin." he said with a great effort; his throat was tight as he swallowed nervously. That's not going to impress any sponsors. He unwrapped his trembling crossed arms from covering his blue sweater and looked at the crowd, his head raised higher.

"Last name?"

"I don't have any."

"Well, let's have a round of applause for our volunteer!" Bianca said, clapping. She was the only one. Everyone else stared at Tintin in stunned silence. Bianca stopped clapping awkwardly. "Um, well, here are our tributes: Marina Irving and Tintin! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"