"Hey, Auris, throw me that log," Hadley, my older brother called. I picked up the log and threw it at him. He caught it with ease, and loaded it onto our cart. "Go get cleaned up!"

Hadley is nineteen, passing the reaping age two years ago. I envied him in that respect, seeing that I still had three years. I was fifteen this year, and lucky me, it was a Quarter Quell. The card reading was three weeks prior, and I was dreading this reaping more than any other in my life. This year, the Arena would consist of puzzles and obstacles and visual effects that none of us in the districts could ever understand. Especially those of us from District 7 like me.

"Ok, I'll see you at the cabin?" I called back as I ran through the trees. We lived in the middle of a forest; our family was known for its quality lumber.

"Yeah, I'll catch up." He had reached around our mule, Tammy, and grabbed her lead.

When I reached the cabin, I removed my boots and soaked socks. I pulled the door shut behind me and made my way to the bedroom. The cabin was basically like all the rest in District 7: one room, separated into sections. The beds were in the back and up against the wall.

I sat on my bed and pulled off my shirt. I was tiny, only just over five feet tall. And skinny. I was extremely skinny. I pulled my pants off my legs, and lay back on the quilt that is always on my bed. In our district, whenever a baby is born, the mother and her family is to make a quilt for the baby. Then, on the child's tenth birthday, they receive the quilt. It's a tradition we've kept for centuries. Mother made mine with a green fabric on the back, and flower designs around the squares on the front. I've had it since that birthday, and slept under it ever since.

"Cuddling the blanket again?" My mother asked as she walked in the door. She had a bucket hanging from the crook of her arm. She was milking our goat, Rosie.

"No." I sat up. "Mom, can I wear your spring dress?" I asked as I tugged the quilt around my shoulders. "I don't think my brown dress fits anymore."

"Sure." She set the bucket on the table and walked to the wardrobe in the corner. She pulled the yellow, knee-length dress out by its hanger. "Try it on." I stood and took it from her. I then lifted the dress above my head and pulled it on. It fit perfectly.

"You look lovely," my mother announced, pleased. "It matches your hair very well."

"And my eyes?" I asked, smiling at the thought. My eyes were dark brown, and matched everything.

"Of course." She walked behind me and yanked on my blonde hair. "Tie this up before we leave. We want the crowd to see that pretty face."

"Yes, ma'am," I said. I walked to the wardrobe, and pulled out the box of hair supplies from the floor. Searching for a red ribbon, I found a hair clip instead. It was brown, and would look better anyway.

I helped mother get the breakfast together after I took off her dress and put on my own chore dress. We made flapjacks with maple syrup. "Daddy and Hadley are going to love this!" I exclaimed as I poured out the last of the batter into the pan.

Mother nodded, but continued doing her job of making butter.

The door opened, and Hadley walked in. He had a silly smile on his face.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked as I maneuvered around him to the table. I set the plates down and turned to face him, my hands in fists on my hips.

"Kailyn Finch just walked up the road," he sighed. My brother was a real lovesick guy. He'd a crush on Kailyn Finch since he was a kid, but he'd never had the courage to talk to her. She's a year younger than him, with the prettiest brown hair and eyes you ever did see. Which explained his nervous manor around her. She was gorgeous.

"Did you say hi?" I asked.

He blushed. "Nope."

"Ugh!" I threw my hands in the air. "You need to talk to her soon or some other guy will!" I exclaimed.

"I will," he said while hanging his hat on the coat rack, "When I'm ready." Hadley pushed his hand through his eyebrow-length blonde hair.

I huffed and continued setting the table. "I'll believe it when I see it," I mumbled under my breath.

Daddy came home twenty minutes later, and we all sat down at the table for breakfast.

"Auris, honey," Daddy said as I was clearing the table. "I need you to go to the town and get an axe."

"An axe!" I yelped. I couldn't believe it. Axes were expensive, they had to be shipped from District 2. "Why do you need an axe?"

"Seems that someone stole my new one." New meaning that we've had it for at least five years. Everyone in District 7 had an axe; we've been able to handle them since we were toddlers.

"Stolen?" My mother asked, surprised. "Who would steal it?"

"Beats me. But I need one."

"But, Dad, we need that money to get the chickens." Hadley got up and helped me with the dishes. "We always get chickens in the spring!"

"We'll just have a few less this year. Sorry, kids. I want to keep this family Teserae-free, so we need to save up for the more important things. An axe is at the top of the list, I have a job to do."

"Yes, sir," Hadley and I both said.

"Good. Now, Auris, in my coat pocket there is some coins. Count out one hundred and fifteen. That will get the medium size head at the General."

My fingers searched through his coat pockets till I had enough. I dropped the coins into the pockets on my dress.

"Do you want me to go with her?" Hadley asked.

"No," Daddy said, "she can do this trip alone."

I pulled on my boots and left the cabin.

There's a road that leads right past our cabin and down a hill to the town center. The Justice Building is right in the center, standing stories above the rest of the buildings.

I opened the small wooden gate at the end of the yard, and stepped onto the gravel path. The coins jingled in my pockets as I made my way to downtown.

At the General - our main store in town – I picked out a nice medium head axe for dad, paid at the counter, and left. The axe head was in a box, so that I wouldn't cut myself on it going home. I had some left over change, so I walked to the fabric store. Kailyn's father owned it.

A bell rang on top of the door as walked in. Mr. Finch was sitting on his stool at the counter, cutting fabric. He didn't look up until I cleared my throat.

"Ah, Auris," he said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

"I need a patch," I said. "Dark green."

Patches are small pieces of fabric that can be added to the quilts for more personality, and uniqueness. Daddy won't mind if I buy one.

He pulled out his scrap fabric, dark green like I asked, and cut off a piece. "Is this a good size."

I nodded. "Yes, thank you."

I paid and walked out of the store, waving good-bye. Mr. Finch called out, "See you at the Reaping. May the odds be in your Favor!"

I walked down the alley behind the store, and heard voices. I stopped at the edge of the building and peeked around the side. Kailyn and Avery, Kailyn's friend, were giggling. I listened harder.

"I saw you-know-who today," Kailyn was saying.

"Oh, Kai, did you say hello?" Avery asked animated.

"No, I was waiting for him!" This brought on another round of giggles. "I don't see how a boy as attractive as Hadley can be so quiet!"

Hadley? Did she just say Hadley? As in my brother, Hadley Spencer?

"You should just ask him out," Avery said.

"I can't, my mother wouldn't approve. The boy must be the one to ask."

"Too bad. You two would be perfect together!" Avery started making her way back to her house. "Just think, it's your last reaping. You two could get married!"

"I wish," Kailyn sighed. "See you later, I have to get ready!" Kailyn waved and stepped through the backdoor of the fabric shop.

"Good-bye!"

I couldn't believe what I had just heard! Kailyn's been waiting all this time for Hadley!

I turned and ran back up the alley, through the main road, and onto the forest road. I didn't trip or drop the axe the whole way home.

I burst through the door. "What took you so long?" Hadley asked taking the box from my hands.

"I got distracted."

"Thank you, Auris." Daddy took the box from Hadley. "This is just right."

"You're welcome." I made my way silently to my bed, pulled out my sewing box from under it, and stitched the green patch on.

"Auris, I think it's time for you to be getting ready for the Reaping," my mother called.

"Yes, ma'am." I put my quilt down. Mother walked over to help me undress and put on the yellow dress.

"Do you want me to clip your hair?" she asked.

"Yes, please." She eased the long hair from my face, combed through the knots, and clipped it behind my head.

"You're beautiful," she said, smiling.

We left together to head back to town center. I was the only one up for the Reaping, and my name was only in the pile three times.

"Nervous?" Hadley asked, putting his arm over my shoulder.

"A little," I admitted.

"You'll be fine," he reassured me, giving my shoulders a good squeeze.

"Thanks." I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him.

Everyone was crowded in the middle of the street, facing the Justice Building where the stage was set. The big ball of names on a table in the middle of the stage.

Only three, I reminded myself.

"Go get in your spot," Hadley said, urging me toward the crowd of kids waiting to be picked – or not.

I hugged Hadley and my parents again, and pushed through the crowd to my section: fifteen-year-old girls. My friends Hanna and Jo were already there. I hugged them both without speaking, and then stood still, watching the stage.

Mayor Alder stood and gave the speech. I've heard it every year since I was born, so I drowned it out with thoughts of the trees outside my home.

The mayor sat down, and the district escort, Simile Radloff, stood. He took in a deep breath – like he does every year – and smiled, his purple skin crinkling around his eyes.

"Good day," he said. "Let us begin with the ladies!" He pranced across the stage to the name bowl. His hand reached in and searched, adding to the suspense, I guessed.

Only three…

He lifted a piece of paper out of the bowl, opened it slowly and read loud and clear:

"Kailyn Finch!"