A/N- Ok, I'm finally finished with tributes and only have 5 more reapings left to write! But for now, I will let you read District 1 and 2's now!
Brooklyn Virgona, District 1 POV
I throw the knife, hard and quick. It cuts through the air and sticks right in the centre of the target. I stroll over, juggling another knife in one hand and pull it out. Sliding the knives into my belt, I walk over and grab and axe from the stand. I give it a few swings first, then haul it over my shoulder, flinging it into another dummy and slicing the head clean in half.
A small applause comes from behind me. "Bravo, bravo. This training over the years has paid off"
"I've been trained since I was five, what do you expect?" I say sarcastically, picking up another axe.
"You're a born fighter, Brooklyn, I expect perfection"
I throw the axe and again, it knocks the head of a dummy clean off. "That perfect enough for you, dad?"
He grins with pleasure. "It was ok"
I turn around, glaring. "Ok? That pretty perfect shot was...ok?"
He nods and I feel a rush of anger. I grab the nearest bow and a sheaf of arrows and speedily, load the bow with an arrow and fire it towards him. It hits the wall he's leaning on, just millimetres from his skull. I fire more arrows, each one dangerously close to different parts of his body, until I've made an outline of his shape on the wall.
"What about that, eh? Was that perfect?" I shout at him.
Not waiting for an answer, I grab all the weapons around me and throw them around the room, sticking in dummy's hearts and chopping all different body parts off. I keep at it, my body flushing with heat, until every dummy is lying in a helpless heap on the floor. I then turn back to my father.
"Was that good enough for you? Or do you want me to sprout wings and start breathing fire?" I retort angrily.
My father starts to laugh, clapping his hands together. "And that is why you're my daughter!"
"Wow, I am so lucky" I say with a sarcastic tone, walking out the gym and leaving it in the mess I created.
We arrive at the reaping quite early, Dad's decision, not mine. I don't really want to stand around, listening to his boasts about when he won his Games and all that boring stuff I've heard a thousand times before. So, without him looking, I sneak off and walk up to a group of teens my age.
They stop talking and turn to watch me. This happens all the time; guys going speechless in my presence.
"Whoa, looking hot today Brook" One of the guys, Drake, whistles.
"Tah" I say, stopping to stand with them. "And it's Brooklyn, not Brook"
"Oh, I'm sorry babe" Drake says, slipping his arm around my waist.
I shove it off and raise my eyebrows. "Hey, that area is off limits to you"
"Ooh, is it now?" He jokes, trying to act all cool in front of his mates who are more like his minions, actually.
"Yeah, it is" I say, matter-of-factly. "And if you dare go there again, you'll be sorry"
He licks his lips. "Ooh, feisty! What you gonna do then, Brook, perfume me to death?"
That wasn't even remotely funny, yet his minions start laughing, acting as if they're dying from a perfume overdose. They look like goldfish drinking from toilets. As I said, not funny.
"Oh, cuz that was so hilarious I forgot to laugh" I say, glaring at them with my fierce eyes.
They respond by laughing even harder.
"You're so funny, Brook" Derek says, wiping a fake tear from his eye. "So funny"
I lose my patience with him and grab a fistful of his shirt, pulling him down from his towering height.
"I said, my name is not Brook. It's Brooklyn" I hiss in his pathetic face.
He squirms a little in my grip and I release him, throwing a quick punch at the end. My fist hits his face solidly and he stumbles back in shock, tripping over someone's foot and landing on his back, flat on the ground.
His minions stop, some staring at me in horror and others bending down to see if he's alright.
I smile at them and turn away, joining the group of eighteen year old girls.
From across the crowd, I can see Drake touching his face and wincing. I grin to myself, it's been a while since I've punched something other than a dummy. It's gotten me all fired up inside and I feel ready for more. And I'm going to get more very soon...
I look to the stage and watch as Alryna Queen picks out a slip from the bowl labelled, 'Girls'. She's just opening up the paper and is about to read out the name when I shout out loud.
"I volunteer!"
Alryna looks shocked as I march up to the stage.
"Goodness me, you're keen. I hadn't even read out the name!" She exclaims. "So, what's your name?"
"Brooklyn Virgona" I state clearly, turning to the audience. "And you'd better all remember me, cuz I'm gonna win this thing"
Ren Elmwood, District 1 POV
A soft knock comes from my door. I know who it is straight away, my father never knocks, so it must be my mother.
"Come in" I call to her.
The door creaks open and my mother walks in. Her fist is clenched, holding something tightly. She smiles at me and sits down on my bed.
"How are you, Ren?" She asks.
"I'm alright; just worried about today, that's all" I reply.
She shakes her head. "This shouldn't be happening. Your father shouldn't be making you do this"
I sigh. "It's ok, Mother. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'm a Career, aren't I?"
"Yes, but you're not like them. I know you're not vicious like the rest of them"
"But I can pretend. I can learn"
She gestures for my hand and I hold it out to her. Her fist presses into my palm, then she pulls away, leaving behind a crumpled piece of paper.
"Our secret" She whispers, her finger to her lips.
I nod and she walks out the room, carefully closing the door behind her. I open up my hand and look at what she left. Gently, I open the paper. A small gasp escapes my mouth as I look at the paper. It's a picture, worn and battered with age, but the image is still quite clear. It's a photo of me and my mother. I look about three years old, swinging on a park swing, a huge grin on my face. My mother is standing behind me, laughing as she pushes me on the swing. The sun is out and there's not a cloud in the sky. The grass below our feet is fresh and green, grass blades shining in the light.
I smile as I look into the picture. I can remember that day; how perfect it was. A day we spent, just the two of us. That's when we had the most fun; when my father wasn't with us. Most days I wish he wasn't here. Then everyday could be like that day in the park.
The door swings open.
"Renold, what's taking you so long?" My father stands in the doorway, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Oh, erm nothing. I'm on my way now" I stutter, quickly hiding the picture in my fist.
"Well hurry up then, I need to talk to you before we go" He says, turning and walking away.
I sigh. I know what he wants us to 'talk' about: Volunteering. It's all he's been thinking about since the day I was born. He has this big dream of me winning the Hunger Games, although he only wants the fame for himself. To be known as the father of the boy who won the 500th Hunger Games. He wants to be better than all of his friends; to beat them in something else besides darts. He just wants to be better and bigger. That's all he wants. That's all he's ever wanted. Except, that's not what I want.
My father is pacing around the lounge when I get downstairs, muttering to himself. I stand in the doorway for a while until he notices me.
"Ah, Renold, there you are" He says. "Come in the room now, no dilly dallying"
I step further into the room.
"Right, you know what day it is today, don't you?" He asks patronizingly.
I nod. "It's the reaping for the 500th Hunger Games"
"And what are you going to do at the reaping?"
I gulp. "Volunteer"
He shakes his head. "That wasn't confident enough. What are you going to do?"
"Volunteer" I repeat a little louder.
"I said; what are you going to do?"
"Volunteer"
"Louder!"
"VOLUNTEER!" I yell.
My father smiles thinly. "That's better" He turns and shouts. "Corrine!"
My mother scurries into the room, obediently. "Yes, Michael?"
"Let us go; it's time for our fame to begin!" He announces, pulling on his jacket.
"You mean Ren's fame" She says quietly.
"Oh yes, whatever" He mumbles ushering us out the house.
I try not to speak as we walk to the reaping. I don't want to think about volunteering. I don't even want to volunteer; I'd much rather, like, live my life. Why would anyone want to go into an arena and fight to the death? There's not even a certainty that you'll survive and odds are that you won't. It's not just about who's the strongest or the best fighter; it's about survival more than anything. And most volunteers forget about that.
When we arrive, I barely get time to speak to my mother before I'm whisked off to the signing desk. She manages to wish me luck, but that's about it. My father marches me up to the desk and I sign in, his shadow looming over me.
"Ok, so remember to yell as loudly as possible; you don't want anyone to beat you" My father tells me, gripping my shoulders tightly.
"Uh huh" I nod.
He looks at me, his eyes staring holes into my brain.
"Oh, sorry. I mean; yes father" I say hurriedly.
"Good. Now, go and volunteer" He says, pushing me over to the standing area.
I almost stumble as I'm forced forward, but I manage to catch my fall before I make a fool of myself. Knowing that he's watching me, I walk and stand in my age group. We're right at the back of everyone else, being the eldest. Luckily I'm quite tall, so I can see the stage easily.
Alryna Queen stands on the stage, beaming. Both literally and metaphorically. She reads the Treaty of Treason quickly, obviously impatient to move on to the reaping. Well, the volunteering. Firstly she chooses the girl, as usual. None of them look nervous, they all know that someone will volunteer. And someone does, even before the name is read out, a girl from the back volunteers. She swaggers up to the stage, her long hair flowing behind her like a cape. She looks confident. Too confident. Especially when she turns and tells everyone that she's going to win this Games.
Alryna soon moves on to the boys. Just as she's opening up the slip, I decide to copy Brooklyn.
"I VOLUNTEER!" I shout.
I make no haste in going up to the stage. Trying to look as confident as I can. As I jog up the steps, Alryna claps her hands in delight.
"Ooh! Two volunteers before I even read out the name!" She exclaims excitedly. "This is definitely promising! So, what is your name then?"
"Ren Elmwood" I pronounce clearly.
"Well then, District One! Our two tributes; Brooklyn Virgona and Ren Elmwood!"
I try to stare into the crowd, but my eyes find my mother. She looks so small down there and so alone. Father is already talking to some of the other men, probably boasting. He's just cast her aside, acting as if she isn't there. But she is there and I start to feel like I made the wrong decision. What if I die? She can't cope with father alone. I feel like I've abandoned her.
Bryn Rosella, District 2 POV
The smell of warm pancakes and sweet syrup fills my nostrils. I rub my eyes free of sleep and stifle a yawn. Stretching out my limbs, I lift my eyelids and see the light pouring vastly from the window. What time is it?
Scrambling out of bed, I grab my alarm clock. I stare at the numbered face and notice the two hands are no longer ticking. They're stuck at 4:37.
"Ugh!" I moan, throwing the clock on the floor.
Why does it have to break on the one day I needed it? It's just typical; not even a clock works for me.
I slip on some shoes and trudge downstairs, my feet crashing against the carpeted floor. As I walk into the kitchen, the smell of pancakes multiplies by ten. My parents and five siblings are sitting around the breakfast table; chatting away and scoffing pancakes. They don't even notice I'm standing in the doorway.
I clear my throat. "Nice of you to invite me for breakfast"
No-one stirs, they keep eating and talking.
I cough, slightly louder this time. "Nice of you to invite me for breakfast"
They still don't acknowledge me. Feeling a rush of anger and impatience, I slam the door hard into the wall. The talking suddenly silences and everyone turns around to face me. Finally, some recognition.
"Those walls were painted last week!" My mom exclaims, a horrified look on her face.
"And I've been standing here for the past five minutes! I even coughed loudly and no-one noticed me!" I yell back.
"Well, we didn't hear you" She says, then turns to stare back at the wall. "Oh look at my new wall! It's been marked... and is that a dint?"
My dad stands up from the table, walking over to inspect the wall. "Bryn! This is worse up close; do you expect us to pay for this?"
He folds his arms and looks at me, expecting me to grovel and beg for his forgiveness. Well, he's going to be waiting a long time before I apologise...
"Honestly Dad, I don't care. And it seems that you care more about the wall than you do me" I say spitefully. "I hope you're very happy together"
Everyone stares at me in surprise, their mouths gaping open like hollow caves. I turn sharply and storm out the house, slamming the door behind me. Stuff my stupid family. Let them have fun and eat pancakes without me. I don't need them. I don't need anyone.
"Bryn?" Someone calls my name.
I turn around and see Miles running after me. I say running, more like hobbling along awkwardly... he's not the sportiest of people, but he has more brains than the District put together.
"Hey Miles" I say, stopping in the road.
"Had another argument with your family?" He asks knowingly.
I laugh. "How did you guess?"
"You do have at least six major arguments a week, and you storm out on an average of seventeen times per month"
I look at him, my eyebrows raised. "You worked out my average argument count...?"
"Yes, it's quite interesting really" He replies, nodding.
I punch him lightly on the arm. "You're such a dork, you know that?"
"But you still like me"
"I don't like you; I just have to tolerate you because I have no-one else" I point out.
"And I have no-one else either" He shrugs. "So I guess it's just you and me"
I sigh. "I suppose it is"
We walk down the road, Miles going on about the probability of us both being reaped. I don't understand how he finds it so intriguing, but at least it takes my mind off the problems at home. Miles often does that, so I guess that's why I hang around with him. Except for the other reason that I can't hold a conversation with anyone without offending them in some way...
When we arrive at the square, people are swarming everywhere. Moms, Dads, kids. Big boys, little girls. Everyone. There's excitement in the air and people are even making bets with each other. Not exactly the atmosphere you'd except for a reaping, but we're District 2, a Career District. There's nothing to worry about; if you don't want to be in the Games, then you won't be. Even if you're reaped, someone will always volunteer. It's a proven fact.
I'm pretty much standing alone through the Treaty of Treason; all the girls seemed to have edged away from me. They tried to be subtle, but it's written all over their faces. All over everyone's' faces. Not that I care, really.
"Now, District 2, it's time to select our female tribute!" Our representative announces, then pauses and winks to the audience. "Not that this matters, as we'll certainly have a volunteer!"
Nonetheless, she still makes a dramatic scene of choosing a slip and spends about five minutes in doing so.
"Our female 'tribute' is Bryn Rosella everyone!" She exclaims, forming quotation marks with her fingers as she says tribute.
Some of the girls turn to look at me and I shrug at them. They look at me, expecting me to go up on stage, but I stay standing. What's the point? I'm only going to get halfway there before someone volunteers. So why waste the energy?
Several moments later and I'm still standing. No-one has volunteered yet. Oh well, not to worry, they're just creating suspense. That's all, suspense.
"No volunteers?" A surprised voice speaks into the microphone.
There's a wave of silence and a few mumbles, but no volunteers. No volunteers.
"Bryn dear, I think you'll have to come up then" She beckons me to he stage.
My arms folded tightly, I slowly walk up to the stage, expecting someone to leap out and volunteer at the last second. Alas, no-one does and I'm up to the stage in minutes.
"Well then, what a surprise District 2! No volunteers for the girls"
She turns to me, smiling. "So then, Bryn Rosella, what a lovely name"
I glare at her powdered face and snarl. "Shut up trying to be nice, ok?"
She looks a little startled, but laughs to the audience. "She's a right little tough one here. No wonder there are no volunteers; she was probably going to do it herself"
"Don't judge me, sugar puff" I spit.
"Goodness me dear. I was only saying..."
"Well don't say"
She turns away from me, seeming a little out of depth. "And now for our male tribute!"
Kelvin Galloway, District 2 POV
"Ok, so I'm coming at you with a knife, you're unarmed. What do you do?"
"I bring my right arm up and grab the wrist, the left holding the elbow. I push the elbow up fast and pull down the wrist, breaking their arm. Then they'll drop the knife and I pick it up and finish them off" I answer, doing a little demonstration on a dummy.
"Exactly" My dad says. "Right, so the gong rings, what is your first move?"
"I sprint straight to the Cornucopia, heading far into it for the best weapons. I grab the biggest and best sword I can find, then kill anyone in sight. Once they're all dealt with, I'll sort through the supplies an set up a camp with my pack" I explain.
"Yes, that's a good lad! You're definitely ready to enter this year"
I grin. "Well, it is my last chance to do it, I am eighteen now"
"Indeed you are, so go out there and make your old dad proud" He says, slapping me on the back.
"Sure thing, Dad. You'll be at the reaping, right?" I ask, halfway to the door.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world"
I nod and leave the house. The air is warm outside today, the sun scorching down on the dry earth. It's hot, but not humid, and a soft breeze interrupts the heat rays. The sky is blue and the birds are singing. It's the perfect day to volunteer as tribute.
I swagger down the street, my head held high and my eyes looking forward. I pause in my tracks as I hear footsteps behind me.
"Hey, Kelvin!" Kaitlyn calls out to me, her blonde hair flowing wildly as she runs.
"Hi Kaitlyn" I say as she skids to a halt by my side. "Where are the others?"
"Marvin and Leo were with me, but I'm faster than them, so they're lagging behind somewhere" She replies, looking behind us.
I turn too and spot Marvin and Leo jogging down the road.
"Hey, what took you guys so long?" Kaitlyn asks, glancing at her nails.
Marvin stands, clutching his side, gasping for breath. "It's hot today; *breath* hard to run without *breath* sweating like a *breath* pig"
Leo laughs. "You are a pig, man. Big, fat and pink"
"I'm not fat, I'm just..." Marvin doesn't quite finish his sentence, due to his heavy huffing and puffing.
"Of size?" Kaitlyn offers.
We all crack up laughing, except Marvin, who stands glaring at us.
"Oh lighten up, man" Leo says to him. "Have a sense of humour"
"I have a sense of humour! I just don't find it particularly funny when you call me fat"
"Oh sorry, what about 'teetering on the edge of self destruction due to high intake of food'? Is that any better?"
"Fine, I may be a little larger than you, but at least I don't have a dodgy nose"
"It's not dodgy!"
"It's all crooked and bony"
"Don't offend my nose, you fat ass"
"Vulture nose"
"Guys, enough already" I say, stepping between them. "Today is supposed to be about me"
They give each other one last glare and then shake hands, apologising. God, they're such idiots sometimes. No, make that all the time.
"Oh, so you're volunteering then?" Kaitlyn brings the conversation back.
"Uh huh. I've been training for years, waiting for this day. This is my year, guys" I say, flexing my muscles.
"Well then, Mr Muscle, future winner of the 500th Hunger Games, I think it's time to sign in" She says, gesturing to the desk.
"You bet it is" I grin, walking over to the desk and signing my name in.
Kaitlyn walks off to the other side of the stage, standing with the group of seventeen year old girls. While Marvin, Leo and I go and stand with the eighteen year old boys.
Most people automatically make space for me to walk, but the occasional little dork stands in the way. I have no trouble pushing them out of the way though and they soon get the message. Everyone from school knows me as 'Guns of Steel', and the name is pretty self explanatory: I have arms so solid that I could knock down walls. It's true, and all the ladies love it as much as I do.
A group of girls from across the way smile at me, a few of them even winking flirtatiously. I give them my famous grin and eyebrow raise and I swear one of them nearly faints on another. I sigh, life is so good. And it's about to get better.
I stand impatiently through the annual speech, then yawn as the female tribute is chosen. I can't wait to volunteer and get on that stage. Can't wait to make my dad proud. Over ten years of training will pay off and I'll be able to carry on our tradition of sons becoming Victors. It's been running in his side of the family for a few generations now. First my great-great-great grandfather became a Victor, then it was passed on to his son and then his son and so on. Now it is my turn to continue the Galloway title.
"And now for our male tribute!" The girl from the Capitol announces, holding up a slip of paper.
This is it, my big moment...
"Tobias Spine!"
The moment I've been building up to my whole life has finally arrived...
"I VOLUNTEER!" I yell, pushing my way through the crowd.
I make no hesitations as I make my way to the stage. I can hear people muttering, some exchanging money. They must have bet on me. Well, I am a Galloway, it's in our blood to volunteer... and win.
"Well then, you seem very eager"
"Eager is my middle name" I grin. "As well as my last name being Galloway"
"Ah, the famous Galloway tradition. I think we have our winner already, ladies and gentlemen; this is District Two's year!"
A/N- There's 1 and 2 done. What do you think of Kelvin and Brooklyn? They're both pretty tough... But what about Bryn? Are you shocked that there were no volunteers for her? And Ren, do you feel sorry for him?
Let me know all your thoughts and answers to these questions in a review! I'd love to know what you think of these characters so far! Also, thank you to all that submitted these tributes, I hope I've written them right!
District 3 and 4 should already be up now!
Thanks, FireflyLlama xxx
And here is the full list of all the tributes! Thanks to all that submitted!
District One:
Male: Ren Elmwood, 18
Female: Brooklyn Virgona, 18
District Two:
Male: Kelvin Galloway, 18
Female: Bryn Rosella, 14
District Three:
Male: Fickle Fletch, 12
Female: Inva Reinhardt, 16
District Four:
Male: Tal Fontaine, 16
Female: Layla Roberts, 13
District Five:
Male: Raymond Periwinkle, 18
Female: Victoria Buchegger, 17
District Six:
Male: Jacob Finney, 18
Female: Harper Sanders, 16
District Seven:
Male: Phosphorus Vox, 14
Female: Arya Firestone, 16
District Eight:
Male: Guthrie Zython, 17
Female: Annabeth Rylie, 15
District Nine:
Male: Zephyr Torelli, 15
Female: Elodie Torelli, 15
District Ten:
Male: Horacio Francis, 17
Female: Rhea Blakemore, 14
District Eleven:
Male: Brandon Thiessen, 18
Female: Luna Damion, 16
District Twelve:
Male: Kay Grinestone, 16
Female: Heidi Fitzherbit, 16