Hey everyone, this is my best friend and I's first attempt at fanfic writing, it will start at Finnick's reaping and go through till the end of Mockingjay. We are going to stick to canon as much as possible… Also, we will be alternating views every chapter or few chapters. Reviews would be really appreciated and hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: We do not own The Hunger Games, we can thank Suzanne Collins for creating this amazing trilogy.

FINNICK

"Finnick! Finnick! Get up already! You have to wake up!" My little sister Kailani yells through my bedroom door. The words swirl around in my head before they actually register, and then I realise. It's the morning of the twenty third day of the sixth month of the year. Today's the reaping, and I've slept in.

"Shit," I say to myself as I leap out of bed, falling onto the clothes Kailani laid out for me. "Shit, shit, shit!" I yell. My family can't be made to suffer for this. We've already lost enough. I hurry, clumsily dressing myself, and then redressing myself when I realise my underpants are on backwards.

"Finnick, we've been trying to get you up for the last half an hour! We have to leave, now!" My father bellows as he barges into my room. His expression soon shifts as he digests the situation, noticing he has just walked in on me stark naked from the waist down. "Oh."

I collapse into laughter before managing to contain myself and finish getting ready, and then we're out the door. There's a dirty old mirror by the side of the footpath on the way, which I use to examine my appearance, since I didn't really get the chance back home. "Do I look okay?" I ask my family tentatively.

"You always look okay Finnick," Kailani laughs.

"You get that from your mother," my father interjects, solemnly.

At the mention of my mother, Kailani abruptly stops laughing and tears start to well up. My mother passed away seven years ago, and Kailani still hasn't forgiven herself. It was summer, and we were all playing down by the beach happily, until Kailani swam out too far and got caught in a rip. She was only three, and not a strong enough swimmer to drag herself back in from the waves. My mother, being the first one to notice she was in trouble, responded by diving into the sea with no regard for her own safety. She managed to rescue Kailani, but while keeping her afloat swallowed too much seawater and as a result, drowned.

Sensing the effect his words had on Kailani my father placed a comforting arm on her shoulder and asked if she wanted a piggy back the rest of the way to the square, which she accepted. Since we were running late already, it wasn't one of my father's best ideas, but it didn't matter. Kailani being happy did, and if this helped then I would by no means get in the way.

We arrive in the square within a few minutes, just in time too. My father and sister go off searching through the crowd for Kari, my father's best friend, and his daughter Annie who is the same age as Kailani and her best friend. I get to the Peacekeepers as they're marking the last few names off and pant "Finnick Odair" as they prick my finger and take a small sample of blood. I wince before making my way over to the 14 year old boys section. I'm glad Kailani doesn't have to go through this for another two years.

Our district escort, Xanthius Hontooshrue makes his way up on stage, looking as cheery as anyone with purple skin and tiger print eyes can look. I've never really understood why so many citizens of the Capitol choose to surgically alter themselves. Personally, I think tiger print hair is a pretty stupid look but no one asked my opinion, I guess.

Xanthius is followed by this year's mentors, Mags and Satlada. I feel immediate sympathy for the tribute forced to be mentored by Satlada, who is possibly the most menacing of all our past victors. I have a feeling she's undergone surgery and altered her hair colour too, because no one from district four has natural black hair, or a nose so bird-like.

No one really knows much about Mags since she likes to keep to herself. My father used to tell me stories about how beautiful she once was, and then age got the better of her. She won the 11th Hunger Games at the age of 16, which means she's been alive to witness every murder these games have caused. I think out of the two mentors this year, she is definitely the better one since she has more experience and most likely, compassion.

Silence falls over the square as Xanthius taps on the microphone, making a horrible screeching sound. "Ugh," I moan, covering my ears.

"Woops sorry about that," he chirps with his ridiculous capitol accent. Looking somewhat embarrassed, he continues "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour! It's time to find out who the honour of being District 4s tributes for the 65th Hunger Games will be passed onto this year, and as always, ladies first."

He glides to the left of his microphone and plunges his hand into the big glass bowl containing the girl's names. His hand lingers in there for just a bit too long and he finally decides on a slip. Looking absolutely giddy with excitement, and obviously ignorant of the fact he is basically sending this girl to her death if she's not a career, he opens the slip and reads out the name.

"Quinn Hahli!"

As the girls in the 16 year old section make a clear path for the new District 4 tribute to walk through I catch a glimpse of her.

Once she has mounted the stage, all blood drained from her face, it is obvious no one is going to volunteer for her. She is quite thin with brown eyes – which are quite clearly filling with tears - , red hair and definitely not a career. She can't win these games without a miracle, and she knows it.

"Now, the boys!" Xanthius announces.

This time, he crosses to the right and places his hand into the boy's bowl. He grabs one straight away, as silence once again rains over the square. I hold my breath, even though I'm confident I won't get picked. My name is only in there 6 times, which is a lot less than some of the boys, but there is still that underlying fear. Once again he is back at the microphone, and then I hear the name of the boy whose life has now changed forever.

"Finnick Odair!"