Sorry it took so long. I was waiting for the Tributes to get submitted. One other note: I just realized how cool a name Vixen is for a Tribute. It's probably been done.
Eltara Vetirata POV
I stuck my spear into my partner's protective vest, knocking his breath away and sending him to the ground. I kicked his side as he groaned and jammed my spear against his throat. He held up his hands.
I let him up and checked the time. I had half an hour before I had to head to the Reaping Center. My chances of being voted in were pretty solid, especially with Vixen out of the way. Vixen was the closest thing I had to competition. Too bad she got a sickle through the foot last week in a routine match. There was always next year.
When I got to the Reaping Center, it was unusually quiet. Usually there were crowds of would-be Tributes jostling around whoever had been chosen by the Academy to volunteer. Of course they couldn't stop rogue volunteers, but we had ways of discouraging them. This year nobody know who our Tributes would be, and there was a sullen silence in the air.
Ijolite delicately captured the only slip of paper in the ladies' bowl and read the name.
"Eltara Vetirata!"
Who, me? Oh, I'm flattered. I never would have dreamed…
I'd been training for this since I was five years old. I was ready for any Arena, any Tribute, anything they could throw at me. I stood on the stage and watched Ijolite pick out the male name.
"Nero Augustus!" she announced.
Oh, no. Nero? Looks like I'm our only hope.
I'd seen Nero at the Academy here and there, but once he realized he couldn't kill the others, he mostly stayed away. He preferred to rip the wings off flies and step on toads. He was a disgusting brute and even if he was my District partner, I'd stab him soon as look at him. I took his hand as lightly as I could and glared at him as Ijolite presented us.
My parents came backstage and my father gave me a friendly slap on the back.
"You did it, honey! We knew you could," he said. "Two hasn't had a Victor in too long. Bring it home for all the Careers."
"You'll need a token," my mother said. She handed me a compact. I opened it and saw dark red eyeshadow. Huh?
"Show people what they want to see. Let them think they're in charge. Put on whatever mask you need, and win," she said.
When they were gone, I dusted my eyes with a smidge of makeup and tucked the compact into my pocket. Let it begin.
Nero Augustus POV
Flies look really funny when they don't have wings. They crawl around in circles and fall over. I was about to squish it, but I decided to let it go. Let it see how long it could live before a passing spider took care of it. I had to get to the Reaping anyway.
I loved the Reaping. I loved to watch the scrawny kids from outer Districts realize they were going to die, and I loved to watch their fears come true. The last few Games had been quite the letdown. None of the Tributes came through and really let go. The deaths were quick and dull. I jostled my way to the middle of a row, stepping on feet and elbowing sides as I passed.
I wondered who they'd send this year. I'd thought about volunteering myself so I could get in on the fun, but they were so particular about Careers. They wanted me to learn boring stuff like running and strength. I preferred the weapons stations, and even then they insisted on protective gear. Where's the fun in that?
Ijolite called the female Tribute's name, and a girl walked next to her. I'd seen her in the Academy. She was one of the dedicated ones. It was a pity. She wouldn't have any style either. She'd just kill efficiently and get home.
Ijolite reached into the male bowl and called a name. It was me.
Sweet! I didn't even have to train for it! I swaggered onstage and stood next to Eltara. She scowled at me. I smirked and was about to make a remark that would put a little red in her cheeks, but the look she shot me knocked the words right out of my mouth. She took my hand like I was something she was scraping off a road and left the second Ijolite finished.
My parents took so long I thought they weren't going to come. When they finally got there, my father's face was blotchy and tight, while my mother's face was like the stone in our quarries.
"You can do this. Fight hard and show them what you've got," my father said. He handed me his Peacekeeper badge. "Take this. I'll get another one."
My mother sat on the far end of the bench and didn't say anything. My father wrapped an arm around her and held her close.
"Don't worry, Lyme," he said. "He'll be back soon."
"I'm sure," my mother said flatly. She didn't look at me. She supported him as they walked out. He started to shake lightly and couldn't look back at the door, but she turned around and looked right at me. She smiled and walked away.
