Chapter 1: The Reaping
"Indarra Iraunkorra," Everything from that moment was in slow motion. I tried to find the strength in my legs to step forward but it was difficult to keep them from turning me around and running away from the chaos that was the reaping. My name had been entered over 30 times so I couldn't exactly say I wasn't surprised. The odds weren't in my favor, but then again, it wasn't for most of the kids who lived in the Fire Nation.
Four boys and four girls were to be picked, and I was the first. Eight benders were to be picked from both Ba Sing Se and Omashu, four benders from all the air temples, and four from the Northern and Southern Water Tribes.
Before my body could respond to the name called by Khara Satana, The Fire Nation representative for Republic City, two guards had swept me up from under my arms and escorted me to the stage. I could feel my chi leaving me with every step that brought me closer to my unfortunate fate. I thought that at this very moment I wouldn't be able to fire bend one bit even if my life depended on it, and it did.
I heard no other names as Khara continued to pick more benders from the reaping jars but only saw faces, as white as snow, joining me on the stage. If I knew them or not I couldn't tell, for all I saw since my name had been called were the sunken faces of my parents that had been displayed on the screen once my destiny had been read.
The first Fire Nation boy picked, who would be my partner in training before the games, was Sundara Zafeiri. I remembered hearing others at school call him Sun before. I thought it was because of how radiant and brilliantly his eyes resembled the sun, but now I realized it was part of his actual name. He was arrogant and spoiled from what I knew, but now he was as shook up as the rest of us who stood before the world to see.
My mind ran wild while the rest of the ceremony went on. All I could think of is what my last words to my parents would be before being shipped off to Republic City. How would we spend our last three minutes together before departing from each other forever? Of course, there was the possibility of winning. It wasn't rare that someone from the fire nation would walk away with the victory; I mean there were eight of us. But I never believed I'd be a contender when it came to taking the lives of others. Although I didn't know Sun very well I felt he might not have that same problem.
I regained consciousness of my surroundings once they brought me to the room where I would say goodbye to my loved ones. It was dimly lit, furnished with two long sofas that seemed barely touched. I don't know why they would be anyways with only three minutes for each visit. First to enter were my mother and father. My mother embraced me as she always did when I returned from school only with much more urgency and strength. My dad wrapped his arms around the both of us, lifting us up an inch off the floor. He pulled apart, leaving my mother clinging on to me as if to never let go.
My dad was a quiet man, usually leaving the talking to my mother but as he pulled away tears had welled up in his big golden eyes. Although he was a born fire bender he grew up traveling the world, mostly with monks, running from the power of the Republic and avoiding every reaping during his childhood. Once he met my mother, falling madly in love with her at such a young age, he felt he had no other choice but to settle down and keep her safe during her years facing the reapings. He may have been a fire bender but he had the heart of an air nomad.
"Indarra, do you know why we gave you that name?" He asked with a smile on his face and tears streaming down his cheeks. Not wanting to cry I simply shook my head. I never knew my name meant anything significant.
"Indarra means strength, my little warrior. Your mother and I named you Indarra knowing of the possibility that your destiny might mean you participating in the hunger games. We raised you to be the strongest fire bender with the bravest heart. Come home to us darling. Do not give up so easily."
My lips began to tremble uncontrollably and again I could only respond with a sturdy head nod. The guard standing outside the door shouted that our time was up. By now my mother's nails had clawed into my arms, unaware that she was leaving cuts that would eventually scar,
"We love you so much Darling, don't forget that! Fight till the end, promise me this!" Whether she knew she was shouting or not she didn't seem to care, she only wanted to hear my response, hearing my voice for possibly the last time.
"I won't let you down! I promise! I love you both so-"and with that the door was shut and they were gone. Next to enter was my best friend, Amara. I had trained in fire bending with her my entire life, she knew me better than I knew myself. If anything I was happy I didn't get thrown into the games with her or else she could exploit every one of my weaknesses, not that she would want to, but people do crazy things when fighting to the death. She had no tears when her eyes met mine but her voice shook as she began to speak.
"Time to show the world what you've got, huh Dari?" she managed to say with a smirk. We'd always talked about being in the games but never really thought it would happen to either of us, and now here I was at seventeen years old to fight in honor of the Fire Nation. I laughed at her remark half hysterically and brought her into my arms.
"I don't know how I'm going to be able to bend without you by my side Mari," We'd always worked as a team, and now, I really did have to prove myself.
"Look, just remember everything from our training, and I know I've never listened much to Si Fu Lu Ten, but remember what he taught us. We're lucky that he put up with us all these years. Make him proud, Indarra" Instead of giving me one last hug goodbye she bowed, saluting me with the traditional Fire Nation symbol. I did the same and before I was fully standing up right again she rushed out the door, slamming it behind her. Since our bending teachers were not permitted to speak to us before the games for any last minute advice I had no more visitors.
I sat there alone on the stiff sofa waiting for what was to come next. Attempting to re-center my chi I began to meditate, warming myself up from my chest and letting it spread throughout my body, breathing deeply, blowing out steam. This is what it all came down to. Everything I'd ever learned, everything I'd ever been taught, about to be put to the test. It was time I lived up to my name, time to stand and fight.