"Oi, shrimp, it's time to get up." Blearily Alto opened his eyes, grunting in complaint. His sister was leaning in the doorway with her arms folded, waiting for him to get out of bed. Instead, he moaned loudly, rolled over and buried his face in his pillow, willing sleep to reclaim him quickly. He heard his sister growl in frustration and stomp towards him.

"I said get up!" His warm cocoon of blankets was ripped away, allowing the cold air to invade. Alto groaned again, mumbling complaints into his pillow. Reluctantly, he prised his face from the pillow where a small pool of drool had formed. His speech was still slurred with tiredness when he managed to mumble, "What the heck, Aria? It's way too early."

"It's the reapings today, you idiot. You forgot, didn't you?"

He paused for a few moments, as his mind slowly registered the information. "Yeah…"

"Well, get up. You've still got three years of this bullshit left. Lucky you."

"Shut up…" He whined, hauling himself into a sitting position and rubbing his eyes. Aria, he noticed, was already dressed and tidy looking, with her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and a plain green smock hanging off her thin frame.

"You're just grumpy because I don't have to worry about them any more," she teased, "Now hurry up; otherwise you're going to be late." With a playfully accusing look, she leaves the room and Alto lets out a sigh. He really couldn't be bothered with the reapings, especially today. He'd slept badly that night, plagued by nightmares, and wanted nothing more than to curl back up and try and catch up on his sleep. Not an option, unfortunately. He slid out of bed, whining audibly as his feet touched the cold wood.

He got ready sluggishly, throwing on some smart looking trousers and an off-white shirt and patting his brown curls down in a futile attempt to make them look tidier. Whatever. He supposed it didn't really matter what he looked like, it was unlikely he'd get reaped anyway. After all, Aria had made it through the reapings so there was no reason he couldn't as well. He yawns loudly, and stumbles out of his room in search of breakfast.


Acacia's laughter was probably the last thing the people of district seven expected to hear on reaping day. Yet, there she was, bent over with laughter while Cedric, her best friend, stood there looking unimpressed. "It's really not that funny, Cia..."

"You look like a clown," she managed to croak, tears streaming down her face, as she leant on her knees. Poor Cedric. His mother had put together a special reaping outfit for him, including a pale yellow shirt, blue and green pinstripe trousers and a polka dot bow tie. Apparently, when he'd refused to wear it his mother had cried so he'd been left with little choice in the matter. Acacia thought this made the situation even more hilarious. "Yeah, I know. Can we just get going already?" He chewed at his lip, pulling at already sore flesh. "People are staring." Acacia managed to nod and stifle her laugh. The pair of them walked slowly, enjoying the forest air.

"You feeling okay?" Acacia asked gently. "Yeah... Just reaping nerves, I guess." Her eyes watched him with a look of brief empathy, but it was soon replaced as they neared the central square.

"Me too."

"We'll be okay. Kids from seven are tough." Acacia nodded, smiling slightly. That was certainly true.

"We are."

When they reached the central square, there was already a line of people waiting to enter the pens. Acacia and Cedric shuffled to the back. Using Cedric as a support, Acacia's strong frame making Cedric's skinnier one buckle slightly under her strength, she stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck, looking around for her older brothers. "Can you see them anywhere, Ced?"

"Ash and Spruce?"

"Yeah, they should be here by now." she glanced about, her eyes peering through the crowds milling around uncomfortably, eyes not picking out the figures of her brothers.

"Maybe they're already in there? I can't see the eighteen's pen from here." Acacia nodded and relaxed back down. They waited in silence until it was their turn. Their fingers were pricked and they both made their way over to the other sixteen year olds. It would begin soon. Acacia watched as the district seven escort wobbled across the stage. She realised, with some astonishment, that he was mimicking the walk of their last victor who had lost half of his foot in the games. Glancing around at the faces of the other citizens, it seemed that they thought the same as her. She caught a glimpse of the victor in question, who was just staring blankly ahead. She figured it wasn't the first time he'd seen this.

She listened absently as the escort delivered the same speech he gave every year and showed the same video that was shown at every reaping. Then it was time. With a flourish, the escort plucked a name from the girl's bowl and carefully unfolded it. He cleared his throat and called out,

"Acacia Wisteria." For a second, Acacia felt her heart stop. She looked over at Cedric, dread pooling in her chest. Then she steeled herself, held her head high and strode up to the stage. The cameras zoomed in to show the proud looking tribute from seven and she stepped onto the stage. Only Cedric saw how her hands trembled. After praising Acacia's bravery, the escort quickly moved on to the boys bowl. His hand dipped in and he pulled out a name.

"Alto Salsus!" Alto felt his life end right then and there. He stood, waiting. Waiting for somebody to volunteer for him. Nobody said a word. Sympathetic eyes watched him, but mouths stayed shut. Shakily, he stepped out of the cluster of fifteen year olds and walked slowly towards the stage. The escort said something about how lucky he was. Alto burst into tears.

Hundreds of eyes watched him bawling his eyes out, the only sound for miles around. All noise had ceased to watch him as he broke down on stage. For once in his life, he had no witty comeback, no answer and could see no hope for the future. He cried noisily for about a minute before managing to compose himself slightly.

Still sniffing, he turned and shook hands with Acacia.


We are still looking for a district 4 female, a district 4 male, a district 11 male and a district 12 male. If you plan on submitting a tribute to 1 or 4 they MUST be 18. If you want to submit to 11 or 12, younger tributes are the most preferred.

Special thanks to ClovelyLittleReader for sending in Acacia, we hope we're doing her justice!