Esla Ann Sanders(District 8)
"Elsa, Elsa honey wake up I can't find your sisters." My mom's panicked squeals jolt me out of a dead sleep just as the first rays of sun creep through the partially drawn drapes in the room I share with my sisters Tina and Mindy.
"Mom calm down there probably just outside somewhere enjoying the morning, unlike me there both morning people."
"I looked outside the house and they weren't there, where on earth could they be, and today of all days to put me through this." That's why she's so upset, Reaping day is always a hard time for her,with this being Mindy and Tina's first year combined with the quell rule it's a miracle that she's made it to today.
"Mom don't worry i'll go find them why don't you and dad make breakfast?" The relief in her eyes makes me feel better about today and the chance for her to take her mind off today will be good for her. I pull on my old shirt and pants and slip softly into my shoes and head out to look for my sisters giving my dad a quick kiss as i head out the door.
The sun is just slipping over the stacks of the outer factories when i track the two of them down sitting in what might be the only tree in the district talking quietly. "You know mom is absolutely worried sick about the two of you."
"Sorry Elsa but we couldn't sleep so we came out to look at the stars." I giggle as i climb up to join them "the stars have been gone for almost an hour at least."
"It's still nice to just sit and think, we didn't mean to scare mom though." Tina hasn't said anything and that has me worried, she's the more vocal of the two normally and to see her sitting silent is unnerving.
"So Tina is that the truth or is there something you want to add before i go talk to mom about this?" The fear in her eyes as she looks at me speaks louder than anything she could say at this point as i quickly wrap her in a hug. "Tina I know you're scared but I promise nothing will happen to you, either of you. I won't let it."
"Elsa there's only one of you and two of us, what happens if we both get reaped? You can't volunteer twice."
"Yes this year is more dangerous for all of us but both of your names are only in the ball once, it's nearly impossible for either of you to get reaped little lone both."
"See Tina I told you Elsa would know what to do, she always does." The slight smile on Tina's lips is reassuring but her eyes still harbor the fear of a girl who's never faced the reaping before.
"Mindy's right, your big sis will always have the answers you should know that by now." Her laugh fills my ears with sweet music as she finally starts to come around as we start to make our way toward ground level. "so are you two ready to head back, mom is probably losing her mind by now and dad will have breakfast ready?" They both nod in near perfect unison and we start up the short path to our home and the uncertain future the day brings with it.
Liana 'Lia' Meri(District 8)
A quiet tap at my door stirs me from my dreamless slumber as my dad David enters my room, a plate of fruit and some toast clutched in his hands. "Lia i brought you some breakfast if you want it."
"Thanks dad, how is mom doing?" "Distant and inconsolable like every year."I sit up and take a piece of the sliced apple as he quietly leaves the door shutting softly behind him. It's like this every year, it's almost our ritual with dad bringing me food and mom locking herself away until we leave for the reaping. Deep down i feel like she blames me for Connor's death even though i was only 9 at the time. I slip gracefully from my bed and head over to the vanity that takes up most of my room to brush out the tangled mess that is my hair taking the plate of food with me. Conner was so loving, bright and funny and today is the day I miss him the most.
"Damn it Conner why did you have to die on me?" His death had drove the final nail in the coffin of our family, since then my parents have been more landlords then family and that's just fine with me. I brush softly trying to get the knots and tangles out without pulling too much of my hair out in the process.
"Hmm some of the brown is starting to show through, i'll need to get some dye from work tomorrow and fix it." I know stealing the dye is wrong but it's my little tribute to Connor and no one has said anything yet so why not keep doing it until i'm told to stop. I finish brushing and attempt to decide on a style to wear it in for today before giving up and deciding to go with the natural look it's in right now, after all it does accentuate my pale skin and hazel eyes almost perfectly, if only i could keep the bangs out of my eyes it would be perfect but you can't have everything i suppose.
I glide over to my makeshift closet and sift through until i find the dress i want, a soft blue one with green trim. I slip it on and check myself in the mirror to make sure i look good and surprise surprise, I do. The last thing i do before i head out for the reaping is tie the cloth bracelet Connor made me around my wrist, it's such a simple almost silly thing but it was the last thing he gave me befor the capitol ripped him from my life and having it makes me feel like a part of him is still around. With it firmly secured around my wrist I finish the last of my food and venture out into the small house I share with my parents, headed toward the reaping and an uncertain future.
Caspian Crow(District 11)
I wake to the shrill squawk of my bird 'Crow' trying to find a way outside through the small crack in my bedroom window. "Why are you being so noisy?" He turns to look at me, as if saying 'how else would you expect me to act?' With an exasperated sigh I swing off the bottom bunk and open the window to let him out. " Go on have fun, i'll see you after the reaping." He soars out and into the blue of the sky, off to look for breakfast no doubt which wasn't a half bad idea.
I quietly venture out into the kitchen doing my best to not wake anyone else and rummage through the food in the fridge before deciding on a bowl of cherries and some milk. No sooner have I set it out then my sister Ari comes stomping out of our room.
"If that bird wakes me up like this again i'm cooking it!" Her outbursts are normal by now and i do my best to ignore it but she refuses to let me. "Did you hear me!? Make sure it doesn't do it again or you won't have it for a pet anymore!"
"Ok, if I had covered the cage last night it wouldn't have happened sorry." Still angry but satisfied she stops over to the fridge and pulls out some meat and takes a seat opposite me and pours herself some milk.
"So are you ready for today, big day and all." "I'm trying not to think about it honestly." "Well you should 16 slips may not be a lot but with two male drawings this year it might be too many for luck to hold through." That was the worst part, any normal year i'd probably be ok being from 11 and all but with a second drawing to dodge with the quell twist I had a terrible feeling that today was going to be a very bad day.
The two of us eat the remainder of our meals in silence until dad joins us rubbing the last vestiges of sleep from his eyes. "Morning Caspian, Ari how did you both sleep?"
" I was doing great until the stupid bird of his woke me up." I know i need to control myself when she gets like this, but today is already starting off bad so I really can't make it any worse by arguing with her at this point so why not? "He's not stupid he just wanted out, it's a normal bird thing to do idiot." I never even see the slap coming but i instantly feel its sting on my cheek as she cocks back to deliver a second blow.
"ENOUGH ARI!" My dads tone shocks even me, he hasn't raised his voice to either of us since mom died and that was years ago. "Caspian go get ready for the reaping, Ari stay here and help me clean up." She looks like she's about to yell back but stops herself short and angrily grabs her dishes and stomps off to the sink. "Didn't you hear me Caspian, go get dressed now." I quietly sulk off to my room to get dressed, I was right today is going to be a terrible day I mean honestly how can it possibly get any worse?
Rudra Ranawa(District 11)
I love this time of day, especially when i'm out here in the orchards. The birds are singing the buds are blossoming on the trees, and the sun is shining down on me carrying away the last tingles of cold from my body. My brother would scold me for being out here 'wasting time like a child' he would say but there's something peaceful about being alone with the sounds of the new day filling your ears like this, and with what I have to look forward to today i'll need every quiet moment i can get.
"Thought i'd find you here" My head snaps around in fear until i see that it's just Chachan my brothers wife. Her slight waddle brought on by the baby is strangely cute as she plops down beside me under the tree. "Though you'd be at home getting ready for the reaping."
" Ya i just wanted to relax for a bit so I got ready early and came out here to get away, shouldn't you be at home too?"
"Fair point but i'm a victor and pregnant so no one will mind if I don't look fancy today, you however are the mayor's brother, a victor's brother in law, and eligible for the quell draw so you need to look fabulous."
All of that was true, but that didn't mean I couldn't joke with her about it. "What's wrong with these cloths?" "Besides the holes in the shirt and the dirt on your jeans not a thing." Her joking tone always helps me relax, she's been through so much and always finds a way to stay positive a trait I wish I had. "Ok you've made your point, i guess i could maybe change the shirt but that pants are a deal breaker."
This brings out a laugh and i'm instantly proud of myself. "Ok fair enough, now head home and change please. The reaping starts soon and you don't want to be late." "Yes mam."
She playfully swats my arm as i get up and race back to town, her following behind in her cute pregnant waddling way. "Go on and hurry, i'll see you at the square for the reaping." I break out into a slow jog as I near my house, a smile on my face as i dart past my twin sister Radhika and into my room to change. Today is going to be a good day, i just know it. Nothing can bring me down today.
A/N:I came in and did some slight work on the story, nothing changed just tried to make it easier to read and flow a little better. Well here's the first chapter, I hope it was an acceptable start to the story for everyone. A special thanks to MakoHaruFree, Green Apple Princess, grimbutnotalways, and Alia Sharma for the 4 tributes. So like I said before i'm only doing one reaping chapter and that will be the next one. I also paired off the districts one boy and one girl district but there's some randomness to the pairs mostly what I felt would go good together. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. If you see anything I need to work on or fix please PM me and i'll take care of it, also i'm curious as to which tribute everyone like the most. I look forward to continuing this adventure with you all. Thanks for reading the chapter :D