Felina Powell, District Two
Brutus grunts and throws back another whiskey as the reaping replay begins. Beside him Reubis leans forward eagerly, licking his lips as his eyes follow the undignified rush that is District One's volunteering protocol. I let their commentary wash past me as they watch the first pair take the stage, their banter easy after the months of one-on-one training.
To my right, Anevay settles back in her chair, her lips silently repeating the names of her soon-to-be allies and competitors. She's not the best tribute I've ever seen, but she was head and shoulders above the others in contention for this year's Games, and proved it in our trials. Most of our recent one-on-one training has been finding ways to compensate for her smaller size against larger opponents.
Most of Brutus' has been convincing Reubis that someday he might not be able to bull his way through a fight on sheer strength alone. Since that's pretty much how Brutus won his games, he's not particularly good at convincing his trainees, and as a result three of our last five boys have died because they took on an opponent too skilled for them to handle. My district partner was no exception.
The pair from Four, both volunteers again this year, look above average. Anevay adds their names to her list without pause, though I wince when I see Ava Lopez standing as one of their mentors. As spoiled narcissistic harpys go, she just about tops the list. At least the boy's mentor Morstan is easy to work with and easier on the eyes.
The rest of the reapings flash by, and I try to pin a few names and faces of interest in the midst of Vay's muttering and the boys' bawdy joking. Brayton Smett from Six has the build of a fighter, though probably no training. Parker Gerchell from Eight, no tears, no terror, even offers a gentlemanly arm to his district partner. Basma Jarrer from Nine, something about her stance that suggests she hasn't given up hope.
I flick the television off as the mining district and their scrawny offerings fade from the screen, and suggest pointedly that an early night won't hurt anyone. Especially if I have to be up and about meeting with my usual sponsors during the parade prep.
