"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground.

What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here."

Blair Charlton, 13, Child


Living is hard. Living is difficult and confusing. Living is a very tricky thing to get right. Especially when someone, the person who was supposed to guide you is no longer there to hold your hand.

They think that they are making my existence easier when they give me sympathy, when they tell me their condolences and all of these lovely stories of someone they have never known. To be fair, it doesn't make things easier for me, although it does make things easier for them. It makes their living an easier thing to do.

The people surrounding me need to repeat it to themselves over and over again. Every single hour of the day, the same exact words must be repeated in their minds.

I am alive, and I am human.

It's only because of this need I've allowed it continue on for the past year. The sad smile from the shopkeeper as she hands the bag over the counter which makes it clear she's put extra food in it. The pitying glances from my classmates as they turn back around to catch another look when they think I'm not paying attention. My own mother and father as they pat me on the shoulder with those now irreplaceable glassy eyes that cannot help but stare into me.

No one looks at me for Blair anymore. They look at me for Kensey because they don't know where else to look for him.

I was never close to him. He was my brother, yes, but that doesn't mean we were close. Do I regret that now? Part of me does, I suppose it's only natural to want what I can't have. A larger part of me doesn't though. He's gone and it's only right that I accept it. I'm not the only sibling in this District that lost someone to the Games last year. For the girl and her siblings, it's only right I accept the death of one of my own just like they had to.

I'm aware of how awful this sounds although that won't stop me from saying it. The truth is, I can't wait for these Games to begin. I can't wait to see that monster of an escort reach their twisted hand into the bowls and pick out two new names. It's simple why; their families will be a whole lot more grateful for the sympathy of District Seven than I ever was.

It will be someone else's duty to keep those few shreds of humanity alive in the despairing lumberjacks.

At this moment, I want nothing more than to get on with my life. For the past year, I've lived under the shadow of my only brother's ghost. Perhaps now he will leave me be. He doesn't have to worry about me forgetting him. It's true what they say about people when they are gone.

Even if it was someone you never thought much about before, you spend a second of every day thinking about them when they are no longer here. You can't help it. Something will make itself known; a smell, a touch, a sound, a sight, a taste. A feeling. Something that can't help but remind you of them.

This place does. The center of District Seven. The last sight of his home that Kensey ever saw.

Last year is still fresh in my mind. The sun shone as bright as it could through the layer of thick clouds. There was a breeze that had a playful edge to it. Obviously, the weather wasn't aware that this day out all of them was Reaping Day.

It was my first Reaping Day inside of the fence. No longer was I on the edge with my parents, it was my turn to take stead in the pen. Nervousness riled within me as I walked to my designated place. All the boys beside me were feeling the same way. They all had no idea what they would do if their name was called. I'm guessing they would cry; that's what I would have done anyway.

Our Victor, Miss Edea Oban hadn't broken down by the end of the mayor's speech, something which was a change from the normal routine. She sat in her chair, her back straight up against it with an unusual look of determination in her face. Her eyes were still teary but they were not going to falter now.

The girl whose name was called made sure to cover the amount of tears for her. She stood on the stage and cried her eyes out, so much so you could barely hear Kensey's name being called.

I didn't feel anything. Sadness, anger, denial, I felt none of it as he walked up to the stage. In fact, all I did when Kensey was struggling to keep himself together for both his district partner and mentor was think back to what he'd said when we stepped into the reaping area together for the first, and last time.

"You'll be fine Blair. There's no point worrying about, I'm sure you'll be fine by the end of it."

I'll be fine at the end of my reapings will I? All I need to go is get through these ones and I will come out all fine and dandy. Ha, I look forward to the end of it all Kensey, I look forward to it because I know I will prove you wrong.

Thinking of it in that way though does mean I don't need to remember this Reaping Day. It's just one more out of seven I will go through. I think I will still remember it. For Kensey. He is now as synonymous to the Reaping Day for me as the mayor's speech. A playful breeze or a cloud covered sun, it all reminds me of him.

Despite accepting the fact my brother is gone, part of me will always wish for him to be here standing beside me as we watch the sun streak across the sky, leaving nothing but a trail of light in its wake.


Song used for Prologues : "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd.


I just want to let you know that choosing tributes was difficult. If your tribute didn't make it, don't feel disheartened. It was probably just not right for this story but you never know, it might be right for another. If your tribute did make it, then well done. You now have to put up with me for 6 months to a year. Won't that be fun? Acceptance PMs will be sent out tomorrow so yeah, here's the list.


Tribute List

District One

Male: Drew Marchand, 16

Female: Adelle Charmaine, 18

District Two

Male: Emmanuel Prime, 17

Female, Guinevere Garner, 18

District Three

Male: Desmond Wallace, 18

Female: Varia Almilla, 15

District Four

Male: Serif Miranda, 16

Female: Erin Levere, 15

District Five

Male: Reigh Vallore, 18

Female: Luminessa Rosen, 16

District Six

Male: Nassau Viero, 15

Female: Kenna Ariadne, 18

District Seven

Male: Cadmius Amerait, 17

Female: Corinne Forsette, 17

District Eight

Male: Vince Ortega, 13

Female: Carney Herrone, 15

District Nine

Male: Jericho Garner, 12

Female: Elsie Neiland, 13

District Ten

Male: Loras Adler, 18

Female: Liette Iona, 17

District Eleven

Male: Adric Lemar, 18

Female: Jasmine Knowles, 17

District Twelve

Male: Augustin Pyre, 15

Female: Minthe Avenal, 15


The blog is up as well. It's linked on my profile but I'll post the link here as well.

w w w. gatesofdawnhg. blogspot. c o . u k


If you made it this far down, I'm impressed. Here's a couple of questions for ya:

1. Which tributes are your favorites from the blog?

2. Which one of the prologues was your favourite?

Okay, I think that's it. I hope you all have a lovely New Year and I hope you are looking forward to seeing where The Gates of Dawn go.

I'll see ya when I see ya~

Edit: Okay, there was more than a couple mistakes with the blog. Elsie's post had Augustin's weaknesses so I've changed that now. If they are any other mistakes, then tell me. I'm sure it won't be hard to find them.

Also, I'm in a need of a permanent beta reader. I don't want anyone who has a tribute in the story to do it but if you guys have any suggestions about who wouldn't mind beta-ing a SYOT, I'll be glad to take them.

-Luna