So here's the first reaping for district 5!

2 hours before the reaping, a small bench outside the power plant

Natasha was sat alone again, expressionless. She wasn't in the best of moods right now. Once again, thanks to her sneakiness she had caught her mother with yet another man that wasn't her father. But she really didn't want to face it then and there so she decided to sneak away. That way she wouldn't have to wear that mask she always wore. That plain, emotionless mask. Unfortunately, none of her siblings were around so she went to the only place she could think of for now. That was her father's workplace. She didn't care much for her father either. Like her mother was a sex addict, he was a drug addict. It all added up to a rather poor home really. Natasha had learned years ago that it was pointless trying to change or fight any of it. Instead, she created a mask to hide herself behind when it all got bad, though she never would forget the bad things. She was certainly the type to hold on to it.

Natasha sat up a let out a deep sigh. She moved up her hand to fiddle with a part of her long, curly red locks of hair. She was quite a pretty girl really. She stood at a tall height of 6ft and was rather slim too. Her skin was a light tan and her young face held two shining blue eyes. Natasha moved from her hair to her necklace. It was a pretty necklace. All attraction was brought to the gleaming silver skill resting right below her collarbone. It was present Natasha had received years ago from her older brothers, a present from which she had always been grateful of. Natasha was suddenly brought out of her musings however as she felt a small tug on her leg. She looked down to see a smoky grey coloured cat. The feline was scratching lightly at the hem of her dress. With a smile, she lent down, picked it up and gave it a scratch on its belly. It was nice to let out her playful side once in a while. After a minute or so the cat leapt off Natasha's lap and, to her surprise, joined with another cat. She smiled playfully for a second before noticing the two had started fighting. As one cat swatted the other over the back of its head Natasha got a sudden shock of remembrance.

Of course…today was the reaping.

She had gone through this four times now but even so she still feared the event. Luckily for her, she never had to experience one of her many siblings being picked, nor being picked herself though every year felt the same. She remembered how every year she would wind up whoever did get picked just by giving them a single look. She just had that kind of effect.

'Sigh…okay it's not going to be me, its not going to be me, its not going to be me' she repeated in her head 'I guess I could just always sneak away from the reaping…'

"Natasha? What are you doing here?"

The 16 year old looked up to see the all too familiar face of her elder sister Ginny.

"I was waiting for dad" was her simple reply. Ginny sighed.

"You really shouldn't sneak out of the house like that, I swear you're just too…sneaky"

Natasha shrugged and smiled.

"Anyway, let's get you home. Your brothers, sister's and I have quite a good surprise waiting!" Ginny said happily. Natasha nodded, got up and followed her sister.

'Any surprise would be good on a reaping day'.

1 hour before the reaping, outside the reaping area

Lathus was waiting quietly outside the reaping area, but he was starting to get impatient though it didn't show on his face. He just wanted to get this over and done with. The tension, the sadness, the heartbreak…well not that he cared much for the last two. All in all it was pretty emotional for most, but he honestly didn't care usually about anyone that was picked. So he just wanted to get this done and leave. The 16 year old male paced back and forth in front of the place. Several adults passed by and gave him some strange looks. In all honesty he did look a bit scruffy.

Lathus had medium length charcoal black hair with several bangs hanging in front of his scarlet eyes. Those eyes were always frightening. He was sort of tall, standing at 5ft 9 with a slim waist. He only wore a simple grey shirt and jeans with no shoes. Yes, that was very much his style. He didn't really own anything nicer, and he didn't have anywhere to get something nicer. Lathus didn't really have a family, well not one that he knows of. The only memories he had are of the capitol. Those weren't really the best memories either. They we scarred with dark old laboratories, trashed streets and blood. So much blood.

It probably wasn't the best time to be thinking about that though. Lathus turned around to look at the large clock behind him.

'Damn, still another 20 minutes' he thought angrily to himself. With irritation, he leant back against the wall and started waiting again.

The Reaping

Everyone young child from the age of 12 and 18 were gathered in a mass in front of the stage. The girls were stood to the left, the boys to the right. Natasha waved a brief goodbye to her brothers as she rushed to find a place to stand with her sisters. Her mood now was much better than earlier. It turns out her little surprise was even better than she expected. It seems her brothers and sisters had pooled their money together to buy her a beautiful new dress for the reaping. As her sister quoted:

"If you're going to walk to your death you might as well look pretty"

It sure was pretty. It was long and black with a lovely black bow on the shoulder. Even so, she was still worried.

'I could still sneak away, no-one would probably notice…' she thought to herself, scanning the crowd. She glanced over at the boy's section. Her brother had already settled into the crowd, but were stood next to someone…strange. He was probably the same age as herself but had this mysterious aura about him. The boy turned around and looked her straight in the eye, with a cold uncaring look. She shot him a sly look and smile before turning back to the stage where the escort had just arrived.

Like all capitol people, he was rather strange looking. He was a dark skinned man with thick black hair. His outfit was also black and covering his entire body, hands, feet and all. From the back of the outfit, four black appendages stuck out neatly. It didn't take Natasha a second to realise he was dressed as a spider. Lathus didn't look impressed and mumbled under his breath.

"Bloody capitol people"

Everyone went silent as the eccentrically dressed man wandered up to the microphone.

"Good afternoon!" He exclaimed in a posh but flamboyant tone "I am Rudeger Hayflick, and today I will be picking out two lucky young boys and girls to represent district 5 in the 66th annual hunger games. But first! I have brought a film directly from the capitol to be played to you all"

With that, the film started. It was a typical, patriotic kind of film, detailing the history of Panem and the hunger games. Everyone had seen these kind of films before so no-on paid much attention. Eventually the film ended and Rudeger went back to the mic.

"Well now, it's time to announce our tributes" he said with enthusiasm. He reached his hand into one of the large glass bowls to his side.

"Ladies first, and our tribute is…"
Natasha held her breath.

"…Natasha Widow!"

Fred, Julian…those names immediately popped into her head.

"Fred! Julian" she unwilling called. Where were her brothers? She needed them!

"Marcaline!"

Maybe her sisters would help her.

"Ginny! Maria!"

No matter how many times she called their names it did nothing. They couldn't help her now. Natasha looked to the floor, then back up at their escort.

"Come on dear, don't be shy!"

Natasha breathed a sigh and accepted defeat. She shuffled her feet up onto the stage and stood beside the ridiculously dressed man. She could only wait now for the male tribute to be picked.

Lathus looked expressionless as he watched the girl go up on stage. One down, one more to go. Then he could leave.

"Okay now! It's time to announce our male tribute!" The man exclaimed again, reaching into the other glass bowl. Lathus followed his movement as the paper was unfolded and read out.

'Here we go'

"Lathus Thyth!"

Seriously? Him? This…was actually a good opportunity. Lathus kept a blank expression and went to join the girl on stage, but his thoughts all the while were of the capitol. How sweet it would be to go back. He already had his plans ready. Once he was on stage, the escort spoke again.

"There we have it! The tributes for district 5 this year are Natasha Widow and Lathus Thyth, now shake hands!"

Natasha stuck out her hand, but slowly. Lathus reluctantly took it and the two shook.

No words were exchanged between them. After all, their lives had just been changed for the worse in a few mere minutes.