AN: Ahhh! Thank you so much for the positive response! I am so glad you liked the last chapter. Remember, I need spider mutts! I already got one awesome suggestion! And keep earning sponsor points, you'll want them when we get in the arena…trust me. Also, I don't have a beta or edit because it takes up too much time so I apologize for any errors. Happy Hunger Games!

District 3 Reaping

Leo looked around his room before settling his eyes on the ceiling. It was what he liked to do best when he was dealing with a difficult situation. He couldn't figure out what component he needed to complete his invention. He was working on a better trap design for the hunters in his district to use but he was missing something. He was about to slam his head down onto the desk when his mom screamed his name. He sighed and grabbed his jacket before heading out to the square with his mom and dad. He was their only child and he had two more years left of worrying about the games. His parents were wringing their hands as they kissed his forehead before he was corralled into his pen. He continued thinking about his invention as the festivities were looking to begin. Worried looks continued to cover his parents' faces but he ignored them, staring into the clouds, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Sky looked into the mirror and ran a brush through her shoulder length hair one more time. She blinked and saw her sea green eyes staring at her. She never broke a smile as she pulled on her old favorite pair of sneakers. She looked into the mirror one last time to see her yellow t-shirt and old fraying jeans completing her outfit before heading to the living room. Her mom was sitting on the couch, staring at the wall with tears in her eyes and her dad smiled softly as she entered, gently rubbing her mom's back.

This day was difficult for all of them, they couldn't wait until Sky was ineligible for the games anymore since the games were just a reminder of what they had lost. Her brother, Cal, died just two years ago in the games. She hated the games for what they had done by completely destroying her family and it was incredible to think that it had only been two years. Her father, Luca, gestured to her and they left the house as a family.

When they arrived at the square, Luca hugged his daughter tightly before she left to join her best friend, Gracelin, in the group of 16 year old girls. The girls turned their attention to the stage as their escort, Riga, began to speak.

Riga is a gentle woman and very intelligent. She knew about the hardships faced by district 3 in these games since they weren't careers. She spoke through the required speech as quickly and emotionless as possible. She tried to proceed with the reaping as quickly as possible. She reached a hand into the bowl and frowned, she remembered this name from two years ago and she knew it would kill the family, but she had no choice. "Skylar Reef."

Gracelin turned to Sky and looked horrified. Sky walked to the stage with her head sagging slightly. She shook hands with Riga and saw the compassionate look in her eyes. She turned away, not wanting her pity and waited for the reaping to continue.

Riga grabbed a paper from the other bowl and cleared her throat before saying "Leo Ryll." Leo finally broke out of his inventing trance and snapped his head towards the stage. He walked towards the stage fairly quickly and took his place, still looking somewhat surprised and confused.

The tributes were taken into the justice building and allowed to see their family and friends. Sky's family and Gracelin came in together and instantly fell on her in tears. She managed to not break down, not even when Gracelin handed her a black beaded bracelet to wear as her token. She hugged them all and smiled. The one thing she never did was promise to come home. Her brother's last words in person to them were that he would come home and he never did. She wasn't going to make and break that promise.

"Grace?"

"Yes, Sky?"

"Take care of them for me?"

"Of course."

Leo's parents came in and he still seemed to be curious about his new situation.

His dad spoke first "Leo, please, survive for us. You are the most brilliant boy in the district and probably in the games. You can handle this."

"Dad, will you finish my trap? I am not sure what it needs but maybe you can finish it for me."

"Of course, son."

His mom spoke and said "don't trust people you don't know."

Leo rolled his eyes and said "mom, I don't know anyone in these games."

"Exactly. Be safe Leo."

Peacekeepers entered the rooms and took the two 16 year olds to the train. They looked at each other and shook hands amicably before separating down the train to head to their rooms.

District 4 Reaping

Jaz got up early in the morning and went to the kitchen. She looked in the fridge and sighed. Her mom must have forgotten to go shopping again. She scrounged together a reasonable breakfast for today. She wasn't normally one to make breakfast but today was a special day. Her siblings had relied on her in the time after her father's death and today was no exception, despite the fear that wracked her body when she thought of the games.

She excelled in some of the physical education aspects of school that she was forced into. P.E. was pretty much weapons training. She loved her twin Sais, but it was still a scary thought to think of plunging them into someone's body and taking their life. She really missed the days when her dad would take her to work and let her climb all over the nets. She sighed softly to herself but pulled it together instantly when her siblings started coming downstairs.

The all ate breakfast together but it was a solemn meal; one of them might be walking onto a train today and no one wanted that. After their father's death, the family banded tightly together and was inseparable. Jaz went upstairs and put her short dark blonde hair up in a hat. She wore an emerald hook necklace that her father gave her before he died. They walked out to the main square together and hugged quickly before the peacekeepers could drag them apart. All eyes were glued on the stage as they awaited the beginning of the "festivities."

Quintley stretched in his tent and left quickly. He grabbed his staff with twin blades on the ends. He walked into the small forest area that was in the district, found a rabbit, killed it and ate it raw. He went back to his tent and grabbed his clothes that he wore every year for the reaping. He changed into his black button-down shirt that clung to every muscle of his body and his black jeans. He placed his staff on his back and grabbed his bag with his grimy hands, pausing only to wipe his greasy hair out of his eyes. He briskly walked to the square knowing that if it wasn't this year, it would be next. He was going to use these games to move up in the world. He wanted to move to district 2 for peacekeeper training. He would be good at it; he was definitely intimidating enough. He stood in the back corner of the 17 year olds and stared at the glass bowl; waiting to see his fate.

Tiri, the escort for district 4, walked up and smiled happily. She loved having a career district and she knew that they had a good chance of winning and maybe even moving her to an even better district. She gave her propaganda speech about the glories of the Capitol and eagerly reached into the bowl of girls' names. "Jasmine Assh."

Jaz walked up to the stage and knew that none of her siblings would volunteer. The younger ones were in no shape to come out of these games alive and the older ones needed to take care of the family just like she did. Tiri shook her hand and reached into the bowl on her other side, pulling out a name. "Quintley Geannus."

The crowd parted as he walked quickly up to the stage, displaying arrogance in every gene. Jaz was trembling as she saw her district partner and opponent. No one dared volunteer in Quintley's place as they were well aware that he lived in the wild and was probably the best suited for the games in the entire district.

The tributes shook hands, much to Jaz's displeasure, and proceeded into the Justice building to say goodbye to their families. Jaz's family flooded in and they hugged each other tightly.

Her oldest brother spoke to her and said "you can do this, Jaz. This isn't a death sentence."

Jaz looked at him in disbelief and said "did you see that guy?"

"He probably isn't that fast. He can't be able to climb well. You just need to get your hands on a pair of swords like your sais and you can win this."

"I've never killed before though."

"Don't make friends. You will handle this. Dehumanize them and you can do this. You are a career after all."

Jaz smiled and hugged her family for the last time before boarding the train. Quintley stood next to her silently and looked at her. She tentatively spoke, "would you like to be allies?" He scoffed and trudged down the train to his compartment. She thought bitterly to herself "Well, it was worth a try."

Quintley had no one come to see him. His parents had died in a drowning accident when he was 12. He was already training at this point and didn't get to see their bodies after death since they drowned in open ocean. He avoided water from this point forward which explained the grimy appearance. He got his belongings out of the house his parents left to him and moved to the edge of town, as far from the ocean as he could get. No one really bothered him since he was known for being vicious but he was still lonely inside.

Having time for family and friends to visit and having no one come really drove this point home for Quintley. The mayor made an appearance in his room and spoke quickly and shortly to him.

"Quintley, I know that you have had a rough time since your parents' deaths but you will bring honor to your family name and the district. Good luck."

The mayor left quickly, upon seeing the anger in Quintley's eyes at the pity for his life. The peacekeepers came soon after and he boarded the train, staring heartlessly at his district. When Jaz asked if he wanted to ally with her, he scoffed and turned away. "Like I would need an ally, let alone partner with someone so weak."

AN: I hope you got a good idea of these characters…and Quintley…sigh…he almost belongs in district 2 for his ruthlessness but I think that having him in 4 since his parents drowned was more appropriate. May the odds be ever in your favor! :-)