Hey all! You guys have no idea how happy I am….. Third chapter, and already people are alerting me!

If there are any of you who like next-gen Harry Potter, check out my in-progress story Escaping the Shadows, and if there are any who enjoy modern Hunger Games, try Cato4ever or Ceaser-Flickerman

So, now comes the fateful reaping… I wonder what'll happen? Just read on….

By the time Liliana reached the edge of the forest, the sun had risen in the cloudless sky, and the mockinjays were singing. She whistled a four-note tune, one she had often heard her mother sing, and smiled to hear the mockingjays repeat it in their high, chirping voices.

How could a day so beautiful, thought Lily, be the day when we send two of our own to possible death? If the day were to follow mood, the sky would be drizzly with sleet. She sighed and hefted her game bag onto her shoulder as she searched for the hole in the fence. Upon finding it, she listened for the humming of electricity, and crawled through.

Being careful to hide her game bag from the Peacekeepers, she slipped behind houses, taking the back ways until she reached a small, slightly run-down cottage, with two people inside who were waiting for her…

Post-war, people decided that it was best if districts 12 and 13 were not, well….. wastelands. So, with the best builders and growers, they rebuilt the two to their former, er, 'luxuries', which of course, wasn't much. However, they found it nice to actually have houses, and with that, along with the stashed money the former Capitol was hiding, they managed to repopulate until both districts were roughly the size they used to be.

So that is one reason why districts 13, and the Capitol, are included in the Hunger Games.

Lily pushed the door open a crack and pushed her game bag through, and then her head. She had been trying to make no noise, but could she help it if she fell into a tumbling heap onto the floor? Her head banged into the edge of the table, and she let out a little oof.

Obviously, the people living in the house didn't mind, because Liliana heard a half-dressed 12 year old screech before her face was blocked with a bunch of hair. "Liliana! What are you doing here? It's reaping day! You should be at home, getting changed!" Bryony cried, all in one breath, and then held Liliana's shoulders away from her own and inspected her. "You aren't even properly washed!" she cried, dismayed.

Carefully, Lily untangled herself from the heap on the floor and grinned down at the slight twelve-year-old. "That's because I was out hunting, Bee! And besides, who needs to change? Nobody is going to look as pretty as you if they tried!" At this, Bryony blushed.

Liliana turned to Bryony's mother, a shapeless woman who always wore her smile for the world to see, and began to rummage through her game bag. "Mrs Vendavalla, I have some things for you as well, I have rabbits, squirrels-""No, Lily, you keep them. You can't be caught with these, and I expect my Robin is out hunting too. No, hide them at your house. It's reaping day." At those words, Bryony whimpered. Lily turned to face her and began to stroke her auburn her. "Don't you worry, Bee, it's only your first reaping. Me, it's my fifth. If anyone were to get chosen, it would be me." Liliana turned to her bag and pulled out a bag of fresh strawberries. "Here, have these." She passed them to Bryony, whose pale skin lit up at the sight of fruit. "Now run of, little bee, go on!"

Watching Bryony run off to her room, Lily pulled herself to her full height, standing next to Jennifer, who smiled down at her. "Thank you for coming, Lily. Bryony has been so afraid, and all her brother does is scare her." Lily opened her mouth to say something when the bell struck three, signifying three hours till the Reaping. With a grimace, Liliana said a quick 'goodbye' before hefting her game bag and hurrying home.

Liliana had never liked the Reapings. For one, her parents were always away to coach, so she and her brother had been made to stay at the Vendavalla's, which is why 16-year-old Liliana is friends with a twelve-year-old. And though she isn't friends with Robin, he became friends with Finnick, another twelve-year-old, and Lily's brother.

When Liliana taught Bryony how to prepare for the Games, she had taken her brother. And with her brother came Robin.

So, the only problem with Liliana feeling that Bryony is like her sister is that Robin feels the same way about her brother.

And they hate each other for that.

When Liliana reached the Victor's Village, it wasn't too hard to tell which house was being used. For one, regarding the new Hunger Games law, quite a few twelves had survived. So many, in fact, that they had to build even more houses to fit the people. But those houses were new, and the Everdeen-Mellark household was old, and with only two houses in the Victors Village that were old (the other being Haymitch's) all Lily had to do was head to the cleaner of the two.

By the time Liliana was dressed, the rest of her family was in the kitchen, fussing about their clothes. Slowly Liliana made her way over to her mother, who was dressed up as well. That was the difference with some families: Liliana's parents had to dress for the occasion too.

Katniss turned and smiled at Lilliana; that was another difference. Most mothers would be mad at their children for spending all day hunting. Lily's knew better. Wordlessly, Katniss tugged at Liliana's clothes, then turned to a little golden box that lay untouched and slightly rusted with age on their mantle. Out of it she pulled a golden locket, and a pin.

A mockingjay pin.

Whilst Peeta hung the chain around Finnick's neck, Katniss fastened the pin on Lily's dress collar, then smoothed her braided hair down and whispered. "For good luck".

Lily looked around for her brother, and saw he was sitting in the twelve years section, along with Bryony. Good thing the two were friends, compared with who was standing next to her. She tried to wave at them, but on the stage, the woman had already started speaking.

"Hello, lovely District 12! Today is the day of the Reaping! Who is excited?" The woman, Lena Silver, who wore an elaborate dress and a large periwinkle wig, turned to the crowd as if expecting a round of applause. Obviously disappointed when none came, she continued. "Before we continue, I call up the mayor to read the list of original Games winners, and Reinstated Games survivors."

The mayor stood and began to read the list. Of the original Games there were exactly four, only three living, and at their names her parents waved at the crowd. Haymitch didn't wave, so much as snore. It was obvious he had been drinking again.

When the mayor had finished, Lena bounced back onto the stage and began to speak once more. "Well, what an exciting day! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" She sidled over to the pink bowl and stuck her hand in. "Ladies first!"

After swivelling her hand around the bowl, she finally found the sheet she was looking for.

"And the girl District twelve tribute is….."

For a moment, my heart stopped. I knew there was something wrong.

"Bryony Vendavalla!"

Ooh, Cliffy! So, I'll get the next chapter up as fast as possible, but I honestly hope you guys are enjoying it as much as me!

SO, for anyone who wants to create a character and possibly have it included….

NAME:

GENDER:

DISTRICT:

HG OR NO:

FAMILY:

LOOKS:

PERSONALITY:

LIKES:

DISLIKES:

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THIS STORY?

Till next time,

Smudgey