Auden Eneis, 15, District Three

Auden swallowed nervously as her friend scrutinized her face. Ellysia had been staring for at least two entire minutes now, and the silence was beginning to become tense. What was it that she was looking for? Auden had followed all of her instructions. She was wearing the blue dress with the dark brown eye shadow that apparently made her look older. She didn't touch her wavy black hair, and she made sure to run all of her jewelry choices by Elyssia before she put anything on. She knew for a fact that she hadn't forgotten anything.

"Um, do I look okay? Did I do something wrong?" Auden asked quietly. Ellysia suddenly snapped out of her daze, looking at Auden as if she just realized that she wasn't looking at a mannequin.

"Oh, I'm sorry, yeah, you look fine. I was just checking your make-up to make sure you blended everything right. You did a good job though, don't worry," Ellysia reassured her.

"Who are we meeting again?" Auden inquired, as her friend began to fiddle through her bag.

"Oh, just a bunch of people over by the school," Ellysia replied vaguely. "Remember what I told you though. If they bring up school, don't say anything negative, m'kay? Most people don't think being a super genius is a bad thing."

"Hopefully we won't talk about school at all," Auden said quickly, feeling a light blush rise in her cheeks as she remembered the last social outing she went to. Ellysia had left her alone with a boy named Gage. She had been so nervous, and then he asked her how school was. Of course, she was honest and made a remarkably sarcastic remark about how fantastically fun it was. Well apparently, he liked mathematics. When he said so, she commented on how boring it was, as it was all so easy. Ellysia said she sounded a bit arrogant, but she wasn't trying to be. She was simply telling the truth, it was boring and she wanted nothing to do with it anymore.

"Alright, come on then," Ellysia said, pulling on her hand. The two of them walked out into the vast District Three city, walking through the smooth marble streets. There was a lot of people out and about that day, as most of the businesses had closed for reaping day. A dull nervous buzz seemed to crackle in the air like a fuse-watt engine in a humidified room. It wasn't so much that people were dreading the upcoming reaping, just that they were sort of ambiguously worried about it.

That was generally how people were in District Three. The odds were so low of getting reaped that it simply wasn't logical to worry about it too much, especially since the population of their lone city was modestly large. Most likely Auden wouldn't even know the two tributes who got reaped this year.

The school that the two girls were headed to was in the heart of the city, just a block away from the town square. Auden wasn't actually a student there. She used to be of course, but she graduated the twelfth grade when she was ten. Her parents had gotten her a tutor after that. Still she liked coming back to her old school on days like this with Ellysia in hopes of acquiring some new friends.

After ten minutes, they could see the grand structure protruding from around the corner. The school was possibly the most advanced building in the entire city. The outside walls and roof were lined with solar panels, and it was completely self sufficient. On the inside, old students had installed a self cleaning system, universal audio visual screens that could be accessed anywhere, a robotic lunch lady, and more. It was quite impressive really. Auden herself had re-circuited the HVAC micropad back when she was a student; however, that wasn't really an achievement she was particularly proud of.

"Oh look, there they are," Ellysia pointed as they got closer. Six kids were sitting on the front steps to the school, all dressed in their reaping day best. Three boys, three girls, Auden counted. She recognized two of them, Huxley Bowden and Volt Powers as kids she had met before. Luckily though, she didn't think they would have remembered her. She didn't recall doing anything that Ellysia might consider "socially unacceptable" around them.

"Hey," Ellysia waved, calling out to them. The six kids all looked up, and though the majority didn't seem to recognize either Auden or her friend, a smile broke out across one of the girl's faces.

"Ellysia, I thought you said you couldn't make it," the girl squealed, running up towards them and giving each of them a friendly hug. Auden watched the way Ellysia warmly accepted the gesture, and copied her, trying not to be awkward about anything. "You must be Auden," the girl said.

"Um, yes, that's my name," Auden replied.

"I'm Gadget," the girl said, frolicking back over to the other teenagers. "Hey guys, this is Ellysia and Auden from Newtonsville. I told you they might be showing up remember. Auden, Ellysia, this is Huxley, Volt, Xeno, Pixle, and Gamma."

"Hey, we met before," Volt grinned at Ellysia. "Weren't you guys at Rob's party a couple months ago?"

"Yup that was us," Ellysia nodded, sitting down on the step beside Vlad.

"That's cool, Rob's a blast. He should throw us parties more often," Vlad laughed.

"If you like his parties why don't you throw your own?" Auden remarked curiously. Suddenly everyone was staring at her, and the corners of Ellysia's mouth were taught again. Oh, she must have said something wrong. Why'd she even bother opening her mouth?

"Oh, Auden, you're so cute when you joke," Ellysia laughed, her voice a few octaves too high.

"Why don't we start going to the reaping," Gadget suggested, sensing a change in subject was needed. "We'll avoid some of the crowds if we go now."

"Sounds good to me," Pixle nodded. With that the eight of them took off. And as they chatted, Auden slowly glided to the back of the group, where she could listen without speaking. That way, maybe she wouldn't mess up anymore today.

Avell Watts, 12, District 3

The boy sat on the bench, swinging his legs back and forth as he watched the passer-bys. The sun was high in the sky, and the reaping was fast approaching. District One had probably already started their ceremony due to time zone differences and such. As it was, the children of District Three were just beginning to spill out of their houses and flounder towards the town square in their pristine fancy clothing. Avell himself was wearing a new suit, as he didn't plan on returning to his house that day to change again. The clothing made him look even younger than he normally did, as the square shoulders of his jacket illuminated his fragile frame.

Carefully he smoothed back his brown curly locks as a tall muscular older boy walked passed. If that kid got reaped, District Three might have another winner this year, Avell thought to himself. He was physically fit, and most likely relatively clever; although, the boy had a certain air to him that made Avell believe he could be slightly cocky. District Three generally didn't do well with cocky tributes. Mostly because the arrogance came from their intelligence, not physical capability.

Of course, if he was being very realistic, another career would probably win this year. An outer district tribute hadn't won in ages. Not that Avell was surprised by that. Most of the amateurs who got reaped for the Games had no idea what they were doing. They didn't go in with a proper strategy, and if they did have some sort of skill, they never used it right. Untrained tributes just didn't understand the essential keys to taking down their enemies.

Avell was different of course. If he got reaped, he would have an elaborately thought out plan that would ensure his victory.

First, he would have to find some way to split up the careers. Whenever they stuck together until the end, they had a winner, as shown by the last two years in the Hunger Games. The easiest way to do that would be to destroy their food supply. Careers didn't know how to deal with hunger, and when they didn't have anything to eat, they got irritable.

After the careers had split, Avell would try to knock them each off individually in their sleep. He knew better than to get into an fair fight with one of those trained killing machines, but at the same time he would need them gone. As for the other tributes, well, they didn't worry him too much. Most of them were civil enough that a clever speaker could wrap the up into a conversation before they tried to kill you. And a speaking tribute of course, isn't a prepared one.

Sighing, Avell stood dreamily to his feet, just thinking about all of the possibilities. One day, he would put all of his planning into action. Not today, of course. He was too young. Only two twelve year olds had won in the history of the Games, and both of them were in some exceptionally weird arenas, with an abnormally weak group of tributes. Maybe in a couple of years though, he could volunteer. The capitol would love that- a volunteer from a non-career district that actually showed some interest in the Games. They'd shower him with sponsor gifts, and maybe he'd even be able to grab the title of victor as easily as Finnick Odair had last year.

Just thinking about it made his blood start pumping. Lord, he wished he was older.

Walking towards the square, Avell made his way towards the check in station. In an instant he was absorbed in the entire process. This would be his first year where he would be able to feel the check in needle stick his finger. It wasn't much, but it was the closest connection he had to the Games. He would savor it.

As he made his way to his spot with the rest of the twelve-year olds, his mind began to drift forwards, back to the upcoming Games. Looking around he began to analyze each kid's chances of winning, should they get reaped. Most of the children around him didn't stand a chance, as they were all young like him, but if he strained his head towards the older kids, he could see some of them doing well.

He couldn't wait to find out what this year's arena was though. They had a returning Head Gamemaker named Minerva Callaghan running things in the Capitol. She was simply sensational last year, creating a swamp arena that moved while the tributes were asleep. This year, she had promised to switch things up, delivering an arena that was completely original, something no citizen had ever seen before. Avell had been reading up on the guess work in some of the Capitol magazines. Personally, his favorite theory was an arena in the sky. That would most certainly be grand.

Before long the mayor had taken center stage and began to give his annual speech. It was a whole new experience listening to the man talk on this side of the rope. Avell held his head high, patriotism radiating off of him.

"And may I introduce to you, out escort, Carlton Odysseus," the mayor said, sarcastically being dramatic. Everyone was horribly silent as the lanky escort mozied up to the microphone. Avell had half a mind to break into applause, as he rather liked their escort; however, he restrained himself. He didn't like it when people gave him odd stares about his opinions on the Games.

"Thank you so much for your gracious applause," Carlton rolled his eyes as he bowed in front of his audience. "I suppose I'll make things quick then. Let's start with the ladies this year... Do I have an Auden Eneis out there? Hmmm? Possibly in the eighteen year old section?"

After a few moments, the camera twisted onto the face of a fifteen year old girl with pale skin and dark hair. She wasn't crying, but her face was twisted into a painfully tense expression, like she was thinking so hard that it hurt. Avell supposed she might do well in the Games. She wasn't that old, but she wasn't too young either. If she was smart, then District Three might get lucky with a female winner this year. She'd have to be really really smart though.

"Ah there you are Auden," Carlton said blandly as his eyes judged the girl. He looked happier than he had the past two years when he had picked a thirteen and a twelve-year-old consecutively; however, he was far from pleased. As the girl made her way shakily to the stage, the escort moved over to the boy's bowl, reaching his hand in and fishing around for a few seconds. Avell leaned forwards, feeling the tension rising in the air. Crossing his fingers, he prayed for an eighteen year old. It would just be so cool if District Three had another victor.

"Avell Watts!"

The boy's jaw dropped in disbelief. Did that really just happen? Was he just reaped? For a second, a twinge of doubt registered in the back of his mind. He was only twelve years old. He needed more time. The emotion passed as quickly as it came though, leaving behind a wealth of excitement and joy. With a huge grin across his face, Avell ran towards the steps, jumping up them two at a time.

"Oh, well at least you're enthusiastic," Carlton sighed in disappointment. "District Three, your tributes."

Avell turned towards the girl, his District partner, and held out his hand gleefully. His eyes scoured her face, analyzing it in more depth now that he knew they'd be sharing the pre-game experience together. Gosh, he couldn't wait to really get to know her now. Their next week together would be the best time of his life.

Auden Eneis, 15, District 3

Auden sat on the couch, feeling sorrow wallow in her gut. Ellysia had already come to say good bye to her, and the knowledge that none of her other peers would be showing up was possibly the worst feeling in the entire universe. All these years trying to make friends and she only had one to show for it. She had never felt more alone.

"Honey," a quivering voice cried as the door pushed open and her parents came spilling in. Her overbearing mother had tears in her eyes as she reached down to envelop her daughter in a warm hug, but Auden pulled away. "Auden?" the woman asked confused.

"Dear, she's probably a bit overwhelmed," her father said softly into his wife's ear.

"Oh, I'm so sorry this has happened to you Auden. Your future was so bright, you were going to have everything," her mother cried.

"It could still be bright," her father insisted. "You're the brightest girl in the entire District. You can come home. We have faith in you."

Auden stared at them in disgust. "Maybe I don't want to come home," her voice cracked as her face contorted. Her parents stared at her dumbfounded. "All you've ever done is put me through tutor after tutor. Well guess what, I know all the equations in the world now, but do you know how many friends I had come visit me so far. One. And nobody else is coming because they all think I'm too weird. Its a bit ironic huh that after all the money you've spent on my intellect, I'm going to die because the freaking Hunger Games are partially based on the ability to have normal social interaction."

It was funny. When she was reaped, she didn't cry. She had been struck by the unfairness of it all, sure, but the tears just weren't there. Now that she was in front of her parents, looking back on her pitiful short life, the tears were second nature.

"We just wanted what was best for you," her mom whispered hoarsely.

"Maybe if you had just listened when you had the chance, you would have realized that I never wanted what you thought was best for me," Auden shot back venomously.

It was her father who finally broke the barrier that Auden had created in between herself and her parents. Cautiously, he stepped forwards, stretching out his arms to his daughter, and gently pushing her face into his shoulder. Despite the livid anger that flowed from her towards the two adults, she collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

When it came down to it, they were still the only people that ever really loved her.

Avell Watts, 12, District 3

Avell tapped his foot excitedly as he paced back and forth in the justice building. So this was the room that they held the good bye's in. He had never been in it before, though of course he had always wanted to see it. On this very floor, dozens of tributes had wept with their families as they tried to come to terms with their doomed fate. And of course, this room had housed the couple of tributes that had managed to come back. Sparky, Wiress, Beetee, Gage, he wondered which ones had their goodbyes here and which had been in Auden's room.

Reaching into his pocket, Avell picked out a black bracelet that he usually kept on him. It used to belong to District Three's first winner, Gage Crux. Avell bought it off a street vendor last year. It would definitely be his token in the arena. Then maybe he could sell it so some other little kid could cherish one of his belongings.

"Avell?"

The boy perked up, looking to see who was visiting him. His parents entered with tentatively pale faces, each watching him carefully to see how he'd react. "Hi mom, dad. Isn't this great," he grinned at the pair.

"Avell," his mother said carefully as she took a seat beside him. Obviously she had taken some time to prepare this little speech he was about to receive. Frankly, he wasn't too happy about it. Judging from her tone, she wasn't as happy about the outcome of the reapings as he was, and he wasn't in the mood for somebody to start raining on his parade. "Listen, we wanted to talk to you about the Games."

"Is this about your opinion on them again? Because I thought we agreed to disagree last time," Avell snapped irritably.

"No, its not about that," his father said quickly, giving his wife a withered look. Avell quieted, ready to listen now. He liked his father much better than his mother. He tolerated his interest in the Hunger Games much more than his mother did. Of course, he thought it was just a phase for Avell, but the boy figured his father would realize his error there eventually.

"We want you to be so careful in that arena, okay?" his mother said suddenly, grabbing his shoulders to make sure she had his attention. "I know that you have watched all of the old Games, and I know you will have a brilliant strategy for yourself, but you have to be cautious okay? ITs going to be different in real life than it is on the television. Don't be surprised if it's not-" She caught herself before she finished her statement.

"It's not what I expected it to be?" Avell finished for her, smiling slightly. "I'm not stupid mom. I know that the Games are dangerous. No matter what every year twenty three kids are going to die. Permanently, as in they're never coming back. I know that not being careful would be bad okay? I'm going to be fine though. The other tributes won't know what hit them."

The woman bit her lip as she studied her son's face. Sighing, she nodded, deciding her message had sunk in sufficiently. "I never thought I'd be so happy that you spent so much time watching all of those horrible repeats," she said.

Avell just grinned. "See. I told you that you'd come around and see it my way eventually."

A/N So there you have it. That's D3 for you. Next up is D4, with that blind career everybody's so excited about. Hope you liked these two tributes though. I expect that you will. D3 wasn't exactly a favorite last time (and neither of them lasted very long), so Avell and Auden don't have quite as much to live up to.