**Hey guys, quick update. Sorry for not getting back to some of you and not updating the tribute roster right away. I lost my internet recently and only just got it back. Hopefully the roster should be properly updated now, but please let me know if you submitted a tribute or reservation and don't currently see it on the list. To make up for this, I'm gonna post the District 4 reapings a little earlier than I intended. Hope you all enjoy!**
Cassandra Reed, 17, District 4
In Cassandra's mind, nothing in the world was more calming than the sound of the sea. Something about the way it kissed the sandy shores of District 4, and the sound that accompanied it, just brought her nothing but peace. It was the soundtrack she often played in her mind while she fought. While her opponents stressed over their next move and their concentration was shaken by the sound of her spear whizzing past their heads, the sweet memories of fishing Sundays repeated inside her.
In the yard of the Career academy, spear clashed against sword as two girls fought valiantly. The taller one brashied her sword and thrusted it forward, only for her opponent to jump out of the way. After dodging, Cassandra tucked her auburn curls back behind her ears and stared at the swordwielder. She watched her every muscle move, attempting to anticipate her movements. However, before she could get a good read, her blonde haired attacker charged forward and planted her elbow into Cassandra's shoulder.
Taken off guard, her breath left her lungs as she hit the training room floor, making her throat burn like hot sand. However, the sound of the sea didn't leave her mind and soon her heart beat slowed and seemingly so did time. She was in too close of range to properly use her spear, and knew she could never shake the large girl looming above her with hand-to-hand combat. That's when she spotted it, the decorative fishing net hanging on the arena walls. Cassandra pushed herself upwards and bolted towards the wall, barely evading the girl's grasp. She yanked the net off the wall and turned towards the other girl, who was rushing at her with the training sword.
Without a moment of hesitation, Cassandra threw her spear above the attacker's left shoulder, which caused her to momentarily lose focus as she moved away with as much speed as possible. However, Cassandra was quicker. She bounded across the training arena with the speed of a crashing wave, the net wrapped around her hands. Once she was at her opponents back, with one quick motion her opponents neck became ensnared.
With a loud gasp, she struggled and dropped her sword, attempting to move the net but with not avail. Once she realized it was hopeless, the girl tapped Cassandra's arm twice, singling the match was over.
The two girls gathered themselves and turned to face their superiors, their breathing labored and sweat dripping from their brows.
"Ms. Reed, Ms. Ayers, well done," said the female trainer with a nod.
"Ms. Reed, good work on using the arena to your advantage, that may be your saving grace one day in the arena, and Ms. Ayers, while you did eventually lose, your combat skills were impressive. Good work at keeping close to you so she couldn't fully use her weapon." Once the male trainer finished his critique, he sent the girls on their way to get dressed for the reapings.
"Great work today, Brooke," Cassandra remarked as her former opponent helped her button up her sea green dress in the girl's training locker room of the Academy.
"Not so bad yourself, Cass. I think you'd go far in the games," Brooke replied.
Cassandra smiled at the remark as she finished tying a thick sash around her waist, completing her reaping day outfit.
Once they were both dressed, they headed out of the locker room, planning on making their way straight to the reapings. However, their peaceful journey through the halls was suddenly interrupted, as it routinely was, by a familiar voice.
Warf Pollman, 16, District 4
"Heeelllooo, ladies!" Warf said, leaning against the wall in a cocky manor, flipping his shoulder length hair back as he spoke.
Cassandra and Brooke exchanged annoyed glances.
"Hello, Warf," Cassandra said coldly.
The sixteen year old smiled and looked over the two beautiful women before him. While Brooke Ayers was by no means bad looking, he had a great too many run ins with her blade expert boyfriend to bother paying her much attention. Cassandra was his real prize. The way her frizzy curls framed her sun kissed face, the sight of her full pink lips, and the way her freckles danced in patterns around her body was simply divine. She was one of the most beautiful girls in the career academy- but maybe not out of the whole district.
"How you doing today, Cassandra? All dressed up for the reapings, I see."
"I'm doing fine, thank you very much."
Warf frowned. He could never understand why Cassandra always seemed so displeased to see him. Most girls would love to get this much attention from such an attractive man like him. In fact, girls from all over the district fawned over him, except the ones he truly wanted.
"Shouldn't you be doing something elsewhere?" Brooke suddenly remarked.
"Yeah, what about Sara?"
"Sara?" The boy laughed. "What about her?"
"Isn't she your girlfriend?"
"So? The doesn't stop me from appreciating some true beauty when I see some."
Disgusted by the seductive wink that shortly followed, Brooke grabbed her friend's hand. "Come on, Cass, let's go."
Warf stood against the wall and watched as the two girls walked off and exited the building. He knew he would get Cassandra to notice him some day, one way or another.
A few moments later, he moved to exit the building as well. Once he stepped out into the sun, he was greeted by four older boys, his brothers.
"Warf! You ready for the reapings?" Winn asked as he waved to his brother with his dark skinned hand.
"Yeah, come on man, we're gonna be late!" Wilhelm shouted as he stared him with his almond shaped eyes.
Warf looked nothing like his brothers, in fact, none of his brothers looked alike. Each one of them were born to different women their rich father had gotten drunk and seduced. The one and only thing their family had in common was their distinct love of women. As the boys walked to the reaping, such interest became the topic of conversation. Webster joked about how he almost managed to get a female peacekeeper to come home with him, which prompted Wrath to tell his story about the time he kissed one of the trainers at the career academy to get a better score on his assessment. However, when the group got closer to the main square, Warf interrupted.
"Guys! There she is! The blondie next in line to get her finger pricked."
"Warf, you gotta be kidding. That's the girl you've been crushing on?" Webster said, knitting his eyebrows in confusion.
"You do know who that is right? That's June Catsfield, the prettiest girl in the district."
"Exactly," Warf replied as he studied the slender figure of the object of his desire. "And she's gonna be mine."
The brothers seperated. Warf, Webster, and Winn headed into the reapings, while Wilhelm and Wrath headed into the watching crowd to find their father. This was Warf's last chance.
The Reapings
While Cassandra and Brooke waited in line to get into the reapings, they found the lines for the males was moving quicker and that Warf had already managed to make his way in.
"I'm gonna go tell her how I feel."
"Warf! Are you crazy? June Catsfield actually has standards, you know," Winn remarked.
"Yeah, she's not gonna be impressed by someone like you."
Infuriated by his brother's comments, Warf stormed off anyway. He ran over to girl's section, fixing his expensive leather jacket and combing back his dirt brown hair before he spotted the one he sought.
"June!" he cried, "June Catsfield!"
The tall, slender girl turned around, confused at the sound of the unfamiliar voice calling her name. "Yes?"
"My name's Warf Pollman, and seeing as we're here in the reapings and this very well may be the last day before I enter the games, I just had to come and tell you… I think you're beautiful."
June merely blinked, stuttering in surprise as she eventually spoke, "Oh… Uh, thank you."
"Tell you what, if we both make it out of this alive, how about I take you out to a seafood dinner? My treat!"
"Look… I'm sorry, little boy, but I'm not interesting in…" June looked Warf up and down, "You."
It was if the whole world stopped before suddenly shattering in his face. He had never been rejected like that before. He had never been insulted like that before.
"Is this boy bothering you, June?" Cassandra asked, suddenly appearing at June's side.
"Oh, Cass!" she said with a smile.
"Here, why don't you come stand by me and Brooke for the reapings." With that, Cassandra walked away with June Catsfield, making their way into the crowd where Brooke waited for them.
"Who was that?" June asked in a whisper as the District 4 escort, an old woman who looked to have had far too much plastic surgery in her life, began to speak.
"That's just Warf, he goes to the career academy with us, but truth be told, he isn't anything special. I don't think he could kill if he had to."
"I can tell, he seems a little weak to me."
The crowd sat through the usual propaganda video and a few boring speeches before finally the escort drew back their attention.
"Now, District 4, it is time for us to pick your female tribute!" The escort plunged her hand deep into the bowl of names and moments later pulled out a single white card. "Ahem… Cassandra Reed!"
Brooke gasped and turned to her best friend, whose eyes had gone wide in surprise. It certainly wasn't unusual for a career to be reaped, and it was customary not to volunteer for them when their name is called, but it was still a shock.
Brooke wrapped her arms around Cassandra one last time, gripping her tight before she had to go. "You'll be amazing, Cass. I know you can make it."
Similar sentiments were muttered around the crowd by those who knew her as she passed them by. Even her father and brother, who watched with tears in their eyes, knew she'd have a chance in the arena.
Warf was almost equally taken by surprise as he watched the beautiful girl walk up onto the stage. Not only was he just rejected by the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, the second most beautiful had just been sent into the games.
What a day…
"Now, onto the male tribute!"
And she didn't even volunteer!
Wait…. Volunteer…
Now that's an idea!
The moment the escort stuck her hand into the bowl of names, a cry rang over the crowd.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
She'll have to notice me now!
With a confused look on her plastic face, the old woman took her hand out of the bowl and watched as Warf made his way up to the stage. He wore his cocky smile and didn't seem to have any worry within him. He even shot June Catsfield a flirtatious wink as he walked onto the stage.
"What is your name young man?"
"Warf Pollman," he said into the microphone he was handed.
"Well, then, shake hands, children!"
With a sigh Cassandra and Warf shook hands.
"District 4, I present your tributes for the 84th annual Hunger Games!"
Hello again! Special thanks to call me calamity and Liamll2000 for submitting Cassandra and Warf, I had an absolute blast writing them and I hope I did them justice. I feel like this chapter was bit longer, which I hope is okay (I just looked at the word count and it appears to be about 1,000 words longer than the last). Keep the feedback coming, I appreciate it a bunch. Thanks for reading! :)
