Reapings

District Four


Sagittarius "Sage" Ryans (18) D4M

"Think again, Sage," Aries said, looking at me with concern, "Volunteering isn't a compulsion-"

"I know," I said firmly. Usually I wouldn't argue much but this was different.

"We can't- we can't afford to lose you. Not after, not after her…"

I lowered my gaze slightly. Dad, uncle and Auntie had already tried to talk me out of it. My cousins too. But didn't they see that working on the docks, along with being a drudge, was just as risky? Three years ago my cousin Leo had died due to an accident on the sea. I could end up the same way, if I was lucky. Otherwise I would have to work on the docks forever, till I was capable enough to work, and that itself was a horrible idea. Unbearable even.

"I know you're thinking about Leo," Aries said.

"Of course I am," I replied, "He died due to a sea accident."

"Sea accidents don't happen every year," Aries replied, "But the Games do. And believe me, they are worse."

"Mom doesn't mind," I argued.

"Mom doesn't understand. She didn't lose a child of hers."

That was, in my opinion, very harsh. Everyone in my family loved my cousins dearly. Mom had cried so much when Leo died. How could Aries even say such things?

"Aries," I said, not wanting to argue but pressing the point nonetheless, "I know what I'm doing. I can't- I don't want to work on the docks anymore!"

"Then find a new job!"

"I don't want to do this, this mundane thing," I said, "These jobs, that don't even pay well after all the time I spend working. I could honestly do something better than, than this!"

"And the Games seem to be the only option to you?!" Aries cried, finally losing his temper, "Not mundane jobs, eh? So, you seek pleasure in murder?!"

"I don't-"

"AND WHAT DO YOU THINK?! YOU'LL GET OUT OF THERE ALIVE?! YOU WON'T, YOU WON'T! THEY WON'T LET YOU, NOT YOU! YOU WILL GO THE SAME WAY AS HER!"

I looked down again and bit my lip. I knew this was coming. It always did. Why couldn't they understand that I was a different person altogether?

Aries had, meanwhile, calmed down. He took a deep breath and said, "You're a big boy now, you can take your own decisions. However, I still recommend you think it through once more."

"I have made up my mind, brother," I replied, "And I'm doing it for all of us. For our family."

"Well then," he said, "The only advice I can give you is to not get too friendly with your District Partner. She died because of him."

"Aries," I said patiently, "Virgo died because of the mutt. Cress had nothing to do with it."

"Your uncle and aunt believe that she would have lived if she hadn't loved that boy so much, hadn't thought of her as a replacement of all her siblings."

"Well, I don't believe it," I replied, "Just because the poor girl is idea doesn't mean we can blame it all on her."

"Of course it doesn't."

"Well then Aries," I said, "I'll get ready."

"I hope you get Haley as a mentor, not Cress," Aries said quietly.

I looked at my feet. "I hope so too."

And I did. I didn't want to be mentored by the person who, who- I didn't know what. I just didn't like him. He was friends with my cousins despite their parents not liking it. And why should they? He did defeat their daughter ultimately.

I brushed back my brown hair and grinned at the mirror while Aries sighed. I was taller than him at five feet ten, and I was sure that annoyed him somewhat. It was always fun to tease him on that basis. I looked into his deep blue eyes, which were just like mine and then grinned.

"You- you are so baby-faced!" he said finally, "I can't even stay mad at you." I laughed.

"Well then Aries, see you later. Take care of the little ones while I'm gone."

"I will."

I gave him a quick hug and proceeded out of my room. I had finally convinced the last person who had opposed me. Dad had of course, not liked the idea. He had tried to talk me out of it too, but in the end he saw what I meant. He was scared, and I didn't blame him. Parents had a right to be scared for their children's lives. But now, he spent his time advising me on the Games, and useful advice they were.

I hadn't even realised that I was in the Square. After getting my finger pricked, I went to join the cue of the eighteen-year-old guys. And there he was, right next to the mayor, wearing a very fake smile. Cress was good looking, and his smile was charming, but I, for one, saw the pain in his eyes as he saw the many children present there. Well, it had been a long time since Four had a victor.

Now there was nothing for me to do but wait for the Reapings to begun.


Mirabel "Mira" Grant (17) D4F

"Oh Coral, keep your tension near the waist, will you?"

The little girl's face scrunched up in concentration as she tried to do as I told her.

"Very good. Now class, let's repeat the steps. One, two, three, four!"

The girls set to dancing, trying their best, a few having strenuous expressions on their faces. Some of them lacked the flexibility required for dance, but who was I to tell them? It was a rarity to find any kind of dancing talent in the District anyway.

"Okay, not very good, but the public doesn't notice, you know. But we'll practice again. Come on!"

And with that I performed the steps first and told them to follow. In fact, I made them do the same steps for twenty minutes until one little girl asked rather foolishly, "Is that all we're going to do?"

"My dear," I said in an amused voice, "I'd teach you more if you were worthy of it. first perfect these steps and then we'll see."

"But you're going into the Games," another girl argued.

"And I'll be coming back to teach you," I replied, "Don't worry about that. Now ladies, start again!"

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I smiled at its owner. Sofie grinned at me widely.

"You're taking a class today? On the Reapings?" she asked, looking up at me.

"Well, a person has to do her job, right?" I said with a smile.

"Of course, of course. But don't you think that the chosen volunteer should look… presentable?"

"What? I'm always presentable," I replied with a smirk as she laughed.

"Okay kids, you're dismissed. Keep practicing the moves we did here, okay? It will make you much more flexible and then you'll find all the dances to be easy. Hurry along now."

The children looked kind of relieved as they thanked me for the class and filed out of the room in a line.

"Insolent brats," I muttered. The moment they would be out of the building they'll start talking.

"Anyway," I said, turning to Sophie, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"The fact that we're best friends," she replied with a wink.

"Right. Besties for the resties. Mhm?"

"Hm."

I sat down on the chair and looked up at her. She narrowed her eyes and said the most unexpected thing she could.

"Do something about your pimples."

"Uh…"

What could I say to that? I could comment on her height, but that always upset her beyond anything. So I nodded. Of course, if it was anyone else, they would have been unconscious by now due to my kick.

"I'll work on it."

"Good. Now let's walk you home so that you can get ready."

"Come on!" I exclaimed in disbelief, "I look quite good right now, just as I am."

She shook her head as if she was talking to a stupid person and then sighed. "Fine, if that's what you believe."

And before I could stop her, she had attacked my long light brown hair, and was braiding it in a way I certainly didn't want but I grudgingly decided that I did look better. I had dark eyes, and lots of freckles all over my face. And, as my friend gracefully reminded me, pimples on my forehead. I was five feet four only, but still taller than her, and that weapon was always with me if I needed to tease her. Not that I would, that was Gillian's job.

Gillian was the worst woman in the world. She had to humiliate Sofie because of her height. She had to remind me every time that I was parentless. Sometimes, I even thought she was like my dad, who ran away when he lost his job. I didn't know where he was now, and I didn't care. In fact, I wouldn't mind if he were a little dead even. I wouldn't mind if Gillian went the same way either.

"Oi!"

I looked at the doorway to see Hercules, my elder brother and legal guardian. He was the reason I was alive and surviving. Hercules had performed the duties of both a mother and a father. He was very fatherly and I was grateful to have him.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"We need to go to the Square already Mira!"

"Well, I would have set off if Sophie here hadn't decided to delay me."

"She looked hideous!" Sophie argued, "I needed to at least fix the hair!"

"And good that you did it," Hercules said, "But both of you need to be there. Come on."

The two of us followed him out. The smell of the sea filled my lungs and I inhaled deeply. The weather was good, it had to be for me. I just needed to get there fast so that nobody else could volunteer. If that happened… no! That was out of question. However, things didn't always go according to our plans or wishes. There were exceptions, and those were what annoyed me. any time, anything could go wrong. No avoiding it. it was a cruel world, with an even more cruel fate. Anything could happen.

"Hey Midget!"

And there she was, that scum. I turned around even as Sophie turned red completely.

Gillian was standing right behind us, grinning like an imp. She giggled as she saw me, and waited for a second too long to throw an insult my way. For in that moment, I kneed her in the gut, twisted her around and slammed her on the road. Her head hit the ground hard, and she started bleeding from a small injury. Sophie gasped. Gillian was sobbing and cursing and I merely shrugged, pulling my friend along with me.

"Aren't we standing too far away from the stage?" Sophie asked once we had joined the queue of other damsels. "Yes we are," I muttered and then started pushing my way forward so that I was now right in the front.

"And now, let's choose the girl, shall we?"

I rolled my eyes. What was the point of opening ceremonies and all that nonsense? Why couldn't they just send us in the arena already? Why waste time?

"Amanda Rose Coraline!"

"I volunteer as tribute!" I said almost lazily.

Nobody was surprised. The escort just smiled at me and we shook hands.

"What's your name, dear?"

"Mirabel Grant."

"How are you feeling?"

"Amazing," I replied honestly.

"And our male tribute is Travis Gemhart!"

There was a pause and then a voice rang out, "I volunteer!"

The boy looked too young. However, I knew that Ryans was eighteen, older than me, with an impish grin and yet a determination in his eyes. He had been chosen for a reason, but sadly he would be going the same way as his cousin.

"And your name, young man?"

"Sagittarius Ryans."

"No!"

I glanced at the mentors sitting a little far away. Cress stared at the boy with wide, frightened eyes. Sagittarius returned the gaze rather coldly.

Ignoring the interruption, the escort asked us to shake hands. Ryans smiled at me and I smirked. The poor boy wouldn't know what would hit him once we were in the arena.


Hello, hello! These are District Four tributes and with this we are done with the introduction of the Careers. Did you like these characters? What are your thoughts on them? Who do you like better? And, for my old readers, did you expect Sage to be related to the same Virgo Ryans we all loved? Please let me know your thoughts.

Have a nice day!