Odessa Juniper Odair's POV
I dodge left as a spear misses my midsection by inches, with a trident and net in hand I bat it away as my opponent and myself square each other up. Waiting for each other to make the first move, finally I swing the trident at my oppenent as they deflect it. We go on neither of us managing to get the final blow, in a final last ditch effort to finish the battle. I thrust my trident at my opponent, but it misses as she ducks in time and sweeps my legs with the blunt end of the spear. I fall to the ground as my opponent looms over me spear in hand, My trident is on the ground a couple feet next to me. I still feel the net in my hands as I quickly throw it around the legs of my opponent and sweep them out as they hit the ground. I'm quick to grab my trident and jab their stomach with it.
My opponent Cress who's also one of my best friends and sparring partner laughs as he gets up "Wow Odessa, what's that make it now Odessa 1 Cress 100" Cress asks raising an eyebrow, "I only have one win but it's the most recent... So I guess thats makes me better than you at this moment" I reply cooly.
We both look over at Reina she's been my neighbor since we were 3, she's been off to the side watching our sparring match. "Who's better me or Odessa" Cora asks, "Well Odessa did win the last match" she says nervously trying not to completely take my side.
My dad Malachi finally spoke up, "Reina's wrong, Cress waited to long to deliver the final blow, if Odessa was in the same situation in the arena there wouldn't be any hesitation, she'd be dead and so would you Cress" my dad tells us harshly. "Neither of you would make it out of the bloodbath" he added.
Since my friends were here as witnesses I made a bold move, "We're sparring we're not going full force at each other like we would in the arena" I said standing up for Cress and I. He started to get furious, he hated when I talked back or gave sarcasm and stuff like that. "If you never spar full force how do you expect to be ready for the arena if all you do in training is play around!" he yelled at me.
I rolled my eyes because of how hard I do train, when I look back at me dad hes walking towards me with a hand raised, he slaps the back side across my face, "Don't you F***** roll your eyes at me" he sceams.
Reina is trying to hold back Cress, both of them have seen previous bruises courtesy of my loving father, but he never actually hit he me in front of them, then again I usually never stand up for myself either.
My father was laughing at Cress "If the punk wants to fight let him" he said mockingly as Reina released Cress.
Cress throws a wild punch at my father that he easily dodges, as he connects on a punch to Cress' throat. Cress doesn't even have a chance to react before my father has bloodied his face with relentless punches. "Take him home" he snarls at Reina, I stood in horror as she lifts him up the stairs of the basement and out of the house leaving a trail of blood. "You, breakfast" he says sternly as he walks up the stairs.
Breakfast is something I've gotten used to making ever since my mother Nell, died two years ago in a boating accident. That was when my father was still happy, it was my mother dying that brought out my fathers dark side.
As I put the bacon on the table my dad takes all the peices, he gives 3 to himself 2 to me and 5 to my older brother Wyatt or "Golden Boy" as I've taken to calling him because of the favoritism my father shows towards him.
After I'm done eating and I do the dishes, I go up stairs to my room to change into my reaping outfit. Due to my last name being Odair that meant my name would be in the reaping bowl as would my dad's, Wyatt's and my older sister Cora.
Cora was a top candidate for the 73rd Hunger Games until she became pregnant just days before the district's tributes were announced. Once the baby was born she moved away, which made me resent her for leaving me alone with Wyatt and my father.
I look in the mirror as I finish putting on my reaping outfit, Im wearing a white skirt a ligth blue T-shirt and a white Cardigan. I put on pearl earrings and braid my red tinted caramel colored hair into a fishtail to finish getting ready.
Kai Cresta's POV
"Kai." I hear my sister Annie waking me up. "Breakfast is ready".
"Thanks for waking me up" I say as she walks back downstairs.
I put on my reaping outfit consisting of a polo shirt and jeans, paired with a pair a flip flops and looked in the mirror.
My short brown hair just barely covers my neck, and theres a long fringe that flows across my green eyes. Annie always told me how handsome I was, and that I looked like my mom.
This always made me happy and angry at the same time, because my mother left our family a couple months after Annie returned from her games, as she couldn't cope with Annie's Insanity.
I pushed this to the back of my mind as I walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Annie had an array of bacon, toast, sausages and eggs laid out, usually when you live in the Victors Village an Avox prepares your food, but Annie always preferred to cook everything herself unless she's having a "bad" day.
After breakfast Annie and I walked to the beach, where we met up with Finnick and Mags. Finnick and Mags have been my only friends since Annie won her Hunger Games, I pushed the friends I did have away when Annie started to distance herself from me and preffered the company of Finnick and Mags so I could join them on several occasions.
"Nervous, Kai"? Finnick asked, I hadn't noticed my hands were shaking. "Wouldn't you, the odds aren't really in my favour this year" I said back sadly.
I trained at the career academy my whole life, but I never had any intention of actually volunteering especially after seeing my sister go mad in the arena.
"District 4 has quite a few victors though, so there could still be a good amount of names in the reaping bowl" Finnick replied.
"Well there's still an hour before the reaping, what do you want to do" Annie asked trying to get everyone's minds off the reapings.
Finnick looked at the dock and then back at me and smiled.
Me and Finnick both liked spearing fish and we both liked to make a competition out of it, I had 5 fish to Finnicks 7. Finnick would normally win most of the time, but with the reaping coming up I had been spearing fish constantly to calm my nerves, so I had a bit of an edge on him as I finished with 20 to his 18.
Annie and Mags both congratulated me while Finnick was scowling, his scowl turned to a grin as he chucked a large fish in my direction. I had just enough time to duck as it soared past me and slammed into Annie.
Finnick looked like a little kid who just got into trouble as Annie stood up her reaping clothes soaked in fish slime. "FINNICK ODAIR, IM GONNA KILL YOU" Annie yelled as she began throwing what ever was on the ground at him whether it was sticks, small rocks or even clumps of sand.
One of the rocks eventually hit Finnick's weak spot and he fell to the ground grabbing in between his legs. "Maybe Finnick needs a lesson" Mags says as she points to the end of the dock. Annie and I got the idea as we grabbed his arms and legs and began carrying him towards the dock. Finnick didn't realize what was going on till we reached the edge of the dock, he started to flail and plead as we released him into water.
"Well I don't want to deal with Finnick when he gets out, so I'm gonna head to the reaping early" I say as I go to turn around "I'll walk with you, the old house is on the way and I left a couple dresses there" Annie said happily. "You guys go, I'll listen to Finnick's whining" Mags said smiling as we walked away.
Annie Cresta's POV
I take a seat with the other victors on the reaping stage and watch as all the known relatives of victors gather in the reaping area.
Once all the relatives have checked in Distict 4's escort Ocean a skinny Capitol lady, takes the stage in a puffy blue dress and play's the same video she does before every reaping.
"Well, ladies first" Ocean says, as she puts her hand in the reaping bowl and pulls out a slip reading.
"Odessa Juniper Odair".
I recognize her as Finnick's cousin, she stands still before Malachi gives her a rough shove forward and she rushes onto the stage just as she picks out the boys name.
"Anyone but Kai, aAnyone but Kai, Anyone Kai" I mutter to myself as she reads out the name.
"Kai Cresta".
My worst fear unravels as Kai makes his way to the stage and shakes hands with Odessa.
SO WHO DO YOU LIKE BETTER ODESSA OR KAI AND WHY?
DO YOU LIKE THE REAPING FORMAT?
AND DO YOU LIKE MY WRITING STYLE?
PLEASE REVIEW!:)
DISTRICT 12 COMING UP NEXT!