Hey everyone! This time it`s district 10 female`s turn - her name is Karin Daile and she`s 13. I now haveall slots filled, so the next chapter will be about district 12`s female and then I`ll go 10,9, 8 ... Oh and thanks all of you 4 the reviews!


The rider

The wind in my hair. The golden sunset. The clouds of dust. It`s all I can see now. All I can sense.

`Kari?` Mom`s voice comes to unexpectedly ruin my adventure. I pull the reins and Sunshine neighs sadly. She likes to spend time with me, too. `Kari, get back home. Back home.` I can sense mother`s worry, hidden under her usual half-angry, half-happy voice. What has happened?

I ride to the fence and soon I`m just in front of our house. Mother is waiting for me outside with a look of sadness in her eyes.

`Get inside, clean yourself up and put on your nicest dress.` she commands. `I`ll get Sunshine back to the ranch and find your brother.`

`Just go. I`ll explain later.`

With this she grabs the reins and heads to so I have no other choice, but to do as she says. An hour passes until mom returns, with a scared-looking Saemon hiding behind her back.

`What`s going on mom? ` he asks with his eyes wide-open

`Reapings` she utters desperately. `The rumours turned out to be true. There will be Hunger Games.`


`Kari? ` She`s close so I catch my breath hoping that she won`t find me. `I know you`re here.` Blaire looks around a bit, but fails to spot me hiding behind a huge oak and turns around. Luckily, the birds are sining loudly and she doesn`t notice me sneaking out and silently creeping to the closest tree. Then tree by tree I get as close to the base as possible. This is my moment

I run to the base, getting there before Blaire realises what`s going on.

`It`s not fair.` she shouts `You always win.`

`True. Now I want my prize. Tell me one of your secrets` Anger flashes in her eyes, but then she starts giggling.

`OK. But not here. Lets climb on our tree and I`ll tell you there.`

We head to the apple-tree by her house, which serves us both as a secret place and a food reserve. I suppose she`s picking a secret to tell me so I don`t break the silence until we are up in the branches.

`So... Tell me a secret`

`Yesterday` Blaire begins in a very low voice `Mom and dad were talking about some games the Capitol might organise if we loose the war. They didn`t see me eavesdropping so I heard all of it.`

I make myself comfortable and prepare to listen to all the details.

`Every year 24 kids from the districts will be picked and trown into a dangerous Arena to survive alone and to fight with each other. At the end only one winner comes out. `

`Wooow!` I ask excited `And when do we get to participate?`

`We`re still too young, but after two or three years, when we are 12 ... I just can`t wait!` Her eyes shine.

`Me too!`


A whole bunch of kids enters the room and suddenly I`m sorry that I have so many friends. Everyone`s here, sad-faced and silent. For a moment nobody dares to speak, then Blaire wishpers :

`Your locket is beautiful. Is it from your mom?` I nod. `It would make a great token`

`It doesn`t matter. ` I say, broken.

`Don`t get so depressed` she tries hard to sound calm and cheerful. `Remember how excited you were when I first told you about the games?`

`How you wanted us to organise our own Hunger Games?` Hailey adds as she twirls a lock of hair nervously.

`Think ` says Jayse and fakes a smile` of them as an adventure. It`s just like riding. It`s not dangerous if you`re not afraid. `

`And as they say : May the odds be ever in your favour.` Faylin finishes.

Another long moment and ... they`re gone.