I'll write my traditional authors note at the end of the chapter. For now, lets just start the reapings!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Hunger Games. Just making sure everyone knows that. ALSO, I don't own a book called The Giver, by Lois Lowry. I don't know if you know the book, but my escort was inspired by one of the characters, and I wanted to make sure that I had no problems.
Xander Briant POV:
I wake up in my room. It's so sunny!
I quickly run to Aspen's room to say good morning. I love Lila. She's my favorite sibling.
In Aspen's room are my brothers, Ryan, Aspen, and Mellow.
"Good morning, Xander! Someone was a sleepy-head this morning."
"Yes, Ryan, I was REALLY tired. I slept SO late!"
"Xander, are you ready do get dressed up?"
"Yes, Ryan. Take me!"
Ryan takes me into my room. He's 17. Aspen's 12, and Mellow's 14. They're so old.
Ryan helps me into a white shirt and black pants. He combs my blond hair. Then he takes me back to Lila's room, where Aspen, and Mellow are sitting on Aspen's bed.
Aspen and Mellow are wearing the same shirt and pants as me.
"Ready to go, guys?" Mellow asks.
"Yup. Aspen," Mellow says, "make sure Xander stays put in the five-year-old section. The 12-year-old section is right next to it, and if you need to, you can hold his hand over or under the rope."
"Ok." Aspen answers.
"Lets go get dad away from his writing book and go to the town square."
We go downstairs to Dad. He's holding something in his hand and bending over a table.
"Dad," Mellow says, "We have to go to the town square."
"Ok. Let me finish this page."
Ryan grabs Dad's book and closes it. "We have to go or we'll be late."
"Fine."
We go outside, where we see Lila skipping rope with a rope she made herself. She crossed, did a back-flip, and landed on her feet.
Lila's wearing a different outfit than my brothers, since she's a girl. She's wearing a blue blouse that matches her eyes and jeans. Her eyes are pretty. They're blue like mist and shaped like nuts with long eyelashes. She also has long gold hair with dark streaks in it. Lila looks beautiful.
"Lila," Ryan says.
"Hi, Ryan!"
Lila runs up and gives him a hug. Lila loves Ryan.
"Lila, ready? We have to go to the town square."
"Ready. Hi there, Xander!"
I run and hug her. L love Lila!
We all go to the big square where there is a stage. It's HUGE and there are 4 big balls things on it. There are slips of paper in the big round things, too.
Aspen leads me to a special section divided by rope. He goes on one side and I am on the other. He holds my hand across the rope.
A woman goes onto the stage and says, "Welcome to the reaping for the 100th Hunger Games!"
Ooh! Games sound fun!
She reads something really long. Then a guy comes onto the stage. He picks a name out of the first ball. "Colin Villanueva!"
A boy sulks to the stage. He glares at a camera. He has dirty blond hair and sharp blue eyes, and is wearing a blue shirt and pants like mine.
The man picks another name out of the ball. "Xander Briant!"'
Yay! I get to play a game!
Oakline Sint POV:
I feel so bad for the little boy. He's so small and is so clueless. Small like the flower I picked on the way here. For my token, if I get reaped.
It takes a while for him to get to the stage, so I start to look at the mentors.
First is Johanna. Of course. She's been mentoring every year since she won.
Next is Reth, a guy. He won his games when he climbed up a tree when there was a stampede of rhino mutts.
The man, Jonas, reaches his hand into one of the reaping bowls. You know, those bowls would be much more pleasant if they weren't reaping bowls. Maybe they'd be giant gumballs! Or giant snowballs! Or giant bubbles!
Suddenly, I feel my friend, Ellie, nudge me on the shoulder. She's mouthing something to me, but she knows I can't read lips for my life. Finally, she gives up, and signs something to me. You... were... reaped. I am blank, confused. Ellie shoves me forward to the stage. Then it sets in.
Boy, am I glad I'm deaf. Then I couldn't hear myself scream.
Creig Donovan POV:
The girl walks to the stage in a blue dress with a white tie of sorts. It looks ok with the blond hair and blue eyes.
A little midget in my section crosses in front of me. I shove him aside and my gang starts laughing.
"You're a bully," he says.
I ignore him.
The woman draws another name. "Lila Flemings!"
She walks to the stage, determined. She puts her arm around the really little boy. They look alike, but have different last names.
Next, the man picks a name from the third ball. "Aspen Flemings!"
The boy starts crying. He looks terrified! I should volunteer.
Nah.
"I volunteer!"
A boy runs to the stage. He has black hair and green eyes, and is wearing a white t-shirt, pants that go down to the middle of his thigh, and boots.
"What's your name?"
"Eagle Sterling!"
"I volunteer! My name is Creig Donovan and I will win these games!"
Shine Scott POV:
I'm scared.
No, Shine. You are fearless. You will win! Scotts are never scared.
Even since we came here from one 6 years ago, my dad and brother have made me train in secret. They expect nothing less than victory from me.
The boy, Creig, mounts the stage. He has dirty blond hair and blue eyes, and is wearing a t-shirt and jeans.
Jonas draws 2nd-to-last name. I can't help but notice how blue his eyes are. It's scary.
"Danica Redmond!"
When the girl mounts the stage, I can immediately see how she got her name. Her hair is bright red! She also has blue eyes, which look OK with her blue sundress and black boots.
I finger my necklace. On a thin leather strap is a silver pendant. If I could describe the shape, I would, but I can't.
"Lavinia Sterling!"
Onstage, Eagle breaks into tears. But he has no reason to worry.
"I volunteer!"
Eagle Sterling POV:
The girl mounts the stage, looking great in a lime green sundress and black flats. She has reddish-brown hair and green eyes. I'm so glad she saved my sister.
Now there is the required reading of the Treaty of Treason. I ignore it.
We are led to our goodbye rooms. First to come in is my family. Lavinia, my 12-year-old sister, snuggles up to me. So does Aurelia, my 10-year-old sister. Alexzus, my 20-year-old brother, obviously doesn't snuggle up to me, but he sits across from me.
"Eagle, please come back," Aurelia says.
"But..."
"What, Lavinia?"
"Don't kill the girl that volunteered for me. Please."
"I promise."
Alexzus clears his throat. "Here, Eagle. This used to be Grandpa's. Grandpa gave it to Dad, and he wanted me to give it to you."
I carefully take it and slide it into my pocket.
"You remember Mom and Dad, right, Eagle?"
"A bit."
"I don't!" Aurelia announces.
"Aurelia, do you remember how they died?"
"No. Tell me, Eagle!"
"Well, one day, 7 years ago, our parents were working in the forest. You were 3, Aurelia, Lavinia was 5, I was 9, and Alexzus was 15. Anyway, Our parents were chopping down a tree. What they failed to realize is that there was another, larger tree leaning on the one they were chopping down. As soon as the original tree fell, the larger one crushed anyone under it, including our parents."
"And Aspen's Mom," Lavinia puts in.
"The Aspen who I volunteered for?"
"Yes. He's in my year in school."
"That's how I got to be your caretaker," Alexzus adds.
Suddenly, the Peacekeepers come in. Just before they shut the door, Aurelia yells, "Be careful, Eagle!"
Next, my girlfriend, Vienna Thorne, comes in. We've been boyfriend and girlfriend for years.
"Eagle, please come back."
"I'll try, Vienna."
"You can win!"
"I only have a shot. But it's a shot."
"These games are horrible. Taking you away from me."
"What if a 5-year-old was reaped? I'd feel bad for them. The Games are horrid."
We embrace and kiss.
Then the Peacekeepers take her out, the taste of her lemon lip balm still in my mouth.
Danica Redmond POV:
My parents come in first.
"Danica. Remember how Johanna won her Games?" my Dad asks.
"Yeah. She played it weak and then exposed her true self later on."
"Right, honey."
"So... be like her?"
"Yes. Bingo."
"But the way she was actually is my true self."
"So? You can kill like she did if someone hurts someone you love. We've seen you hurt someone when they get you mad. And we haven't liked it."
Yup. The last time I hurt someone, my parents had to pay a HUGE doctor's bill!
"But, Mom, half of my success depends on my allies. And I don't always get along with other people..."
"You'll be fine. Just get an ax. Here, take my wedding ring for a token."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. It'll come back when you do."
I carefully slide the ring onto my ring finger.
"I love you."
Then the Peacekeepers escort them out.
Next, Roger comes in. I don't even know why he's still my friend. He's a year younger than me, and still picks his nose. Ugh.
"Danica, come back, please."
"I'll try, Roger."
"You will!"
Then he starts picking his nose. Ich.
I tune him out by now. If I win, I'm getting another friend.
Colin Villanueva POV:
My parents come in first.
"Will you come home, Colin?"
"Nirgh."
"What is with you, Colin? You're always in a bad mood."
"Nirgh."
"Do you want a token?"
"Don't need one."
"Bye."
My parents leave. I love being alone. (A/N: There will be more of Colin later.)
Lila Flemings POV:
First to come in are my family. Ryan sits right in between me and Xander.
"Lila," my dad says, "just like you brought Xander to us 3 years ago, you have to bring him back to us."
Oh, I remember that.
Cue dramatic flashback.
I was walking in 7, on a Sunday, right after a snowstorm. Suddenly, I saw a little boy sitting in the snow, crying, playing with a rope. I bent down to help him.
"What's your name?"
"X-x-x-xander."
At that point, I felt so bad for him that I took him to my house. When he was warm, he told us that he was from 10. His uncle got in trouble for killing a cow. So, they ran to 7. His uncle had just died. So, we adopted Xander as a brother, and he's lived with us since.
Xander doesn't remember this at all! I'm glad, too. We'll tell him when he gets older.
"Promise you'll bring him back."
"I promise."
Ryan clears his throat. He's my favorite brother. "Lila, I want you to have this."
Ryan takes the chain off of his neck. "Here, have this as your token."
"Really?"
"Really."
I put it on mine. The chain is simply silver, nothing on it. But Ryan is my favorite brother, and it means the world to me.
"What about Xander?" Mellow asks.
"Here," I say. "He can have my anklet."
I take it off and hand it to Xander, who immediately puts it on. He looks at it like it's the best thing in the world.
The Peacekeepers then come in, taking my family out. Xander curls up on my lap.
At the end of the allotted time, we are led to a car. The ride to the train station is very quick.
At the train station, I hold Xander's hand, and he holds on tight, until we board the train.
All 8 of us sit on chairs arranged in a circle. One kid looks really grumpy. He's sitting next to Xander. Xander says, "Hi-hi! You look sad. I'm Xander, and I'll make you happier!"
The boy punches Xander. "I hate cheery kids."
Xander bursts into tears, making both me and one of the older boys look at him. I recognize the boy; he volunteered for Aspen!
"Why did you do that?" I ask. "He's only 5."
He punches me. "I also hate girls."
The older boy comes over. "You have to stop doing that."
"You're a *****." (A/N: I would NEVER say that in real life...)
I hate this kid.
The older boy sits in between us and the annoying kid. "I'm Eagle. If you need anything, let me know."
"OK. Thanks. And thanks for volunteering for Aspen. It would break my dad's heart to lose three kids."
Eagle smiles.
So here is is... finally!
Sorry about this. I was really busy, and then FF went down and then...
I lost my notebook.
Now this might not seem like a big deal. But in this notebook are the descriptions of ALL 96 TRIBUTES in the story! So, once I found it, it got better...
Anyway, now it's up, and I'm sure another one will be up within 2 weeks.
I NEED MORE TRAINING SCORES! Unless you are DEDEBUG9, CharmyXcream14, Esse Quam Videri/Trouilefou, frimil, Fuzzycat901, Minute Maid Lemonade, moosegirl45, Rosiegirl52, Shkittles, Sweet 'lil Mockingjay, or xebla, please send me your tributes training scores.
Thanks to Bowserboy129, Sweet 'lil Mockingjay, keeponrockin'inthefreeworld, Cloudie Daze, oohfriedrice, willbo, and CharmyXcream14 for submitting the tributes in this chapter.
-Goldie031