A/N: Hey everyone, I'm back from holiday so that means more updates! :D Enjoy!

District 9 Reapings

Runa Pavlick

"Don't worry Able, they won't choose you" Runa held her little brother against her chest. Able, Runa's younger brother was crying, just like he did before every reaping. The two were in their shared bedroom in their square house.

"They could, it's still a possibility" Able sobbed into Runa's white and red spotty dress.

"But they won't. Your name is in there only three times. An older, poorer boy will be chosen"

"Why?" Able asked, looking his big sister in the eye.

"Because his name will be in there more times, silly!" Runa begun to tickle Able under his chin, he laughed uneasily.

"It's so horrible. All those children, every year…" he sobbed.
"I know. I know" Runa cooed back.

A long minute passed when Runa spoke again:

"Please don't worry, Abe" she looked into her brother's dark brown eyes; they were the same shade as her own.

"I'll try" he snuffled.

Runa placed a hand on her brother's olive skin face and smiled:

"Everything will be fine"

"Do you promise?"

Runa flinched. How could she promise such a thing? Ideally, she would swear to him that he would never be picked for the dreadful Hunger Games and could remain in District nine forever. But, of corse, she couldn't. The reapings are unpredictable, as are the actual Games. And Runa and anyone else from any district are powerless against them. Runa pondered how she could explain this to her brother. Although he is fourteen, he has the personality of a twelve year old. He acts like each reaping is his first, and gets completely terrified before each one begins. But who can blame him? Who can blame any scared child forced to participate in such a disgusting 'sport'?

"You know I can't promise" Runa began "But I highly doubt anything will go wrong, okay?"

Able just nodded but then made a noise that suggested he could start bawling again.

"Able? Runa?" Their mother walked into the room, wearing a faded skirt and fake smile. "It's time to go my darlings"

"Okay, come on Able, up you get"

The three people left their house and joined a blank-faced crowd shuffling towards the square.

Brecon Tides

"Mother! Look what I've brought home!" Brecon called from the front door, holding something under his white blouse.

"What? What is it?" his half famished mother, Naomi, appeared in front of him.

"This" Brecon beamed and pulled a loaf of bread from under his shirt.

Naomi felt a little faint when she saw the loaf. Her mouth watered when its fresh smell drifted into her nostrils.

"You earned this at work?"

"Not exactly" Brecon mumbled.

"What do you mean?" his mother questioned him, her pale blue eyes growing anxious.

"Well, when no one was looking, I kind of…" Brecon gestured to his white shirt. "It's no big deal, really. I see other's do it all the time" he babbled, sweeping a hand through his jet black hair.

"Did anyone see you?" Naomi spoke quickly, shutting the front door and looking out the window as if a squad of peacekeepers would come in and arrest him, which they very well could.

"No of corse they didn't, you know I'm a fast runner. And we both know this isn't exactly the first time I've stolen food" Brecon explained.

"Well, okay then" she said as she and Brecon walked over to the couch, where Brecon's little brother, Oliver, was playing. When Oliver saw them he began to tug on his mother's skirt, his brown eyes pleading.

"Mommy can we please eat now? I'm really hungry, and so is teddy"

"Corse we can, Olly" Brecon answered for his mother who exchanged a look with her eldest son. Three year old Olly looked terrible, all colour has been drained from his face and you could easily count his ribs. His mother was the same, she had dark circles under her eyes and her cheekbones were clearly visible. Neither of them had eaten in days; they were starving, you could see it. Everyone was always hungry in district nine, seeing as you're not aloud to, well- supposed to eat the bread you make there was rarely any other option than to just take it and hope you don't get caught. Brecon and his family live in the poorest part of the district. They lived in what looks like a shack; they had no money for improvements. Brecon has been stealing food for his family ever since his father walked out on them for another woman. Without Brecon's thieving, his family would surely starve too death.

After eating a small meal of bread and some dried apricots that Naomi found under a cupboard. The family looked somewhat happier. Some of Olly's natural colour came back to his cheeks and Naomi actually managed to smile at Brecon:

"Sorry I was off with you earlier. I was just worried about the peacekeepers-"

"It's okay, I totally understand your concern" Brecon nodded to Olly "we wouldn't want peacekeepers around him"

Naomi flinched but then agreed and said:

"Thank you, Brecon. For all the food you've brought us over the years. You have provided for us so well, I couldn't have asked for a better son. Thank you"

Brecon's lips spread into a smile "No problem"

"Welcome! Welcome" Welcome! Welcome!" A woman in a purple tutu walked onto the stage and declared herself to be Brenna Dawson, the escort for District nine. She babbled on for a while, about the dark days, and the first uprising and how everybody ended up at the reapings. Half of the district looked if they were going to fall asleep there and then until Brenna giggled:

"Ladies first? And may the odds be ever in your favour!"

She pranced over to the female bowl and merely hovered her hand over the top of the bowl. Her finger nails were about four inches long, a ridiculous length for anyone who lives in a district, but this would probably be considered quite normal for a capitol citizen. Anyway, her bizarre nails picked the female name and Brenna looked into the audience, expecting them to be impressed. They only glared back, the females holding their breath and closing their eyes as Brenna frowned and read out:

"Runa Pavlick!"

A short seventeen year-old with brown hair and brown eyes made her way to the stage. She has tears rolling down her face and refuses the offer to say anything to her district. As the escort waltzes over to the boy's bowl, Runa is secretly embarrassed to what she is wearing. You could easily spot her red dress in the sea of beige shirts and dull trousers that the others were wearing. She really stands out, she didn't like that. She tries her best to stop crying, but she can't. It seems like the words 'You are going to die' have been tattooed in her brain. She glances at Brenna who had another name imprisoned in-between her nails. She took a deep breath and said:

"And the brilliant young man is- Brecon Tides"

A handsome, yet skinny boy made his way from the sixteen year old section. He had jet black hair and pale blue eyes. His skin was the exact shade as his district partners.

"Do you have anything to say, Brecon?" Brenna questioned.

"Bring it on" Brecon replied, and actually managed to throw a smile into a camera.

"Ooh, how exciting!" she squeaked back "Citizens of District nine, I give you your tributes for the 67th annual Hunger Games!"

Runa looks down, but Brecon smiles into the crowd, desperate to be remembered. He see's quite a few people nod at him, as if to say 'We know what you're doing. Good for you kid' He catches a glimpse of his mother; she's buried her face into Olly's hair and the movement of her body suggests she is crying. Seeing this, tears threaten to fill his eyes. Now that he is heading for a certain death, how will his family eat? A flood of panic washes over him, but he shakes the thought from his head, determined that he will find a way to deal with it later.

"Now, shake hands you two" Brenna speaks happily.

Brecon and Runa brush hands and the crowd clapped awkwardly. More tears spilled over Runa's face but Brecon continued to wave and smile into the cameras… thank god he's a good actor.

What did you think? Please R&R (: