These two tributes belong to Finnick Mellark and kaygirl38. Enjoy and review!

District 7 Reaping

Hunter Mason POV

This is my year… the year I'm supposed to get picked. No one at the table says it but we all know it's true. My grandmother was picked when she was 16; my dad was picked when he was 16. Aspen managed to escape it when she was 16 but now it's my turn. The table is silent as we all eat various cereals and breakfast foods. I can't stand the silence.

"Sooo how's this year's lumber haul dad?" I ask.

He finishes his bite of cereal before answering. "Well it was a good year for maple and oak but spruce took a hard hit. Overall a pretty average year," he responds. Then we're all quiet again.

"Okay that's it guys. Look I know you're all worried I'm going to get reaped today but I seriously don't think I am! I slept fine last night and I'm feeling good this morning. I think it was just a coincidence that grandma and dad were picked when they were both 16. Aspen wasn't picked and I won't be either," I say.

My family all looks at me and then my mom speaks up. "Hunny we don't think you'll be picked. We're always worried on Reaping day." But after my outburst the whole table is a little more relaxed. And I was being honest too. I really don't think I'll be picked today.

Tyla Kytlee POV

Outside the large grass windows of my kitchen a reddish brown rabbit hops to and fro nibbling on grass. Our yard workers hate the rabbits because they often eat the sprouts of flowers and plants but I like them and leave carrots in the yard sometimes. I continue watching the rabbit while Winny prepares my breakfast. Suddenly the rabbit's ears perk straight up in the air. It scrambles to scurry to the bushes when a large black hawk swoops down and grabs it in its claws. I'm startled by the sudden attack. Could it be a bad omen?

"Miss Tyla your omelet is ready," Winny says bringing me my veggie omelet.

"Thank you Winny," I reply absentmindedly, my mind still focused on the fate of the rabbit.

"Tyla!" a small voice calls from behind me. I turn around and find my little brother Nyle running across the fine wooden floor of the dining hall and into my lap.

"Hey little guy! How are you this morning?" I say brightly as he crawls into my lap.

"I'm good! Hattie tried to put a bowtie on and I didn't want to so I ran away!" he says as he eats some of the homefries off of my plate.

Sure enough I can hear the heavy footsteps of Nyle's caretaker, and my old caretaker, stomping through the dining hall.

"Little boy you do not run away from your nanny like that! And do not eat with your fingers!" she says strictly. Hattie is a plump old lady with wrinkles and arthritis in her fingers. She took care of me over 10 years ago and now she's taking care of my brother.

"Come here young man. You are going to wear that bowtie to the Reaping!" she says as she picks up the squirming Nyle from my lap. Her kind eyes betray the stern tone of her voice.

Nyle squirms around in her arms and reaches out to me. "Noooo! Tyla don't let her take me!" Nyle calls out to me but Hattie begins tickling him and soon he's in a fit of laughter.

I laugh at my little brother and turn my attention back to my omelet. As I take a bite of the delicious egg and cheesy vegetables my eyes float to the kitchen windows. For some reason looking out the window gives me a bad feeling but I can't remember why.

Hunter Mason POV

At the town square my brother and I separate from Aspen and my parents. Last year was Aspen's last year at the Reaping and I can tell she's relieved not to be at risk anymore. However, Oak is shaking. This is his second year and he's still terrified.

When we reach the 13 year old section he begins to hyperventilate. "Hunter, I can't do this. I don't want to be here," he says to me.

I turn to him and grab his shoulders looking him dead in the eye. "Oak, I promise you'll be fine today. Nothing is going to happen," I tell him.

He looks at me with glistening eyes. He usually tries to act so big and strong around me and I can tell he's trying so hard not to cry so I pat him on the shoulder and turn him to his section. "Now go ahead and find your friends. After we can go to the lumber yard and try and get some more wood for that cabinet you've been working on," I say brightly and as he goes into his section he gives me a little smile.

After he's disappeared into the crowd of 13 year olds I go to the 16 year old section. Amidst the mob of teenagers I find her standing alone with an anxious look on her face. Even though today is the worst day of the year seeing her makes everything okay.

Her light brown hair is tied up in a pretty bun. Her lilac dress accentuates every curve of her body. For what must be the hundredth time I think to myself how lucky I am to have her. She doesn't notice me so I sneak up on her.

Once I'm behind her I poke her in her sides and she jumps into the air. "Hunter!" she exclaims. "Don't scare me like that. You know I'm always nervous and jittery today."

"Aww lighten up Piper. Soon it'll be all over and you won't have to be scared for a whole year," I say as I wrap my arms around her waist but she squirms away.

"It's not me I'm worried about," she replies. She knows about my family's "curse".

I sigh before responding, "Piper don't worry about me. I really don't think I'll be picked. They didn't pick Aspen when she was 16! Besides we don't even know if the Reapings are rigged. It was probably just a coincidence with my dad and grandma." But unlike my family Piper isn't so easily convinced.

"I don't know Hunter. I have a bad feeling about today," she says but before I can respond the mayor steps up to the stage and begins his speech. The entire crowd hushes so I grab her hand and give it a squeeze to show her that I'm not worried.

After the Mayor's boring part our escort takes the mic. "Well what a dappery doo da crowd we have here today! And don't all of you just look so cute in your fancy Reaping outfits!" he says in a voice used to speak to a baby. I mime throwing up to Piper which elicits a smile from her.

"Well let's just get to this fun and fancy free day now!" he says clapping his hands. With an extra flourish he plunges his hand into the girl's bowl and pulls out a name. "Our girl tribute will be the terrific Tyla Kytlee! Will this lucky gal please step up to the stage?" A well dressed girl from the 17 year old section steps out with a confused expression. She makes her way to the stage and attempts to smile but manages only a weak grimace. I recognize her as the daughter of two rich district officials. I wonder how she got picked.

"Okay then now on to the boy tribute!" the escort exclaims. He does a spin before dipping his hand into the boy bowl. With gusto he pulls out a guy's name, almost knocking the bowl over in the process. "Our boy tribute will be the outstanding Oak Mason!"

My heart freezes over as a million thoughts race through my mind. 'But he's not even 16. If anyone it should be me. This isn't right.' Piper squeezes my hand tight as my body remains frozen. But then Oak stumbles out of his section with a brave look on his face but as he moves closer to our section I can see the tears glistening in his eyes.

Without thinking I break Piper's grasp and distantly I hear her whisper, "No…" behind me but none of this registers in my mind. The only thing that matters is that my brother is about to cry. As Oak gets closer to the stage I quicken my pace and burst out of the section.

"I volunteer as tribute," I say as calmly as I can. Oak turns around to face me and his expression is a mixture of relief and horror. I give him a weak smile as I walk up to the stage and the peacekeepers escort him back to the section. When I pass him I say, "I promised you'd be fine today."

Once on the stage I try my hardest to avoid looking at Piper but eventually I can't resist and I find her amongst the crowd. She has tears streaming down her beautiful face and it almost makes me regret doing what I did. But then I remember Oak and I know it was the right choice.

After the escort finishes his closing comments the girl and I are ushered into a waiting room of the town hall. I try to distract my mind by identifying all of the types of wood used on the furniture but then I come to an oak bookcase and I have to stop.

Soon, my family walks in through the mahogany doorway. They all rush in and crouch around me, hugging and crying. Oak keeps saying he's sorry and though my plan was to remain strong I can't contain it any longer and I let a few tears by.

"I wish it had been me. I wish they had picked me when I was in the Reaping. I could've done what grandma did or something," Aspen says as she wipes away some tears but I shake my head.

"No, if anyone of us had to be going I'm glad it was me. I'm good with axes. I'll use dad's strategy. I can do this," I say.

My dad steps forward and grabs my hands. "Hunter, the games are a horrible place to be. It will try and destroy you, tear you apart, change you but no matter what don't forget where you came from. Don't forget your family. Stay strong. Stick to the trees. Be careful of who you trust. I believe in you," he says. I want to ask him more, what I should do, how I should act and I find myself wishing we had talked about his time in the arena more but then the peacekeepers are ushering them away and I have to say goodbye.

After they're gone Piper rushes in, sobbing. I was half-hoping she wouldn't come see me but a part of me is glad I'll get a chance to say good bye.

She kneels down on the floor and places her head in my lap. I gently stroke her soft hair. "You're too good Hunter. I knew you would volunteer for him and I know it was the noble and right thing to do but a big part of me still wishes you hadn't," she says softly.

"I know Piper. A part of me wishes I hadn't too. But this is what I have to do," I reply.

She raises her head from my lap and looks me in the eye. "You have to come back Hunter. I can't do this without you. I need you here with me. Please promise me you'll do whatever it takes to come back. Your dad won and your grandma won and I need you to win. Please promise me," she says so quietly I can barely hear her.

I take her face in my hands and gently kiss each of her eyes, tasting the salt from her tears on my lips. "I promise you Piper, I'll do everything it takes to get back to you, to hold you in my arms again, to feel the soft touch of your lips against mine. I promise I'll make it back." Behind her I see the peacekeepers coming to take her away so I squeeze her extra tight and kiss her gently on the forehead before a burly guy grabs her arms and takes her out the door.

Sitting in my chair I wonder how my grandma and my dad felt at this moment while they waited for someone to take them away to the train. For some reason, I doubt they were as determined to make it back as I am.

Tyla Kytlee

'Oh god… oh god… How did this happen? I never signed up for any tesserae. My parents are district officials. I'm not even an interesting tribute! This doesn't make any sense.'

I keep repeating these same thoughts in my mind over and over again as I wait for visitors. Eventually the doors open and Hattie and Nyle come through.

Hattie bends over and rubs me softly on the cheek. "Oh child, I'm so sorry," is all she can manage to say.

Meanwhile Nyle grabs my hand and looks up at me with confusion. "I don't understand. Why do you have to leave Tyla?" he asks.

"Well Nyle… sometimes bad things happen. Like how Mommy and Daddy always have to leave or how our old dog Leo died. This is one of those bad things," I try and explain.

"Tyla I'm gonna be really lonely without you," he says sadly and I know he will be. Because I know how it feels to grow up in a big cold house without family. Caretakers and nannies can only do so much and they can't replace the warm hug of a mom or the gentle teasing of an older sister. And it saddens me to think that this could be Nyle's future.

I sigh before responding. "I know Nyle, but I won't be gone for long."

He smiles slightly up at me and swings my hand. "When you get back we should play hide and seek!" he says.

"Come on little guy. We have to go now," Hattie says as the peacekeepers begin to usher her and Nyle out.

"Come back soon Tyla!" Nyle calls out as he leaves to go back to the big empty house all alone. I make a promise to myself right then and there to make it back to him so that he won't have to grow up lonely like I did. As I sit waiting in my chair for someone to take me to the train I doubt anyone has been as determined as I am to make it back.