There are four children in the Welkin family, three safe. We want to make it four out of four. I'm not the only one who has nightmares about Pips (short for pipsqueak) going in. Tomorrow we'll find out once and for all.
Evy and I go up to my parent's house for our traditional Victors and family breakfast. On the way up we catch up with Father and Rotor. They work on the same shift and have gotten off early to clean up and change clothes for the reaping.
Aron hasn't come down yet and I go to investigate.
"Hey Pips," I say after knocking on his door.
He turns from the window that overlooks Mother's greenhouse. "Hey."
Aron got his nickname since he was so small as a baby, but has become the tallest of all of us, almost as tall as Father. The nickname will never go away though, Clea, Drite, and Res see to that daily.
"Would you mind if Evy and I announce some good news at breakfast?"
"What? That I don't have to go into the arena?" he says with a smirk. "Go for it. I could use the distraction."
Evy and I only figured out what my Mother and Grandmother had been predicting for two weeks. So over breakfast we announce that we're expecting a baby. Aron does everything to work up being happy for us, but I know he's very much focused on being nervous about the reaping.
We go down to the square together with Alara and Drite's families. Once registration is done, Mother, Alara, Drite, and Aron leave us and go their separate ways. Mother, Alara, and Drite go backstage to meet with Pepper and Anna before the 'show' begins. Aron goes to the first section of kids.
On stage, Mother sits calmly next to Auntie Pepper, Auntie A (Alara Cloud), and Drite while Anna stands by the reaping balls ready to draw names. Even from the back I could see Alara and Pepper holding Mother's hands tightly as she waited for the boy's names to be drawn.
"Gwyn Sky."
There's a collective gasp from the crowd. A twelve year old has been picked for the arena. Not ten seconds pass before someone shouts out, "I volunteer!"
Before Gwyn has the chance to even take a step towards the stage, a boy from the seventeen year olds steps out to the aisle. "I volunteer as the male tribute."
Anna looks as if someone slapped her across the face or something. "Even before we chose the name? It seems a little out of the ordinary. Well I guess there's a first for everything. Come on up."
The boy catches up with the little girl and takes her hand. Together they mount the stage.
"Your name?" Anna asks.
"Warrick Sky," the boy responds. "Gwyn's my little sister and we're all the other has."
If not for the family resemblance I would scarcely believe it myself. Never before in the history of the games have I ever heard of something like this happening. It is so shocking that it takes the entire reading of the treaty of treason for me to realize something else. Pips is safe.
Quickly I hurry backstage where I know I'll find the rest of my family. As soon as Mother sees me she pulls me into a bear hug.
"Mom, you all right?" I asks as tears fall down her face.
Auntie A walks up behind us. "Falon, I've got this year. You stay home."
My eyes snap to Mother. Never before has she missed a year at the Capitol during the Hunger Games. So when she says "all right" I can hardly believe my ears until she adds, "but remember, if they want to be sure to use only the feather downed ones. They make the bigger mess."
Both of them break into laughter, but my siblings and I are at a loss as to what they're talking about.
Alara hugs Aron good and hard, "Glad you're out kid."
The train leaves and we all go to the Victor's Village. Mother becomes very attached to Pips just like when each of us got out of the reaping. The families of the Victors are safe, at least for now.