Yay almost 100 reviews! I definitely didn't expect so many people to comment. You guys seriously rock :D I hope you like this chapter, because it was pretty fun to write.

Alyssa Crest POV

"Don't worry I'll have that fixed for you." I say soothingly to the injured calf. "Now this is going to hurt a little bit," I tighten the bandage over the bloody hoof. She whimpers slightly, but is otherwise unaffected.

"There all done." I smile. "Just make sure you don't stand on it much, alright?" I ask. To the average person it might look like the calf was clueless at what I just said, considering I'm human and she's an animal, but ever since I was little I've been able to communicate with animals. I mean it's not like I can actually hear their voices, but I'm able to pick up on small things, and I can tell what they're "saying" or thinking. They can also understand me, so if you see me chatting with the neighborhood cat, now you know I'm not crazy.

"Do you need anything while I'm here?" I ask. She raises her left ear slightly, indicating she wants water.

I run to our family's well, since we don't live near town and bring back a bucket of water. .

"Here you go." I bring the bucket to her mouth. She licks her nose in gratitude, and I smile, "No problem, but I gotta go, the Reaping starts soon... Don't worry I'll be back soon, I promise."

I walk back to the house, not in the least bit thrilled about going. I can't stand watching the Hunger Games every year. I'm constantly visited by terrible nightmares, and not just this time of the year, anytime. I can never forget the horrible things I've seen in those savage . I wish their was something I could do...

I'm not surprised to find the house is empty since all my brothers have moved out, and my parents are probably feeding the animals.

So as usual I do my morning routine:shower, hair, clothes, etc. And then make myself breakfast, which I grab from our run down fridge. I try hard in dodging any of the meat thats in the way, since I'm a vegetarian, and I grab some yogurt, and make some toast.

"Oh good your still here, sorry we had to do some last minute work." My mom and dad rush into the house.

"It's okay." I smile sweetly at her.

"Hey guys." my brother Jarod walks in. He's the only one who still visits almost everyday. I mean obviously my other brothers visit, but not as often.

"Good morning Jarod." my mom goes up and hugs him.

So now you probably get the gist of my household, we're pretty much one big happy family. I mean we have our ups and downs, but nothing major.

"I'll see you guys soon." I wave from the door, and walk to the town square.

"Hey guys!" I run over to my best friends Zach and Marianne.

"Hey Ally." they turn around.

"Did you hear what the Quarter Quell twist was?" Zach asks.

"Didn't you watch last night?" I reply.

"Nah, I was asleep. They might make us physically be in fornt of a television, but they don't know if we're paying attention or not." Zach smiles.

Marianne sighs, "You would... They said that they wanted to make it a surprise or something like that."

"Are you serious? That means it's gonna be like 100 bajilion times worse. They want to capture the crowds horror." He hisses,while we pass a peacekeeper.

As his words sink, a flower of fear blossoms within me. I know he's right, and by Marianne's face so does she. This is gonna be really bad.

"Welcome District 10, to the annual Reaping!" Our usual escort, a man in his forties, almost waltzes to the stage. Everyone in the town knows this is his favorite time of year.

After the customary long winded speech he begins with the girl tribute, "Alright and the girl tribute is... Alyssa Crest!"

I stand there not moving, and hardly able to think. The only thoughts floating through my mind are images of death that I've seen from past Games. That mutilated body of the 12 year old boy that was pushed off a cliff. The girl whose allies betrayed her and killed her in her sleep. The carrer that hacked off the limbs of that poor boy. The- but before I knew it a thick peacekeeper, comes and grabs me by the arms and drags me on the stage.

Now I'm gonna be one of those kids that I've seen on t.v.

Brandon Hanson POV

"Brandon hurry up and come in, the Reaping starts soon." My mom calls from the house.

"Coming!" I reply, and heave the last bale of hay in the truck.

"Whew, you need a shower." Mom holds her nose.

"Oh it's nice to see you too Ruth." I smile.

She gives me the death glare, "Hahah I'm just joshing." I laugh.

"I don't know what it is with you and that word." her lips upturn slightly.

"What? I'm trying to bring it back, you watch one day it's gonna catch on." My smile grows.

"Whatever, just go and take a shower." she grins.

"Sir yes sir." I salute, and march upstairs.

"I don't smell that bad do I?" I mumble to myself and smell my armpit, "Oh yup, I do." I quickly put it down, after being greeted by a vomit inducing smell.

I take a thorough shower, going through the lather, rising, and relathering cycle a couple times. After I'm sure I'm squeaky clean.

"Better?" I walk up to my mom, after I change.

"It's a start." she smiles. "Now eat up I made eggs and bacon."

"Yum." I sit at the table, grab my fork and knife and start chanting in an idiotic manner, "FOOD, BRANDON WANT FOOD. FOOD, BRANDON WANT FOOD!"

"GET IT, BRANDON GET FOOD." my mom imitates me.

"Ugh, fine." I pile my plate with who knows how many pieces of bacon, and enough eggs to feed a family of 4. Hey don't judge, I'm a growing boy!

"Bye mom." I give her a quick hug, and rush out the door.

"Knock knock." I ring my girlfriend Kates door bell.

"Coming my good sir." I hear her bound down the stairs.

"Looking as beautiful as ever my lady."

"Thank you, and you don't look to bad yourself."

"Why thank you."

"Shall we go." she asks.

"Yes we shall." I hook her arm in mine, and like the total dorks we are we practically skip down the street and sing, "We're off to see the Reaping, the the terrible Reaping of Panem!" And just imagine it to the tune of that ancient movie with the girl who befriends a scare crow, lion and robot and try to finds some wizard or something like that. Sounds kinda weird to me, but I guess the people of that time found it entertaining.

"Will you quiet down!" A peacekeeper nearly bites our head off,as we enter where they are being held.

"Oh sorry kind sir, I was trying to tell my girlfriend hear to stop, but you know how women are, when they wanna sing they'll sing. So I just thought if you can't beat 'em might as well join them right?" I can't help myself but have a little fun with him, but he just glares at me. "Come on, a handsome man like your self must have a Mrs at home, am I right? You know what I'm talking about." I nudge him teasingly in the shoulder, and I swear I can see him turn from a normal man to a canibal, as his he eyes my arm menacingly.

"Welcome District 10 to the annual Reaping!" We hear our escort schout.

"Oh that our queue, it was nice talking to you." I grab Kate by the hand and rush her away before he eats her.

"Whew I thought he was gonna kill us right then and there." Kate whispers to me.

"Ditto, I'll see you soon." I kiss her lightly, and go to the 17 year olds.

"Love you." she kisses me back.

"... Alyssa Crest!" our escort, Rie, announces the girl tribute.

A skinny girl with dirty blonde hair is dragged on stage. I'm glad it's not Kate, but I cam't help but feel bad for that girl. It doesn't look like she could last a day in the Games. I'm glad I'm not her.

"Don't worry Alyssa, it won't be too bad." Rie smiles unconvincingly at her, as she just stares at him petrified. "Hahah who am I kidding you're gonna get slaughtered, man I can't wait for this quarter Quell, but before I get ahead of myself lets start with the male tribute."

He reaches his hand in to a huge where a couple slips of paper hold my name. But I can't be chosen right, I mean what are the chances of that?

"Brandon Hanson!" Apparently not small enough.

Ally POV

In and out, in and out. I tell myself, trying to steady my breathing, and attempting not to have a major freak out on stage. This can't be happening this is just some kind of dream. And tomorrow I'm going to wake up and continue with my normal life.

But minutes go by and I'm still standing on the stage with thousnads of people watching. Oh man what did I do to deserve this.

"Jarod Crest!" I hear Rie say.

What! But he's 24, how is he being reaped? I look wildly around the stage, and I see a boy a couple years older than me, who must have been reaped. What the heck was going on? I hadn't noticed how long I've been lost on thought.

"Jarod what are you doing up here." I whisper tears threatening to fall.

"Didn't you here, each tribute is being accompanied by a loved one." he whispers back, and I my heart stops. No. "Don't worry we'll be alright." he smiles slightly.

"How?" I say in choked whisper.

He stays silent, and looks at me helplessly.

Kate POV (Brandin's girlfriend)

"No Brandon!" I sob. He can't die. He can't leave me alone, not when I'm pregnant. I still haven't even told him. It's probably better he doesn't know so he doesn't feel so bad. I can't believe this happening, this is the kind of thing that happens on t.v not to me. Not to him.

I rub my stomach subconsciously, I'm barely showing, so there isn't much to touch, but just knowing that there's gonna be living breathing being in me, terrifies me, excites me, and saddens me. A living breathing being that will never meet his father.

"Okay and now for my favorite part of this year's Games, the Quarter Quell rule. There are gonna be 48 people in the arena this year. That's right you heard me right, 48. Man this is gonna be so fun to watch."

He's met by thousands of horrified and confused faces.

"Oh I should probably explain. You see Alyssa and Brandon hear, will bring one close friend or family member, and so will the other tributes. Get it, got it, good." he smiles.

It takes time for me to process what he said. Only parts of it get through to me, and I just stand there in numb horror. But before I know it my name is called, but I continue to simply stand, not showing any initiative that I'm gonna move.

I feel vaguely feel hands grab me by the arm, but I'm not sure. As I look at the world around, I see that I'm moving. I wonder why. I lok to the left of me and I see Brandon. How did he get here?

I blink a couple of times, and take in my surroundings. I'm on the stage, and I've just been reaped along with my boyfriend.

I'm gonna die, my boyfriends's gonna die, my baby's gonna die. And there's nothing we an do.

Alright t you know how I put that Brandon wants the word 'joshing' to catch on. Well I put that in here because I'm trying to spread the word around. Because I told my friends one day it'd catch on. So you can just just use this word interchangeably with joking or kidding or whatever you say :) So far i got my friends and brother saying it, so... I still got a lot of work to :D