Welcome back my lovelies!

Ivystorm: Thank you :D Yas, here you go (: :) (: :)

This chapter will be from Storm's POV! Hope you enjoy!

Storm

Waiting in line was boring, though I guess things like that never changed. When it was finally my turn, the peacekeeper snatched my finger forwards and pricked it, drawing blood. It didn't hurt that much seeing as it was only the tiniest cut, but I wiped the growing red away and placed my finger over it nonetheless. Reed and Tyson were waiting for me, and we walked over to the sixteen-year-old boys area together, talking idly.

We were shoved the last part of the way into the queue by a couple of peacekeepers, and though their face was hidden, I could practically see their impatient faces as they waited boredly for the Reapings to begin. If I were maybe an idiot, I would shove them back, but I knew that it would only cause a bigger scene than necessary. On the way, I caught a glimpse of Feather, my twin sister in the girls section, and she gave me a quick wave.

"Hey Reed? How's the leg?" Tyson asked, indicating towards the leg wrapped in a cast and the crutches he was leaning slightly on.

Reed pushed his black hair back and laughed slightly. "It's healing. Hurts a bit, but it was worth it."

I chuckled at the memory of Reed on top of Hawke's house, waiting with a bucket of ice on the roof, and when the boy walked out, his complete and utter shock written in bold across his face, and our howls of laughter. Then of Reed laughing so hard he fell off the roof, breaking his leg but not noticing the pain in a fit of laughter.

"Too worth it. Your sacrifice will forever be written among the stars." I added, nudging him slightly but making sure I didn't knock him over. From the seventeen year-olds section a couple a places behind us, I heard an irritated tut from Hawke.

Reed's dark green eyes continued to sparkle with mischief and cheerfulness while he had stayed in the hospital -if you could call it that- for a couple of days. It wasn't a serious break, but because Reed refused to stop moving and rest it, it was taking longer to heal. I just hoped he wasn't Reaped -that would put him at a serious disadvantage in the Games.

I turned my thoughts back to the fun we'd had as he'd been breaking his leg, and laughed slightly, pushing a few raven-black strands of hair out of my face. Tyson went to start another conversation, but at that moment the Mayor stood up and walked over to the microphone. He looked old and tired, and I was surprised he hadn't retired yet. His voice was raspy and weak.

"Welcome, District Four, to the Reapings for the one hundred and thirty-fourth Hunger Games. These Games serve as a punishment for the two rebellions held against the Capitol, and it is by their mercy that we are still alive today."

As he began to ramble the rest of his yearly speech, I could see that he did not want to believe what he was trying to convince others to. He must've been alive and young at the time of the Rebellion, and I wondered if he had stood with the rebels or against. Surely with, if the tiniest spark of rebellion still burned in his grey eyes?

By the time I was back from my thoughts, the Mayor had returned to his seat and our escort was prancing up.

"Hello District Four!" she called cheerily. There were a few cheers and whistles from the crowd, mostly from the people who only wanted to see Four get another victor. Usually the crowd would be much wilder, like I was sure Districts One and Two were, but everyone knew that there was no one well-trained enough from the academy to enter, and that it was going to be a traditional Reaping like in the outer Districts.

"Welcome back to the Reapings, and it is a great pleasure to be in charge of the event in this District for you today!" she continued. I was pretty sure her name was something like Diana or Dina, and she had extremely long electric blue hair that curled up unnaturally at the end, and she had probably done that to make it look like the sea for us, especially considering she was wearing a silver dress with blue tinges.

"Now, without further ado, let's see who our lucky duo is this year! Ladies first!" she wandered over to the bowl of female names and plunged her hand in the mass before delicately picking out a name and reading it out loud.

"Rosemary Syllastone!" she called.

I recognised the name, but couldn't match it to a face until the crowd parted and I saw a slender, quite slim girl with long, straight honey-blonde hair and dark mint-green eyes. She was stood next to a ravenette who hadn't cleared away with the other girls and looked a little distressed. Rosemary gave her a look full of an emotion I couldn't tell from the distance before walking calmly up to the stage. I knew both her and her friend from school (though I had completely forgotten what the ravenette was called) and she was agile and intelligent, and mixed with her pretty looks and calm attitude, she stood quite a good chance of winning, even if she didn't seem like the career type. I just wondered who her partner would be.

If no one volunteered that was, but when the escort asked around, there was silence from the crowd. She shrugged slightly and winked at her friend, who seemed pretty upset then.

"Well then, Rosemary! You seem like quite a fine young lady, so I shall waste no time in seeing who your District partner will be!"

And she trotted over the the males' bowl. Rosemary seemed to be content from her smile, but I didn't think she had ever been to the academy. I wouldn't know, I had never been either, but beneath the cool demeanor she seemed to be slightly anxious.

"And the final tribute for the Hunger Games is...Reed Whisperfield!"

Oh no

Oh no

Oh no no no no no

I turned to Reed beside me, who was looking around in alarm. Our eyes met, and I felt panic and dread creeping up my spine.

Not Reed! He doesn't stand a chance!

Nevertheless, he began limping forwards, swinging on the crutches as he made his way up to the stage. The escort looked slightly awkward, like she didn't really know if the District would be particularly happy with her for picking out an injured tribute. Rosemary had the decency to walk over and help him up the stairs when he reached them, and the escort immediately asked if there were any volunteers.

I swung my head around, trying to find someone, anyone, who would go in instead of Reed, but everyone looked just as uncomfortable as me, so I made the decision right there and then, threw my hand into the air and shouted. "I volunteer!"

The escort began to smile her white smile as her eyes fell on me, and she helped Reed back down and beckoned me forwards. My eyes met Tyson's as I muttered a quick sorry before walking fast so I didn't show hesitation and slow so I didn't show nerves and tried to look as determined as possible as I walked up. I passed Reed on the way as we headed in opposite directions and he flashed me an extremely grateful look and returned to his position.

"Well then! You look ready for this! May I have your name?" she asked, smiling.

"I'm Storm Sky." I replied as confidently as I could muster.

"And there we have it, our two lovely tributes! Can we all give a hand to District Four's Rosemary Syllastone and Storm Sky!"

She indicated for us to shake hands as the audience exploded into applause, and as my hands touched Rosemary's, I noticed for the first time the very slight shaking that was in it. I wondered if she could feel mine. My eyes met hers, and though they were almost devoid of emotion, there was a flicker of fear in their green depths. I once again wondered if I was the same.

"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!"

I felt a slight rush of sympathy for her, but tried to expel it as soon as it came. No, I couldn't make a bond with my District partner if I was to make it out alive and come back home to my friends and family. I tried to break eye contact with her and her gaze fell to the ground as we drew apart and were led into the Justice Building by the stoic peacekeepers. This time none of them tried to push me in, maybe because I was walking quicker this time, but there was a bit of awkward shoving as they directed us into separate rooms.

I assumed they looked the same, but I took the chance to awe at mine. It was lavishly decorated with paintings of the sea, and a few tridents hung crossed over another on the walls, a couple of fish nets were draped from rafter to rafter, and the sofas were a sea green. I sat down on one, and as I did, my family came rushing in, my mother carrying young Silver in her arms.

Feather came and sat next to me, putting her hand in mine and leaning close to me. My father looked as though he was conflicted with joy and sadness for me. He crouched down in front of me.

"Storm...I just want you to know I'm proud of you. You volunteered for Reed, and you were so brave. You didn't let the last minute decision affect your confidence, and I believe in you. You're not academy trained, but you're strong and strong-willed, and I think you've got what it takes to come home."

"But I don't want to slaughter innocent kids! I wanna come home, but I could never kill…" I replied, the smallest sob interrupting my voice slightly.

"Storm, when I was a young child, I always wanted the fame of being a victor, but when I first saw the Games, I knew that it was not for me. I persued that dream until I saw death, do you see where I'm going with this? If you want to win, you've got to lie low and stay away from all the other tributes, even Rosemary. Then you can pick off whoever's left after the career's are done, so just be aware that you will have to kill at least once. But always do interesting stuff otherwise the Gamemakers will lead you to another tribute. I believe in you son."

I nodded, his plan making sense. He gave me a thumbs up then moved away so that mother could hug me. She said over and over how she believed in me and that I could do it, while three-year-old Silver just smiled. I smiled back. She didn't understand what I was being sent to.

Feather didn't say a word until everyone else had finished, then she turned to face me.

"Storm, you're my closest friend. You're the one I trust the most. Promise me that if -no, when- you make it out, you won't change, and you'll still be my brother."

I closed my eyes for a moment, taking in the reality of the situation once more. "I-I promise, Feather. I'll always be your brother, and you'll always be my sister. Always."

She smiled, then suddenly the peacekeepers were there, leading them out. It didn't seem like long enough.

"I love you!" I called after them, and I saw Feather's light blue eyes before the door closed.

To be immediately opened again as Tyson ran in, followed a few seconds later by Reed on his crutches.

"Storm you idiot!" the brown-haired boy cried.

"Hey!" I replied with a slight smile.

"Hey!" shouted back Reed, "Would you rather I died?"

Tyson seemed to realise the awkward situation he'd talked himself into and didn't reply.

Reed sighed. "Storm, I...I really appreciate what you did there. You're willing to face the Games for me? I...I...I didn't realise you cared so much. I'm sorry...I could never do the thing you just did, I'm too much of a coward."

"Hey, no you're not." I replied, "You broke your leg and laughed it off, you walked up there calm as anything. I bet you could face all the tributes head-on and still smile for the camera."

"Yeah, but you could do it ten times better."

"Then I'll do it for you. Both of you. All of you. Everyone."

He stumbled towards me and hugged me, a gesture we did not do at all often. I was surprised for a moment, then hugged him back.

"You'll do great in there. We believe in you. We've got your back."

"Thanks."

Then the peacekeepers were upon us again, and Tyson and Reed were lead steadily out.

Those were all the visitors. The white guards came in to lead me out, surrounding me on all sides so that I could not escape. I caught a glimpse of Rosemary being pushed in beside me, and refused to look at her, even if I did steal a slight glance. She seemed calmer now, and I could see a thin, lavender thread hanging around her neck, but it ran down under her dress so I couldn't see what was on the end of it. With a sudden flash of panic, I raised my hand to my neck to see if mine was still there. I had completely forgotten about it. I raised mine up to look at it, the smoothly cut marble, and felt a flash of relief. At least I had a token in the Games.

The car was waiting for us when we stopped, and the escort and two of the mentors with it. I turned around for a final glance at the calm sea, the busy yet peaceful town we called home. I only had a second to take it all in before I was turned and pushed into the car.

This is it. No going back now.

How was it? Now they are officially on the path to the Games and there isn't any turning back.

Any early bets? Who do you think will win?

Let me know! Probably too early but still.

Adios amigos

~KT