Author's Note: Moved past the Quell announcement for this one. It's Reaping Day in District Eleven and a chance to write some of my favourite minor characters. We're almost finished, just District Twelve to go. Although I am considering a trip to District Thirteen to round things off! Let me know what you think. As ever, reviews, comments, feedback and constructive criticism would be much appreciated!

District Eleven's Victors and their Games: Orchard (4), Seeder (29), Anara (32, deceased), Chaff (45)

….

The Reaping happened on a beautiful day in District Eleven. Seeder began the morning early, watching the sun rise over her home, appreciating the multitude of colours as they cast a pattern over the brilliant and endless sky. There were no clouds to disturb the picture, only the shadows of the trees in the orchards that surrounded the Village. It would have been a perfect morning if it were not for the peacekeeper situated at the gate to her garden, positioned to prevent any last-minute escape attempts. Still, Seeder managed to ignore his presence. She brought out a blanket and some food and stayed in the centre of her garden, enjoying her little part of Panem. The victors who lived adjacent to the orchards could keep whatever fruit fell into their gardens and lately Seeder realised that more fruit had 'fallen' her way. She made sure to collect it yesterday and to eat it before she had to leave so the risks taken by the kind strangers across the wall would not be in vain.

Soon, Seeder knew it was time. She would have to make sure Orchard was ready and that Chaff had kept to his word and was off the bottle. She packed up her things, took one last look at her garden and went inside. After a few moments, Seeder was ready to check on her fellow victors. She walked towards her front door when she startled. A peacekeeper was inside her house. He moved to block her door.

"Where do you think you're going? You are to remain here until you are escorted to the centre," the peacekeeper ordered.

"To check on the others of course. Orchard will need help to get ready and it will be a very difficult morning for Chaff. I need to check on him too," Seeder answered, being sure to respond carefully and respectfully.

"Well, you can do that from here. They've already arrived," he replied brusquely.

Initially confused, Seeder paused to listen. Sure enough she could hear Chaff muttering quietly, whether to himself or to Orchard she was not sure. But Seeder was not happy about what this suggested about her reflexes, three men, one of them being Chaff had entered her house and she was completely unaware. Surely this did not bode well for the arena.

"Don't worry," Chaff said to Seeder, "we're all ready. Didn't want to give you something else to worry about."

"Well thank you," Seeder replied to Chaff with a slight smile. She suspected Chaff had wanted a private word with Orchard, so she was pleased he had made the opportunity to do so. They would not have many more of those after all. Seeder knew what Chaff would do if the situation called for it. She did not need to be witness to that conversation.

Knowing Orchard, Seeder went up to him and checked the cuffs on his sleeves, the collar of his shirt and the state of his shoes. It was not that she did not trust Chaff but that she and the older victor had the same idea. After everything the Capitol threw at their District, the insults and insinuations that they were all barbarians, the worst of all the Districts, they wanted to do something to prove them wrong. Therefore, they made every effort to dress well and appear their best. Even at his advanced age, Seeder knew that Orchard would want this, for them to see him carrying on with dignity and for him to defy their attempts to come up with another ridiculous insult.

"Thank you. Thank you both," the older man whispered, clearly moved by the care his friends were taking of him when he knew what they were about to face. Seeder smiled and grasped his hand whilst Chaff patted him on the shoulder affectionately.

"Right, how long have we got before that dozy cow arrives?" Chaff announced.

"Boy," Orchard grumbled, "Be the better man like we know you are. Don't stoop to their level," Orchard finished, and Chaff sighed in reply.

"Hopefully long enough for me to freshen up. I hate her complaining about my clothes and I don't want an argument today." Seeder answered. "Chaff, behave yourself."

Seeder took one last opportunity for a moment's peace in her bedroom, quickly changed and added a few personal effects to a small bag. They would be able to sneak something small in with Orchard's herbal medications. She sat down on her bed, looked around her room and out of the window. Work in the orchards for those not attending the reaping was in full swing. Finally, she stood up and walked out of the room, leaving behind her sanctuary for the last forty-six years.

She was just in time to hear that their escort, Candy Blush, had arrived and was already causing a fuss. Seeder reluctantly went to meet her to prevent the young woman starting an argument with Chaff.

"Surrounded by incompetence! Utterly useless, these people! Oh, thank Snow you're here Seeder. I cannot find that useless old man and I presume the drunk is still asleep somewhere?" Candy shouted as she made her way through Seeder's house all too excitedly.

"They're here Candy. In my living room. You can check if you wish. But before you go any further, Chaff is not drunk and Orchard can still hear you, so you don't need to shout," Seeder replied curtly.

"Oh! Well, I can hear Chaff now, loud as he is, so I won't check. I will make preparations for our departure," Candy remarked as she walked towards Seeder's front door, off to do who knows what.

Seeder took the time to make herself and her friends a final drink in her kitchen and then went to join them. They talked about anything and nothing, the words flowing naturally between them as they always did, although there was a heavy undertone to their conversation. This would be the last time they could do something so normal.

Sure enough, two peacekeepers burst into her living room as if it were they who had been living in her house for over forty years. Keen to avoid trouble, Seeder led the other victors out of her living room and then allowed Chaff, pushing Orchard in his wheelchair to pass. She turned around and took a final, long look at her home, walked outside, and locked the door behind her.

They finally arrived at the Centre Square over heated and irritated. Spending half an hour locked in a vehicle with Candy Blush twittering on and surrounded by peacekeepers was rather annoying. Seeder kept her left hand tight over Chaff's right throughout their journey by way of restraint. They were both angry at how Orchard had been manhandled into the vehicle and she was not sure how long Chaff would hold himself together.

On arrival, Chaff made sure to take care of Orchard and gently led him through the crowds and onto the stage, thankfully without incident. Seeder took pains to block out the usual nonsense from the Capitol film and Candy's inane chatter and waited for the inevitable. When her name was finally called, she took her place next to Candy in the middle of the stage. She was surprised when Orchard's name was called but not when Chaff volunteered. She wondered what the point of reaping Orchard would be, what reaction they were trying to get from both her and Chaff. She would ask Mags for her opinion when they got to the Capitol. As proceedings came to a close, she locked eyes with Orchid and Lily, her closest friends and Eleven's rebel leaders. They would know what to do.

….

Mags knew that watching the reapings would be difficult. Eight was dreadful, there was no other way to describe it. Finnick gripped her hand tighter under the table, out of the sight of their new and not to be trusted escort Diana Treasure, upon watching Cecelia's crying children, an obviously distressed, helpless Woof and Cotton breaking down at Cecelia's side. In sharp contrast, Nine was mundane and Mags was saddened that the two younger victors from Ten would surely meet their end in this way. But Mags was proud of her friends in Eleven.

Seeder stood on that stage commanding the respect that the Capitol would never give her. Firm and unwavering, she took her place next to that ditzy escort and looked ahead towards her people. They would repay her efforts over the coming months; Mags was sure of it. Orchard's age was finally catching up to him. But still he sat straight and proud, looking out one final time towards his District. Eleven held immense respect for the old man and hearing his name called provoked whispers and murmurs amongst the audience that the Capitol audio could not hide.

Chaff looked strong and sober. Mags could not think of the last time she saw him so focussed and composed. He stood with his good hand steady on Orchard's shoulder throughout. Immediately after Orchard's name was announced, Chaff's voice cut clear through the crowd as he went to take his friend's place and stood proudly alongside Seeder. Whilst their young escort was squeaking, feigning surprise, and trying to drum up some excitement, District Eleven raised their arms in District Twelve's three-fingered salute. The film cut away before she could see how the victors responded.

Mags smiled to herself. Snow was wrong, they were not his victors, there to be moulded, shaped, and sold into Capitol creations. They belonged to their Districts, and in some ways, they were hers'. Mags felt somewhat like a proud parent. They had taken a terrible situation, made of it what they could and saved who they were able. Her victors were magnificent. They would be the heroes of this story, this era in Panem's history and she would need to make sure people knew that.