Shine

Chapter 6

District 7 Reapings

A/N: Are we ready to… meet the Tributes from District Seven? Special thanks to Hawkmaid and Red Roses1000 for these wonderful Tributes! Let's. Get. This. Par-tay. Started!

Vallory 'Val' Stensland –16- -D7- POV

I look into the mirror as I zip up my dark brown dress. My amber eyes make contact with themselves, and I see how my brown curls frame my face. I walk out into the living room to see if the rest of the family is ready. I see Tyson standing in his suit waiting, and I hear my mom and dad getting ready from behind the master bedroom door. I ny otice two people who are missing. I walk over to Meena's door and knock on it.

"Are you almost ready, Meena?" I ask.

"We're almost ready. I just need to find the right dress for Whisper," Meena replies. Oh, right. I forgot that Whisper was staying with us tonight. Sometimes Whisper stays with us, sometimes she stays with Mara. Whisper is an orphan I and Mara found and took in. She barely talks, and when she does, she doesn't do it very well, hence the name. Whisper and Mara are both eleven, they aren't old enough to be Reaped this year, and I'm thankful for that.

"Okay," I say. "Be quick though, we need to get going."

"Okay," Meena replies. Then, a few seconds later, "Found it!" Thirty seconds later, Meena and Whisper both emerge, in identical white dresses. "We're ready," she says. "Where are mom and dad?"

"I'm sure they'll be her-" I'm cut off by the door opening.

"Everybody ready to go?" My mom asks. She still looks so thin. Too thing.

"I am," Tyson says. Tyson is my older brother, and he looks just like me father.

"I'm good, and I think these two are too," I say, gesturing to the girls. They nod assent.

"Okay then," my dad says, in his ever-jolly voice, "let's head out."

Aster Ochs –17- -D7- POV

I button my suit jacket and look at my brown eyes in the mirror. Today is one of the few days I wear a suit. Most of the time I dress in my flannel and jeans. Regardless of what I wear, I still have the same pair of ratty old sneakers. Oh well. I should cut my hair soon, my blond curls are getting a little long. Maybe I'll do it tomorrow. Maybe not. We'll see. I walk out into the living room, where my parents, Grace and Jamie, are waiting.

"Ready to go?" My mom asks.

"Yup," I say.

"Then let's go," my dad says.

Juniper Aysitera –18- -D7- POV

I zip up my blue dress, and put my hair back in a ponytail. No buns for me today, I might volunteer anyway. I know that my family doesn't want me to, but if a twelve-year-old gets Reaped… My brown eyes look at their reflection in the mirror. I smile. If I do this, it'll be for Cyder. And that's why I'll win. I walk out into the living room where Willow and Marlo are waiting.

"Ready, guys?" I ask.

"Yup," Willow says. "Just waiting on mom and dad."

"Okay," I say.

"And Juniper?" She asks.

"Yeah?" I respond.

"Promise me you won't," Willow says.

"I promise that I won't, unless it's you or another twelve-year-old," I say.

"Okay," she says.

"Ready to go?" My mom asks as she emerges from her bedroom wearing her fanciest dress.

"Yup!" I say.

Vallory 'Val' Stensland –16- -D7- POV

I leave my parents, Meena, and Whisper at the edge of the Reaping and walk towards my section. I spot Mara on the way there and wave at her. She comes over. She has brown eyes, like mine, except more slanted, and short brown hair. And lots of freckles. I mean lots of freckles.

"How's Whisper doing?" Mara asks.

"She's doing fine," I say. "She's over there," I point to where Meena and Whisper are standing. "How are you?"

"Hoping I don't get Reaped. You?" She asks.
"Always," I respond.

"How is District Seven?" Roz Grammer asks from onstage. I and Mara turn to face the stage.

"Good," everyone shouts weakly. Every. Single. Year. They need to do something different for once.

"Come on District Seven, make some noise!" Roz shouts.

"We're great! District Seven is the best!" The crowd shouts back at Roz.

"Let's get this Reaping started!" Roz shouts. "Ladies first! The Female Tribute from District Seven is…" she reaches into the bowl and pulls out a piece of paper. I'm happy that Meena and Whisper aren't old enough to be Reaped. Mara and I have an agreement never to volunteer for the other, it wouldn't help anybody. "Kelly Clark!"

Juniper Aysitera –18- -D7- POV

Kelly Clark. I know that name. She's one of the richer kids, just turned twelve. She and Willow used to be friends.

"I-" I start to say, but am cut off by a much stronger, louder voice from behind me.

"I volunteer as Tribute!"

Vallory 'Val' Stensland –16- -D7- POV

Kelly Clark. She's just twelve. I look around for her, and see her, terrified, starting to walk to the stage. I can't let this poor little girl get tortured. I just can't. And I can win. It'll be alright, and I can use the money to help my family. I know I can win.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I shout. I walk, in an attempt at confidence, up to the stage.

"And what is your name?" Roz asks, evidently surprised.

"Vallory Stensland," I tell her confidently.

"The Female Tribute from District Seven is Vallory Stensland!"

Juniper Aysitera –18- -D7R- POV

"The Female Tribute from District Seven is Vallory Stensland!" Roz shouts from onstage. Well, I guess that's it. I'm done. I will never be in the Hunger Games. But maybe, just maybe, that's alright. I do need to go visit that girl, Vallory, though. I need to talk to her, make sure that she wins.

Aster Ochs –17- -D7- POV

I arrive at the Reaping and leave my parents at its edge. I see my two best friends, Blake and Jacob, coming over to me.

"Hi, man," Blake says.

"Hi, guys," I say. "What's up?"
"We went to this reaallly cool party last night, dude. Why weren't you there?" Jacob asks. He has a slur in his voice, he's clearly still hungover from that 'reaally cool party'. I wasn't there because I don't really like the parties. I was at home, writing a poem about a girl I saw on the street yesterday. Of course, they can't know that.

"You know my parents wouldn't approve if they knew I was at a party, and today is Reaping day. I can't be hungover," I say. That's all true. Of course, I never actually drink, and I really just didn't want to go, but my parents give me an excuse.

"Of course, man, I get it," Blake says. "You missed out though. I scored with this really hot chick, E-" I wave my hands to cut him off.

"I don't need to hear it, Blake," I say. "Please."

"Fine," he huffs at me. "But she had a sister, Laurel, I think." I just shake my head at him.

"I should probably get going to my section," I say. "I'll see you guys later?"

"Yeah!" Blake says. Normally I would stay and talk longer, but I just don't feel like putting on that act today. Not right now. I walk to my section. I see that a small girl is Reaped, but then another girl volunteers. I thought I heard two people volunteer, but only one finished her sentence. Interesting.

"And on to the boys! The Male Tribute for District Seven is…" Roz unfolds her piece of paper. "Aster Ochs!" I'm stunned. My vision narrows to a tunnel as I walk to the stage. I realize that I need to project confidence. I try, and fail. I start walking to the stage. By the time I get to the stage, I'm smiling, but I think it's obvious that I'm faking. I shake hands with Roz and take my place next to the girl, Vallory, I think.

"The Tributes from District Seven are Vallory Stensland and Aster Ochs!"

A/N: Another one bites the dust… We have three Reapings out of twelve down, and y'all are submitting Tributes faster than I can write, which is great, keep it up! Also, for future reference, Sponsoring will work exactly the same as my last story, unless anyone has a better idea. Please, keep submitting your Tributes, District Seven is the lowest number District we have filled, so please submit some more! Also, don't everyone submit Bloodbaths now, but just a reminder: if everyone says no, someone will be disappointed. Anyway, here's the Tribute list and please submit some more!

Tribute list:

D1M: Lustero Aldor, 17, by Yugi-Smallymcsmall

D1F: Diamond Knowles, 18, by Tyquavis (Previous character connection)

D2M: Ares Moretti, 18, by Andii99

D2F: Giselle Serpentine, 16, by Red Roses1000

D3M: Open

D3F: Open

D4M: Open

D4F: Thia Zollis, 15, by JustAPersonReading

D5M: Emery Colt, 17, by Hawkmaid

D5F: Serena Holden, 16, by Andii99

D6M: Andrew Spayler, 15, by AspiringSteampunk0909

D6F: Harper Satin, 16, by Primione394

D7M: Aster Ochs, 17, by Red Roses1000

D7F: Vallory Stensland, 16, by Hawkmaid

D8M: Open

D8F: Rhylee Kaski, 16, by Primione394

D9M: Open

D9F: Open

D10M: Open

D10F: Open

D11M: Open

D11F: Open

D12M: Open

D12F: Open