Chapter 7: The Scarred

District Seven Reaping

Taliah Marik - District Seven Female

"The damage was permanent; there would always be scars. But even the angriest scars faded over time until it was difficult to see them written over your skin at all, and the only thing that remained was the memory of how painful it had been,"

- Jodi Picoult

"Hmmm," I hummed, following along a melody I was producing.

The fiddle in my hand (a smaller violin honestly) makes the best of sounds in place.

"~I get this going fever every time I hear a tune~," I sang lightly, stringing a few cords of my fiddle.

Today, I was wondering if I should wear a turtleneck. It's stylish, comfortable, soft, and most importantly, it hides my neck. I pushed the collar of the shirt to the neck to cover the burn scars. Yeah, I decided to wear a turtle neck.

"~That talks about the South Woods where the cactus is in the bloom~."

I pushed a leg lower to the branch closest to me, this tree I'm sitting on is so green and bushy that it's perfect to play near the top of it. I looked at the wilderness of District Seven. All the tall evergreen around is such a beautiful sight, and playing around here calms me despite everything that happened Four years ago.

"~I feel I ought to be there every evening after dark~."

I kept stringing the four lines on my gorgeous fiddle. It was a gift for me for my birthday. A year after the incident, the fire that raged at least a quarter of the reserved forest.

"~To hear a fiddler fiddling around the tune called Old Joey Seven~."

Singing isn't my specialty, but sometimes I can't help myself when I play. Smiling unknowingly, I strung the fiddle once more, feeling the vibrations of the sound and feel of the instrument.

I could do this forever, just playing up here up a tree. I do it more then perhaps what my family and friends would like. They think I'm far too fragile to do anything like this. Well, we all got our hobbies. I don't need their opinions on what I can or can not do, I can be careful, and there's no fire anymore. There hasn't been a fire since four years ago.

"Tali! Get down from there!" Liam, my good protective friend of blonde hair and green eyes, cried out from below the tree I'm in.

While annoyed by most people, I smirked when Liam says stuff like that, really brings out his caring side.

"I like it here Liam, why don't you join me instead for once?!" I shouted back.

Liam inspected the tall tree, then looked up. "No thank you, I like it down here," he joked before saying, "Seriously Taliah, come back down!"

"Fine! I'm climbing back down!" I told him loudly. What a killjoy, I mentally mock in my head.

Slipping the fiddle in its case and putting it on my back, I proceeded cautiously climbing back down the tall evergreen. It's a lot easier with practice, but it's better not to teach the kids back home without proper guidance, not that I needed it.

"I keep telling you to stop doing that, and I am not the only one," he said with a chiding tone, arms crossed.

"And I keep telling you I'll stop," I said with a smile. "One day..."

My friend wasn't amused. "One day, your family is going to kill me for not stopping you from doing something stupid."

Shaking my head, I had to correct him. "Not my whole family," a grin appeared on my face. "Just Spruce."

My older brother Spruce could, arguably, more protective of me than Liam. One thing that amuses me is how Spruce test's Liam in all sort's of manner, like a test of strength or personality, almost every time. I mean, Liam is halfway handsome, but I'm not interested in him. Some other poor girl can have that honor.

"Okay. I'm going to ignore that," Liam mentioned, most definitely already imagining Spruce's judging eyes. "Listen, I foraged enough plants and Ophiliah should be back any minute now."

"Yeah think she'll get something?"

"Another rabbit most definitely, she has a talent for getting those furry things."

"Right. I keep forgetting that, is it weird that Ophiliah has that bunny whisperer thing going for her?"

"Not necessarily..."

"Umm. I'm here guys," a hesitant voice was heard next to us. Both I and Liam turned our head's to Ophiliah, a braided brown haired girl, and she indeed has a fat white rabbit on her arms. "I-it's not n-nice to talk to people's back like that."

I looked at her rabbit. "Aw. What a cute little thing," I moved my eye's to Ophiliah. "Is it going to end up medium rare or tender?"

"I uh, it's not-" she got all tongue-tied. "I don't know yet."

Playfully licking my lips, I said, "I hope you make it tender."

"Ah, okay?" Ophiliah agreed shyly, already forgetting her earlier complaint. She's not the best with people.

Honestly, she's a nice young woman. She'd be a vet if that was possible and not a hunter like everyone one in her family, like how I want to be a music teacher, but it's more likely I'll end up as a lumberjack like the rest of my relatives. Ophiliah's family and mines are good friend's who have dinner with each other, I'm not as close to her as I am with Liam -having known him since kindergarten- but she's fun to tease.

"Ophiliah, you are a gem," I said amusingly, proceeding to nudge Liam with my elbow. "I bet Liam's think's so too. Eh? Eh? Think the both of you are going to admit each other's feeling's for one other."

"Why d-do you say thing's like that?!" Ophiliah shouted, blushing a little.

Liam coughed, "Tali. Stop being a bother. No one is interested in anyone, and I go through that shit enough with Spruce."

Doesn't help that I keep telling Spruce I'm interested in Liam, for the jokes and my entertainment of course, and my eternal wish that my best friend Liam will never get a break. What can I say? District Seven, while beautiful, is boring and messing with people give's me the giggles.

"Anyway. Let's get back. We got to give the loot we found, and move on with the Reaping," Liam said urgently.

The word of that cursed tradition already depleted my mood, but I didn't show it. I'm braver than that, facing down a forest fire proves it. Despite the burn scar's, I'm tough as a nail and don't think otherwise. The Hunger Games wishes it had me.

"Yeah. L-let's go. We've been here longer than we should a-anyway," Ophiliah said in her usual nervous voice.

I raised my case holding my fiddle. "Do the both of you want the best music you ever heard on the way? I promise not to extort you."

"Pass."

"M-maybe next time."

"Killjoys," I pouted.

The moment was humorous as it should be, no one need's to think of the too many Number Games. My mother, Caren Marik, and my father, Karno Marik, are the best lumberjacks if I do say so myself(I'm not the only one), and they taught me how to use an ax like a proper person from District Seven in case I end up getting myself in the life or death game. Ok, that's not the real reason. I didn't want to be a lumberjack, and my parents did so they thought I'd buy the excuse that this is in case I ended up in the Hunger Games. I learned how to use an ax because my parents tricked me, honestly what a bunch of beakless woodpeckers.

That goes the same to Liam and Ophiliah for not wanting to do hear my music.

I'm not lazy if anyone thinks that. Ophiliah's family does hunting, Liam's in a family of herbs and medicine, and mine collects wood. Only I'm don't exactly need to do anything at the moment.

Dad and Spruce are doing the work today, and I saw them cutting log's open when I left my fiddle home. The Reaping was going to start, I had to be there, unfortunately, so I didn't get to say hi to them.

"Hello, District Seven! I'm happy to be here!" Fiffa Miffy, the district escort, screamed cheerily. She seemed so happy it was creepy, but, well, her hair is otherworldly. Her brown hair is spiky, like thorns. Maybe horns would be a better word for it. I don't know. I think I like it. She's mostly plain in appearance, and she's wearing a lumberjack suit. Yeah, that's racist.

No one in the town square was happy to see her, and no one wanted to say anything. Best not to repeat what two years ago, was tribute's family member attacked a peacekeeper and the guard opened fire. It set off a panic with twelve deaths, and an escort(everyone in the District celebrated that one). Fiffa seems to have never gotten learned what happened to her predecessor with how happy she is.

"Let us all get a move on! Female's first!" the escort said, moving to the girl's bowl and read the name,

"Taliah Marik!"

I want to scream out! I want to rebel! I want to GTFO!

The thought's in my head were angry, it was desperate, but it turned hopeless.

There was nowhere to go, but forward. I faced a forest fire, going up near death itself isn't a new experience(I might exaggerating there).

I walked forward to the stage, trying my best to appear as brave as possible, and honestly, I was more angry than depressed, so I glared at everyone around me.

Fiffa moved on the boy's bowl. She called out, "Aspen Wolfe."

Who could this be? Then a boy from the fourteen-year-old line came limping next me. The kid was crying too. He was a thin boy with curly brown hair and blue eyes. This Aspen character also tried his best to be brave, and looked both me and Fifa in the eyes and nodded. He's holding together the best he can. I'm doing better, but that isn't stopping a tear coming out of the corner of my eyes.

Snow dam him, a person like Aspen shouldn't be in this.

"To the District Seven Tributes: Taliah Marika and Aspen Wolfe! May the odd's ever be in their favor!" Fifa said that to the crowd, they cheered out of respect, but nothing else. For the record, the last line is far too cliche. I mean, it's like a dead slogan at this point.

I went to the Justice Building. It's not as if I had a choice at this point. I look at my district partner, looking miserable.

"Everything's going to fine, Tali," Liam began saying.

I looked at him strangely. "Do you really believe that? I'm in the Hunger Games Liam. It's not going to end well even if I win."

He didn't change any feature on his face. "I think you're underestimating yourself there Tali. You have charm, ax skills, and you make decent music when you want to."

"Fuck you asshole," I laughed. It was unexpected but appreciated.

Ophiliah looked lost, I can tell she cried before getting here. She was struggling to say something. "Want to pet him?"

The bunny in her arms was still there, and once more I smiled unexpectedly. "Sure."

"You can make it. Y-you can," Ophiliah reassured while I was petting the rabbit.

"Thank's guy's," I said lightly. "I needed that."

"We'll support you all the way," Liam said strongly. Ophiliah nodded in agreement.

It's nice to have friends like these. The thought's of me dying however keep coming. It's not just that, it's going to televised across Panem and my family is going to see me survive in this. I don't want them to see me die or suffer when it comes to it. The Hunger Games are never pretty.

Eventually, it was the family's turn.

My usually lighthearted father was hugging me to the point of suffocation, which I called out to him. Karno Malik never faced such despair before, and he didn't give much useful advice.

My mother, Caren Malik, looked equally desperate for me. She was angry about this but kept her rebellious tongue to herself. She has black hair, but I got brown hair from dad, but the curliness of my hair was from her. Best of two worlds, and I'll miss them both.

"Are you ok Talia?" my little three-year-old sister Karma asked innocently. Mother's little clone, she'll do fine in the future.

I pinched her cheeks. Karma stepped back saying 'Stop it!'. Adorable. I needed that.

"Everything's going to fine, Karma," I told my little sister, and she accepted my word's naively.

"O-k," Karma sang, giggled for some unknown reason. Who knows how the young one's mind works?

Dad grabbed Karma and lifted her up. "It's time to go," he said sadly.

One last person came. Spruce. You can tell by the broad shoulder's he works as a lumberjack, and you can tell from just looking at us that we're siblings with the brown hair and similar facial features.

We were silent for a moment.

"I wish I could've volunteered to go with you," Spruce said regretfully.

That wasn't unexpected to hear. I sighed, "You're nineteen now, it's far too late."

And for that, I'm glad he can't. I don't want him to die for my sake in a deathmatch.

"GODDAMIT!" he yelled out at the world, much like a mother.

"Wow, don't take the ceiling down Spruce," I joked jovially, much like our father. "I'm pretty sure the Wolfe family down the hall can hear you."

"It's just not goddam fair! Fucking Snow!" Spruce cussed.

"Hate that guy," I chimed in. Weird how the Capitol allows people to curse possibly the longest-serving president/tyrant in Panem history like that, then again, as history dictates, he killed a couple of his own to keep himself in power. The world record for the biggest bastard goes to old President Snow! An old joke spread across Panem.

"Spruce," I called him in the most serious tone I've ever done in my life.

He noticed. "What is it?"

"Take care of Karma as you have for me. Laugh, play, and make fun of each other. Can you do that?"

Spruce nodded slowly, he was in deep thought. It didn't suit his ugly mug. "Of course. Of course Taliah, I'll alway's remember you. I want you to know that."

"Who'd ever forget me?" I gave a grin.

He gave one back. "Maybe the Capitol is the one who should fear you instead."

With my ax skill's Spruce taught me, and my climbing abilities. I'd certainly be a what they'd expect out of District Seven.

"Don't think much of the burn's Taliah, keep that in mind. Seriously. There's going to be a lot worse than a fire in a Hunger Game's arena. There alway's is."

What rare wisdom my brother gave, but being reminded by it was worse. "You know what? I'm pretty sure those Capitolite's know how to hide my scars. I can shrug it off better than ever."

"Okay. Taliah. Good luck. I'll wish you luck."

"Thank's bro. I think I need it, and it's good to hear if coming from you."

"Oh right, one more thing," Spruce said suddenly, bring my fiddle case from behind the door. "I think you still need a token."

Indeed I do, and some semblance of happiness came to me.

He left soon after. It was tough. It's going to be tougher. I'll have to make plans, jokes, and - OH MY GOD I'm going have to wear a dress! How can I do that? I haven't worn anything fancy in my life! Wait, priorities. Priorities. I'll think about that later.

It was time to go to the train, and for all the excitement it used to bring, I don't feel like it's going to the best experience of my life. I'm going to have to be my old joyful self for a while.

Once I went outside, having peacekeepers on my side. I saw Fifa and Aspen.

Aspen smiled with unexpected positivity when he saw me coming, "Hi! I'm Aspen Wolfe! Your new district partner! Nice to meet you!"

At least someone's joyful.

Aspen Wolfe - District Seven Male

"Hey Mom! Hey Dad! Good morning Cedar! Good morning Poppy!" I greeted my family with a smile on my face.

"Someone's happy," Cedar said dubiously. My older brother is a worrywart sometimes, but he can make good jokes. "Real weird in a day like this."

"It's a day like this we should be happy else you're all going to be sad," I insisted. I was taught that at least, and it made sense.

My family was eating, getting ready for the day of work and the yearly Reaping. We aren't all that worried about it. We never considered that anyone in this family would ever end up in those games. My brutish looking father Gerald alway's told me never to worry about it but to be careful not to make any peacekeeper's angry because of what happened two years ago.

That horrid riot, I thought morbidly. Forever making me walk with an unsteady leg. Peacemaker's and citizen's fought, some died because the peacekeeper's opened fire. It was my first Reaping, and it was the worst. My left leg got trampled by a peacekeeper vehicle that day. I almost died. It's hard to smile sometimes, but it's better than being sad.

"Fuckin Peacekeepers. Fuckin Chambers. Thing's have to change one day," my dad muttered on the kitchen's counter. He alway's complained about the social-political issue with the Capitol and how unfair it is. Most of the time, I agree. It's just sometimes his suggestions are too violent. Good thing he'll never act on it.

My mother Briar already looked flatly at him, "Oh dear. Are we going to have another rebellion in our hands?"

"No, but it's about time everyone should. Why hasn't there been a rebellion yet? You'd think everyone would do it sooner," dad reasoned. While dad does look like a bald bodybuilder, he isn't in any way dumb. His question does bring up a good point.

"Because of Snow dad," Cedar, my older brother of the same brown fuzzy hair, answered like that meant everything. "Capitol's fear run's ever deep."

I don't need this conversation. We don't need this conversation. That has to change. Not again, we don't need this.

"Cedar! You said we came got trapping before the Reaping! Come on!" I called out. You can tell that I'm a master of evasive maneuver.

My family noticed, and Cedar nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

"I want to go too!" our little sister Poppy wined in the dusty couch she's sitting on.

"Not today, little lady. It's nap time!" our mother informed her youngest child.

Poppy shook her head as expected someone her age to do. "I'm not tired!"

Then she yawned and blinked the next second. "That doesn't mean anything!"

"Yes it does," mother insisted as she swooped up Poppy and held her tight in her arm's, then moving towards the stairs. "Time for nap time."

"NOOOO...!"

We all watched as mom and Poppy(dragged) up the stairs. I turned to Cedar. "Can we go now?"

Cedar nodded. "Let's."

While naptime sound's embarrassing, it's a better word I'd use today over anything resembling Hunger Games. It's a blessing that Poppy exists in our live's. I used to have the same childlike wonder like her before the riot, and that's something every family needs. I can still light up the conversation. Don't get me about that. My leg tends to disable laughter sometimes, but that doesn't stop me from keeping my family happy. They need someone to look for comfort.

They need a hero.

"Hey guy's, glad I caught up in time," a handsome blonde youth made his to us.

I need a hero too, sometimes. To lighten up my day.

"Rowan, what up's?" Cedar greeted.

"My feet are sore, my family is choking the life out of me, and it's Reaping Day," Rowan said humorously. He was my brother's best friend, and he works alongside the family sometimes. "I've been better. So, who wants to hunt innocent small animals?"

"I do! I do! Pick me!" I offered.

Rowan looked down at me, bemused. "No way, I need a short fuzzy-haired kid with one working leg for this operation. You sure your him."

"Yep. Of course. I'm the greatest trapper in the world!" I praised myself, trying my best to appear cool. Only I faltered a little after his words sunk in. "Also, what you said earlier. That was in bad taste, Rowan."

Rowan coughed, scratching his ear. "Yeah, it was. Sorry. Today got me in a morbid mood."

I shrugged and smiled. "No biggie. At least you're trying to lighten up the mood." I nudged at Cedar. "At least you weren't talking about politics like some people."

"Ouch," Rowan said in a false patronizing tone, looking at Cedar. "And what do you have to say for yourself?"

"What do I have to say?" Cedar starts then gulps. "I say let's go trapping. What about you guys?"

I shook my head, smiling alongside my conspirator Rowan. "That doesn't work when you're not my age Cedar. Don't change the subject."

"Screw you guys!" Cedar yelled out, before laughing alongside Rowan and me.

Both Rowan and I shared a fistbump. The older boy that I looked up to said, "Good one."

That was praise which I took far too seriously, but can you blame me? Rowan is my hero. He saved my life in that riot two years ago. Did I get wounded back then? Yes, I had. But it could have been worse if Rowan didn't carry to my house. I could've died. It was too late for my leg, but that's nothing, er, almost nothing. He's a good guy, he taught me to alway's be positive, and I look up to him more than I do my family.

Cedar glared lightly at me. "You know what, Aspen? How are you and Avery doing these days?"

I gagged.

"What's this? Little Aspen finally asking the poor girl out?" Rowen teased.

"It's not like that!" I protested. Honestly! Why would they need to know about my hunting buddy? She's cool, smart, pretty- Oh God! I'm growing up!

Both boy's laugh at my flustered fast. Screw you guys! And screw you Cedar for your petty revenge!

Once the laughter died down, Cedar led us to the forest ahead with heavy materials at hand. "Alright. Enough fun. Let's go have fun hunting in the forest instead."

The show was over. We had a time and place to be. Other than that, we managed to get mushrooms and even a deer. Had a few laughs, and it softens the day of the Reaping.

Nobody was worried since not one of us was going to get into the Hunger Games.

"Aspen Wolfe," the incredibly spiky haired escort called out on the stage.

I felt like someone smacked me.

My stomach felt queasy, and my head was starting to get dizzy.

Why was this happening? How? Why? Question's of unfairness entered my mind. Can't it have been someone who wasn't me? A stronger lumberjack, perhaps? I have a limp for crying out loud!?

Every kid around the town hall looked around for a beat, trying to find me. I think I'm crying.

In a short while, one of the kid's I go to school with pointed me out. The boy's in front of me moved out of my way.

I didn't like any of the looks I'm getting, once they saw me limping to the stage, it is quite clear what they think. It's what I think. That I don't have a chance in hell with my leg, and my age certainly didn't add much to their expectation.

Once I go on stage, I saw my district partner. I didn't pay much attention to her name, and when I see her I see brown hair, brown eyes, and she like's wearing a turtleneck shirt. It looks cozy. The other thing is that she's already more fit and muscular than I'll ever be and that she's definitely going to a challenge in the arena unlike myself. She'd give a career a good fight.

"To the District Seven Tributes: Taliah Marika and Aspen Wolfe! May the odd's ever be in their favor!" the escort announced. Do I have to learn about that impossibly done hair lady's name? I wasn't paying attention.

And to the Justice Building, I went. Endless thought's of death is clouding my mind. I can't see much of the way in happiness right now.

"Those fuckin bastards," dad whispered viciously, not wanting the peacekeeper's outside to hear him.

Mom didn't reprimand him for once since she's too busy crying. She looks more stressed than when she comes back from her mending cloths job. I'm glad Poppy is asleep. She doesn't need to see this.

I looked at dad, mom, and Cedar in the room. It was mostly silent. No one wanted to be the first mention the obvious. "I'm not going to make it," I decided gloomily.

"Don't say that-," Cedar said before I cut him off.

"I can't run!" I screamed, glaring at him. "I'm going to end up as a bloodbath!"

"Aspen. There are still odds. You still have a chance," dad tried to reassure me. "There is still a chance."

"Not a big one."

"Then promise to give it your best, Aspen. Please. Can you try? For us. For Poppy?" mom asked me to promise.

"I can," I said, not wanting to look at any of their eyes. "I'll try," I spoke as a whisper. "I'll try. I promise," I said louder.

Then came the hugs, and the dreadful goodbyes. Then came in Rowan.

"Hey kid," he breathed out.

I looked up at Rowan, still finding some awe in his presence, but not as much. Too sad.

"What the hell? I'll take a wild guess and think you're not doing alright," he said to me.

I snorted. "You think?"

"So, what's the plan here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you going to mope? Lay down on the ground like your life is already over? What's your plan Aspen?"

When he asked that, I started to guess. "I guess I'll find the closet bag and try my luck."

"Is that is? Are you're planning on dying?" he asked harshly.

I glared at Rowan. "Of course not! Just, let's be realistic here. I'm going to die. My leg is going to end me."

"It's an inconvenience Aspen," Rowan advised. "So what? If you're going to act like that, people are going to think you're going to die like that. Fucking Snow! Aspen, you can't act like this. It's unfair as it can be, but you can't act like this. Be like you usually are, people will love that. Survive the bloodbath, and you'll have sponsors."

His word honestly brings me a little life to me, and the advice is good, but still. "I'll still die."

"You might die. And even if you do, do you want your final days being moody and sad or do you want at least to find some happiness when you're in the Capitol?"

"I- wow," I managed to say, thinking on his words. There was a reason Rowan is my hero.

"Thanks, I'm better now."

And now I have a plan. I'm not the strongest, and I'm not the fastest. No, I have to get some allies. That's all, death is still a big chance, but Rowan reminded me that now is the best time to be happy. It's better than being sad.

A/N: Thank you Emberlex and XC-Nerd! Once more for submitting the brave Taliah Marik and positive little Aspen Wolfe! I'd like them better if I wasn't such a tryhard, I'll be honest right there. I know I messed up with the sub-characters here. Like Ophiliah, she was supposed to be Avery, but I messed up. I apologize, but I'm far too lazy to fix that little thing. I promise not to make the same mistake twice.

I'm rather busy, unfortunately. Stuff happened. I'll bring out new chapters as quickly as possible.

I still got question's in my mind to ask the reader's: What design should the cornucopia be? Any ideas?