Hello! These wonderful tributes are by Gomex - thank you so much! I don't have much to say, but thank you for the support I'm getting on my first story!
Chapter 4
Raeden Raicho - 17
As I stood in front of my mirror, looking at myself, I remembered that the reaping was today. I never really forgot, but I don't think I wanted to remember. I know that I'm going to volunteer, but I still hate the Hunger Games. They are a cruel way to pit the districts against each other, as well as the Capitol. Most of all though, they are merciless ways to murder children.
I glanced in the mirror again, grimacing at the dark birthmarks covering my florescent, pale skin. Mom had always hated those, and she never let me see any kids when I was younger, for fear that they would bully and tease me. They did, of course, but it might have been nice to have had some friends. I have Brianna, my best friend, and well, my only friend, and I love her, but maybe it might've been nice to know a few others.
I will miss little Lana, my five-year-old sister, as well as my nanny. She takes care of Lana and me because Mom died giving birth to Lana. However, I don't have much choice but to volunteer, as we need the money if I can win. Suddenly, I heard Lana calling from the other room.
"Raeden! Nanny says it's time to get ready!" Her sweet young voice brought a smile to my face. I was very glad she is not twelve yet, I don't want her to worry about the reaping. I suppose the only bad thing is that no one will volunteer for her when I am gone.
I check my clothes again, a simple, non-binary chest binder, like me, high black boots, fur coat, my several rings, the usual. I straightened my nose piercing, took a deep breath, and went to go to the reaping.
Kutsa Pazima - 15
"Great job everyone! Good run! Why don't you head home and get ready for the Reaping! I'll see you tomorrow!" Our director called as we were packing up. We were getting ready to perform another play in a few weeks with our drama group, and we were very excited.
"Hey, Kutsa! Get over here!" Brooke and Jasmine were cleaning up their backpacks and grabbing their regular shoes. I put my blue and white shoes on to match my blue jacket and the blue streak in my hair. Smiling, I walked over to them and Brooke high-fived me.
"Nice job, today." She said, nodding.
"Why, thank you," I said dramatically, with a bow. She rolled her eyes at me.
"Hey, are those new rings?" Jasmine asked.
"No, I just cleaned them though, the nose ring, the earring, the rings, everything." She laughed.
"You have too many rings." She said jokingly.
"No such thing." We grabbed our bags and our pay and began to walk home. "Hey, could we stop at the market? I want to buy more medicine for Mom." I asked. Their expressions sobered and they nodded.
"Whatever she needs." Brooke quietly said. Jasmine nodded again.
"Let us know if we can help." She murmured. I quickly grabbed a small jar of pills and paid for it with the drama money, then swiftly walked out.
"Well, I'll see you at the reaping?" I asked.
"Of course! What do you want to do after?" Brooke nodded.
"I don't know. Do you want to hang out?"
"Sure!" We began walking again, laughing and joking. However, when we got to the district square, we began to grow nervous.
Raeden Raicho
I hugged Lana goodbye and whispered to her.
"I'm doing this for us. Just know that I love you forever." I murmured. Lana looked up at me with wide eyes.
"You'll come back, right?" She asked fearfully. I looked her in the eyes.
"I don't know Lana. I don't know. But I will try my best to get back to you. You'll see me on the screens, too!" I blinked the tears coming to my eyes away.
"But it won't be the same!" She hugged me tightly.
"I know, Lana. I know." We stood there for a moment in a warm embrace. I eventually pulled away. "I love you forever," I whispered again, and pressed a small marble into her hand. "That's for you, so you remember me every time you see it." I squeezed her one last time before getting my finger pricked and going to wait in the 17-year-old area. I ended up next to Bridget, and I told her I was volunteering.
"Why?" She asked, fearful.
"I need to help my family, and well…" I trailed off. "I need to get away from everyone." Her eyes grew wide. She pushed my sleeve up, uncovering my strange birthmarks.
"I'll miss you." She mumbled, tears coming to her eyes too.
"Me too." All of a sudden, April, the escort came up on stage and began her usual presentation, then she finally got to the names. Her long fingers pulled a white slip of paper out of the bowl. "Amelia Dawn" She called. I saw a minuscule girl with pigtails from the twelve-year-old section begin to cry as she slowly walked up to the stage. I took a deep breath and raised my hand.
"I… volunteer as tribute!" I called out with all the courage I could muster.
Kutsa Pazima
I can't believe the courage of that girl, standing up in front of everybody. Oh, wait… she's the girl covered in birthmarks. She is always being bullied, and I feel so bad for her.
As she reached the stage, the escort was very excited. We don't get many volunteers here in five.
"Hello, what's your name?" She squeaked.
"My name is Raeden Raicho." She said, defiant. The escort jumped back to the bowls.
"Well, the gentleman next!" April said, and reached into the second glass bowl. Please not me, please not me…
"And the male tribute is… Kutsa Pazima!" She called out. No… there must be someone else named that. It can't be me… it can't. But it is. I shook myself and said a quick goodbye to Brooke and Jasmine, then walked up to the stage. When I got there, Raeden gave me a quick smile.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey." She looked around. "Can we just make a quick deal not to kill each other?"
"Yeah," I responded, surprised. "Of course." I paused for a moment, then said; "Will you be my ally?"
"Why not." She said. "Let's just try to get back home."
The next chapter is the District 9 reaping. The current tribute list is right here! For a more updated one, the list is on my profile!
Tribute List for The Unfamiliar: The 248th Hunger Games:
D1M: Glint Coldwater - by Improving fanfiction
D1F: Open
D2M: Reserved for Toasted-Bagel-With-Nutella
D2F: Valerie Mason - by Toasted-Bagel-With-Nutella
D3M: Open
D3F: Open
D4M: Open
D4F: Reserved for Victoria the Bipolar Tribute
D5M: Kutsa Pazima - by Gomex
D5F: Raeden Raicho - by Gomex
D6M: Open
D6F: Open
D7M: Open
D7F: Open
D8M: Open
D8F: Reserved for CrazinMonster
D9M: Eden Rhine - by DariDark
D9F: Nyka Halliwell - by Semperfi91
D10M: Max Print - by wiifan2002
D10F: Jennifer Harp - by wiifan2002
D11M: Open
D11F: Open
D12M: Open
D12F: Open
Have a great day!