Journie Teffs, District 9, 17

My mom opened the door, her jaw dropping at the sight of me. "What did you do to yourself this time, Journie?"

My mom was short and slight, with dark curly hair and eyes. Her dark brown skin matched the rest of my adoptive family's, and her hands were on her hips.

I shrugged, then winced as my bruises made themselves felt. "Nothing good."

"Get inside," she commanded.

"Yes, ma'am," I said. She herded me into the kitchen, tutting under her breath.

"You weren't out doing those fights again, were you?" she asked.

I sighed. I couldn't lie to her. "I was," I confessed.

She raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were done with those."

"I was," I said. "But they took down the harvesting wages again. I wouldn't've gone back otherwise."

She turns her back to me, rummaging through the cabinets to find the ointment she wanted. Luckily for me, my mom had some talent in healing. Back when I fought regularly, it had really come in handy. Eventually, she selected the cream she wanted, and passed me a wet rag.

"Clean yourself up," she said. "That lip looks pretty bad."

"It's been worse," I said truthfully. "I got lucky. Just this and a few nasty bruises tonight."

"Very lucky," she commented. I turned to the dark window, using it as a mirror of sorts to wipe away the dried blood on my mouth.

"Come sit," she said. "I'll patch you up."

I obliged, sitting down at the kitchen table. Mom sat in the chair next to mine, holding my head still as she carefully dabbed on the ointment.

"Make sure you don't lick it. It doesn't taste too good," she told me.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied.

She looked me up and down, searching for any other injuries. "Anything else?"

"Not tonight," I said.

"Good," she said. She stood and kissed the top of my forehead, smoothing out my hair. "Now go take a shower, will you? You stink."

"Yes, ma'am," I said.

"Come back down when you're all done," she said.

I nodded.

About a half hour later, I returned to the kitchen.

"Your hair's almost to your shoulders now," my mom remarked. "I'll have to cut it soon."

"I don't know," I said, touching my hand to my wet brown hair. "I kind of like it like this. Easy to tie out of the way during work."

"We'll see," she said. "Come on, sit."

I sat back down at the kitchen table. Mom brought over two mugs of tea, one for each of us. I drank from the side of my mouth, careful not to reopen my busted lip.

"Journie," she said.

"Yes?"

"I'm worried about you getting back into those street fights," she said. "Your birthday is close. You'll be of age soon, and if you get caught, you'll get thrown in jail. I can't have that. I need to see you safe every day."

"I'm careful," I promised.

"I know you are," she said. "You're a good kid. But sometimes, good kids are in the wrong places at the wrong times."

"I understand."

"I already have to worry about Honor all the time," she said. "Spare me the worry?"

My older brother Honor had been whipped and jailed more times than I could count. He was actually in jail tonight, having been arrested after being caught stealing a Peacekeeper's gun. Another half-baked scheme with his rebel friends. My mom's dark eyes searched mine.

"I will, Mom. I'm sorry," I said.

She wrapped me up in a hug. "It's all right. I just want to see you safe."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, hun."

In that moment, I was so, so grateful my parents had taken me in all those years ago. Who knew where I'd be today without them.

Reese Hastings, District 9, 16

I awoke to Aurora bouncing on my bed, singing at the top of her lungs.

"Reese Reese Reese Reese Reeeeeese!" she sang.

I blinked slowly. "Good morning."

Melody appeared in the doorway, blue hair bow on her head "I'm sorry, Reese. I held her back as long as I could. She's already been up for an hour today."

"It's no problem," I said. I pushed myself to a sitting position, pulling Aurora into my lap. "You know what happens now, don't you?"

"No," she said.

"In exchange for waking me up," I said, "I give you… tickles!"

"Ahhhh!" Aurora squealed. She tried to squirm away, but I was too fast. After a minute, I stopped. Aurora panted, her eyes wide.

"No more," she said.

"Okay," I said. "Can I have a minute to get dressed, please?"

"I'll take her," Melody said. "Sorry again. Come on, Aurora."

"Don't worry about it," I said. "Just give me a minute, and I'll make breakfast."

She nodded. Aurora flopped off of my bed, and Melody took her back to the kitchen. Our house was cozy enough that I could hear Aurora chattering on about something Ms. Puppy told her. I smiled to myself. Aurora had been a handful for seven years, but she sure was entertaining.

I dressed quickly, pulling on my dad's old black slacks. He had been taller than me, so they were a little long, but they were close enough. A clean button-down shirt and a comb through my curls, and I already looked nicer than I did most days. Not too feminine, either, which I liked. Just nonbinary enough. Granted, I spent most days working in the fields, but I still looked nice today.

I stepped into the kitchen, where a few of my siblings had gathered. Aurora was still talking to Melody at the table. Terry, my ten-year-old brother, was scribbling something in one of his many notebooks. Five-year-old Landon was poking his twin sister Cassidy, who had already fallen back asleep. My brother Cyrus was standing in front of the fridge.

"Mom not up yet?" I asked him.

"Nope," he replied. Cyrus was my work buddy, and he was always hungry. Classic teenage boy.

"Scoot," I said. "I'll make breakfast."

He moved out of the way, allowing me to grab the milk. I started pulling out bowls- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. It was a miracle we had enough clean ones for everybody. My mother must have cleaned them last night. My mother walked into the kitchen, Melody's triplets Evanna and Sierra in tow. She held three-year-old Emmett in her arms.

"I'll take over from here. Thank you, Reese," she said. She passed Emmett to Evanna.

"Of course," I said. My mother grabbed the cereal and started to pour. I sat at the table next to my brother Landon.

"Stop poking her, Landon," I said.

"She won't wake up," he insisted.

"She's awake, she's just pretending," I told him. "See?"

I used my go-to tickling move on Cassidy. Her eyes flew open, and she started giggling.

"You were awake the whole time?" Landon asked.

Cassidy nodded.

"Let's play cards, Landon," I said. He immediately brightened. The cards were already on the table, so I gathered them and started to shuffle. Not long after our game of Go Fish, my mother brought cereal over to us. All of the kids ate quickly throughout the room- the table wasn't big enough for all of us.

"Reese, could you take Cyrus and the triplets to the Reapings?" she asked. "I'll hold onto Terry, Aurora, the twins, and Emmett."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she said. "We'll be fine. You four need to get checked in soon, anyway."

The four of us were the only eligible kids for the Reapings this year. It was the triplet's first times. Before, it had just been me and Cyrus.

"Alrighty," I said, standing. "Cyrus, Melody, Evanna, Sierra, let's go!"

"Coming!" they chorused. Soon enough, we were off to the town square. I tried not to think about the possibilities once we arrived.

Marius Nero, District 9 Mentor, 28

It was hot out today. I squinted in the bright sunlight, surveying the town. I'd never been to Nine before. It was much more open and flat than Two, that was for sure. And much less populated than either Two or Seven, where I'd been last year. I wondered how Acadia was doing in Seven right now. I was looking forward to seeing her in the Capitol; it had been too long.

I half-listened to the Mayor give the usual speech, spending most of my time onstage surveying the people. Most of them were wearing work clothes and boots. Their skin was full of sun. Most of them looked tired, but fairly strong. I peered down at the children, wondering who would fall under my responsibility this year. Hopefully two strong ones. As much as I disliked the Career's attitudes back home, at least they were guaranteed to be fighters. Out here, there was no such promise.

Finally, the Mayor finished talking. The Escort stepped forward to select the tributes for this year. I didn't know his name, as we'd never met, but the Escort was a strong-looking man, with a simple dark tunic. He must have been sweating under there. To my pleasure, he wasted no time in selecting the first name.

"Reese Hastings!" he announced. I looked at the crowd, searching for the face that matched the name.

There. In the sixteen-year-old girl's section.

The tribute was clearly shocked. Reese had shoulder-length, curly dark hair, and dark eyes to match. Tall and fairly skinny, but with some muscle, too. I wondered if they were a harvester. Reese stepped forward, shakily climbing the steps to the stage. The Escort turned to the boy's slips.

"And… Journie Teffs!" the Escort announced.

Among the seventeen-year-old boys, a circle opened up. In it presumably stood Journie, whose eyes were wide with fear. He was pale, with long brown hair. He too was tall, with some muscle to him, and a crooked nose that must have been broken several times. It was a common look in Two. He walked forward. As he got closer, I noticed that his lip was split. I felt hope rise in my chest. Could this one be a fighter?

He arrived onstage, stumbling slightly.

"Welcome, Reese and Journie!" the Escort said.

"I'm gonna die in there," Journie mumbled, barely audible from where I was sitting.

Two older kids, both workers, one clearly experienced with self-defense. Honestly, it was better than I was expecting. Maybe I could pull off two successive Victories. Now that would be something.

Journie Teffs, District 9, 17

My family crowded into the waiting room at the train station, several of them crying. I was still numb as I hugged my older sister Melli and her husband. My sister Pleasant hugged me next, squinting at me through her tears.

"I can't believe it," she cried.

"Hey, at least you made it out," I told her. "I'm glad you're all done with the Reapings."

Pleasant was eighteen, meaning this was her last year she could be chosen. Thank God her name was never pulled.

My little sister, Miracle, hugged me next. She was crying as well. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen her cry; she was usually so filled with attitude and wit. Seeing her, it all started to sink in.

I had been Reaped. I was going into the arena this year.

"Come back, Journie," she begged. "I'll miss you too much."

"I'll try my best," I promised.

She hugged me again, sniffling. Then she stepped back, letting my fifteen-year-old brother, True, thump me on the back. He's even more solemn than usual.

"Take care, okay?" I told him. "Don't make Mom worry too much."

He nodded silently, stepping back. My mother hugged me again, tears running down her cheeks.

"Oh, my precious boy," she murmured. "Just when I got you to quit fighting, too."

"I'll fight, Mom," I promised. "Good thing I got some practice."

"Good thing," she agreed. She touched my cheek tenderly, her mouth twisted into a deep frown. "Be careful, okay? Be safe."

"I will," I told her. I hoped I could keep that promise. I wanted to, more than anything.

My father hugged me last. When he pulled back, he paused.

"I am proud to have you as a son," he said.

I felt tears gather in my eyes, the last of the numbness fading away. I hugged him again, and he held me for another moment.

Finally, all seven of them gathered at the door.

"Honor couldn't come?" I asked.

"They wouldn't let him leave the jail," said True.

"He loves you so much," said my mom. "He wishes he could be here."

"Could you tell him I love him too?" I asked, my voice cracking.

"Of course," said Dad. "We love you, Journie."

"I love you too," I said. They turned and left. Once they were gone, I finally let myself cry.

Reese Hastings, District 9, 16

My mom and all nine of my siblings flooded into the sendoff room. Several of my siblings piled on me, hugging me tightly.

"I can't breathe!" I squeaked. They backed off, and I caught my breath. Only Cassidy was left, still clinging to my leg.

"Make a line," said my mother. "Oldest to youngest. We don't have a lot of time."

My siblings formed a messy line, Cassidy detaching herself to run towards the back.

Cyrus stepped up first, hugging and releasing me quickly.

"You're the oldest now," I told him. "Help Mom. Look after the little ones."

"I will," he said, nodding fervently.

Melody, the oldest of the triplets, hugged me tightly. "Take this with you?" she asked, taking her blue hair bow out of her curls.

"Of course," I said. She pressed it into my hands and turned away, crying.

Evanna, the middle triplet, hugged me next.

"I'll miss you so much," she said. "I'll help Mom and Cyrus."

"Thank you," I said. "I'll miss you too."

Sierra, the last triplet, hugged me fiercely. "You have to fight, Reese," she said, her voice low. "I know you can. You're strong and brave and tough. I'll see you soon."

"I'll try," I told her.

Then Terry hugged me, still clutching his notebook. "I'm sorry," he said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I told him. "Be brave, okay?"

He nodded, stepping aside to let Aurora throw herself into my arms.

"When will you come back?" she asked hopefully. "I need someone to babysit Ms. Puppy."

"Maybe someone else can do it," I said. "And I don't know. I love you, okay?"

"I love you too," she said.

The twins both hugged me at once, Cassidy reattaching herself to my leg.

"Don't go!" said Landon. "I'll have no one to play cards with!"

"I'm sure Cyrus or Evanna would love to play with you," I told him. "Kisses?"

I bent down, and both twins kissed my cheeks. Cassidy still clung to me as my mother walked up, holding Emmett in her arms.

"I don't know what we'll do without you," she said. "I rely on you too much, I know."

"I don't mind," I said. It was true. I didn't.

"I'm so sorry," she said. A tear trickled down her cheek.

"I made the choice to take all that tesserae," I said. "Not you. It's okay, Mom. I love you."

She hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her and Emmett, kissing his cheek before they pulled away.

"Your father would be so proud if he were still here," she whispered.

My throat tightened at that.

"You're out of time," said a Peacekeeper, poking his head in the door. "Everyone out."

My family was ushered out, calling out over their shoulders as they went.

"We love you!"

"Fight!"

"Come back soon!"

And then they were all gone. The room felt so empty without them here.

*Hi, everyone! How did you like Journie and Reese? Props to G00N and evilpencilbox for sending them in! I love having kindhearted tributes.

FFnet is still being super glitchy with both my profile and this fic, so hopefully everyone can see this update :( In case my profile reverts again, the only open, unreserved spot left is the D3M slot.

After this is the Reapings from District 11, followed by District 6. See you then!

-r-b*