A/N: Here's the brief introduction to our first 48 tributes. The number of tributes is way too much to give everyone their share of spotlight, but don't worry, many of them will be explored further as the number of tributes dwindles. Please tell me your thoughts: favorite, least favorite, most likely/least likely to reach the final twelve?


Dahlis Wheatford, 34

Escort for District 5

Zaelia, my makeup artist, pulls my midnight black hair out of my face and ties it back with a stretchy black hairband. I zone out as she begins to apply the makeup, transfixed on the holographic screen that hovers over the glass coffee table.

They've been showing the first thirty-nine Quarter Quells on a rotating wheel for the past month, ever since the quell twist was announced. The second Quarter Quell, which took place fifty years after the end of the terrible Dark Days, is one of the few I haven't streamed yet.

Each district provided twice the number of tributes. A few strong tributes came from each district, most notably the Haysilee duo from District 12. However, all of the strength came from the careers, which had to split into three different groups after the bloodbath. On Day 4, the picturesque snow-capped mountain blew its top, killing nearly a dozen tributes and rendering that section of the arena uninhabitable. Later in the games, Maysilee tragically died, eventually leaving Haymitch alone against the fearsome Katoptris from District 1. They never show the finale on television anymore, only the moment where Haymitch is crowned victor and taken into the hovercraft.

A heavy knock comes on the door just as the trumpets sound. A peacekeeper enters the room. "Ma'am, the cameras begin rolling in sixty seconds."

I turn around, expecting to see Zaelia, but she must have left a long time ago. I take a peek at myself in the mirror, taking in my own sparkly pink cheeks and contoured face. The peacekeeper is still standing in the doorway, and I feel awkward making him wait, so I rush out of the room and onto stage, giving my fiery orange wig a slight shake to let it settle.

"Welcome, District 5!" I shout, clapping my hands over my head. About half of the crowd cheers in response. District 5 doesn't provide careers as strong as those from 1, 2, or 4, but it has a decent academy with a fair amount of funding. It's safe to expect at least five or six careers from this place.

"Now, let's get down to business. We'll do this in an alternating fashion: first a girl, then a boy, then a girl, and so on."

I zip toward the girls' reaping ball and draw the first name. "Ti…"

"I volunteer as tribute!" A blonde girl with stunning green eyes jogs to the stage.

"Can you give us a name and age please?"

She eagerly takes the microphone. "I'm Cosima Shaffer. I'm 16."

I pick a boy. "Tu…"

"I volunteer as tribute!" A second strong career takes the spotlight.

"I'm Preston Richards. I'm 17."

A girl. "Lilith Mercier!" A 15 year old girl walks slowly to the stage, looking dazed.

"Hector Starling!" A tall, dark-haired 16 year old walks to the stage.

"Pe…"

"I volunteer as tribute!" A petite girl with lots of muscle starts out of the crowd.

"Another career?" I ask.

"I'm Henna Norcross," she responds. "And I'm 18. I wasn't planning on volunteering until Cosima volunteered. We make a great team."

I pick the third boy. "Edison Rye!" a healthy 18 year old steps forward.

"Vida Aslin!" a crying 13 year old girl steps up to the stage. One of the other tributes, Lilith, gives her a big hug and tries to console her.

"Felix Landers!" A muscular and attractive 18 year old boy steps forward: the strongest non-career tribute so far.

"Genera Coover!" A malnourished girl with a cast on her arm takes the stage.

"My arm was injured in the factories," Genera explains. I nod as she takes her place next to the other tributes.

"Wyatt Kluss!" an average-looking 15 year old boy walks out of the crowd.

A girl. "Tasha Spark!" A girl with fiery red hair, age 18, walks to the stage. I compliment her on her hair, but she cringes, terrified.

A boy. "Burnie Spark!" The boy that comes to the stage has identical red hair and a similar face. "We're twins," he explains, sharing a nervous look with Tasha.

I pick the seventh girl. "Ashleen Verbeck!" A thin, scrawny 17 year old saunters forward.

"Nelson Griffiths!" A much younger boy with a similar physique walks forward. He whispers his age into my ear.

"Nelson is 14, everyone!" I announce.

"Francina Damige!" An 18 year old girl with several piercings, tattoos, and hair dyed purple steps forward. "It's how I express myself," she explains when I ask her about it.

"Dawson Brisk!" A 15 year old stares daggers at me as he walks forward.

"Moxie Cratchit!" A tiny 13 year old takes the stage, evidently trying not to shake.

"Sparky Curtis!" I shout.

"I volunteer as tribute!" someone shouts. The 18 year old section clears around a single boy.

"Another career?" I ask, doubtful at his meager appearance.

"No. I'm Thred Curtis. That's my brother."

Only six more tributes to go. "Sybil Occing!" A 15 year old girl, quietly crying, steps forward.

"Looper Wattson!" a 12 year old with fluffy brown hair walks to the stage, trembling.

"Everly Fless!" Another 12 year old walks forward. She hugs Looper, which surprises me, because they don't look similar.

"We've been dating for three months," Everly says.

"Electron Davies!" A muscular and intimidating 17 year old runs forward, chuckling.

"Are you a career?" I ask.

He nods. "The academy says I'm 'troubled' and forbade me from volunteering. But sometimes things just work out."

I laugh in agreement, picking the last girl. "Nimona Marks!" The first dark-skinned tribute, an 18 year old with black hair, shuffles to the stage.

"And finally… Boltson Howcroft!" A 17 year old boy, impressively tall, zips to the stage.

I list the twenty-four tributes, having to consult the drawn slips of paper when I can't remember some of their names. It's hard to run through them all. "Congratulations to Cosima, Preston, Lilith, Hector, Henna, Edison, Vida, Felix, Genera, Wyatt, Tasha, Burnie, Ashleen, Nelson, Francina, Dawson, Moxie, Thred, Sybil, Looper, Everly, Electron, Nimona, and Boltson!"

The audience applauds halfheartedly as I step into the Justice Building with the 24 tributes trailing behind. I wonder which of these tributes will make it past the quell's first stage.


Miranda Coakum, 28

Escort for District 8

I'll start off by saying that District 8 isn't a superpower. Even before the Dark Days, it was a dismal place, filled with smoke, factories, and harmful industrial fumes. In the time since then, the district has risen significantly, with substantially better working and living conditions. As the fashion sense of us Capitolites has evolved, District 8 has had to evolve too. In fact, it's probably the district that has changed the most since the first games.

"Welcome, District 8!" I shout, pointing the microphone toward the crowd to amplify their cheers. Only a few people clap, which creates an awkward effect, so I quickly pick back up. "We'll do this in an alternating fashion: first a girl, then a boy, then a girl, and so on."

I pick the first name out of the girls' reaping ball. "Ma…"

"I volunteer as tribute!" A small but swift girl with wavy black hair sprints forward. "I'm Organza Evernight. I'm 18."

"That's great!" I shout, drawing a boy name. "Pe…"

"I volunteer as tribute!" The second career takes the stage.

"I'm Madras Kestler," he announces. "I'm 17."

"Se…"

"I volunteer as tribute!" A girl similar to Organza in many ways steps out of the crowd, glaring and chuckling. "I'm Patternia Veil," she says. "I'm 16."

I pick a boy. "Needle Rhys!" A scrawny, malnourished 13 year old trembles on his path to the stage.

"Lily Cardigan!" A 12 year old girl, crying, steps forward.

"Damon Malone!" A somewhat strong-looking 18 year old stands on the stage, towering over the diminutive Needle and Lily.

"Flossie Peller!" A girl rolls out of the 15 year old section in a wheelchair. Avoxes have to lay down a ramp on the steps so she can roll up to the stage.

"Linen Topher!" A weak 16 year old, trembling, claims his spot as the fourth male tribute.

"Lycra Torren!" A 17 year old girl with clear porcelain skin, the healthiest tribute so far, takes the stage. The others stare at her in terror.

"Lou Singh!" The 12 year old is unresponsive for a few moments. Then two peacekeepers grab him, dragging him to the stage. His mother wails, begging for him to be freed.

"Silky Ianis!" An 18 year old girl with long strides runs to the stage, looking confident.

"Cloth Topper!" The 18 year old section clears around a single quivering boy, who has no choice but to sprint to the stage.

"Dressal Maddox!" The third consecutive 18 year old, a healthy girl with clean skin, shuffles out of the crowd.

"Velvet Reigns!" a forgettable 16 year old boy steps to the stage, hanging his head low.

"Angora Cards!" A girl with dirty clothes and skin, probably a factory worker, saunters out of the 16 year old section.

"Rollag Hermes!" A 16 year old boy, hesitant, slowly makes his way to the stage.

"Brigitta Channel!" An 18 year old girl starts to sprint to the stage. A peacekeeper suddenly begins shouting, pointing a finger at the mayor.

"You said her name was out of the reaping!" Brigitta's peacekeeper father shouts. "You said she was safe!" The mayor shivers with guilt.

A boy. "Archie Walker!" A boy in a factory worker uniform, 15 years old, jogs weakly to the stage.

A girl. "Sasha Grotrekk!" A 14 year old girl, dazed, sprints toward the stage, taking a place next to Silky.

"Marble Congrutts!" A 17 year old boy holds his head high, fighting back tears as he runs to the Justice Building.

"Threada Collins!" Another 17 year old, thin but healthy, steps forward.

"Crochet Undersee!" The first 18 year old since Brigitta, Crochet looks fairly confident. He won't be crying on camera, that's for sure.

The last girl. "Violet Savageau!" A 12 year old girl, crying and begging to be saved, shambles to the stage.

And the final tribute. "Indigo Savageau!" Another 12 year old, probably Violet's brother, shuffles to the stage in her wake.

The remainder of the youths in the crowd sigh, realizing that they're now safe. I turn around, naming the tributes in rapid succession. "Congratulations to Organza, Madras, Patternia, Needle, Lily, Damon, Flossie, Linen, Lycra, Lou, Silky, Cloth, Dressal, Velvet, Angora, Rollag, Brigitta, Archie, Sasha, Marble, Threada, Crochet, Violet, and Indigo! May the odds be ever in your favor!"

I turn around and escort the 24 tributes into the Justice Building, where they will have an hour to talk to their loved ones before being taken to the Capitol: the place where effectively all of these tributes will die.