IV. OF FREEDOM, LOSS AND FAMILY

DISTRICT 4

TEMPEST TRINIDAD, DISTRICT 4 FEMALE (18)

The atmosphere of District 4 was very different from that of the outer districts. Buzzing happily, the Peacekeepers had no trouble escorting the district's citizens into orderly lines as the square full of Careers cheered at the arrival of their escort, Harbor, whose appearance differed from that of most escorts- she had chosen nothing but dyed blue streaks in black hair, sky blue eyeshadow highlighting brown eyes.

Tempest Trinidad stole glances at the ocean, her stomach twisting itself into a knot. Outwardly, Tempest seemed confident and perfectly ready for volunteering, but considering she was throwing herself into an environment that would very well likely kill her, it was perfectly normal to feel anxious.

Lost in her thoughts, Tempest lost her usual grace before bumping into someone, "Sorry- oh, hey Kaela!"

Tempest's friend gave her a grin. "Volunteering today?" Kaela was Tempest's training partner, and one of the few Tempest hadn't sent to the hospital in the process. Sweet but fierce, Kaela strived to be a trainer and could've challenged Tempest for the volunteer spot any day she wanted- but the brunette wanted a regular, safe life. She was the "holy" in the holy trinity of their friend group, a businessman's son James making up the last point.

"You bet," Tempest answered with a grin.

A shadow of worry crossed Kaela's face as she grabbed Tempest's shoulders. "Promise me you'll make it. Promise me you'll win."

Tempest was silent for a moment. "I can't promise," she said gently, removing Kaela's hands. "But I do promise I'll do my best. And you know I don't try, I succeed."

Kaela relaxed just the tiniest bit. "That's our kick-butt Tempest. But please don't leave me alone with James. I don't know if I can handle it."

Tempest let out a laugh that made her feel strangely light even in the face of possible death. "Don't be too hard on yourself. Nobody could."

Straightening up, Tempest filed in with the eighteen year old girls, who were all chatting excitedly. As a girl from the academy and one of the stars (though below Tempest in ranking), Avani, struck up some conversation about what her strategy would be during the Games, Tempest simply nodded along, a sly smirk twisting her lips.

She withstood Avani's mumblings about winning before Avani started shooting her mouth off about how nobody else stood a chance and Tempest's pride got the better of her.

"How do you even know you'll be tribute to begin with?" she finally snapped irritably.

Avani gaped at the interruption. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, excuse you. For your arrogance and for your utter stupidity. To win the Games, others will stand chances too. You need to respect their strength," Tempest retorted simply, before turning back to face the stage.

She was wheeled to face the vexed teen, Avani grabbing Tempest's arm and roughly shoving her. "I'm going to be the tribute."

"It's alright," Tempest replied, perfectly calm from Avani's rough indignancy, "I understand you're quite desperate for fame and riches. The best way to earn them is to skip the Games and work for it. For you, at least."

"Then why are you volunteering?" Avani challenged.

"Because I'd like some time to see the ocean in my schedule," Tempest replied promptly.

Avani turned wordlessly away.

It was true that the District 4 girl had never seen the ocean before, despite her surroundings. The truth was, with rich, pressuring parents, Tempest didn't have the time. But, of course, seeing the ocean wasn't a main reason. Freedom was the main reason, but so was glory. Prestige. Honor.

Well, she was a Career.

A bell signaled the beginning of the reaping. Harbor stumbled up the stairs in ridiculous four-inch heels, tapping the microphone first to see if it was working, then beaming when feedback sounded.

Greeting the district with a wave, it was clear Harbor could work the crowd well. "Are you ready, District Four?" The district replied with a rousing cheer and Harbor smirked, drawing a slip from the girls' bowl, knowing full well what would happen next.

"Leilani Brine." A small, terrified girl from the thirteen-year old section made her way to the aisle, shaking.

"I vo-"

"I volunteer," Tempest said clearly, blocking out a protest from the girl next to her, Avani and making her way to the stage, ascending the steps as Harbor shot her a grin before taking another slip.

"Your name, darling?" Harbor asked.

"Tempest Trinidad," Tempest said absently, already looking for the reaction of her parents. They seemed pleased, though wealthy Tristan and Vivian Trinidad were experts at hiding reactions.

"And now for the boys," Harbor continued. "Calder Conway."

There was a rustling as an eighteen year old called, "I volunteer," as a black-haired, tanned eighteen year old walked up the aisle, giving Tempest a smile as he took his place. She gave him an acknowledging nod of the head.

"What is your name, young man?"

"Angelo Marris," he offered a charming, but bashful, grin.

"Tributes, shake hands."

They did, and Tempest was struck by a brief familiarity. The Morris family… They had been in the paper a few years ago. Evelyn Marris, drained of blood, main suspect District 4's own mayor…

That made this boy Evelyn Marris's son.

Examining his features made Tempest even more sure, twinging with a bit of sympathy she didn't repress.

There'd been no convicted murderer, though the mayor's reputation had been tainted ever since. Hints of reelection were on the rise. As for Angelo, Tempest knew he'd partnered with his father to solve his mother's murder and they'd become known as one of the best father-son detective pairs in the district.

DISTRICT 4
ANGELO MARRIS, DISTRICT 4 MALE (18)

As Tempest and Angelo waited in anticipation for their families to come in, Angelo's father, his friends Rio, Coco, and Otto burst through the doors.

"I can't believe you did that," sweet Coco cried.

"Win for us, will you?" Rio grinned, thumping Angelo on the back.

Otto gave Angelo a grin, "Nice job."

Angelo's heartbeat quickened before he turned to his father, who was staying silent. He gave the sign to his friends to clear out, which they did immediately.

Father and son stood, silent, in the room while Tempest greeted her parents (with difficulty, as Angelo heard).

"You're not mad at me, are you?" Angelo asked softly.

In one swift motion, Angelo's father embraced his son, and Angelo could feel him slightly trembling before they both broke away.

The murder had put a strain on their relatoinship.

"Just, come home," Angelo's father muttered before leaving.

By him, Tempest's parents gave her one last hug before leaving their daughter looking strangely ghostlike.

"What's wrong?"

"Who… was that?" Tempest asked him flatly.

"My father."

"No, your friend. The boy."

"Oh, Otto." Angelo felt his cheeks heating up slightly. Tempest remained silent, though.

"Why'd you ask?"

Tempest seemed to surface from something but shook it off. "Nevermind. Come on, Harbor and out mentors are waiting for us."

DISTRICT 7

ASPEN MEREDITH, DISTRICT 7 FEMALE (16)

Lara Jones, Niamh Jones, and Nairn Jones were all much bolder than Aspen, largely more skilled socially than her.

But all three of the Jones triplets, and Aspen's best friends, had a significant advantage when it came to social matters: Aspen was mute. And they were not.

While one would think this would put strain on a relationship, Aspen and the triplets were able to communicate perfectly well. All four were fluent in sign language, and while the triplets did most of the talking, Aspen would sign in a comment every now and then too.

Having struggled with shyness her whole life, it had come as a shock when Niamh Jones took a seat next to Aspen when her siblings were out sick one day. Aspen learned the Jones had an uncle who was deaf, and because of that they knew sign language. As Aspen grew closer to the triplets, she was thrilled they knew what she wanted to say and she didn't have to stress anymore about what to say.

Sure, she was still ostracized and bullied, but friends made it all better.

The quartet made their way through the lines of boys and girls as Nairn and Niamh chatted excitedly, despite the sorrow of reaping day. Lara and Aspen (obviously) stayed silent.

Lara Jones was probably the Jones triplet that Aspen identified the most with. Both painfully shy, they relied on the bolder two, Niamh and Nairn, to keep them under their wings.

Nairn separated from the other three to head to the boy's section. Despite constantly complaining about how he was the only boy in the Jones family, he seemed oddly out of place with the boys. Niamh linked arms with her sister and Aspen, pulling them through the crowds to the crowd of girls waiting in anticipation. Not good anticipation. Just the opposite.

The escort for District 7 walked across the stage, introducing herself as Kaye. Drawing the girl's slip, she hesitated for a moment.

Aspen would've screamed if she was able to. Just tell us who's going already! Her hand absentmindedly signed the words at her side, and Lara, reading it, chuckled softly.

"Aspen Meredith," Kaye read. Not a sound was uttered from the Jones nor Aspen, and Aspen stared blankly ahead, walking out of the aisle.

Her legs trembled slightly, giving away the terrible fear every district 7 tribute experienced now and then.

"Are you Aspen, dear?" Kaye asked.

Quickly Aspen signed, yes. Kaye didn't understand and awkwardly turned to the boy's bowl.

"Euan Darling."

At this name, there was a scream. It came from a small twelve year old boy, and for a moment Aspen thought he was Euan, until a tall sixteen year old stepped out, tears filling his eyes.

But the boy blinked them rapidly away.

"You're Euan, correct?" Kaye asked, seeming relieved that she didn't have two mute tributes when he said yes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our district 7 tributes," Kaye announced. Scattered applause sounded through District 7's square, but all Aspen could think was, I'm going to die.

DISTRICT 7

EUAN DARLING, DISTRICT 7 MALE (16)

Bursting into sobs, Euan's brother and his moms burst into the visiting room, his younger brother Jude crying the hardest of them all.

"I'm going to miss you," Jude sniffled.

"Let's be optimistic," Euan's first mom, Tessa, said with false cheerfulness. "He can come back!"

Euan's second mom, Acacia, touched her wife gently. It was a tell no lies gesture Euan had seen so many times before, though never in the face of death.

"Stay positive, honey," Tessa said, changing her tone of voice. "Make some allies. It's always good to have some friends."

Euan nodded incoherently.

"Time's up," a Peacekeeper warned them, before beginning to shepherd Euan's family out the door.

"Wait!" Acacia cried. Instantly she took out a charm that had been hidden beneath a violet shirt and carefully unclasped the necklace, "Take this, Euan. As your token."

Euan clenched the bark charm in his fist, reading the words carefully.

We love you.

-your family

Distantly Euan remembered two Christmases ago when Acacia was going to go on a trip to District 5 for her work. They'd made her the charm for Acacia month away. Euan had written the "your family" line.

"Thanks, Mom."

Acacia was shoved out the door with the rest, "Stay strong, Euan!" she cried before Euan lost sight of her.

A/N

Thanks to ladyqueerfoot for Tempest, mymentalmind for Angelo, and averyrandomauthor for both Aspen and Euan. They were all very diverse characters and I can't wait for you guys to see more of them (hope I wrote them well ;) ). Also, last post I forgot to say thanks for chcolate for Hestia!

Sponsor questions, as usual:

1. Of the four, who are your two favorites? (5 pts)

2. Of the four, who do you think would place highest? (Obviously, we've got some Careers in here haha) (5 pts)

LC-it-gets-better-alt-account has an open SYOT, so make sure to submit for it!

That's it for today. Please get in your submission if you haven't already!