Here are the District 4 Reapings! Tributes are from Author-Hime (Noelani) and 20 (Lucretius). Sorry if there are any grammar or spelling mistakes; my grammar-checker thing wasn't working.

District 4

Noelani King

My fist collides with the flesh of the dummy. It bounces right back, although it probably would have been knocked over if it hadn't been secured to the floor. I grunt as I pull back my arm and strike it again. I wince as I feel the skin on my knuckle split, and I drop my hand. I look at the small cut and decide that it's not worth putting a bandage on.

I figure I should probably call it a day and head back, soon. The Reapings are starting in an hour, and I don't want to be late for them. I'm a punctual person, and it really bothers me if I show up late. There's no such thing as being "fashionably late". Be on time, or don't show up at all.

I do want to practice with a weapon a bit, first. I might be able to lie to everyone else about how prepared and confident I am, but not to myself. I'm terrified for the Games, and there's no such thing as being too prepared.

"Are you heading back?" Mercury asks as I step away from the dummy. I spin to face him, a little surprised. Honestly, I forgot he was there. I was too wrapped up in my training.

Mercury is my Games partner. In District 4, we get assigned Games partners early, so we can get to know each other and build trust before we go into the Games. Sometimes it works out really well, but sometimes partners get too attached and then they end up crazy or really sad.

Luckily, Mercury and I haven't developed a super close bond. I'll definitely trust him over the rest of the Careers, but I'm not going to stick with him and if it comes down to it, I will kill him. I'll do what it takes to survive, which is why I've never allowed myself to get attached to him.

Mercury uses his fingers to comb through his blond hair, pushing it out of his face.

"No, I'm going to work on my sword-skills," I respond, heading over to the rack of weapons.

Mercury responds with a simple, "'kay," and goes back to beating up a dummy with his favorite, short-bladed sword. I can't help but notice that at some point, he had taken off his shirt and his abs are revealed for everyone in the room… which only consists of me. I look away and try to distract myself by choosing a sword.

Unlike a lot of people in the academy, I don't care about which weapon I choose. Mercury explains that he has an emotional attachment to the sword he uses every time, and a lot of people seem to do the same. For me, I just choose a sword that's long but light. I don't care if I've used it before or not.

I head over to one of the dummies assigned for swordplay and begin to attack it. I'm really skilled when I'm hitting a still object. I know that sounds obvious; clearly, it's easier to attack something that's not moving; but that's especially true for me. I've very precise when it comes to each individual strike, and they're fast and powerful, too.

I'm bad at actual fighting because of the defense. I find it difficult to block blows on account of my missing arm.

Did I forget to mention that?

I got it caught in a canning machine when I was only five. So many of my bones were crushed, everyone just decided it would be better for it to just be amputated. I don't remember the experience very well, which I guess is a good thing. I'm assuming it was very painful, and not something I want to be popping up in my mind every now and then.

That's why I'm so afraid of the Hunger Games. It's an obvious disadvantage, and I have no doubt that my competitors might take advantage of my disability. Mercury and I were barely chosen to be the Volunteers, only because of my arm (or lack of).

It's always been difficult, but beginning life with only one arm wasn't too difficult. After all, I was so young when it was amputated, I can barely remember using two. It no longer feels like I have a disadvantage in everything, but everyone else has an advantage.

And I know that will especially be true in the Hunger Games. I won't be able to block, and I'll have to do everything with only one hand. It's one of the reasons I'm so nervous about Volunteering and the Hunger Games.

I really want to show everyone that I'm just as capable as everyone else, though. Sure, I have some trouble with some everyday things, but I make up for it with others. Maybe I could win the Games, and prove to everybody how I can still do stuff.

District 4

Lucretius Marlo

My entire life, I've always been bested by my brother. Mercury has always beaten me in everything we've competed in; who can run faster, who can carry more weight, who can get that girl. It's not like I'm incompetent, I have always been so close. But somehow, he always manages to beat me.

Now he's going to Volunteer for the Hunger Games. I'm hoping to Volunteer next year, but at that point, will it really matter? If Mercury returns home, he'll be the first Victor and no one will really care how well I do. If he doesn't, well… then I'll be too sad to actually Volunteer or care about anything.

But why wouldn't Mercury win? He's strong, fast, and the ladies love him. He's the perfect Victor.

If Mercury Volunteers, there's no way I'll ever be able to beat him or be seen as anything more than "Mercury Marlo's little brother". Which is why I have to Volunteer first, and win first.

"Hand," the Peacekeeper says impatiently, and I realize that I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize I was at the front of the line. I reach out my hand for the Peacekeeper, and he angrily pricks it, a little harder than I thought was necessary. He presses my bloody finger into the booklet, and waves me on.

I hold my finger with care as I walk down the aisle filled with people a lot taller than I am. Why is everyone in this District so tall? I know I'm short for my age, but only by an inch or so. Yet everyone here towers over me. I even pass some fourteen-year-olds taller than I am.

I walk into the seventeen-year-old section and squeeze in between some carefree kids. It's obvious all of them know they're not faced with the threat of going into the Hunger Games this year, so this Reaping is more of a formality to them. I make sure to stay close to the aisle, so I can walk out in a moment's notice.

I watch two people walk down the aisle, and a lot of people stop their conversations to stare at them. Of course, it's Mercury and his training partner… Noelani? I don't really remember her name, even though Mercury talks about her a lot. I normally tune him out when he gushes over her, because it's a little bit sickening.

Mercury smirks at the awe, but Noelani keeps a straight face and simply goes to stand in her section. Mercury enters the eighteen-year-old section, and I can't see him anymore. I can see Noelani, though, and she looks a bit nervous.

"Welcome, District 4!" Tiernan Briastos says in a chirpy tone. Once again, he is decked out in all sea-related clothing. He loves our District, much more than anyone should. "Once again, we are here to choose another two tributes for the 248th Annual Hunger Games. First, we much watch a quick video, though." A few people sigh, but we all accept it. I know everyone hates it, but it's only five minutes. We can get through it.

Alexandros Divine is narrating the video this year, which means it has a more sinister tone than when Chorley narrated it. Chorley's version involved a lot of giggles, but Divine takes everything seriously. There are no giggles when it comes to President Divine.

The video ends, and there are a few polite claps from up on stage. I think the Victors and escorts are forced to applaud.

"Now, let's go through your living Victors!" Tiernan says, and begins listing them off. I zone out again. The only Victor I care about is last year's Malakai Mavericks. District 4's last Victor won when I was 9, so it's good that we have a new one. Unfortunately, males mentor females and females mentor males in this District, which means that if I go through with Volunteering, I won't have Malakai as a mentor.

I guess that's good, since he doesn't have any experience, but it would still be cool to get to know him.

"Now that we've honored all of your lovely Victors, let's find out who will be representing District 4 in the 248th Hunger Games! Let's start with the girls." Tiernan walks over to the girl's bowl and dips his hand inside, walking back over with a slip over paper in his hand. He unfolds it as he stands in front of the microphone and everyone falls silent, listening intently. "Brookelyn Maywaters," he reads, and a blonde girl from the eighteen-year-old section begins to walk toward the stage confidently.

"Are there any Volunteers?" Tiernan asks.

"I Volunteer as tribute!" Noelani shouts, stepping out into the aisle raising her one hand. Brookelyn looks a little disappointed, but walks back into the crowd without argument.

"Excell…" Tiernan's voice trails off as Noelani sprints up to the stage and he realizes that she only has one arm. He gulps audibly. "What's your name?" he asks.

"Noelani King," she responds. I'm sure she notices Tiernan's discomfort, but she doesn't do anything about it.

"Now for the boys!" Tiernan exclaims, and heads over to the boy's bowl. I lick my lips and feel a thin layer of sweat break out on my forehead. I think I'm going to go through with it… "Merrick Riviera!" Tiernan reads.

A boy emerges from the fifteen-year-old's section looking excited. He sprints up toward the stage before Tiernan can ask for Volunteers, and I'm sure he's hoping that if he makes it to the stage he won't be replaced.

"Are there any Volunteers?" Tiernan asks.

"I Volunteer!" I shout at the top of my lungs at about the same time Mercury does. I step out into the aisle. Everyone looks at me, shocked, including Mercury. I'm not supposed to Volunteer. Tiernan looks between Mercury and I, unsure. He's supposed to ask whoever Volunteered first to come up on stage, but it was the same time. Finally, Tiernan points at me.

"The kid with the dark hair," he requests, and I immediately begins jogging my way up to stage. Mercury remains in the aisle looking shocked.

Our eyes meet when I run by, and I whisper, "sorry," to him before I get onto the stage. I take my place next to Tiernan and Noelani. Noelani's gaping at me in surprise.

"What's your name?" Tiernan asks, holding the microphone out in front of me.

"Lucretius Marlo," I say clearly, "and I'm going to win the 248th Hunger Games."

"I like the confidence!" Tiernan says, impressed. "Shake hands."

I reach out to shake Noelani's hand, but she's still staring at me in surprise. She snaps out of it and looks down at my extended right hand. She awkwardly tries to shake my right hand with her only good left one, which is a very uncomfortable exchange.

"Let's hear a big round of applause for our tributes for the 248th Hunger Games: Lucretius Marlo and Noelani King!" The audience claps politely, but a lot of people still look surprised at me having Volunteered. I notice that Mercury is still standing in the aisle. I can't help but feel a bit bad, but then I push that away.

I'm sorry, Mercury, but I've been under your shadow for my whole life. It's time I'm the one in the spotlight.

Please review! I know this chapter was a little shorter than usual, and I don't know whether the rest will be like this or not. It depends on the chapter, I guess.

Also, the tributes that were Reaped (Brookelyn and Merrick) were two of the District 4 tributes submitted to me that didn't make it in. I liked them both so much that I couldn't help but sneak them in :). They're from Anna Banana and Tyquavis.

QUESTIONS:

1. What did you think of Noelani?

2. What did you think of Lucretius?

3. Who do you prefer?

4. Who do you think will make it farther?

5. Which do you think is better: cats or dogs? (I know most of you will say dogs, but I'd love to see some fellow cat lovers!)

- Lilah