I am very sorry about last night. I had a headache and found it hard to focus. I am back on track now, though! You should read Warrior by CaptainOfTheKeep, it is amazing. Very well written, interesting and a very good read.

Skau is the girl who appeared in Ezra's final POV in the last chapter of 24 To Life.

Skau Sheerwater POV:

I bathed in the morning sun, smiling as it warmed me up. I liked the early mornings, the air was cool and calm, the only sound was the seagulls flying overhead, diving into the water and coming up a few seconds later with a small fish.

Behind me, my brother, Gemini, used all of his strength to haul the heavy nets onto the boat. I wanted to help him but my mother had told me to let him learn. He didn't enjoy fishing nor did he enjoy the early starts. He only did it to please my mother and myself. What I really needed was someone who liked helping me and being part of the crew.

A boy called Ezra Talcot used to help me, when my brother was too young to help and he would catch me struggling. He always seemed fascinated that I tried to keep the family fishing business going even after my father's death. He was charming and good looking so I guess it wasn't a surprise that I got a crush on him. From the age of eleven until I was seventeen, I debated asking him out. Last year, I finally gained the courage to ask him. Then he was reaped. I should have gone to say goodbye but I didn't want to take time away from people he cared about. I hoped he would make it back, then I could ask him but when Atlas chopped off his head, that dream was crushed. I guess it was for the best, someone like Ezra would never want a simple fishergirl like me. I was named after a seagull for crying out loud. He would have told me he was flattered but reject me and that would have been the end of it. I would rather have that than what happened to him.

"Do we really need all of these nets?" Gemini asked, hauling the cluster of fishing gear onto the boat.

"Do you intend to go into the water with nothing but your hands a catch them?" he seemed to think for a second before shaking his head. "Then good, start untangling them then," I said with a wink. He stuck his tongue out in return and started to get to work.

I looked out over the sea and how far it stretched. It seemed to go on forever, maybe it never stopped. I wondered if there were lands far beyond my reach, places very different from here. If I thought I would have a chance, I would take my family and go, riding the endless sea in search of new places but even now, in the early hours of the morning, the Peacekeeper ships were patrolling the border. If we even slightly fished outside of the area they allowed, our boat would be sunk before we could even try and turn back. I had seen happen myself, the people were killed before they even hit the water. Their ship just exploded.

I looked back at Gemini and my heart sank. Next year would be his first year in the reaping. It was unlikely he would be chosen but the threat still remained. However, at least he had a chance there. Even if we escaped the Peacekeepers, there is no telling if we would even find land. I might force him to die a slow and painful death from thirst and heat stroke. No. No matter how bad things got in Panem, it was always safer than what could happen out there.

Poseidon Wasser POV:

The reaping was different this year. The criminals, the hated were the ones who were terrified. People like me, good people who worked hard to get what they wanted, were safe. We knew no one would vote us in, they had no reason to.

There was a line of boys behind me from the jail, about seven of them. Trying not to cry, was a convicted rapist, he was set to hang this afternoon. He twiddled with his stained, white top. He was crying but I could tell he wanted to be reaped. Today he faced certain death, in the Games, he could win and if he did, no one could touch him. He saw me looking and scowled, spitting on the floor behind me. I glared back and went back to what I was doing, some people just did not have any manners.

A few of the boys around me sniggered at the gesture, some of them friends from school.

"It was gross, not funny," I sighed, trying to shake off the mental image of the rapist. Samuel, a boy I had been friendly with since I was a toddler dropped his smile, turning to face me.

"So was what you father did but hey, at least you get new clothes," he snarled, turning away from me and facing the stage for the video we were shown every year. I couldn't say, even as the mayor's son, that I agreed with what it was about. We were still being punished for a war that happened twenty-five years ago. This is how we remember our past, this is how we safeguard our future. Didn't make much sense to me, surely it would just cause another uprising sooner or later.

"Now, our lucky girl this year is...Skau Sheerwater!" Our escort cheered with glee. I was expecting a criminal to walk forward but instead, the crowd parted, gasping as they did so. A young, blonde girl looked terrified as she look around her, hurt that people disliked her so much that they would volunteer her for a death Game. She only started moving when the Peacekeepers charged towards her. She walked slowly out of the crowd and towards the stage, looking at the floor in shock. Then she stopped, looked up and smiled.

She strutted to the stage, a large smile on her face and waved to the cameras, very different from the frightened girl that was there a moment ago. She didn't train, I would have seen her on one of my visits. No, as far as I knew, she was your average fishergirl. She had no need to look so happy.

"And our lucky boy is...Poseidon Wasser!" I expected the same gasps as when Skau's name was shouted but instead, people started to cheer. I was pulled towards the stage by the scruff of my neck and thrown at the steps. I looked back, I could feel the tears welling up inside of me but I had to stay strong. When I climbed the stairs and look my place next to Skau I realized something. People looked hurt by Skau's reaping, they seemed happy about mine. I looked over to my father who just turned away from my gaze, not even able to look me in the eyes. My mother turned away from him, comforting my crying siblings, both too young to take part in the Games. None of them wanted me back, they wanted me to go into that arena and die. They wouldn't get what they wanted, though. And if they did, I would make sure it haunted them forever.