Yes guys! I have a full Tribute list! Oh, I'm sooo excited!
Raven Slillo's POV
"Okay, I'm setting the watch for one minute," My older brother, Jack, told me.
"Got it!" I called, pulling my hair back. It didn't help much, as it still went far down my back, but it kept the curly black wisps out of my eyes.
"And...go!"
Wasting no time, I ran towards the poorly made dummy, and went to town. Yanking at it's neck, swinging my knife, practicing a few karate moves.
"Time up!" I heard Jack called. "Woah," he whispered, staring at the once humanoid dummy that now lay in a heap of plastic and leaves.
"So, did I do okay?" I asked, not even a bead of sweat on my forehead. Then again, it might've just cooled from the chilly morning.
"You did better than okay!" Jack exclaimed. Then he looked at me with large moss green eyes. "Did you practice without me?"
I shrugged, "I did some extra karate, but not on a dummy. If you call that leave-filled plastic scarecrow a dummy."
Jack pushed his brunette hair out of his eyes, a look of confusion still on his face. "Unfortunately, that's all we can do right now," He sighed. "We need to get ready for the Reaping, along with helping Gallin and Carter."
I nodded, "You're right."
We walked in silence to the edge of the District, where Gallin and Carter were waiting for us. I gave them a smile, and we walked inside the small, creaky house.
"Where you guys going?" A voice asked as I pushed open the door to the bedroom.
I turned, confused. I never heard that voice before. When I turned, I immediately looked at Jack. He was wearing the same shocked look. It was dad-the alcoholic, every once in a while abusive dad-looking very sober.
"How...what...where?" Was what I could mutter. Dad's stone blue eyes moved to the calendar, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ah, today's the Reaping. 28th, right?" He asked.
"Uh, 34th," I told him.
"Must be forgetting again," me muttered. "Anyways, see you guys outside!"
"That was odd," Jack pointed out.
"What was odd?" Falc asked, coming out of the bathroom.
"Dad looked and acted sober," Jack whispered.
"That is strange," Falc mumbled.
I locked myself in the bathroom so I could get dressed for the Reaping. The boys were dressing in our bedroom, but they're boys. I'm a girl. I quickly took the rubber band out of my hair, and slipped on the gray sweater. I put on a black knee-length skirt, and a pair of worn down, black-now-faded gray flats. I looked in the cracked mirror at the unnaturally curly wisps of black on my head. They went down my back and passed my hips, so I didn't know what I could do. I threw it up in a high ponytail, and washed my face. I walked out of the bathroom as Falc was slipping on Gallin's shoes.
"Should we go out through the back?" I asked, looking up into Jack's eyes. I'm short, deal with it.
"My best bet."
We all quickly ran out the back, Jack carrying Gallin.
"Falc, make sure Gallin doesn't run off this year," Jack told the 11 year old.
"Gotcha," Falc answered.
I gave the Peacemaker my finger, he pricked it, and I walked towards the 13 square. I glanced at the 13 boys square.
Where is Dean? I thought as the clock struck two.
Bucket Leech's POV
"C'mon boys, it's the Reaping," The Head Peacekeeper, Peacekeeper Donigan snarled.
"Hey! I'm a girl!" Bay snapped.
"You wear all black," The Peacekeeper told her. "And you're part of a homeless street gang. You're a guy."
Bay cursed under her breath, but Axle just shrugged. We quickly ran after the Peacekeeper, to the square. It took them from five to one thirty every year to round us up. I was nervous, since it was my personal first year in the Reaping, but Axle told me not to sweat it.
"Ouch," I muttered as the Peacekeeper pricked my finger. I walked to the twelve square, where I noticed others getting far away from me. Maybe Axle was right-don't sweat it. There were tons of boys around me who definitely took out tessare. I only had my name in once. The clock struck two, and our escort walked up to the stage. He was a middle aged man with short, black hair in a buzz cut and stern red eyes.
"Happy Hunger Games!" He announced, his voice deep and melodic. "And may the odds be ever in your favor. As usual, let's have the ladies go first."
He walked over the the ladies Reaping ball and pulled out a name. He cleared his throat.
"Raven Slillo!"
Raven Slillo's POV
White noise. That's what I heard as I stepped out of the 13 square. My eyes flicked to my younger brothers in the crowd. Gallin looked confused. Carter was crying, Falc was trying to calm him down. I started walking up to the stage. As I passed the 18 square, my eyes flicked to Jack. He had a scowl on his face, his fists clenched. I made my way up the steps to the stage, and stood there, the white noise clearing up as The Escort, Randolf, reached into the guys.
"Bucket Leech!"
A boy walked out of the twelve square, a shocked yet determined look on his face. He held his head high. His long, sooty brown hair fell into his eyes, and he pushed it out with a scowl. Randolf motioned for us to shake hands. We did, but that doesn't mean I liked it.
Justice Building
Bucket Leech's POV
My hands drummed on the sofa as I waited for my friends. I just knew they'd come, right? Big surprise, Axle was the only one who showed up.
"Hey man," He began, sitting next to me. "That was a pretty brave face you put on there."
I shrugged. "Eh, I didn't want to look weak in front of potential Sponsors now, do I?" I responded with a smirk.
"Great strategy," Axle told me. His shaggy jet black hair was pushed off to the side, and it was the first time I saw him genuinely smile. "Go win for me, okay? Then we can live in Victors Village."
"Yeah, definitely not so I come back alive," I said in a mocking tone.
"Yeah, yeah, that too," Axle rolled his eyes. "That'll be good."
"Wait!" I exclaimed. "Do I need a District token?"
"You don't need one," Axle rolled his eyes.
"Times up," The Peacekeeper at the door announced.
"Good luck, Buck," Axle told me before leaving.
Raven Slillo's POV
I put my head in my hands. How is this happening? I tried taking deep breaths. Jack trained me for this, it'll all be fine. Right?
I suddenly heard the door creak open. I raised my head, looking at the doorway. Jack, Falc, Carter, and Gallin were standing there. They walked in, and Carter clung to me.
"Raven!" He cried. "I don't want you to leave!"
"There, there Carter," I whispered, stroking his ashy black hair. "It'll be fine."
"Raven go bye bye?" Gallin asked in a confused tone.
"Yes," Falc told him. Gallin seemed unfased by this.
"Raven, if you do die," Falc began. "Once Jack goes off to fix trains and stuff, I'll make sure Gallin and Carter are okay."
"She's not gonna die!" Carter hollered.
Jack stared at me in the eyes. He hadn't said anything yet.
"Remember everything I taught you," He told me in a stern voice, fists still clenched. "Teach the Capitol a lesson. Teach for them not to mess with the Slillo's."
"Time's up!" The Peacekeeper called. After my family left-Carter bawling his eyes out-Dean walked in.
"Raven..."
"I know," I muttered. "You want me to promise to come back alive and whatnot."
"Actually," he began. "I came to make you a promise."
My ears perked up. Promise? To me?
"Go on," I urged.
"Well," he began. "I discussed it with my family once we were let go and...we can take your siblings in..."
"Oh Dean!" I exclaimed, tears forming. "Thank...thank you! How can I repay you?"
"Die with honor," he told me, before being escorted out by the Peacekeeper.
It was only when Randolf came to get me that I realized.
Dean didn't say if I died.
He told me to die with honor.
