Again apologies for the delay in updating. Although you'll get a break in a bit. For some unknown reason I wrote the reapings of district eleven and district twelve first (?) so you won't have to wait long for that update. I have a German exchange partner visiting on Thursday, so I don't know how often I'll be able to get onto the computer whilst she's here. If you're wondering, she leaves on the next Thursday so I can be back sat at my laptop with the curtains drawn, hunching over the little screen late into the night again to get you more of the story. (I don't really sit at my laptop with the curtains drawn, hunching over the little screen late into the night. That was a joke)

Dove had been working on the farm this morning for only minutes, but she already felt the calming presence of the animals soothe her. Chickens were first for her. She and her siblings were supposed to collect the abundance of eggs, but Dove was lucky if any of her brothers or sisters deemed to get out of bed before nine.

Dove had hoped that maybe she'd have some company today. She hoped that the reapings would set her family on edge and they would be forced to do something productive, preferably helping her out. But if anything, the fear of the reapings made them cower in their bedrooms longer.

Above the sounds of clucking hens Dove could hear her father whistling as he worked. First and foremost Dove's father, Ray, was a farmer, who supplied milk and eggs, and chicken and beef when the time came. But he was also handy with his hands and a carving knife. It wasn't unusual for him to stay up late in into the night making knick-knacks and statues and jewellery for his family and wife. Dove absent minded wondered what he was making today.

Reaping day was always a hard one for her parents. This year they had five children in the reaping, including her. Their family was a large one, and much more vulnerable than many other families in district ten.

Dove felt another presence at the chicken coop entrance. She assumed it was one of her siblings.

"Dove?" It was her younger brother, Aiden. "Can I help? I'm scared" Dove nodded and gave him a quick smile. Aiden full on beamed. He liked his quiet sister best. She was calm and nice to be around, not like some of his other older sister, take Dusk and Dawn for example. They were always teased and up to something, they made Aiden nervous and put him on edge. Aiden was slower at finding eggs, but he found it comforting all the same. Maybe he should do this more often.

"What if I get reaped?" Aiden asked.

"You won't" Dove whispered back. "What are the chances?" Aiden nodded.

"You're right. And-and even if I am reaped, Greg will probably volunteer. He hates it here" Aiden said to reassure himself. Greg was their older brother. He hated District ten, and the farm. He would be more than willing to go into the hunger games.

Just as Dove was finishing off the eggs, she heard singing, which meant only one person and one thing. That meant their older sister Ona was coming to take them to the square and that meant that the reaping day was beginning. Dove wondered who would be sentenced to death from district ten this year.

Ona brought all her siblings to the reapings so that their parents could squeeze in a few more minutes of work. Dawn and Dusk, Dove seventeen year old sister walked to the square as if they couldn't care less. Greg swaggered there and Ona held both Hope and Vee's hands. Hope, Vee and Belle were all too young to be reaped, but they were forced to attend anyway

The family quietly dispersed when they reached the pens. Dove knew where her pen was, but she only moved towards it when she was sure she could see Austin. Austin was Dove's best friend. He was the only one in her over-crowded school that had bothered to get to know her, and he was the only one other than her brothers and sisters who protected her from the bullies. Austin had always told her that they were jealous of her striking white hair.

"Heya Dove!" He called. "Good morning?" He asked. Dove nodded, then remembering that Austin was always nagging at her to speak more she said,

"Yes. Aiden came and helped me with the eggs"

"Aiden? He the best out of all of your brothers I reckon." Dove smiled and tried to shrink into herself as she watched Janice Boulogne stride past her

Janice had bullied Dove since she could remember. Whatever it was about Dove, it really rubbed Janice the wrong way. Janice couldn't even pass Dove in the hallways without making a snarky comment.

Just as Dove thought she was safe, Janice paused and turned to look at her.

"Oh look, it's Dove and her boyfriend. Bet you wish Austin was a cow, don't you? Like all your other friends on your farm. Shame you don't have any real ones" Austin gave her the evils.

"Shove off, Jan" He said firmly whilst shooting Dove a concerned glance. Dove would not burst into tears, she told herself. Of course, it was fruitless and she did so anyway. Janice left them, laughing.

"Come on now, Dove. You're amazing, and I'm your friend" Dove tried to smile at him and tell him she was fine, but their escort was already striding onto the make-shift stage.

Accalia Muse had purple skin this year, definitely better than the sludge green she displayed the last.

The tension built in Dove's stomach. Suddenly, the odds did not seem so in her favour, she was certain her name would be picked out of the bowl. Dove looked at Austin and felt immediately calmed. He wasn't worrying. He seemed cool and calm. Dove decided to try that too.

"And our female tribute this year is…." There was a pause in which all the terror and fear and worry which Dove had been able to put into the corner of her mind managed to fight its way back into the pit of her stomach. "…Dove Ellis!" Dove began crying, sobbing. Neither Dusk nor Dawn volunteered for her; she was going into the Hunger Games and she had no illusion that she would win. She was too weak. Maybe she could try, or at least pretend for her family's sake. The honest truth was that she didn't have a single idea of how she was going to survive. To make matters worse, the male tribute was a boy named Dexton. Maybe he didn't bully Dove as much as Janice, but he certainly didn't like her. Without a doubt, Dove was in big trouble