AD: So excited that we're finally on to the first actual chapter. It's all thanks to you guys for sending in your Tributes so quickly. So, thanks!

On to the story. Enjoy

It was Reaping Day. To other Districts, it was a day to mourn the loss of the lives of children all over Panem, but not in District 1. In District 1, the children between the ages of twelve and eighteen were all getting ready. Today was the race to see who would get the chance to volunteer first for their District and try to win pride and honor for themselves and their family. To Fedora Cardew it meant nothing different only that it was her last year. Ever since she was thirteen she had been training as hard as ever for the Hunger Games.

Used to getting up early, Fedora had no trouble leaving her warm bed. It was Reaping Day, but, in her mind, it was just another morning to train. As she started her pushups, Fedora looked at herself in her bedroom mirror. She was average in looks, but it wouldn't matter soon. The fame and fortunes of the Hunger Games would be one step closer to her after today. No longer would she be the youngest in her family with her brother and sister always being just a little more important to her parents. Today would begin her journey where she would finally show them up.

"You're the boss, Fedora," she repeated to herself as she finished her morning workout. It would be all the time she had today, but it wouldn't matter after the Reaping.

She stood up and just looked at herself in the mirror, her short, pixie like, brown hair and her very dark brown eyes. She was so painfully average with little to no friends, but she was so sure that she'd prove herself today.

She hadn't thought much about her Reaping outfit. She had planned on simply throwing something on, anything, but her mother had wanted her to dress up, even just a little. At least her parents approved of her volunteering for the Hunger Games. In the end, Fedora tugged on some black pants and tennis shoes, a faded blue tank top with a black sweater overtop. She ran a comb through her hair once before leaving her room.

Downstairs, she was offered a breakfast from her mother which she turned down. Capitol food awaited her that afternoon. Besides, she wasn't quite hungry.

"Wish me luck, Velour," Fedora whispered to her Persian cat, rubbing it between the ears. "Good bye." With that, she was out the door.

Of course she was slightly early for the Reaping, but so were many others from District 1. The line wasn't long to sign in. No one paid much attention to Fedora as she made her way to her section. She was used to this. It was the same treatment she got everyday in school. She pushed her way to the front to the rope that kept them in and waited anxiously.

Xander Don had been up for hours now, thinking. He was staring at his ceiling with his arms behind his head. A year ago his older brother had been taken into the Hunger Games. Xander remembered speaking to him for the last time in the Justice Building. At that time he had been sure that they would see each other again. They had trained together and even had had some of the same friends. The loss had turned into a scar a long time ago, but the approaching day glared at him. Revenge was the only thing in his mind. He was fifteen and had trained for most of his life. This year, he had decided, would be when he took revenge for his dead brother.

That thought in mind, he got out of bed and dressed. Living in the richer part of his District, there wasn't much of a hassle to get whatever he wanted, but he settled for jeans and a tight black shirt that showed off his muscles. A silver dog tag was hung around his neck. It used to belong to his brother. Xander would choose this as his token. He pushed the painful thoughts of his brother into the back of his mind as he combed through his ashy blonde hair and stared into his own hazel eyes, they looked back knowingly. Xander knew he was ready for this.

Breakfast included pancakes with the family, his mom, dad, and three younger sisters. As his mom cleaned up afterwards, his dad went to get ready.

"Will you take the girls?" his mom asked.

Xander leaned against the doorframe. "Sure, Mom."

She smiled and turned her attention to the girls who were fidgeting nervously. "Don't be nervous," she said soothingly as she smoothed one's hair. "Even if you do get picked, there will be at least ten other girls fighting to volunteer in your place." She kissed each on the forehead before approaching Xander. Tentatively, she kissed his cheek. "Good luck," she said.

He nodded quickly while leading his sisters out the door. Xander made his way quickly to the stage set up for the Reaping. His sisters followed solemnly behind him, knowing their older brother wasn't in the mood to talk to them. He was afraid, if he did, that their older brother would come up. Then the fact that he was volunteering, and he didn't want to explain it to them. He didn't want to explain that another one of their brothers was going to the Games.

Once they were signed in and Xander's sisters had gone to their respective sections, he went to his own. Standing within the fifteen year old rope area, he met two of his training buddies. Victor and Luke nodded in approval at him. While the District 1's escort and the mayor got ready, the boys started to talk about Xander's plan in volunteering.

"You have to be noticeable," remarked Victor.

"But don't be stupid," Luke added. "If you do get chosen as the volunteer, you don't want to appear like some idiot to the other Careers."

Xander's hands crossed over his chest thoughtfully. "I know that. Maybe I don't have to be noticeable, just first."

Victor and Luke nodded at him, but the ceremony began before they could say anything else.

The mayor was the first to step to the podium. Proudly, he repeated the history of Panem. He especially elaborated District 1's part in all of it. Xander kept thinking of when he would need to rush to the stage. He had to be on time in order to have a chance at volunteering.

In the female eighteen year old section, Fedora wasn't having the same problem. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet, eager for the District 1 escort to walk over to the girls' ball where her name resided, even though that hardly mattered. The other eighteen year olds around her were just as eager, whispering and giggling amongst themselves. To Fedora, they were hardly ready if they were planning on volunteering.

She perked up as Zaire Powas, the District's escort, happily took his place at the podium, barely giving the mayor enough time to get out of the way. His blonde hair was neatly trimmed as always and so was his goatee. Each ear was also covered in silver rings. This year he was wearing a black suit, not as weird as past years. She remembered her first Reaping and the District's escort then. She had been a short butterball of a character and so hyper and happy for the Hunger Games. Zaire, while excited, looked and acted interested for the most part. His perfect lips spread into a smile as did his arms as he greeted them.

"Happy Hunger Games," he spoke in his Capitol accent. "Good luck to one and all." He eyed the children standing in the sections, eagerly awaiting his every movement, and his smile stretched a bit more. "May the odds be ever in your favor," he continued as he approached the large glass bowl of the girls.

Fedora made her move then. Zaire always made a point of shuffling around the slips of paper, searching for the perfect one, not that they'd be the ones going usually. She ducked under the rope, ignoring the glares others gave her. She pushed her way to the front.

"Get out of my way," she huffed quietly as she finally broke through to the front of the stage. Zaire held a piece of paper out now. He only got the first part of the name out before Fedora stepped up to the stage proudly and triumphantly.

"I volunteer!"

The slip of paper was already crushed in his ringed hand. He approached her with a not so warm smile. "What an eager girl you are," he praised as if she was a dog. "What is your name?"

Though steaming under his comment, Fedora forced herself to remain expressionless. "My name is Fedora Cardew. I'm eighteen years old."

"Very good. Now, if you'll just step over here we'll get to the boys."

Zaire moved Fedora off to the side as he walked up to the opposite side of the stage where the other glass bowl was. Her heart was pounding at what she had just done, but she kept her face stern and in check.

Xander knew he might not be as luck as the Cardew girl. His time was now. He couldn't afford to wait and push everyone out of his way like she had done. Before Zaire even made his way to the other bowl, Xander was rushing out to the aisle between the girls and the boys.

"I volunteer for Tribute of District 1," he called, his voice as strong and powerful as he could make it. He wondered distantly if the boys who were shouting their disappointments at him could hear his heart thumping in his chest.

Zaire's surprise showed on his face, his hand not even in the Reaping bowl yet. It soon turns into the smile he had showed Fedora as he welcomed Xander up to the stage. He was a bit shaky, but still confident. His shoulders were held back and head held high, a small smile graced his lips at his accomplishment of volunteering. Just like his brother had. He refused to find his sisters or family in the crowd.

"I present," Zaire began motioning to us with a grand gesture, "your Tributes of District 1! Fedora Cardew and Xander Don!"

Everyone, even those bitter about not getting to volunteer, clapped. The mayor quickly finished the Treaty of Treason and then it was time for the Tributes to shake hands.

They faced each other and grasped the other's hand firmly. It was like they were frozen, both taking in the other and calculating their percent of success against them. First, there was the knowing that they would be allies. Then, they knew that they would be competing against each other. Their hands fall to their sides as the anthem begins and they're ushered off the stage towards the Justice Building.

Fedora and Xander are separated into separate rooms once out of the elevator. Xander sat alone until a Peacekeeper opened the door and allowed her parents and older brother in. Her older brother started listing the most important facts to keep in mind during everything that she was about to go through. They had talked about this many times before. Her father stood next to him, nodding his agreement every so often. Fedora glanced over at her mother, a small pang of sadness hit her, seeing her mother with tears in her eyes. When the Peacekeepers return, she rises to say her final goody byes. Her mother she hugs an extra second longer.

"I'll be fine, Mother," she said with the confidence that she had.

Her mother nodded back before kissing her forehead. "Don't forget this," she whispered, pushing a small anklet into Fedora's hands. Inside was a small, unfinished ruby. This would be her token. Her mother smiled one last time before allowing a Peacekeeper to pull her away.

Next came her older sister and her wealthy husband. She was already in tears and when she saw Fedora she rushed in to give her a hug. Her husband, who Fedora didn't know all too well, stood awkwardly at the door.

"Don't ever give up out there," her sister said strongly as she tried to busy herself by fixing Fedora's short hair.

Fedora smiled a little while brushing her sister's hand away. "Don't worry about me. I've trained since I was thirteen, haven't I?"

She bit her lip before nodding. Standing she stood to join her husband. "Good luck, Fedora."

Xander was immediately tackled by his three younger sisters. Their eyes were already red and puffy from crying. Even now they were sniffling into his shirt. He tried to sooth them, but the memory of their other brother was in all of their minds. Finally, they had settled down enough so that his parents could talk. His dad, who had helped out with training from time to time, told him things that would be most important. His mom added things as well, but it didn't escape his attention that she was wringing her hands nervously. When it was time for them to leave, his dad gave him a quick hug.

"I'm proud of you son," he said gruffly before leaving quickly.

His sisters hugged him for a bit longer before hurrying to follow their dad.

His mother smiled at him at the doorway. Xander lifted the dog tag from around his neck and pressing the cold metal to his lips. She nodded in return before disappearing.

Next came his two friends, Victor and Luke. They congratulated him and slapped him on the back. They couldn't keep the grins off of their faces.

"You did it," Victor said in approval.

"I had no idea what you were doing when you barreled your way out there," Luke added.

With the pained faces of his family gone, Xander could grin and talk about the Games with his friends. He had been training with them almost every day for years now. It was like going back to an old habit. Comfortable. These conversations weren't new to Xander and he enjoyed going through it now. It reminded him that he had to now set his mind on winning, for his brother whose life was lost in these games, no matter what.

Time blurred as Xander and Fedora made their short trip to the train that would take them to the Capitol. On the train they would meet up with their mentor. It was just another step to starting the Hunger Games. To them, though, it was the first step they actually took.

AD: I hope you guys liked it. I've been working on it for the past couple of days. With some of the next chapter, I'll probably leave out trivial things that, otherwise, would just be repeats. The Reaping and escorts will most likely always be quite a bit of fun. I really hope I got Xander and Fedora right in the characters. Make sure to review and tell me what you think, even if they aren't your Tributes.

Thanks!

*May the odd be ever in your favor!*