Yes, I know I said district 11 this time. But you can't stop inspiration! Also, the chapters will be about this length until after the Reapings.

District One Reapings

POV of Ebony Valour, age 14

"Hey, Sapphi, do you have anything for me?"

The jeweler's daughter grins and holds out a silver hair ornament, shaped like a bird with blue topaz for eyes.

"Almost no damage at all, you believe these Capitol visitors? One of the tail feathers has a hole in it, so the owners don't want it anymore. I can offer it to you for the very reasonable price of 17 Tokens."

Excellent. I drop the money into my best friend's palm and take my prize. This will do quite nicely for Ruby Casper's party tonight. I wouldn't be able to live down the shame of not wearing anything new to the biggest party of winter. Or not going at all. The only way that would be acceptable is if I was somehow Reaped. And being the daughter of one of the wealthiest merchants in the district has it's advantages. Such as having marked name slips that the Capitol escort makes sure to avoid, thanks to a medium-sized bribe to the escort in question, Esmė Calloran. It wouldn't do for the famed Chase Valor to lose his heir. Or his hair, for that matter. Never mind. Speaking of my father…

"Ebony! Time to go!"

Already? I just have time to change my shoes before he's rushing me out the door. He spots my new piece of jewelry and asks where I got it from.

"Sapphi Gleam. One of the Capitol visitors gave it to her because the tail feather has a hole in it. 17 tokens and I have my new piece for tonight."

"That's my girl," he says fondly, patting my head. "You'll make an excellent trader one day. Now come on. We want a good spot at the Reapings."

We hurry along the cobbled roads to the town square, and then comes a nasty surprise.

Where is Esmė? Her place on the stage has been taken by another woman, with a bright orange afro and whiskers tattooed on her face. Yeuch. Capitolites have no sense of style.

"I am Ellenea Kite! Your previous escort has… retired, so I am here in her place! Let's get on with it, shall we?"

"Dad…" I whisper.

"I know, Ebony. I know. I'm thinking." My father is sweating. And this Ellenea person is drawing… No. Please no. That slip… on the back is a tiny black 'X'. I brace myself for what is inevitably coming next.

"Ebony Valor!"

I walk up in a daze, not seeing anything around me. When Ellenea sticks the microphone in my face, I simply say "No," and swat it away. The last thing I see before they take me into the Pavilion is someone's sparkling necklace chain, lying in the dust. On an impulse, I scoop it up and slip it into my pocket, and we enter the last place of my home that I will ever see.

POV of Ivor Grace, age 17

Standing in the town square on Reaping day, I can't wait for this. I'm practically guaranteed a place in these games, thanks to my own genius. I always knew it was a good idea to invent some extra siblings, just as a backup plan for something. As soon as I heard about the no-volunteers-for-outer-districts rule I headed over the Pavilion and took out tesserae for myself, my three cousins and nineteen imaginary siblings. 50 slips of paper with my name on them. 50 chances to bring glory to my name. To kill. I laugh a little as that stuck-up Valor girl is called. I'll get her first. This is getting boring. Time to spice it up a little. I sneak up behind a kid called Midas Glint or something. Doesn't matter. I hide behind him and yell "Get on with it, you stupid cow!"

She looks offended, but does indeed hurry up. I slink back to my place and she pull out a slip.

"Calix Price!"

What? I didn't go to the bother of taking out tesserae for nothing. That shrimpy little twelve-year old will not steal my glory. Oh well. Rules are made to be broken, right?

"I volunteer!"

The stupid woman's face as I charge onto the stage is priceless.

"Young man, it was stated by-"

"I don't care. Get off my stage, Price. You'll have your turn another year."

He jumps off, looking relieved.

"Alright, people. Reaping over. Go back to your silly little lives. Let's get going." I clap my hands and the crowd runs. I'm not kidding. Idiots. They're looking at their next Victor. Actually, the morons should flee in terror. Sheep before a lion. I shove Ellenea down the steps and laugh, hearing my voice echo through the place that will one day belong to me.