Aloha my beautiful readers :)

I am giving you all a little challenge, you don't have to have submitted a tribute to participate; Now in the last chapter I said that District 6 would be getting a new mentor! I need YOU to submit one.

There isn't a form; I just need to know these things:

Name:

Age:

District/Games won:

Appearance:

Personality:

Much love! Oh and now we are to meet our wonderful District 7 Male; contributed by the amazing SydneyStateOfMind

Ardis Campion, District 7.

I have to admire that Seraphine girl; she really is a fire cracker, like me in a sense and she is undeniably brave seeing that she has all but sacrificed her life to save that young girl. I could never do that; it's not that I am a coward but I could never purposefully place myself into the Hunger Games, it would be futile: I would die, die knowing that I never even attempted in pursuing a relationship with Asher; I am getting seriously frustrated with this whole 'friendship' phase, I mean we're both aware that neither of us view our relationship as simply platonic. I think the only reason he is so hesitant is because of the damned Hunger Games, I mean if one of us were to be reaped what would the other do?

Imagine the torture that is to watch the one you love fight for their life in an arena; knowing full well that 23 other children are in the very same arena fighting just as hard for their own life. It's horrific and inhumane but unlike this Seraphine girl I seem to possess a shred of common sense and know that criticising the Capitol would leave to nothing other than my imminent death and more than likely the death of all my loved ones. I wish I could sigh in relief, I should be feeling immense joy, as if I'm walking on the wispy clouds which are dotted throughout the clear blue skies overhead: I've gotten through yet another reaping, in two years time I will escape the Hunger Games; in two years I will become as free as one can be. Well, as free as girl can be if she lives in one of the districts of Panem.

However, my guts seem to clench in a state of nervous anticipation, my pulse is quickening its pace and my breath is escaping in short, sharp pants; I gnaw on my lip, a clear indication of anxiety and I notice the girls shooting me furtive glances. I understand there reasoning, I haven't been reaped so why should I be anxious; I'm anxious because Asher hasn't escaped this reaping unscathed yet, his name is in that blasted 'urn' over 30 times. Every year he takes out tessarea for his family, he doesn't necessarily need to seeing as he works such long hours in the lumber yard but he does just to make sure that there is a decent meal on the table every single day; I think this selfless aspect of his nature is what originally endeared him to me and since then my attraction to him has simply grown and grown.

I close my eyes, I simply cannot bear to watch as Harmony Weatherby dips her delicate lavender dyed hand into the male reaping bowl; snatching up a slip which bears the name of the male tribute for District 7, I hope with every fibre being that it isn't my Ash. By now Harmony is standing before the microphone; smiling sweetly into the crowd totally unaware of the repercussions of what she is about to say. In that moment everything seems to stand still, I cannot move, I cannot breathe and I scrunch my eyes even tighter and all the hope I had clung to seems to evaporate when I hear the two words I has been dreading to hear; the two words that seem to make every fantasy of love I've ever had disappear.

'Asher Blackwood'

He lied to me, he said this wouldn't happen; he fucking promised. I brought into that optimism of his, the irrational belief that everything will be okay and where has that gotten me? Heartbroken as I see the boy I've loved for three years work towards the stage and although I hate to admit it: To his probable death. When I'd escaped the reaping, I thought that there may have been truth in his words. Look at him now, smiling brightly and 'looking on the bright side'; doesn't he realise that there is no bright side in this situation, he will die and then what, I'll be left here: Alone and broken.

I should have stuck to my pessimistic attitude, it would've been a lot more helpful in this situation, clinging desperately to hope and having it snatched away is not the preferable option I tell you now; Pessimism may make you seem surly but it always makes sure that you're prepared for the worst.

I feel bile rise in my throat, and silent tears sting my eyes no matter how much I try to prevent them falling; all of my girlish dreams are gone now and I have to face the reality that the man I'd foolishly believed would one day be my husband is sentenced to death and I can do nothing about it; this is not a career district, Seraphine is the exception not the rule. Volunteers are rare in District 7, rarer than snow in a desert in all honesty; if I were a male I would volunteer and lay my life down for the man I love, but alas I was born female and this option is not available to me. By now Asher is on stage, shaking hands with the Seraphine girl; for Asher to return to me her and 22 others must die, and I eagerly await everyone of those deaths, for every single one brings my man one step closer to coming home, to me.

Asher Blackwood, District 7.

I'm standing on the stage looking out into the distant landscape of the district which is, and always will be, home; the powerful scent of crushed pine needles; the tall trees which constitute the majority of the landscape but the most important feature of home isn't some piece of architecture or some natural formation of land: it is that one person that who is your everything, the one person who seems to be the flickering candle amidst the darkness; the girl with the hazel eyes who can look into your very soul, the girl who's flowing mahogany tresses are accented with red in the light of an evenings sun. I don't look for Ardis seeing that I know I will see unadulterated fear, maybe even anger and that will shatter the illusion of acceptance I'm trying to generate. I am not scared, the only feeling I can muster is utter relief. I may have been reaped but it is nothing compared to the despair that would have consumed me if it were Ardis' name that was called only minutes earlier.

You see the thing is that my most prominent quality is my eternal optimism, the way of seeing the brightness in the most grave circumstances; I cannot help but even be optimistic about the games, my odds are as good as anyone else's plus the benefits if I were somehow to win seem to outweigh the downfalls in my opinion: The only downfall is my potential death, albeit gruesome but the benefits; the house in Victors Village, the financial security and if by some long shot I did win; maybe, just maybe Ardis would look at me the way in which I look at her.

Everything appears to be some blur though, I catch the eyes of my many friends dispersed through the crowd; I see my father holding my mother as she cries, my elder brother staring at the ground and my best friend Gino; he is staring at me intently, his blue eyes shining with unshed tears. As I shake the Connolly girl's hand I risk a glimpse to where I know Ardis to stand, she just wears an expressionless mask; standing eerily still as if she were a corpse, dead to the world and everything happening around her. The smile that I was wearing disappeared as I longed to run and hold her in my arms; kiss her and comfort her the way I have wanted to for so long, as a lover; in this moment I don't care if she sees 'us' in a solely platonic light. This chance is robbed though as I am directed towards the Justice Building.

The first people to burst through the door are my family; my father, Benedict Blackwood is usually a stern man who seems emotionally void but right now he wears a pained expression and his usually narrowed eyes are rimmed with red; his broad shoulders are slumped in defeat, he looks haggard: not the strong man I grew up knowing him to be. My mother, Lenora is in a worse state; held up by my father her chest is heaving with broken sobs, her hands balled into fists and eyes so swollen by tears which are falling freely, she collapses forward into my open arms. Words fail her but she moves her frail hands up to my face as if to memorise every small detail, every feature of my rugged face. My elder brother, Eridon, is pacing the room; running his calloused hands, which are so similar to my own, through his sandy blonde hair; the colour he shares with mother, whereas I have father's brown locks.

'You're strong Ash, you're gonna win this.' My brother, his voice is worried; he is nodding at me frantically, he resumes his pacing as father comes forward; he is shaking and places his large hand on my shoulder.

'Son, remember that allies will help, don't get too attached to anybody and get your hands on an axe; play the likable lad that you are, it'll get you some sponsors' I listen to every word, my father rarely offers advice but its an unspoken rule that if he does bless us with his supposed infinite wisdom you listen and act upon it.

The time with my family consists mainly of hugs and goodbyes, tears are shed and advice is given; once my family leaves and my brother vows to look after my parents whatever happens the parade of my friends begin. I smile as they wish me well, comfort them as they cry and hug them as they leave but there are only two people I want to speak to right now.

Gino Mandaly bursts through the door, it is five years this very day that we met; two petrified twelve year olds bonding as they considered that either one could be called to their deaths. The rest is history; he is my best friend and I trust him implicitly and that's why I have a specific task for him and him alone. I break the silence.

'So it seems after 5 years one of us was finally chosen eh?' The corner of his lips turn upwards at my half hearted joke, he shakes his head at my positivity and I open my arms in invitation for a 'man hug'; he steps forward and embraces me, his vice tight grip crushes the air from my lungs.

'I can't believe you're going Asher, I really hope you win, you're gonna try right? For us all.' I just nod my head, contemplating how I'm going to ask him for this favour.

'Mate, I'm gonna try as hard as I can to come home. I promise, but if I do fail please , will you do me a favour? It'll mean everything to me.'

'Anything, you know I'll do it, why ask?'

'Look out for Ardis, make sure she finds love; I want her to live and not to dwell on this, any of it. Just let her know I love her and that I want her to move on.' He stares blankly but nods his head all the same; he is my best friend and I know he would make sure my 'last request' of sorts would come to fruition.

'I promise' After that we just chat, and then he has to leave; work waits for no one and he was expected at the lumber yard as I would have been if it were not for me being reaped. Almost all of my time is gone and I'll be on the train, I cannot suppress the sadness that threatens to overwhelm me; it may be the last time she may ever see me and she hasn't come. I knew she didn't love me the way I did her, but I thought we were good enough friends that she would at least come to say goodbye.

Suddenly, the door burst wide open and she storm through the door and her jaw is set in determination; she flies towards me and I open my arms but instead of the embrace I anticipate I received a hard slap.

'You lied to me' its an accusation, and technically I did lie since I said we'd both be OK but seeing as I face imminent death but obviously this isn't an excuse in Ardis' eyes; she is so passionate and I love her for it.

'I'm sorry…'

'Don't apologise to me Ash, just promise me something' her gaze had shifted from blazing passion to an innocent hope; her hazel eyes are wide an I could never say no to such a face.

'Anything, you know I'd do anything for you, anything Ardis' she smiles, at my words and leans up to kiss my cheek.

'Come back to me Ash, do whatever you must. My life isn't worth living without you here.' I must look shocked as I nod my head, in my wildest dreams I've never imagined Ardis saying such a thing. She continues as I just stand there staring at her.

'Yes, I know you don't feel the same as me Ash but I had to tell you: I love you, always have and always will; so please just make sure you come home' I cannot breathe, I lean down and kiss her softly; trying to say how much I love her through that kiss. I think it works as a giggle escapes.

'I've loved you since I laid eyes on you, and that passion of yours Miss Campion. I promise to come home, for you.' a glorious smile lights up her features; she reaches to grab something from around her neck. She holds out the necklace I gave her on her sixteenth birthday; a wooden medallion carved into a flame insignia, to symbolise the fire inside of her and her fiery attitude.

'Ash, you gave this to me for the fire inside of me right? Well, you've got that same fire; I know you have and I know you're gonna come home to me' she pushes the necklace into my hand and pulls me in for our first proper kiss, soft but passionate and hopefully the first of many to come. As she pulls away, the Peacekeepers have come to escort me to the train; I turn to Ardis and give her one last tender kiss before I'm led away, determined to keep the promises I'd just made.

Seraphine Connolly, District 7.

'You can keep your dirty hands to yourselves; do I look like an invalid? I'm perfectly capable of getting on a train alone, I'm hardly gonna do a runner' I swear if these bastard Peacekeepers keep trying to poke and prod me I'll break one of their jaws. I'm just getting on the train and I think what the hell, I turn around and head butt one of the Peacekeepers; it might be the last chance I have to do so, and it is one of the things I've always wanted to do. If I'm destined to die you can be sure that I'm gonna do what the hell I like.

I storm into the train to find Harmony blasted Weatherby fussing over my district partner, Ash Blackwood was it? That boy is built like a brick shithouse, well I think that's the saying anyway; he's about 5'9'' and built like a mountain with bulging biceps and dark, rugged features. Rather handsome, in that 'manly' way; all in all he is the polar opposite to my red headed, porcelain doll physique. Well they do say the bigger they are, the harder they fall and trust me: He will have an incredibly hard fall.

'Oh and here's the wonderful Seraphine, so brave' I feel like ripping my hair out, that Capitol bitches voice grates on me something awful, and I'm sorry but with the whole fight for my life thing my patience is wearing incredibly thin.

'Right, I've told you to shut it once today. If I have to tell you again I swear to God I'll ram my fist down your throat' I smirk when her eyes widen in absolute terror and she flees the room like a dog with a tail in between her legs. Asher looks appalled at my manners as if he's about to say something but I silence his words with a glare, raising my eyebrows as if daring him to try and question my actions. I waltz over to the table and grab a plate, filling it with all this Capitol food: fried asparagus and chicken in a hollandaise sauce; I will give the Capitol one thing, their food is pretty good, better than anything I've ever tasted.

'So, my name is Asher Blackwood, and you're Seraphine Connolly right?' He extends his hand toward me, a friendly smile on his face; I roll my eyes, isn't he aware that we're about to be thrown into an arena and made to fight one another till death? Is he that stupid?

'Yep, but I prefer Sera' I don't shake his hand and eventually drops it onto the table, his expression contemplative; he twiddle his thumbs for a while and then he tries to initiate conversation yet again.

'You know, we could be allies? It'll be easier to have someone to watch your back and that, we could be a dynamic duo' His smiling gormlessly as if his just suggested the greatest idea ever, don't make me laugh it's a bloody awful idea.

'Easier? Are you kidding me? Let me explain; say if we were allies and we became great friends. Then, we have to kill one another? Yes, being allies sounds like a fucking great idea' my sarcasm seems to burn him and he flinches away from me, then I hear our mentor Blight clear his throat; I turn to look at him, daring him to contradict me.

'Missy, your attitude ain't gonna help you in these games; you need sponsors and everything so you need to become more approachable like Asher here. Allies will be a big help.' He shakes his head at me, all tanned skin and grey eyes; his salt and pepper hair is cropped short and his full lips are turned downwards. Does this man not realise I've been practically sentenced to death? I am not in the mood to be dictated to, I will smile for the cameras and praise the Capitol for their 'generosity' but right now I just want some space.

I stand to leave and Blight reaches forward to grab my wrist but I slam it down onto the table and I hear a loud snap, in no time I have a knife in my hand and I'm staring Blight down; Asher seems frozen in shock, probably thinks I'm mentally unstable. Oh well.

'Right, I'm sorry about your wrist. I'll play the game, be all smiles and simpering but right now I'm going to my room, we can talk later. Right now I just want to punch someone' I leave the room then, hearing Asher fussing over my mentor; bloody suck up.

Blight, District 7 Mentor.

I won my Hunger Games 18 years ago, and in that time I've never seen District 7 tributes with such potential; they are a right pair those two. The girl looks like a human doll, all creamy skin, curly red hair and sparkling blue eyes; pretty short two but she has got one hell of an attitude, oh and some strength too.

The boy is sweet, all smiles and helpfulness; all optimism and gentility; but his looks say anything but, short and stocky with tanned skin and black eyes; he could of played the strong and silent type but I don't think he could pull it off seeing as he is all about the 'bright side' of life. The girl, ideally I'd have her playing the fragile, innocent girl; sweet and humble. I think I've got more chance at sassy and sarcastic.

There going to be a challenge but I think I might have a winner on my calloused hands; my mind turns to the fact that some time soon I may have company up in Victors Village apart from the old codgers who have been labeled as incompetent as mentors seeing as they're mostly senile.

Ok then, District 7 is COMPLETE!

Thanks to Dinashadow for Seraphine Connolly

AND

SydneyStateOfMind (with full stops between each word) for Asher Blackwood

Review, oh and I'll probably update tomorrow! It'll be District 11 :)

Loves Yah!