Okay, I probably mentioned this before, but I will not be writing the reapings of the bloodbath tributes. I feel like it would be a waste of time, that is why I skipped District Three. Also I've decided that from now on, I will try my best to update this twice a week. I have more time now that my volleyball season is over. And after we finish up with the reapings the pace should quicken.

District 4

Coralie Alderly

I walked with my sister, Marina to the town square. I could smell the salt in the air as we approached the square being quite close to the water. I tried not to think about the ugly grey dress I was wearing as we slowly got closer to the large crowd of people already gathered, waiting for the reaping to begin. After leaving our parents and checking in, I made my way to the rest of the fourteen year olds. Marina was now lined up with the seventeen year olds, so I was alone. Until I found my friend Firtha.

"Excited?" She asked as I took a spot next to her.

"Only for the party my family's throwing after this. Are you coming?" it was tradition in Four, and probably most of the other Districts, to celebrate on reaping day. Maybe not in the poor Districts, because reaping days are terrifying for them, or so I've heard. I, however, live in a Career District, so I never have to worry. There is always someone to volunteer for me. Besides, my name is only in there three times. I've never had to take out tesserae, my parents are both very successful in the fishing industry. Even so, Marina and I still trained as a precaution, just in case we did get picked. I wondered what it would like to be in the games though. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be drawn out of that huge bowl sitting on top of the stage. You'd get to travel to the Capitol, wear amazing outfits, eat amazing food, and be treated like a star. Of course that was only in the first week. Once you were in the arena it would be a different story.

"Hello District Four!" The mayor started. I turned to Firtha, smiling slightly. The excitement would begin soon. Our mayor began her speech about the first and second rebellion, how many lives had been lost, and about how they could never fall into such a bad time ever again. I found it odd that they talk about losing lives when they are about to send two perfectly innocent people to fight to the death. But I didn't question it. You don't question things here. Once she was done, she began to read out the list of Victors. If I volunteered, one of them could be my mentor. But I thought back to what my parents had told me. Never, under any circumstances volunteer. Ever.

"Welcome District 4!" A new voice beckoned. "It is time again to choose our tributes to represent District 4 in the 96th Annual Hunger Games!" I looked up to the stage just to see our escort, Naenie Crisella, looking weirder than ever. Bright orange curls fell to her shoulders, clashing with the pink dress she was wearing. I looked to Firtha, she was trying to stifle a laugh. Naenie did look pretty funny.

"Let's start with the girls?" The crowd cheered in response. I watched Naenie reach into the bowl, and a feeling of anxiety washed over me as it always does at the reapings. She took a single slip of paper and walked back to the microphone.

"Coralie Alderly!" She read excitedly, starting to look in the crowd. Coralie. That was me. The was me. Usually the anxiety would have left by now, but they had drawn my name. I walked into the aisle and onto the stage, thinking of all the things I would get to do! Unless someone volunteered. No, I wouldn't let that happen. I would go into the arena and fight for myself. I climbed onto the stage and took my place next to Naenie. I smiled slightly, I never thought I would be excited about this! She asked for volunteers and I could feel myself shaking my head slightly. I hoped that the audience would get the message. And they must have, because next thing I knew, Naenie was at the bowl with the boys names.

Zale Cryson

I knew this morning would take forever. Reaping days always did. But I had a feeling today wouldn't be like the other days.

No one close to be had ever been reaped, and thank god Marina's family was against volunteering. But I had thought of volunteering. I had the training, and I could mentally do it. I was independent, I had been alone a lot as a child. My parents had always been at sea, fishing. A few good things came out of that, one was meeting Marina and her sister Coralie on the boat. Marina and I had been together for a long time now. I cared a lot about her, and I will always be there to protect her.

She's the reason I won't volunteer. I thought to myself. But if I get reaped and no one volunteers, then I guess I'll get my way. I walked towards the 17 year olds after checking in, and waited for my friend Zeeman. He soon arrived, just as the mayor was stepping up to talk.

"Hey Zale! My parents are having a party after this, you want to come?" He asked, with the little time we still had before the reaping started.

"Who else is going?" I ask, hoping it won't be just Zeeman's parents friends. I would not sit around with a bunch of boring adults all night. There's no way I'd be able to handle that.

"Well Murry will go, and you could bring Marina. I'm just starting to invite people now, so you never know who might show up." I was about to say something about maybe having prior commitments, bringing up Marina's name reminded me that her family usually hosts a party also. I'd have to choose later.

"Hello District 4!" Our mayor stepped up to the podium, begging the annual ceremony. She began to talk, the speech given about the war. Sometimes I wonder why they had even bothered with a second rebellion, the first hadn't worked out to well. And even though they had managed to kill the former president, he had a nephew just as powerful. In all the Capitol was always just too strong. I just hopped I wouldn't be around to see such terrible days. So many people had died.

"Hey, Zale, listen up. They're doing the boys now." Z-Man spoke up. I hadn't noticed what had just happened, he probably noticed I was zoned out in thought.

I took a moment to look over our crazy escort, Naenie, she never fails to amaze me. Each year a new look, straight from the crazy minds of the Capitol. This year she had curly hair, it kind of reminded me of Coralie's, aside from the bright orange color. Coralie's hair was longer too. Naenie's dress was so bright, looking at it was making me eyes hurt. So I focused my attention on the ground. Until I heard a name called out.

"Zale Cryson!"

In shock, I looked up. A smile had formed on my face. I didn't even have to volunteer! I started to stride up to the stage, looking over to see who my district partner was, maybe I knew them. And I was right. I did know them. I stopped in the aisle for a moment, the smile slowly fading away. The girl I was looking at was small, just 4'6" feet. She wore a grey dress that looked to big. She had blond hair that matched the sand on the beach, it fell to her ribcage in corkscrews. The girl I was looking at slightly resembled another I knew so well, the girl up on that stage was Marina's sister. My district partner would be Coralie.

Sudenly, I wanted someone to volunteer for me. To take my place so I wouldn't have to fight alongside my girlfriends younger sister. One of my best friends. I'd much rather gog into an arena of killers with someone I didn't know. That way I wouldn't be so sad when it was time for them to go.

Once I made it up on the stage, and shook Naenie's hand, I realized how weak I must look. I put on a strong face, and pretended as if I didn't even know Coralie. Still though, when Naenie asked for volunteers, no one spoke up. This was un heard of in District 4! But it's what I would have to live with. I turned to Coralie, to shake her hand. She had a sort of shocked excited look on her face, showing of the space between her two front teeth when she smiled. I knew I would have to protect her in the arena. I would have to protect her for Marina.