Faunas Dunois

When I walked through the hallways at school I often felt like a zoo animal that was being watched and pointed at. I should not complain, as I know it is a result of my physical allure, but I couldn't help but resent it. Nobody knew me for who I was. Faunas Dunois: the kind-hearted boy who would do anything for someone in need, not this attractive guy to be fawned over by the girls in the hallway and the fields where I worked.

I kept my head down and swiftly walked to the door and met my little sister outside. Chrysanthemum was only twelve years old and quite small for her age. Her overall nature gave you the idea she was a cute and innocent girl, but that was far from correct.

"Where were you?" She crosses her arms and looks at me as though she is a worried mother.

"Sorry Chrys, I got caught up," I say as I shift my pack from one shoulder to the other.

"Well I was worried!" She threw her arms down in exasperation and I shook my head at her.

"Let's go, before Kale freaks out too."

She grabbed my hand and we trekked back to the house. Kale was just returning from work and was pulling his boots off when we walked in.

"How was school?"

"Fine," we answer in unison.

Kale was my oldest brother, but he had somehow taken the part of a parent in the absence of our mom and dad. Both had been prominent figures in the District 11 rebellion. I heard that the fighting here was worse than in the other districts. I blame it on the fact that 11 is so vast and populated.

We also have some of the worse living conditions and Peacekeepers, which just added fuel to the fire. District 11 is nothing like District 1 and 2 where the Capitol spoils them. Those citizens have no right to judge whether the rebellion was right or wrong because they have no real grasp of what the Capitol's intentions are.

I couldn't be more proud of my mother and father, and the battles that they fought. Together they united this district to fight for what's right, and in the process they sacrificed their life. I have no doubt in my mind that the Capitol knows the Dunois family of District 11 very well.

Kale looks at his watch that once belonged to my father. It seems to symbolize the transfer of responsibility from parent to older son.

"You two should get ready."

Oh yes, the Hunger Games. How could I have forgotten? Chrys grabs my hand protectively and stares up at me. Both her and I will be eligible for the Games; my brother who has vowed to always protect us is one year over the eligibility for the games. If either Chrys or I are reaped Kale will be powerless to help.

I pull my clothes drawer open and pull out the nicest clothes I owned: cotton brown slacks that were too tight in the waist, too long in the legs, and a white shirt with patches littering the fabric. These were hand-me-downs from Kale, but I can't complain. Our family has always been poor, even more so since my parents passed.

Because of this I've learned to appreciate and care for what I was given unlike those gluttonous citizens in the Capitol. They may have everything they ever dreamed of, but they'd never know the appreciation and joy of something so small and significant.

Marilynn Rockford

I feel as though I've been very blessed with my family. I have had the luck to have two parents who loved me, and a wonderful brother and sister.

"Sissy!" I feel a tug on the bottom of my dress. I look down to see my little 4-year-old brother.

"Come play with me, puhleaseee?"

I laugh, and kneel down so I am eye-level with him. "Why don't you go and play with Saren? I have important things to do today."

"Saren isn't here though," he whines.

Saren isn't here? My younger sister has never been one to run off. She's only nine-years-old after all.

"Alright buddy, I'm going to go find her, okay?"

He nodded vigorously, and I sent him to play with his toys.

I have a feeling I know where Saren is. Today is reaping day and she is not happy that I will be going to the square to possibly have my name drawn.

She's sitting near a small creek that isn't too far from our house. It's pretty much been our spot since we were younger. Although I'm eight years her senior we have always been very close.

"Hey Saren," I take a seat next to her, "Aaron is looking for you."

She neither speaks nor acknowledges my presence.

"Saren talk to me. I have to leave soon and if I have to leave without…"

"No," she strangles my mid-section with her little arms. "You can't go!"

"Saren, I have to or they'll come and take me away."

She begins sobbing and buries her head into me.

"Listen Saren, I'll be back later. It won't last that long I promise." I gently rock her and smooth down her hair.

"They'll take you away and won't never be back again!"

"Saren, don't worry about me. Just look after yourself and Aaron. He needs you. I'll take care of myself okay?"

She looks up at me and wipes a stray tear from her eye.

"Do you trust me?" I ask

She looks at me for a long time and then I see her head slowly nod albeit reluctantly, but she has laid her trust into me, and I will not let her down.

Faunas Dunois

Children are filling the square as I'm arriving. Many are departing trains and some younger ones clutch to their mother's hand. I cannot believe they might send one of these poor boys and girls to fight at the games. Many look sickly thin and pale. I know that they're families are starving especially since the rebellion ended. How ironic is it that we are the agricultural district, yet we have no food to feed our own people?

As I walk to my section to stand I receive dirty looks from some of my peers, while others duck their heads to avoid eye contact with me. They know I am a Dunois and they blame my family for helping to create these Hunger Games.

My blood begins to boil at the very thought of my family being reprimanded. What happened to the fire that was once ignited in my fellow citizens eyes during the rebellion? It seems as though these Hunger Games have extinguished it making them dark and empty. I cannot stand the thought of my parents sacrificed being a waste. Another rebellion needs to be started, Hunger Games or not, and I will do everything in my power to carry on their legacy.

Marilynn Rockford

The train has left me off at the square and although my family isn't here I've had the company of my two best friends, Crimson and Ellie. We walk side-by-side as we make our way to seventeen-year-old female section that is roped off towards the front of the stage.

"What if one of us gets reaped today? I can't imagine losing either of you, it just wouldn't be the same," Crimson says as we stand in silence awaiting the introduction from the mayor.

I nod my head in agreement, but then assure her that everything will be okay. It has to be okay.

"Welcome District 11 to the first annual Hunger Games," it is not the mayor, but rather a tall gangly man who wears a dark suit and has short white hair powdered with a light blue that curls up towards the top of his head. The dark suit throws me off at first, but he is indeed from the Capitol.

He welcomes the mayor, and she babbles on before the man comes back saying that it's time for the part we've all been waiting for.

I feel sick even though he's reaching into the bowl of male names. There are so many slips in there that half his arm disappears as he digs for a name. The unlucky person's slip is pulled from nearly the bottom and he opens it up, a small grin appearing across his lips.

"Faunas Dunois!"

Oh a Dunois. They're family was quite prominent in enacting the rebellion. I see him step from the crowd and find that although he is dressed poorly his features are quite striking. From his honey colored skin and thick muscles to his amber eyes that seem to possess a certain mystery behind them.

He approaches the stage with the upmost confidence, but something distracts him and he turns. I stand on my tiptoes to see what caught his attention.

A small girl who looks to be ten or eleven is running from the back of the crowd. It sounds as though she is cursing out the Capitol.

"No! It's rigged; you drew my brother's name on purpose! You won't take him!" She clutches onto her brother and he points back towards her section trying to steer her away. Peacekeepers suddenly have their arms around her, and she's screaming.

"I hope you all rot in hell!" She's struggling to get free, and Faunas is yelling for her to stop.

"Curse the Capitol for all of this, and curse all of you for sitting back and submitting to this!"

That little girl is going to be killed if she doesn't stop.

There is a wild look in Faunas' eyes. His put-together demeanor seems to be shattered and he climbs the stage to accept his fate.

"Alright then," the Capitol man chuckles. "Let's hope we get as much of a show from the female tribute."

He plucks the name from the top and meanders to the microphone.

"And the female tribute is Marilynn Rockford!"

Ellie turns to me wide-eyed, and I turn my head. I do not wish to look at her because I may cry. I think of my parents, of Aaron, and most of all I think of Saren who I was now breaking a promise to.

Faunas Dunois

I've been asking about my sister since they drug me into a room in the Justice Building. They have not answered and I fear the worse.

I can't believe she made such a foolish choice and let her temper get the better of her. Of course the Games were rigged, and of course they would draw the name of a child from such a prominent rebellion family. This is the Capitol's way of exercising their control, that all will be punished; children included.

I throw my fist into the wall with frustration. Will I die not knowing what happened to my family? I cannot fathom it.

Kale suddenly emerges into the room with Chrys behind him. I am so relieved. She runs to me and wraps her arms around my waist.

"What were you thinking? That was so foolish." I say to her, as I ruffle her hair.

"I'm sorry Faunas," she seems calmer now. I wonder if the Peacekeeper's hurt her.

Kale approaches me and holds out his hand and I take it. I memorize the features of a strong man who has overcome so much, and hope I can take some his traits with me. His long red scar that mars his face, his cropped brown hair, his amber eyes, his resilience, and his hard-working disposition.

Chrys finally releases me and reaches into her pocket.

"This is for you," I take it from her hand. It's a picture of Kale, Chrys, my parents, and I long before the rebellion. Chrys is just a young girl, and Kale looks a million years younger.

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry," Kale says suddenly.

"Why? This isn't your fault."

"I broke a promise to you Faunus, I promised I'd always take care of you both, but now I realize I have failed."

I shake my head. "No, you've done so much. It's better this way. I could never take care of everything without you. It's better that I'm going to the games."

Kale purses his lips. "I hope to see you soon."

I smile. "You bet."

Marilynn Rockford

Saren sits at my feet and I braid her hair and hum her a song. My family does not have the words for this moment and neither do I, so we sit together in the room I am contained to until the Peacekeepers will tell them they have to leave and then I'll have to say good-bye probably for the last time.

Aaron who is curled up on my lap finally speaks.

"Where you going Marilynn?"

"I'm going to the Capitol, where they have shiny rooms, and jewels everywhere. It's a magical place and they have all the food you can eat."

I feel Saren tense up.

"I want to come!"

"No Aaron, it's for big kids only," I force a smile.

"When you come back to play with me?"

"I don't know Aaron, but you will always have Saren."

I respect my parent's decision to not tell Aaron about the Hunger Games. He is too young to know the violence, and that his sister may never be coming back. They can tell him what happened to me when he's old enough to understand.

When the Peacekeepers call time, my mother kisses my cheek and hands me a necklace.

"Take care Marilynn," and that's the last I see of them.