Galinda Glassman

Galinda wandered her way over to her age group. She wasn't really paying attention to anything just yet. She just knew that when the first tribute girl was called, she was going to volunteer in her place. She wanted to be like her grandfather, a past victor, a famed citizen of District Two. She still remembered when he first told her about his time in the games. He was the victor of the 56th games, where the arena had been a giant underground tunnel system. He'd said it was like being an ant. Galinda started looking around for anthills, to remind herself of the connection.

"Galinda. Galinda!" shouted Gabi. Galinda snapped back to reality. The Reaping. Her best friend, a fellow Career, calling her.

"Did I miss anything?" she asked. Gabi shook her head, but pointed to the stage where Renaldo, the District Escort, was already starting his ramble about loving his placement in this District. It was the same speech every year about how proud he was to come from the district that currently had the most Victors, just one ahead of District One and three ahead of Four. He ended with a happy sigh, fake of course, but then proceeded to choose the first name from the girls' ball. The tiny man scurried back to the podium and announced in his very affected accent, "Theodora Plickard".

Galinda knew Theodora. They lived in the same area of Two, just outside the Victor's village. They used to play in the street together until Galinda was sent to the Career Academy when…

Gabi nudged Galinda in the shoulder. Galinda stared at the stage where Theodora stood, tearful, and Renaldo was asking for any volunteers, confused about the time elapsed without one coming forward.

"I volunteer," shouted Galinda, and she skipped her way to the stage. Theodora gave her a hug before she went back to the crowd. Being on the stage alone reminded Galinda that she wouldn't have Gabi in the Arena, and for a moment, she was terrified. I just have to stay focused, she reminded herself before spacing out again.

Luna Snyder

Luna had to contain her laughter as the first girl took her place on stage. She had seen her around the training room. A klutz, and a dangerous one at that. Luna remembered when the girl had accidentally cut her trainer's arm with a spear. He'd been lucky to get stitches in time to keep conscious. Luna had overheard the head trainer, the one who chose the tributes each year based on performance. He'd said to send in Galinda because she was a danger here and they didn't want to waste a good tribute when they knew only a fourth of them could come home. She was here to be disposed of, but not Luna. She was one of the strongest, if not the strongest, girls in the Academy. She knew she had been chosen first, as the best likelihood of winning. She was sure of it, even if the trainers wouldn't tell anyone who was first.

As Renaldo pulled the second slip, Luna looked back at her parents, who looked worried. Did they not think she'd win? She would be coming home from this, as a victor. Her riches would be their reward for adopting her as their own child years ago. If it weren't for them, she'd be dead already, so why not take that risk to help them.

"Amelia Mainard." Luna smiled to her parents and walked to the aisle.

"I volunteer," she called. The girl named Amelia hadn't even had time to leave her place in her group, so Luna didn't even know whose life she was saving. She didn't care though, because this wasn't about saving a life, it was about thanking those who had saved hers.

Helena Jenkins

Helena watched as her friend Luna took her place on stage beside Renaldo. Of any of the Careers going to the games with year from Two, she and Luna were probably the closest. They'd definitely be allies in the Arena for a long time, and hopefully they'd come home together.

Renaldo came back from the reaping ball with two slips; he must not have wanted to make another trip. Capitol people are so lazy, thought Luna. He called some name that Helena didn't really catch, but she called out when he went silent.

"I volunteer." She said. When she got to the aisle, she saw that the girl that had been called was another Peacekeepers kid, Iness Harmon, only 14. She hoped that the Peacekeepers would favor her and pull strings to sponsor her in the Arena. Helena allowed Renaldo to announce her, and then she went and stood with her fellow tributes.

Shantelle Lester

Elle watched as three girls had volunteered to go to the Arena, to fight to the death, and hopefully come back home. Even though Elle grew up with ties to the Capitol, she had never thought well of the Games. She never thought well of the Careers either, because she couldn't understand how they could live a life of preparing to die a horrible death. She didn't see the sense in it, but at the same time, she was grateful that they did what they did. She was never worried about the Reapings because with the Careers wanting to go to the Arena, everyone was always saved. She noticed these girls all had a fierce look on their face, and she scanned the crowd for a similar expression. Many boys carried it, but she couldn't find another girl with that look. Elle wondered if she was just not in the right line of sight to see this girl.

"Let's see who our last tribute is for the girls." Renaldo opened the last piece of folded paper while Elle looked for the Career girl. "Shantelle Lester!" Elle still looked for the girl, until someone nudged her and she realized that her name had been called. Elle's breath caught in her throat. She walked her way over to the aisle, waiting for some beastly girl to push her aside and act all heroic, but no one came. She stood there, staring around for someone, but after a few seconds of this, the Peacekeepers came to bring her to the stage. This just couldn't be happening. There were always Careers to save the people who were reaped. Where was this girl?

Elle took her place on stage, the unluckiest girl in the world.

Peter Cooper

Peter was shocked. Where was Lorena? She was supposed to volunteer, and because she didn't the Lester girl was now going to the Arena. When he came home from the Arena, Lorena would have some serious explaining to do. As Renaldo reviewed the female tributes, Peter felt someone squeeze his hand. He looked to his left and saw Colin. They'd been together for a while now, so the fact that Peter was chosen to volunteer wasn't an easy thing. They both knew something like this would happen eventually, but Peter was glad that Colin wasn't going with him. He was confident in himself, but if anything happened to Colin, Peter was sure that he wouldn't make it.

"Our first male tribute," started Renaldo, "is Carson King." Colin gave Peter's had one more tight squeeze, and then released it, letting him go.

"I volunteer." Said Peter. He stalked his way to the stage, trying to appear menacing. He couldn't help but look at the Capitol girl the whole time. From the stage, he found Lorena, standing in the middle of the oldest section of girls. He glared her down.

Paxton Luke

Paxton couldn't believe what had happened. He saw his cousin, Lorena, looking around guiltily. A Career who chickened out of volunteering in this District was frowned upon by many. Even though there were backup tributes, they weren't allowed to volunteer, so that the chicken would have to live with the fact that they let some poor kid die. Paxton would have felt worse for anyone else, but with it being the Lester girl, whose family had so many ties to the Capitol, he had a hard time feeling bad. Not many people like her or her family.

He wasn't really paying attention, but when Renaldo called the next name, Paxton came back to Earth and quickly volunteered himself, running to the stage to take his place. The guy named Peter gave him a weird look and motioned towards Paxton's cousin, and Paxton just shrugged. He had no idea what had happened with Lorena.

Kai Wesley

Kai was chosen as the third volunteer. He was proud that he'd shown so much skill to be chosen, and right now, he was keeping from rushing the stage before the name was even called. Kai looked back at his sister, who was 19 this year, no longer able to go to the Games. He still could. He could still win and bring glory home to Two, and to his family. Not so much his mother, but he'd give his older sister a better life. Renaldo came back to the podium with the third slip and called out the name William Palms. The kid had made it to the bottom of stairs before Kai jumped in his place.

"I volunteer." He shouted. He wanted to make sure everyone heard him. He wanted people to remember the face of their future victor.

Brinden McHale

Brinden wasn't too happy that he'd been chosen to be the fourth volunteer for the guys. In his eyes, it was his trainer's way of saying Brinden was the weakest of the tributes going to the Arena this year. He'd prove everyone wrong when he came home. He'd leave his family behind and go live the life he deserved in the victor's village. Brinden knew the only way he'd be able to escape a life in the stone quarries or a job as a Peacekeeper that got shipped to a worse district was to win these Games. He'd win or die trying. Easy as that. So, when he watched Renaldo come back to the microphone with the final name, he knew what he had to do. Before Renaldo could read the name, Brinden shoved his way into the view of the cameras.

"I volunteer."

As Brinden took his place, he noticed a scoff coming from one of the other guys. They thought Brinden too bold, standoffish, but he was doing whatever would earn him sponsors. He zoned out as Renaldo introduced the group to the eyes of Panem, and only moved when the Peacekeepers brought them inside to say goodbye.

I'm working on the District Reaping right now. It should be up by tomorrow night. Don't forget to sponsor.