Ilenia Scrall
"Ilenia, we'll be late." Said Granson. Ilenia quickly laced up her shoes and followed her brother out the door. She put off leaving for the Reapings as much as possible each year, but she knew if they were late, they'd face public punishment. Ilenia's parents were already in the square, sticklers for the rules. She envied them. They didn't have to worry about dying in the arena.

Ilenia didn't live too far from the square, but there was already the huge crowd that flowed into the streets. Granson grabbed Ilenia by the hand and they filed their way through the crowds, finally making it to the check in point. It took a few minutes, but Ilenia finally made it to her section.

She worried about Granson. It was his last year in the Reaping, but being eighteen meant your name was in the drawing more than ever, and with four times as many tributes being reaped this year, his odds weren't good. As Mayor Tonning introduced the district escort, Lorell, Ilenia got a sudden nervous spasm in her stomach.

Jovane Smylithe

This was Jovane's last year. All she had to do was survive this last Reaping and she'd be safe. She could go work in the factories that built the train engines and car parts. She could have a family, a life. Jovane looked over and saw a rather out of breath Granson stumble into his section. She smiled at him. He'd asked her out last week, and she'd been so happy ever since. She didn't need the Reapings ruining it.

Lorell, a small woman dressed like a strange green and yellow bird, scurried her way to the girls' Reaping ball. This was her second year as the Escort for Six. Jovane had heard she used to be the escort for District Eleven. Why had she switched?

"It is time to announce who will represent District Six in the 100th annual Hunger Games. Ladies." She pulled out the first slip and brought it back to the microphone. "Our first tribute girl is… Ilenia Scrall!"

No. Not Granson's little sister. Jovane saw the color leave Granson's face as Ilenia stepped from her section, shaking. Lorell pulled her up the stairs and ushered her over to the Tributes' spot on the stage.

"Okay, our next tribute is…" Lorell pulled another slip from the ball. "Miss Jovane Smylithe."

Kariette Link

Kariette watched the crying girl take her place on stage. She and the first girl hugged each other. Were they friends? Relatives? There was some guy in the front of his section that was reacting really badly to the first two reapings. Kariette could see a resemblance between him and the first girl. But she couldn't care, because caring about tributes made it harder when they didn't come home. Kariette had her little brother to think about, this being his last year before he went into the reaping. She watched Lorell pull the third name from the ball, and Kariette felt the tension as people in her section started to get nervous.

"Kariette Link," called Lorell, and Kariette's heart dropped. "Where is Kariette?"

Kariette didn't want to move. No, scratch that. She wanted to run. Run away from Six, Panem, and the Games. She was terrified, and she was a tribute.

Eticari Dexter

Eticari was disappointed in the tributes so far. All of them, crying on camera. They would never get sponsors. Eticari was the oddball of six. She was the closest thing to a Career this District.

Eticari's parents died in an accident at work ten years ago, and she was sent to live with her grandmother. It wasn't a pleasant childhood. Eticari started training when she was ten. She wanted to do something useful in Six, and what could be better than saving some kid's life. Of course, she'd win the Games, too, and come home a Victor.

"Our final tribute," called Lorell, "is Pellia Moriat."

"I volunteer," shouted Eticari, and she knew all cameras were instantly on her.

Kieran Xavier

A volunteer? Really? Kieran knew Eticari. Not well, but well enough to know she had no family. So why was she volunteering for this girl? Six wasn't a Career district. In fact, most of Six had a special hatred for Careers. So why was Eticari volunteering? Kieran had to let the thought go, because Lorell had just picked the first name from the Reaping ball for the guys.

"How exciting. Now, let us find out who our first lucky tribute will be for the boys." She walked her weird little walk back to the podium, the slip of paper held high in the air. Lorell was one for dramatics, and she lived for the Reapings.

"Our first young man, going to the Capitol, is," she opened the slip, "Kieran Xavier." Kieran nearly collapsed in place. Is this what it felt like to lose all hope for life?

Dunston Peolle

Dunston had to keep himself from pacing. Everyone was nervous, but the place was crowded, and pacing was what calmed Dunston down. Right now, he was just pivoting in place.

"Will you calm down?" Dunston had bumped into a guy standing next to him. He didn't stop pivoting; it was the only thing helping him right now. Dunston's mother was the same way. He could imagine her standing in the back of the crowd, having enough room to pace. He saw Lorell reach into the Reaping ball a second time, and Dunston started wringing his hands.

"Dunston Peolle!" Why that name? Why did she have to call that name?

Maxwell Descosne

Maxwell was used to the Reapings. He knew it did no good to get nervous, or to beg or plead for someway out, because there was no way out. Unless you were lucky enough to be volunteered for, there was no escaping the Arena once your name was called. The best you could do was fight your hardest to come back alive.

Maxwell looked to his brother, standing next to him in the group. Maxwell and Mitchell had been best friends forever, and played all the tricks twins could play. They switched places on their friends, their parents. Anything to distract from the bleak state of living anyone could have in Six.

"Maxwell Descosne." Maxwell stopped. He knew not to show fear. He stepped from the crowd and calmly took his place on stage with the other tributes. On the inside, Maxwell from freaking out, wondering how he was going to survive this, but he didn't let it show on his face. He wouldn't be that person when they got to the Capitol.

Marshall Hanally

Only one more tribute. Just one more tribute until Marshall was safe for another year. Lorell pulled the last name from the Reaping ball and walked back over to the podium. Marshall saw the look of defeat on the faces of the tributes, and the sad look on their mentor's face.

"Here we go. Our last male tribute, representing District Six in the Fourth Quarter Quell is…" Marshall instinctively looked around. "Marshall Hanally." Marshall froze. It couldn't be him. Out of all those names in the ball, how could one of his few be picked? This couldn't be happening to him.

Marshall walked his way to the stage, sharing the same expression as the other tributes on stage.