Cyra Wren Gleams' POV
I was sleeping peacefully, delightful dreams racing through my mind, almost carefree, until the sound that quickens my pulse and makes me tense fills the air. The howling, it came from the woods surrounding the district. The howling of wolves who would never dare to break through the fence and take the risk of venturing into District Eight. Well, normally, they wouldn't. The one time, when the drought struck the district, leaving everything, people and animals left to thirst for water. The day, seven years ago, when I was eight years old, I was walking to school, my throat dry, an wanting to feel the moisture of water in my mouth. I was carefree, minding my own business, when I heard the howling. I turned, too scared to cry out and saw a pack of wolves busting through the fence. They were hungry and looking for water. I tried to run, but they caught up to me. One of them knocked me down and was about to make the kill, when a gunshot rang out. I heard the whimpering of the wolves as they scattered back into the woods. That man, who owned a tailoring shop nearby, had heard the wolves and had come to my aid. Without him, I would have been dead. However, ever since the incident, I had been terrified of wolves.
As I heard the howling coming from outside my bedroom window, I screamed, the memories of that awful morning crept into my head. Even though it was the middle of the night, no one awoke from my shrill cry. Trying to drown out the mournful sound, I settled back into a restless sleep.
-oOo-
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of the workers, who were more like slaves, making their way to the stuffy warehouse where everyone older than ten would slave away from sun up to sundown. However, I had the day off today. Today, was the day that everyone dreads. Today, two unfortunate kids would be sent to their deaths. Here in District Eight, if you were reaped, you would never get out alive. Our tributes pretty much always die in the bloodbath, with the exception of Bianca Calder, who everyone thinks trained secretly.
I slowly roll out of bed, wanting to just sleep the entire day. Zombie like, I walk to the bathroom and yank a comb through my unruly blond hair that instantly tangles itself. I'm fairly tall, five foot seven, but I'm pretty light. My skin is pale and my eyes are an icy crystal blue. After my hair is as untangled as it can get, I pull on my nice light purple dress, the only nice thing I own.
In my district, pretty much everyone is poor. The houses are tiny and there's barely enough food to go around. If you're lucky, like me, you may have your own bedroom.
For good luck, I put on my most prized possession, a bronze watch. It belonged to my great great grandfather who fought in the dark days, 125 years ago. I was told that he fought valiantly until he was gunned down by peacekeepers. This watch was the only thing we had left of him.
Straightening my posture and putting on the most confident look I can, I head downstairs for breakfast. My mom is at the stove, cooking eggs and my little brothers, Boyce and Ryan are wrestling on the ground, pretending to be something in a role playing game. My dad had already left for work. In the morning, my house always had a chaotic atmosphere, but to me, it was home. A little mayhem was always a big part of my life. When mom serves me my eggs, I hardly touch them, for I was nervous about the Reapings. All I was able to stomach was a glass of water. Putting my dishes in the sink, I rush out the door to the Reapings.
-oOo-
Astar Draper Fiew's POV
The smell of warm coffee permeates the air as I roll out of my king sized bed, custom ordered from the capital. Ever since I was adopted by the mayor of District Eight after I killed my family, I was living a life of luxury and privilege. I had three feasts every day and well, I was gaining a lot of weight, but whatever. I run a comb through my short red hair, as I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes are a deep brown and my skin is a mix of tan and olive. I reach over to my desk and slip on my round glasses. Then, I call down to my personal servant,
"Oi! Lady, get me some water NOW!" I shout down to Mayleen, the maid that the mayor hired just for me. She quickly rushes up the stairs, water in hand and gives me the glass.
"You're too slow! I should just fire you and get a maid that can do things quickly!" I scream rudely as I smash the glass to the ground. "Now clean up this mess before I have you cast out onto the streets!" I smile as I look down on Mayleen, who is on her hands and knees, scooping up the glass pieces. I love putting people in their place. It makes me feel like I'm the most important person in the world, which I am. As she finishes cleaning, I order, "Now get out, NOW!", not wanting to anger me any farther, she rushes out, leaving me to gloat over my power.
I head downstairs to the elegant dining room and eat as much of my breakfast feast as I can hold. Stacks of syrupy pancakes are piled high on my plate, along with some up the most exotic fruits in Panem. After finishing my royal feast, go back to my room and change into my all blue suit and leave for the Reapings.
-oOo-
Cyra Wren Gleams' POV
I stand silently in the fifteen year olds section as I wait for the escort to begin the reapings. The intensity in the air is overwhelming. All you could here were the nervous breaths of the children who could be reaped. Finally, breaking the tension, our new escort, Herendia Cavier, walks onto the stage. However, she didn't really break the tension, she just made it worse. I had heard many rumors about Herendia. Some where absolutely ridiculous, others were just plain weird. When people said that she was half shark, I didn't believe them. However, I stand corrected. Herendia had large glistening white teeth, extra pointy like a shark. Also, her skin was a deep grey and her grey dress had a shark fin on the back. She looked like she had just risen up from the ocean. Finally, she begins to speak in a deep, dreary voice.
"Happy Hunger Games, everyone. As you have probably heard a million times, this years quarter quell is that this years tributes must face their darkest fear in the arena. Quite boring if you ask me, and cheap, too. I mean we've had mind reading technology for years now, and it's quite tacky. Anyways, here is our District Eight female tribute..."
Another rumor confirmed, she really needs anti depressants or an attitude adjustment or something.
"Cyra Gleams," Herendia announces in her pessimistic voice.
No! I couldn't be going into the arena! I pause for a second with the false hope that somebody might volunteer for me. Well, I wasn't really surprised when no one stepped forth to take my place. As I slowly make my way to the stage, I look back to Boyce and Ryan, who are sobbing and clutching my mom. At that, I burst into tears, knowing that I must kill to see my family again. I wanted to comfort them, but it was too late. I was going into the arena.
-oOo-
Astar Fiew's POV
I looked at the pathetic, sobbing girl walk up to the stage. Her head was in her hands as she bawled her eyes out in front of all of Panem. Our horrible, pessimistic escort, Herendia Cavier, goes over to the clear Reaping bowl and pulls out a name. There is a collective silence as we all wonder which pathetic kid would die in the games. Herendia announces...
"Astar Fiew."
For a brief second, I internally panic. But then, I realize, I will have so much fun! I killed my entire family, so twenty three loser kids won't be any different. I will win on the first day, I know it. I strut up to the stage and stand next to the shabby Cyra with a grin on my face. I'll kill her first, I decide, to show my power. There's fear in her eyes as she sees the malevolent look on my face. We shake hands, mine gripping hers with strength that I'll bet nobody else has. I stick my tongue out at Herendia as peacekeepers escort us offstage. I'll win this easily, I know it.
A/N
So what do you think? Thank you bloodbath77 for Astar, Oceanebreeze13 for Cyra and Peeta6in6real6life for Herendia. The form is up for the head game maker contest and I'll be accepting forms through PM until Tuesday November fifth. I will announce the winner later on this week. Here's how the next chapters are going to work, I will finish reapings, have one chapter for goodbyes (I will only do a few POVs), one for the train ride(once again, only a few POVs), one or two for parade, probably five for training, one for training scores, and one for launch. Once the tributes are in the arena, I will post the sponsor catalog on my profile. here's the trivia question:
Who killed Rue in the hunger games?
Thanks and don't forget to review!
Angelofmusic4ever