Reapings and Relief

That year was Courfeyrac's first reaping. In District 12, the town square had a complete transformation, and all the children stood nervously in their roped off area. Their escort, Arabella, stood at the front and picked out two names. Two 16 year olds were reaped, a girl named Katya and a boy named Jem.

For this year, he was safe. 'One down, six to go!' Courfeyrac said as cheerily as he could to Clara when it was over, who was on the edge of a nervous breakdown throughout the reaping.

Shortly afterwards, Enjorlas returned again to District 12. Meeting again, both boys realised life was too short for their petty disagreements, made peace and saved their friendship.

He apologised to Clara, but there was still tension between them. Clara forgave him but it was difficult to overcome their first meeting.

Overtime however, the tension did ease, and the three of them became friends. Enjorlas went to District 12 as often as he could, his privileged position and mature looks allowed him to take any train to do so. His father paid so little attention to him he barely noticed his absence. His mother did, but chose to look away.

Enjorlas was delighted at getting his old friend back, and his trips to 12 gave him the breathing space he needed to deal with the pressure his father was putting on him, and to keep him grounded.

Enjorlas took part in the reaping in his home District the following year, and wondered how Courfeyrac could have been so calm about it.

The town square was much the same, with a few extra decorations and the building of a stage outside the Justice Building. Their escort, Relinqua stood at the front and picked out two names. Just as predicted, as soon as the names were read out, two volunteers spoke out, a 17-year-old girl named Sapphire and a 15-year-old boy named Billy.

The Games always stirred tension between the friends, as more often that not, the tributes from 12 were killed in the initial bloodbath, by a tribute from District 2 or one of the other Careers. This was a topic they tended to avoid.

However it came up in a conversation between Enjorlas and Clara. For a while their friendship had been strained. They were getting along for Courfeyrac's sake, and Enjorlas still had feelings he could not identify for the girl, but assured himself they were negative.

It was after Clara's first reaping the next year. The Games had begun, and after the bloodbath had taken place, Clara was washing up in the kitchen. Enjorlas came in to fetch a glass of water. He found himself watching her work, silently humming a song to herself.

'What is that you are singing?'

Clara nearly jumped out of her skin.

'I was singing? I didn't realise….' She tailed off, 'Sorry Monsieur.'

For as long as he could remember, Clara had insisted on calling him 'Monsieur'. For what reason he didn't know, he had more than once told her 'Enjorlas' was perfectly fine, it was what everyone else called him, but she did not seem comfortable to oblige. Nowadays he just let it pass.

'Don't be sorry, it was…nice. I don't think I've heard it before, where is it from?'

'Just….something from my past.' Enjorlas knew that was all he was going to get, like Courfeyrac, he found out Clara was not happy to talk about her childhood before she came here.

He wanted to go, but something was keeping him grounded in the kitchen, he couldn't leave.

'I'm sorry about your tributes by the way.' Both tributes from 12 were dead less than five minutes into the Games. 'Did you know them at all?'

Clara paused. 'The boy, we trade with his father in the Hob. He was so upset when his son was reaped…' Clara looked as if she were holding back tears. Enjorlas wondered if he should leave so if she wanted to cry, she could do so in peace. But he had caused this, and found himself wanting to console her.

'The Careers were out of line, killing him in that way. No parent should have to see their child die like that.' The boy was brutally cut down, the girl from 1 hacked him within an inch of his life, and even after it was clear he was dead. Enjorlas had the shuddering feeling she would make it out alive.

'No parent should have to see their child die at all. Then again, maybe some just wouldn't care.'

Enjorlas' eyes shot up, but Clara's remained fixed on something outside of the window. Although he didn't understand why Clara would say that, he understood the feeling. He often wondered whether his father cared for him at all, or was he only being raised to be his father's right hand man. Enjorlas hated the doubt he felt of his father's love, and hated the idea that someone else, someone as gentle and loveable as Clara, could have parents who treated them in such a way.

Enjorlas found himself walking towards her and stood beside her in front of the sink. He looked out of the window to see what she was staring at, and inadvertently took her hand. Clara flinched. She didn't pull away, however, and for a moment they were both just content to stand there.

That was a turning point in their friendship. There was suddenly an unspoken understanding between them, and whatever negative feelings Enjorlas had felt before, were beginning to melt away.

Eventually, Enjorlas let go of her hand and returned to the others to watch the Games. Clara continued washing up. The girl from District 1 became the Victor.

Courfeyrac's fourth reaping was particularly difficult, as Harry had turned 12 and so he also had to take part. Luckily, all the children avoided the arena, and District 1 gained another Victor, the brother of the previous Victor.

Courfeyrac refused to allow Harry to sign up for tesserae, as he had done. Clara had also signed up which had been the cause of many arguments between them. However she would not be swayed. They solemnly agreed not to allow any of the other children sign up; although there were winters they desperately needed it.

After surviving his first reaping, Harry gained confidence and started arguing he should sign up for tesserae. Clara had never seen Courfeyrac so angry, and that was the end of the matter.

No matter how many Reapings they went through, Enjorlas, Clara and Courfeyrac were always petrified when the day came about. With so many willing volunteers from his District, Enjorlas often found himself more worried for his friend's safety than for his own. Next year, both Harry and Freddie would qualify to be reaped, and little Posie was only a few years behind them.

What made matters worse, was how many times Clara and Courfeyrac's names were put in the bowl, since they signed up for tesserae. Enjorlas tried as often as he could to help them out, but he only had so much wealth at his disposal, he was still a child after all.

Despite hardships, Courfeyrac and his family survived. Enjorlas was even beginning to settle into his life in District 2. Little did they know in a few years, their lives were about to take a terrible turn.

This event was triggered by a solo trip of Clara's into the town, where she found a lonely soul, who, through no fault of their own, was to change their lives forever.