District 4 reapings.
Kaya Reddings Victor of the 98th hunger games
She was early she thought.
Way too early.
There were a few 12-18 year olds scattered throughout the sections, maybe around 30, no more.
And the escort. Hines, he was probably around 30, with long blonde hair that was pushed back from his face, and fell back over his neck. He was nice, unlike most of the escorts she had met, and not so, so weird.
Most of them from the capital were.
Kaya looked around, Burl was making his way slowly towards the stage, as the sections began to fill up in earnest.
Burl was an enigma.
He was district 4's first victor since the second rebellion, and the oldest surviving one.
But he wasn't like most of the other careers Kaya had met, or like she herself, who had trained as one.
He was, different.
He had won 21 years ago, as a career, he had trained, one on one at the time, as there was no real academy up yet, with his father, who had been a true patriot, losing an eye in the second rebellion, fighting for the capital.
He hadn't been very charismatic, he was almost dull when he won.
In three weeks, he had killed 12 tributes, including both of his female district partners.
And he started the career academy after he won, but it hadn't been great, rarely did there tributes even reach the top 8. Then finally Topaz came along and won the games, 11 years after his victory, but not because of Burl, Topaz had what Burl lacked, character, personality, good looks and charm, that along with skill, was a deadly combination, and Topaz used it well, racing through his games and winning in just under a week.
Burl sat down heavily next to her.
He was drunk.
Kaya smelled the alcohol on him.
The she spotted Topaz racing through the crowd, late as usual.
He had been Kaya's mentor in the 98th games. She too had the looks and charm to win over the capital, combined with her 11 in training, which was tied with Topaz for the highest district 4 had ever received, she had won over the capital, and won her games.
Topaz sat down on the other side of Kaya
"Hey K" he said, smiling "how you holding up?"
When Kaya didn't reply he leaned closer and said "nervous about Zinnia?"
Only Topaz knew her well enough to cut to the heart of the issue like that
"ye-" Kaya's voice caught in her throat
"She'll be fine" Topaz said, squeezing her shoulder "what's she now 16? she could probably win easily"
"But Topaz" Kaya replied "She's never trained, shes never wanted to, what if she gets reaped? Me mentoring her can only take her so far."
"Dont worry about it" said Topaz "The odds are in her favor."
Kaya shook her head, half smiling.
Hines stroud over to the boys bowl, Kaya hadn't realized that the speech was over.
The first name produced was a boy that Kaya didn't even hear the name of before he was volunteered for by Axel Humming.
Kaya, along with Topaz, worked at the Academy, both helping some students, but Burl ran the whole thing, and Axel was one of his best students.
After Axel took the stage, Hines stroud over to the girls bowl.
"Zinnia Reddings."
And just like that Kaya's nightmare was realized.
Topaz Sannchi 27 Victor of the 91st hunger games
Kaya looked around wildly, hoping as Zinnia was, that somebody would take Zinnia's place.
But no volunteer was forthcoming.
Kaya knew what Topaz knew as well.
No girls from the Academy planned on volunteering this year.
Zinnia strode forward confidently, or so it seemed. she was average height, with blonde, almost white hair, and pale skin, the complete opposite of her tan, brown haired sister Kaya.
Both of them were exceptionally pretty, but in completely different ways.
Kaya looked shocked as Zinnia took her place, legs now shaking slightly.
Hines shook his head slightly, and then moved back towards the boys bowl.
"Glenn Osher"
The 17 year old section parted around a average height, brown haired boy, he was very tan, and the tanktop he was wearing showed off impressive muscles, he flashed a smile at one of the cameras as he walked up to the stage.
Lies, Topaz thought, despite what he seemed, this boy was no career, as far as Topaz knew, he had never stepped foot in the training center.
And still the boy smiled as he walked up onto the stage, he shook hands with Hines, and then promptly saluted the victors.
Despite himself, Topaz cracked a smile. The boy was good.
When Glenn had settled himself between Axel and Zinnia, Hines called out the last name
"Elena Triumph"
The 17 year old section parted again as Elena stepped out, She was tall, brown haired, and pretty. Topaz recognized her, he had in fact, taught a one on one lesson to her just three days before, she was a career.
Topaz knew she didnt plan on volunteering this year, and wasn't even sure if she wanted to when she was 18. But here she was. She too was putting on the same show as Glenn, smiling and waving to the crowd, blowing kisses at the camera. She was good.
The four tributes shook hands and walked off, Zinnia looking over her shoulder at Kaya, who just shook her head. She would see her on the train.
"So" Topaz started "I'm guessing you'll mentor Zinnia, Kaya?"
"Yes" Kaya replied quickly "and thats all, i'm just focusing on her."
"Ok" Says Burl, the first words Topaz had seen him speak all day "I'm taking the two careers."
Topaz thought for a second, but then let Burl take them "I'll take Glenn then."
Burl nodded, then marched off towards the car waiting to take them to the train, Topaz and Kaya following in his wake.
Axel Humming 18 district 4.
"Why?"
"C'mon mom" Axel said "You know I can win, its what i've always wanted."
"Axel" His mom said, struggling to stay calm "You told me just yesterday that you weren't going to volunteer! How could you do this to to me? There's 47 other tributes out there, how do you know you will be the one coming home?"
"Cuz i'm better then them Mom, nobody never trained as much as me." Axel replied, surprised that his mom was giving him this much of a hard time.
"Axel!" His mom screamed, his little sister throwing her hands over her ears "How dare you do this to me!"
Axel just looked at her "Where's dad?"
His mom grabbed his sister's hand and yanked her from the room, just as she left, her father burst into the room, smiling wildly.
"Son" He started "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks dad" Axel replied. His mom and dad were polar opposites, which is what lead them to get divorced 2 years ago, his mom hated the games, his dad loved them, and had always encouraged him to train.
"I hope your mother wasn't giving you a hard time " His dad said.
"It's fine" said Axel "She'll get over it once I come home as a victor."
"Victor" said his dad, savoring the words "That you will be."
Peacekeepers entered the room "Time to go son."
Axel walked willingly out of the room, his dad shouting out advice all the while.
Axel snorted.
Advice, like he needed it.
All he needed was his skills.
And that was enough.
Zinnia Reddings 16 district 4
Why, she thought, why was this happening, her odds were one in thousands.
One in thousands, And yet hers was the one picked.
Only Julia had showed up to stay goodbye. Now she was gone. She was alone.
Who else could she have expected?
She was the only friend she had, she knew that Kaya wouldn't be able to visit her, but they would have plenty of time to talk once she left for the capital.
Her dad maybe, but he had never recovered, never recovered from her mom's death, or her sister's games. Even though Kaya had returned whole, something in her dad wasn't.
Had never been since the games.
But her other friends, or so she thought, Christy, Ryan, Jerome?
None of them had shown up.
Zinnia shook her head to herself.
All she had was Kaya.
And that would have to be enough.
Glenn Osher 17 district 4
"Why?" Shana asked "why is this happening?"
Glenn smiled at her "It's not you fault, and besides, its ok-"
"How!" she said interrupting him "How is this ok? How are you ok? I'm the one crying and i'm not going to be risking my life."
She broke down and sobbed into his shoulder.
Peacekeepers entered the room.
"Two minutes up." One of them stated
"No!" Shana yelled "No, No N-"
They dragged her out of the room.
Glenn's parents entered the room.
His mom hugged him immediately, while his father restrained himself.
"It's ok" said Glenn, patting his mom's back as she cried into his already wet shoulder.
"It will be" said his father "You've been fishing with me enough to handle a trident, you skin fish with knives-"
Glenn interrupted him by pulling him into a tight one armed hug
"It will be ok" he said again "you don't have to say anything."
And so they didn't, they stood there hugging, until the peacekeepers took them away.
All he had to go off of was some fishing skills.
That was all he had.
And that would have to be enough.
Elena Triumph 17 district 4
"Why not?" Her brother Ty asked "Why not this year?"
"I would have wanted to wait, get another year of training-" Elena started but her brother interrupted her, while her parents stood in the corner.
"What's one more year?" he asked "How much can you learn in one year?"
He had a point, but still, she just didn't feel ready. Sure, she was considering volunteering next year, but still it just never appealed to her that much, the fact that despite all the training, there was always the fact that there were others who had trained. Every year there was some.
Some more then other years, but still.
And she hadn't even trained as much as the others, not as much as Axel for instance, but there was the new rule, where two tributes could win, as long as they were from the same district, so treating Axel as her enemy wasn't smart. Just yet.
She had her skills.
And that would have to be enough.