The Ally: Lavinia Rider – District 10 Tribute
From the time I was born, people always said I looked exactly like my aunt Lavinia. So much so that my parents even named me after her. I've never actually met the woman, but it's been said that she was once the most beautiful girl in all of District 10. Although I'm not exactly sure where she is now, my mom says that she resides somewhere in the Capitol. Because of her beauty, she got to escape the poverty and starvation of District 10 and live a life of excess. Lucky her.
My parents had hoped that I would be the same. That one day the Capitol would take me away and give me a better life. I never let my expectations get too high though. I've heard that such things were possible. That Capitol representatives could come into the Districts and offer the most attractive men and women a chance for a new life. But it's not really a common occurrence for anyone to be chosen in District 10. Most Capitol beauties are usually plucked from Districts 1 and 2.
Well I guess my parents were half right. I made it to the Capitol after all. However, I don't quite think my parents expected it to be like this. The last thing they wanted was their only daughter running through a giant deathtrap, fighting for her life.
Crunch!
The sound of leaves. Someone's coming! I hasten my pace to put some distance between us. I don't want to sprint just yet. Not until I'm positive which direction the footsteps are coming from. I weave through the tightly grouped pines until I come to a spring of sparkling blue water, shielded from sight by massive boulders and overhanging branches. On top of one of the boulders I see the other tribute. Henley Townsend.
I remember him from home. Or at least when he was living at home. He used to stop by every once in a while to help my father with the herd. I remember laughing at him one day, thinking he was strangest little thing I had ever seen. He was probably about eight at the time. He was off playing with dogs, imitating them and running alongside them as they chased and barked after the sheep. He even barked with them too.
I always pitied Henley though. He was never someone I considered to be very lucky. Nothing ever seemed to turn out right for him. I shouldn't have ever had any doubts that he would end up here in the games. That being said I don't know whose name I was more surprised to hear at the Reapings; his or mine.
As I cautiously advance, I realize that Henley is fast asleep on top of that boulder. The footsteps weren't his. My body tenses as I listen for movement. Sure enough I can hear them out in the distance growing closer.
I can't leave him here, but I can't call out to him either. I have to stay quiet, so I snatch a stone from the earth and hurl it across the spring, hitting Henley in his side. Immediately the boy springs to life just as the stone splashes into the water.
The footsteps are louder and more frequent. Henley can hear them too. I signal for him to run, before I take off in the opposite direction, making as much noise as I possibly can. Henley may not have had much luck in the past, but he will today.