Sylvia Falcon, 18, District Seven Female

"You're never freer than when you're thirty feet off of the ground. Once you begin to fly, you'll never want to land."

To everyone who knew Sylvia and have heard her sing in the District, she was known as 'The Golden Canary.' Singing had been her safe place and something she had enjoyed since she was a kid. It made sense why they gave her the nickname that they did and she liked to think that it suited her just fine. She wanted to make a living and a career out of it, and perhaps if she were born in another district she could have. But in District Seven? No, she more than likely wouldn't be able to.

Perhaps she could find a way to do it on the side.

Her life growing up was nice. More than nice actually. She often thought of it like a fairytale. Sylvia was happy with where her life was, and sometimes, she felt almost too happy. Her happiness was something that everyone could see and feel as well, and it was nice that she could make other people feel happy with her. She was someone that was well trusted and well liked throughout the district.

She was always that person that people could come to if they were having problems, and while sometimes she couldn't figure out how to solve them, she still gave them advice. People always felt like they were heard when they talked to her which She loved being able to be that person for people whenever they needed someone. And while she liked most people, she disliked people that were mean and anyone that were young girl tended to shy from those types of people.

Though some would describe her as naive, she preferred to think of herself as hopelessly optimistic and disliked having to think about things in a more negative aspect. The female was also having to hold back as much pain as she could from herself and her thoughts. It all happened when she was younger, when tragedy struck their family.

Her family was one of the larger families in the district. Sylvia was the third of four children, having two older siblings and a younger brother. Her parents and her two older siblings work in the sections of the forest as supervisors and Sylvia was set to join them after the reaping took place. Growing up, her parents showed her the value of hard work and to always do their best in life. While a part of her loves learning and school, she often finds herself skipping the last class or the last few classes to go sneak into a section of the woods that her family doesn't look over. There, she can be in her happy spot.

Out of all the trees she could choose from, she chose the best one. An aspen tree rose a little higher than the others and there, she could be free and allow herself to sing. Hours are spent singing songs to the workers. Either songs she came up with, songs that her family has been passing down, labor songs and more. Her voice was pleasant and that was why she was given the nickname she had been given. It was something she would treasure forever. But, there was something that no one really knew about her and the love of the tree…

Two months ago, her life was completely different and then it wasn't.

Out of her three siblings, she was closest to her younger brother Perrin. He was a sweet child who had a heart full of gold and kindness. He loved being outside in the sun and dreamed of one day being a scientist and doing so many cool things. Her bond with him was because of their closeness in age as well as the fact that they spent a lot of the days together while the rest of the family was at work.

He was her favorite, not that she would tell anyone that.

Then it changed in an instant.

All because of her.

It had been nighttime and she had snapped awake from another nightmare. Either one of her falling from a tree and sending her to her death or the unlikely chance that a lumberjack hated her song or singing and killed her himself. It was storming that night, lightning flashing every so often. She had been getting a drink of water to help her calm down when she had heard a crash from the other side of the house. Without even thinking she had grabbed a nearby knife, something that her parents had all taught them to use in case something like that happened. When the next flash of lightning happened, she plunged the knife into the person's chest.

It then hit her, as she saw the face, who she had just stabbed.

Her little brother.

She couldn't help but hold him as he bled out, sobs escaping her and body shaking as she apologized over and over again to him. He had just squeezed her hand three times, their little way of saying I love you That alone with the fear, and betrayal on his face had her breaking down into sobs. Her sobbing had ended up waking up her older siblings, Merida and Alger. They were terrified as well, and that's when the next things happened. Sylvia knew that no one would ever believe them and that was when she convinced them to take his body out to the forest to the aspen tree that she loves and buried him there. The weapon was disposed of in a still running woodchipper nearby as the three remaining siblings made their way back home. They haven't talked about it since and her parents were convinced that he ran off. Days passed without anything happening or the body being found and Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the secret would be safe.

Or so she thought.

The morning of the reaping came and Sylvia found herself unable to fall back asleep after having another nightmare. Tears already dried, she looked out the window to find it raining.

How fitting.

Raining on a day like this, where everything would be at chance for her and her family.

Huffing out a breath, she pulled the covers closer to her, noting the chill in the air. The reaping was set to begin at around eleven that morning and the clock read a little before ten. A knock on the door sounded of her mother calling her to breakfast downstairs. Rolling her eyes, the teen got out of bed, tossing on an oversize shirt and pants before heading downstairs.

Breakfast was out on the table. Some eggs, toast and the last of the jam from winter. Her siblings were there and it was a quiet affair. Everyone was in their own minds. Sylvia was trying to figure out her feelings.

This was her last year of being able to be selected. She just had to get through this one and she was done. But the lingering what if she was the one chosen that year kept spinning through her head. She knew the chance of her winning was slim to none and knew that she would more than likely be another forgotten , she reminded herself, her shot of getting chosen was one in a million.

Shoving her last bite of food in her mouth, she grabbed her plate alongside her empty glass and headed to the kitchen. Washing and rinsing the plate did little to calm her nerves and the pain in her chest that came when she looked at where her little brother should have been sitting. Tears welled up in her eyes but she shoved them down.

Now was not the time for that.

Her mother pressed a kiss on her forehead as she passed her, whispering in her ear that she better head up to get changed as they wanted to leave as fast as possible to get there. Sylvia nodded and made her way back up the stairs. Fingers twisted together as she got ready. A long sleeve blouse combined with boots and a nice pair of pants. Her rain jacket was placed over top of all that.

Her hair was placed into a couple braids to keep it out of her eyes and to make sure it didn't get wet in the rain.

She was as ready as she could get and she was as prepared as she would ever be for a time like this.

Fingers grazed against her little brother's bedroom door as she passed,and it wasn't long before her and her family were headed out the door into the rain. Luckily they had umbrellas to keep them dry on the way there. Seemed the entire district was just leaving and Sylvia found herself looking to the woods, knowing on a day like this that it got muddy and gross. Of course, what she didn't know is that a few miles away, the past was being brought to light.

A quick check in later, she handed her umbrella to her sister and her brother, hood already pulled up. It was quiet, the only sounds being quiet conversations and the sound of rain against the building roofs. She could get through this, she had to.

Maximus Ronan made haste onto the stage, umbrella tight in hand. His eyes were now a bright purple rather than the green that they were last reapings. The Capitol always seemed to be getting weirder and weirder as the years went on. She turned him out along with the video that played. It was the same shit every year and to be honest, she was sick of it.

The name was chosen and she didn't hear the name, too lost in her own thoughts. It was only when she was grabbed by unknown hands that burst her out of her thoughts.

"I didn't do it! It wasn't me!" She cried out and then caught herself. She had been the one that had been chosen. But why? Ignoring the stares, she removed herself from the person that had her and went up to the stage, nerves making themself known. Surely this was punishment for what she did to her brother.

The male's name was called next. Ay Tak. She didn't know that name but she had seen his face around from time to time. He mostly liked to stick by himself and Sylvia could see them not being allies and she was just fine with that. The two of them shook hands and they were then separated by peacekeepers. As she was shoved through the door she caught what was being said over the radio. Those words upended her whole world.

"I need backup in section ten, the rain has unearthed a body. Looks to be the little Falcon boy that ran away."

Her eyes widened and the door slammed behind her, leaving her to her thoughts.

Well, this just got interesting. There was no way they knew it was her. Right?

Ay Tak, 16, District Seven Male

"My intention is survival."

For as long as he could remember, it had just been him and his father. Just them living in the outskirts of District seven. Sure, getting by was hard but they made do with what they had. It was his life and he loved it.

It wasn't until he was about thirteen that he found out what really happened and how they got to be in District seven. His father and his mother had originally been from District Five. They had met when they were younger and had quickly fallen in love. She had fallen pregnant not long after they got together and it was then that they went on the run.

Eight and a half months or so.

That was how long his parents were successfully able to evade peacekeepers before they were found. He was only about two weeks old, having been born early when it happened. They had shot his mother and were going to shoot his father when they realized he had a baby with him. It was because of Ay that they were allowed to relocate in a small house in the outskirts. His father was given a job and enough money to get them through the first years of Ay's life.

And they had, but then the money ran out and while his father earned enough at the mill, it wasn't enough for them to live happily. Ay didn't mind it though. As long as he had his father, it would be a good life. It was a good life. Now that he was old enough, he started working with his father alongside attending school.

Ay wasn't one to have friends but he preferred it that way. It allowed him to focus on what was important to him. Family and making a name or even a reputation for himself.

Bettering himself for starters. Growing up, he was always teased and picked on for being smaller than other kids his age. Never helped that he really stood up for himself. It was like he wanted to make himself a target to other kids. In some way he did.

He worked out every day since he was eleven, not wanting to be someone who appeared weak. It took awhile but he got there and he wasn't one to be underestimated anymore. Ay knew that if he was chosen for the Games this year, he would be more than ready. Something in him wanted to be able to show people what he was made up of and what he could do.

The morning of the Reaping or the Choosing as it started to be called once the Quell had been announced, he stayed in bed as long as he could. The sun had not been up when he had woken up to do his workout, getting back into bed and under the covers he had to keep himself from getting too cold.

His father would surely be in the forest, working at the mill until it was time to attend the reaping. It was a rainy day it seemed, rain was pouring at a steady pace and Ay knew that it would not be fun walking to the reaping and standing in the rain. At least he had an umbrella, albeit it was old and there were a few holes in it. But, it would get the job done for the time being.

After the chime of the clock to signify thirty minutes to the reaping, he pulled himself out of bed. A shower soon followed and he winced as the cold water hit his skin. He painfully endured the water to ensure he got clean and to help wake him out, he wrapped a towel around his waist and used another to dry his hair the best that he could. Finally dried off enough after a few minutes had passed, he got dressed in the same reaping outfit he wore every year. Well, the only difference being a new shirt or pair of pants.

It was always the same green long or short sleeve shirt and brown pants and his shoes that he wore for working in the forest. A bit muddy still from the night before but it wouldn't matter since it was pouring outside. Not like anyone would be paying attention to him.

At least it went with the mood of the day.

Blowing out a sigh, he ran his hands through his hair before he headed out the door, the umbrella opened as soon as he left the house. That didn't stop him from getting some raindrops on him, but considering that he could have been drenched in seconds, he would take the former.

It was a long walk but that allowed him time to think in peace. Having seen the card reading and knowing the type of people that would have been chosen, he knew he had a high chance of being picked. More than likely the reason was going to be that this was a punishment for what his parents did when they were younger, which Ay hated. Why should he have a chance of paying for what his parents did? That wasn't on him.

Whatever the Capitol had planned for him, he could handle it in a heartbeat.

After getting his finger pricked with the needle and the blood placed on the page, he went to a row that was mostly empty. There were a few of his classmates but he paid them no attention as they waited.

It wasn't long before Maximus Ronan, their escort of two years came onto the stage. His umbrella tightly held as he took in the people of the district and then the two bowls each with one slip of paper in it. The usual video was played and he mouthed word by word mockingly, a grimace on his face.

The female name was grabbed by the bowl.

Sylvia Falcon.

Like everyone in the District, he knew of her, mostly because of her voice. Oftentimes when he worked in the forest, he could hear her singing and it was something that he found himself looking forward to each work day.

His eyes widened slightly at her little outburst when the peacekeeper grabbed her shoulders. Rolling his eyes, the dark haired boy turned his attention now that the male name was being selected.

And, of course, he was right.

It was his name that was called.

"Ay Tak."

He walked down the row and up to the stage head held high, determination on his face. At least he knew he was ready. He kept his grip soft with Sylvia, giving her a once over. They probably would be good allies if either of them wanted it, but he was content to be on his own for now at least.

Happy Hunger Games indeed.

A huge huge huge thank you to Starrmann64 for Ay and to Paradigm for Sylvia. They were both super fun to write and i cant wait to see where the games take them.

What did yall think of this chapter? Make sure to read and review to let me know your thoughts on these tributes! Next district up is Six!

Til next time!

simplyaspen