Leona Zookeeper, 13

District 6 Female

My mom's knife sliced through the thick watermelon with a squishing sound as I swung my feet back and forth, knocking the backs of my heels against the bars of the stool.

"Leona, stop that," she said without turning around. "You're too fidgety."

I rolled my eyes and let out an overly exaggerated sigh. My parents were constantly pestering me to be less energetic and more composed, but it was no use. I just couldn't! So I kept swinging my feet even as my mom sighed heavily and slumped her shoulders. She finally finished slicing up the watermelon and slid the large pieces off the counter and into a bucket. It was for Larry, our large male hippopotamus, and it was my job to give it to him.

Our family owned and ran Cinna Zoo, the only zoo in the district. It was still based on the zoo that was here prior to the Dark Days, and brought in Capitolites and rich district citizens alike. We employed several other zookeepers, but we did most of the work.

I grabbed the metal bucket and lugged it out of the shed, trying to ignore how it scraped against the pavement. Mom watched me go, looking unhappy. She was never satisfied with me, no matter how hard I tried.

And I tried hard. I loved caring for the zoo animals and I put lots of effort into it, but my brain liked to wander. Or I'd get caught up in one chore or another and lose track of the time. It was frustrating; both that I kept messing up and that no one helped me not mess up. I only got critiqued.

My dad was even harsher. He usually said what he was thinking, and while I knew he loved us, his words could hurt. My little sister Dove was clearly the favorite child, but my brother Jay also ranked above me, I was sure.

I reached the edge of Larry's habitat and used my ring of keys to unlock the gate. He was contained in a sloped habitat with a shallow, slow-moving river at the bottom. On the far side of the river there was a wide, flat meadow filled with the types of grass hippos would eat in the wild. Larry mostly ate grass and alfalfa, but tomorrow was reaping day, and even our zoo animals got special treats.

I walked to the edge of the river, my boots squelching in the mud. Some hippos could be aggressive, but Larry was used to us. And he was fat, lazy, and old. He didn't care who visited him as long as they brought food.

I dumped his watermelon into the shallow water and backed up to watch him eat. He waded over, staying low in the water, before opening his massive mouth and gulping down half of the melon pieces in one go.

"You should savor it," I told him as I began to trudge back up the hill. He let out a grunt and I rolled my eyes.

Once I locked the gate and triple-checked that I actually did, I delivered the bucket back to the shed. I was about to sling it down and let it clatter when I heard my mom's whisper. I backed up against the worn wood and listened.

"It's been hard on her since Holly disappeared…" she was saying.

"It's been hard for everyone," my dad hissed back. "It's not an excuse. Jay does just fine."

"Jay has always preferred to keep to himself. Leona is more social. She just needs to channel her energy in… productive ways."

"What, like getting into fights?" my dad scoffed. I grit my teeth. Last school year I got into a fight with a girl named Athena. She was making fun of Jay, so I stepped in. Jay was angry for weeks and I was grounded for even longer.

"Crow, that's not fair," my mom said with a sigh. "She's trying."

"Not hard enough," he replied. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to prevent the sudden tears that appeared in them. Why did my dad have to be so horrible? Why did Holly have to disappear? Why did they have to adopt perfect little Dove who was their new pride and joy?

Angry now, I dropped the bucket with a clang and kicked it against the wall of the shed.

"Leona!" my mom gasped, rushing to the door, but I stomped off. My fists were clenched so tightly I could feel them cutting into my palms, but the pain just fueled my rage.

"Leona, get back here right now!" my dad yelled.

"No!" I screamed back. "Leave me alone! I hate you!" And I stormed off, not caring where I was going along as it was away from them.

Jay Zookeeper, 12

District 6 Male

Leona's shouts reached my ears over the chirping of the meerkats and I sighed. I felt for my sister, but most of what she dealt with was her own fault. We all had burdens to bear. What mattered was how we handled them. I didn't want to be blind. But I wasn't helpless and meek and I wouldn't let myself be seen that way either. I was capable of more. People just had to let me show it.

Shaking my head in frustration, I carefully leaned forward and rested my head against the fence around the meerkat habitat. I liked the meerkats. They were sweet and social, but they knew what it was like to be at the mercy of others. And they made funny sounds.

My guide dog, Lexie, nudged up against me and snuffled my hair. I reached over and rubbed her ears. Her tail thumped against the concrete. Mom said Lexie was as dark as the night sky, and twice as fluffy. I could bury my hands in her fur after a hard day and know everything would be okay.

Despite my blindness, I could picture the night sky. When I slept, I saw the world. I saw the zoo and I saw my sisters and I saw Lexie. I didn't know how it was possible, but I wouldn't take my gift for granted. It was incredible, and it helped me feel closer to Holly.

Four years ago, Holly disappeared into the tunnels beneath District 6. Our district was riddled with old subway tracks and sewers, and the Peacekeepers hadn't been able to locate her, despite their best efforts. Mom was distraught. And a year later we adopted Dove.

I had a feeling Mom and Dad did it to replace Holly. Dad said she was gone and she wasn't coming back. He and Mom got into a big fight about it, but then they brought Dove home a week later. She was a silly little toddler whom my parents doted on. She wasn't blind like me, and she wasn't missing like Holly, and she didn't have ADHD like Leona. She was the golden child.

"Jay?" Mom called from somewhere behind me. I could hear her footsteps on the pavement but stayed quiet. She would find me eventually. Sure enough, her stride quickened as she spotted me and ran over.

"Jay, it's time to go home," she said.

"Why? It's too early."

"Because we're going to have a family night," she said, her voice filled with false cheerfulness. I sighed.

Family nights meant dinner in the living room and watching a movie on our old television… which I couldn't even see. Dove would talk the whole time and Leona would get restless and then Dad would get mad at her. So family nights were never enjoyable.

But I bit my tongue to keep myself from relaying this to Mom. She sounded stressed and I didn't want to get yelled at like Leona did. So I picked up my cane and climbed to my feet.

With one hand on Lexie's hardness and my cane in the other, I walked with Mom back to the car. We had an old truck creaked whenever we got in, but somehow it held together. Mom helped me inside and I heard Leona's frustrated breathing beside me. Lexie let out a little huff as she jumped in too. I rubbed her ears and squeezed my eyes shut as we drove home.

Fogey Fisher, 89

District 6 Escort

In my younger days, my vest and tailcoat jacket fit much more nicely. Now the vest highlighted my sagging belly and the tailcoats got tangled with my cane. Growing old was unpleasant in many ways, but I wasn't going to give up on my job because of it. I had worked as an escort for longer than any of the others. And while I didn't particularly like the districts, I had a reputation to uphold.

At least Carlotta, my hairdresser, kept my silver locks intact. Or was it Carlene? Names didn't come to me as easily anymore; a sign of my deteriorating mental capacities. It was absolutely infuriating, but retirement just wasn't an option. There was no dignity in that.

"Good morning Mr. Fisher," a quiet voice said. I looked away from my polished black shoes and locked eyes with District 6's most recent victor.

"Alex," I said flatly, not returning his nod of greeting.

"It's Axel," he corrected. I curled my lip.

"He won't get it right," someone else said. I glared at Arthur Hoffman as he approached too. "The old fellow's brain is practically gone."

"You would know, you old drunkard," I growled. Arthur's eyes narrowed and he began to make his way towards me.

"Alright, that's quite enough!"

Journey Holton hurried into the room, her boots clicking on the polished floors. The other victor, whose name I couldn't recall for the life of me, was trailing behind her.

"There's no need for insults," she lectured. "We aren't kindergarteners." Arthur huffed but stepped away from me. Axel, or maybe Alex, sighed in relief. Journey came over to straighten the collar of his shirt before leveling me with a dark stare.

"I believe it's time for us to begin," she said. I heaved myself out of my seat and headed for the side door. These district folk were so demanding. No wonder the Hunger Games were put into place.

District 6 was sweltering and I was thoroughly miserable by the time I reached the microphone stand. All the kids of the district stood before me, some worried, some indifferent. But none were excited. I cleared my throat before beginning to speak.

"Hello all," I said in a monotone voice. If they weren't excited, I wouldn't be either. "It is time for another Hunger Games, and so we must select our tributes. But first, your previous victors will come onstage."

I gestured to the door, where Arthur appeared a moment later. He led the procession of victors across the stage to the opposite side, where a row of chairs were placed. They all sat down as the district citizens clapped. I didn't.

"Excellent," I droned. "I will select our male tribute first." I walked over the glass bowl, keeping my back as straight as I could. Even if my brain was going, I could keep my body in shape. Our fantastic surgeons made sure of that.

I dipped a gloved hand into the bowl, too hot and tired to properly draw out the moment. Then I squinted at the name in my hand before speaking into the microphone.

"Jay Zookeeper!"

A long, drawn out sigh echoed around the square. A tapping sound reached my ears as a 12-year-old boy with black hair and cloudy hazel eyes began to make his way down the aisle. He was tapping a cane in front of him and staring at nothing. Was he blind?

He hesitantly made his way up the stairs and I caught a glimpse of the tears in his eyes. 'Another weak tribute', I thought. We'd lose yet again.

A dog began to bark and a woman started to sob. I waited until Jay was near me, and then dragged him to stand by my side. He flinched when I touched him, but complied. Then I meandered over to the other bowl. I drew the slip, but before I could say the name into the microphone, someone yelled.

"I volunteer!"

A girl with a shaggy mane of brown hair shoved her way out of the 13-year-old's section. Her hazel eyes were burning with rage as she stomped up the stairs. Jay had a deep frown on his face and there were tears on his cheeks now.

"I'm Leona Zookeeper," the girl snapped before I could ask her anything. "And you will not take my brother away from me." She slung a forceful arm around Jay's shoulder and I sighed heavily.

"District 6, I give you your tributes: Jay Zookeeper and Leona Zookeeper!"

Hi again! I'm back with the District 6 intros! Thank you to AmericanPi for Jay and Leona, and AlexFalTon for Fogey. As a note, the man Fogey referred to as 'Arthur' is named 'Autus'. Fogey is just very old and starting to forget who's who.

This week has been absolute hell and I am barely functioning, so please send me some reviews to make me feel better. I am SO CLOSE to being out of the hospital and it's taking forever and I am DYING in here. Sorry, that's a little dramatic. But please, send me some reviews and help today be a little more positive.

Questions

1) Can you guess what canonical book characters Leona and Jay are based on?

2) Should Fogey retire or keep going?

3) Do you prefer hippos or meerkats?

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona