Sorry for the slight confusion in Aurora's personality and perspective. Yes, I do have a co-author, and yes, she did write District 4. She and I have conversed and we have decided that I will now write Reapings, and after that... We'll figure something out. Sorry again for the confusion, and enjoy the Games to come!


Aurora Austriallis, Capitolite

Not much happened after I watched the District 4 Reapings, and I had the day off, so I decided to watch the District 5 Reapings. It's always fun to watch District 5 because the Escort for the last fourteen years, Galia (pronounced Gal-LI-ah) Keukatan, goes against tradition and always reaps the boys before the girls. But... I guess that she's not going against tradition if she does the exact same thing for over a decade, because by then whatever she does is a tradition. Oh well.

I snuggled up in the corner of my oh-so-soft chocolate brown reading chair with a glass of ice-cold cinnamon rice-milk in one hand and the TV remote in the other hand. Flipping on the TV, I got ready to watch Galia repeat her fourteen-year-old ritual.

This year, Galia was dressed in a bright yellow sheath that only had one strap. The continual wind whipped her dandelion-yellow hair around her face, and Galia's freaky orange eyes glittered with frustration. Not long after the Mayor started reading the Treaty of Treason, Galia had out her mirror out and was pulling her hair up in a high ponytail that danced and writhed in the wind. I really don't know why she doesn't ever put her hair up; the same thing happens every year and she ALWAYS ends up putting her hair up into a ponytail.

Soon, the Mayor finished droning and it was Galia's turn to take the microphone. She strutted up to the Reaping Bowl, which was shaped like a Tower with a fireman's nozzle as the very top, and without any speaking, shoved her hand into the tower. Pulling out a name was no hard task, and suddenly she was at the microphone. I knew what would happen next; I think everyone did.

Galia opened her mouth wide and yelled "Ehlllooooooooooow Diiiiiiistric Fiiiiiiivvvvve! Welcome, welcome to the Annual Reaping for the Annual HUNGER GAMES! In my hand, I hold a slip of paper. This slip holds the name of the lucky Male Tribute who will have the HONOR of representing you, the ESTEEMED District 5! Who wants to know who the lucky man is?"

Galia looked appreciatively around the Square, where a low cheer was going up. The people of District 5 may have dreaded the Reapings, but they apparently did not see any reason to be mean to the Escort.

Galia, turning back to the mike, hushed the crowd. "Now," she announced, "Your lucky Tribute is... NIKLASS HADESHAN!"

Almost immediately, a young boy with brilliant brown eyes stepped out of the fourteen-year-old section. Oddly enough, he was smiling and waving to the crowd and cameras! Who would have known that a Tribute from District 5 would be happy to compete in the Hunger Games? Don't get me wrong, all Tributes should be happy to have the honor of being allowed to experience the hospitality of the Capitol, but District 5 is normally Bloodbath fodder- crying, weepy, shivering, and skinny. This kid was different.

Even the best of us must come to misfortune sometime though. That blasted wind picked up, almost knocking the skinny kid over, and succeeding in blowing away his top hat, ruffling his bright red-brown hair. Yes, a high, black-silk-looking TOP HAT. His bright red coattails flapped and snapped in the forceful breeze as he chased the hat, and I saw Peacekeepers fighting to keep from laughing as they stood around the square watching. I was laughing also, but for a different reason. Galia looked like a pufferfish; her lips were so pursed and squeezed!

Eventually, Niklass caught his top hat. He restarted his march to the stage, still laughing, smiling and waving. When he finally reached the stage, Galia laughed out loud. I could see why; Niklass was wearing the most outrageous outfit! As I said before, he had on a black silk top hat and a ringmaster's jacket that was red instead of black. That wasn't all, though! In addition to the already insane outfit, Niklass's pants were a dark red with bright yellow trim, and his button-up shirt was the same brilliant yellow the trim on his pants. Just imagine the picture. Don't forget the brilliant red jacket!

My eyes hurt by the time Galia was done with the required questions - name ("Niklass Hadeshan, madam, but please call me Nic") and age ("An honest fourteen,"). Did I mention that Nic was wearing a sequined red tie that simply illuminated the whole square in a dazzling display of color and positively BURNED my eyeballs?

Galia seemed as though she too was having the same problem as I; her eyes were now pursed and squeezed instead of her mouth. It appeared as though she was exceedingly overjoyed to be finally allowed to turn away from the glare and confusion of Nic Hadeshan's suit.

She swiveled toward the girl's Reaping Tower and delicately let her hand drift into the opening at the top. Pulling out a name, she sauntered back to the microphone. "And your luck Tribute i-i-ssss... Roxy La Rose! Roxy dear, wherever you are, please come up to the stage!"

A thin girl slowly glided out of the girl's section. In addition to her plain brown hair and black fitted jumpsuit, her face was utterly depressing. Her eyes stared hollowly out at the cameras, and I thought my heart would break just from looking at her. Galia smiled at her gently as she slowly mounted the steps for the stage. "Over here, darling," were the barely heard words that issued from her mouth.

Roxy finally reached the microphone. As she slid into place next to Galia, a little more of her seemed to die. Then, she stiffened, re-plastering a dull look on her face, and waited for the Escort to ask her the dreaded questions.

"What's your name, dearie?"

"Roxy La Rose. That's what you read off the slip, right?" The words were stated in a complete monotone.

"Well, yes, but you could be like little Nic here and have a nickname! How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Well, District 5, here are your Tributes! Please, give them a round of applause while they shake hands!"

The Tributes shook hands and turned, headed to the Justice Building, with Nic still smiling and waving to the cameras and Roxy staring glumly at the ground.


That's all, folks. Thanks for reading, and please send in the female tributes for Districts 6 and 10.

FUN FACT: Aurora Austriallis is only half Capitolite. Her mother married a District 11 man named Rygg Drivens and was able to bring him to the Capitol. He adopted Aurora's grandmother's maiden name, Austriallis. Soon after marriage, Rygg and his wife Hekrine had a beautiful baby girl that they named Aurora. Both parents are still living, and Aurora does not know that she is only half Capitolite.