There was a hollow feeling that settled over her when she spotted the sun rising over the horizon. Her swinging slowed to a stop and she just watched - sitting still as the animals began to stir, the lights in the house started to flicker on. They would be preparing to lose a mornings worth of work.

She swore she could hear it, her fathers cursing if she listened hard enough. He would have been dragging the name of Snow through the mud, words harshly ripping the man apart for another year of horrifying games. Her mother would have been just as angry, whisper of words slicing through the air about how unfair it was.

The injustice of it all was very clear to her, the promise of safety being harshly ripped away from her. She had done terrible things to survive and now she was being forced to do them again against those she knew- those that she called friends in the past.

As the sun began to make its way higher she decided it was time to go and get ready. She began her way down the hill, leaving behind a small goodbye letter pinned to the seat by her favourite tea up. She hoped someone would find it, that they would read the things she had to say.

The letter was as much for her as it was intended for her family. It was a way for her to express what it was truly like to be a victor, the things she would have to endure. She had confessed that she had not had a full night's sleep in year - nightmares clawing at her throat unless she had someone at her side.

She had admitted to her secret romance, she had told of the overwhelming love that kept her rooted to her sense of self. She wrote of how she does not fear the games and their outcome knowing that she will be reunited with him for a last time.

The walk through the village to her home was a solemn affair - for her it would surely be a final goodbye, the last time she would see any of this. To the others, she imagined it was probably similar to seeing a ghost, images of her younger, innocent self must have plagued them for they tipped their heads down in her direction respectfully as she passed.

Coming upon her house in Victor's village, she was momentarily stunned by how quiet it was. The children in the house over did not make a sound, the others were silent - not one light appearing in the window.

Terra shook it from her mind and entered her front door, smiling softly at her brother sprawled across a couch in her sitting room from the night before. She had offered him a room but he had refused, his wife only agreeing to take a bed so they could get their daughter to sleep.

Her niece was a smart girl. She may not have understood what was happening but she knew that something was wrong. Mella could feel the tension growing in the district and it upset her greatly.

She was quiet as she went up the stairs and hid in her bathroom. She didn't want to bathe, nor did she want to appear beautiful for the people in the capitol but she did so anyways - knowing the way to make sponsors was also the way to keep Snow happy.

It didn't take her long to get ready. Her hair was gathered on top her hair in two identical buns. She wore a dress nearly identical to that of her first reaping. She had conjured up the scared 16-year-old girl that was chosen, the only difference being the simple shell necklace and the scowl that had taken up her expression.

Angry was something she supposed all other Victor's must have felt. Their lives were being uprooted once more only to be thrust into a kill or be killed situation once more. Angry was something that every district felt the longer that the rebellion spread.

Terra wondered what would happen after the reaping, if her district would continue to wait. She didn't know what she wanted anymore and she guessed it was no longer her most important problem now.

The sound of stirring brought her from her thoughts. There was a groan from her brother as a sharp cry sounded from the guest room where Mella and Raven slept. A sad smile - one that looked more like a grimace - replaced the scowl as she went to great them.

Henrik was climbing the stairs, rubbing his face tiredly. He stopped in front of her, sighing sadly when he saw her outfit. He remembered the first time she left, Terra knew it would be impossible to forget something like that.

Terra slung an arm over his shoulder, pulling him down so he was her height and began to make the way towards the other two.

Before they could enter, Mella came bounding out of the room and jumping towards her. Terra grunted as the little girl collided with her and used her free arm to hold her still. Happy babbling and rushed words began to fill the grim mood around them.

If there was one thing she was certain of, she would not complain that she was replacing an innocent child by going back.

The population of district 10 waits, sweating and silent in the square with machine guns pointed at them. Terra stood calmly in a closed off section, a sniffling Marium at her side. The mother had to worry about more than herself, she needed to worry about her husband and her children.

She wished to console her friend but she couldn't give much to offer other than the reassurance that she would live. There were so many things that she could not account for.

On the other side were the three males, Lux, Wilber, and Cornel. Terra had discussed many times what would happen if one of the parents were chosen with Lux and Wilber and they had all agreed that they would volunteer when the time came for it.

Azolla stood quietly in front of the crowd wearing a forced smile. The woman was dressed in black, already mourning the victors that she had paraded around so proudly. She didn't have her usual enthusiasm.

The regular video began to play, stories of the war and how it started. The pain and strife but Terra didn't pay any attention to it. She had seen this so many times she could probably quote it.

"Welcome! Welcome!" Azolla spoke into the mic, her hands shaking slightly and her eyes watering. "Isn't this exciting? The Quarter Quell and you're all here to witness it."

Her jaw hardened but she refused to turn away. Beside her Marium chocked and began to mumble a slew of curses.

"Right," Azolla breathed when she didn't get a reaction. "As always, we start with the girls."

She watched as the escort move to the overly large bowl - two small pieces of paper sitting at the bottom. Azolla's fingers scratched the bottom, twirling around until she caught a piece between her middle and forefinger.

Her heels clacked against the stage loudly, echoing in her ears. It was taunting as the woman came to the center and slowly began to unfold the paper.

Terra's hand shot up before a word could be said and she was stepping forward away from the rope and into the small aisle between the sections. She kept her eyes hard as she met the faces of peacekeepers.

"I volunteer!" she shouted, her voice ringing around her loudly. She could hear Marium's sob followed by repeated whispers of denial. "I volunteer as tribute."

"I haven't even read the na-"

"I volunteer as tribute," she repeated, cutting the other woman off.

It was quiet, the escort not knowing what to do. Marium collided with her side, wrapping arms around the young victor - now tribute.

"You don't have to do this," the mother cried, tears soaking Terra's dress. "You can just let her read the name."

"You have people that depend on you," Terra whispered, returning the hug fiercely. "Think of your children, think of Cornel."

She pulled away and pushed by the peacekeepers that stood in her way. She spared a glance over her shoulder at her friend, "Take care of yourself, please. Look after my family for me."

Gravel crunched under her feet as she made the short walk up onto the platform, joining Azolla on the side dedicated to the girls. She didn't feel sad, her eyes dry as she had excepted this when she first heard the announcement.

Azolla linked her hand briefly with Terra's, giving it a comforting squeeze. With a firm nod from the new tribute, the escort turned away and pulled another name from the boy's bowl. It was nearly the same as what had just occurred for herself.

Lux stepped forward, hand shooting into the air as he volunteered himself. Cornel stood frozen, a cry leaving his lips, one purely of relief -though no one could blame him.

She could see it clearly, the realization that spread on the districts faces once they realized that they planned this so that the parents would not have to leave their children.

Her brother's face stood out in the crowd, tear-stained with little Mella held tightly in his arms. Her family stood around him and she took a quick moment to commit their faces to memory - taking in details she had not always appreciated, things like her mothers greying hair or the way her sisters' skin pulled taut over their bones.

Her hand was gripped once more, Lux standing beside her stoically. He was a tall man, his muscle prominent despite his older age. She kept their hands clasped together as they were guided in the justice building and away from their home.

Terra glanced over her shoulder and took a final look of her friends and family before the door was shut.

♦♦♦

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This is kinda short and feels more like a filler until the actual plot stuff begins.

2017-07-01

Unedited