Under the willow

The reaping

Willow stared at herself in the mirror smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes a pale green tank top white jacket with flowers on it and brown pants with black combat boots. Her hair was in a braided ponytail styled so that each braid had a mix of black and brown in it.

Her mind wandered back to when she was reaped. At that reaping, she had a tan dress on and her hair thrown into a hasty ponytail as she had run out of time from comforting her siblings and trying to assure them she wouldn't get reaped. She hadn't gotten reaped not during the first reaping a female name Holly had but as she had no family and she didn't want to get killed by the games she killed herself during the night and Willow was selected to replace her.

Rue entered the room nervously wearing a simple green dress with white flowers and darker green leaves around the bottom. Willow crouched kissing her head and whispered assurances to Rue promise to save her no matter what. As one rolled around they head down to the town square. Willow and Rue said goodbye to their mom and siblings as Willow lead Rue to check-in.

Rue winced as they pricked her finger to check her in before Willow lead her to the twelve-year-olds. They had gotten there a bit on the later side so Rue was at the end of the line closest to where the reaped would walk.

WIllow tuned out the capital propaganda that they played every year tuning back in for the reaping.

¨Oh wasn't that just so sad, well as ever ladies first.¨ Felicia district 11's escort squealed. She was trying to represent district 11 in her out-fit pale green skin purple-colored nails green and purple lipstick with purple eyeshadow a dress and wig made of flowers with green strips that Willow guessed were supposed to be grassed.

Felica's pale green hand twirled dramatically nails brushing against the slips before deciding on one. She waltzed back after to the microphone practically jumping for joy at the thought of the games.

¨The lady to representative district 11 this year will be, Rue Meadows.¨ Felicia called excitedly. WIllow could see Felicia beckoning Rue up and Rue beginning to walk nervously to the stage and the crowd's unhappy murmurs. Although she heard none of it all she heard was a ringing and Rue Meadows over and over again repeating on a loop in her head. She saw Rue's scared face as she mounted the stage.

Felicia called for volunteers and without thinking, WIllow shot out of her chair. ¨I volunteer as tribute.¨ She called out.

¨I'm sorry, A victor can not volunteer.¨ Felicia said.

Rue sent her a scared look although she was trying not to cry and Willow was trying not to cry to be strong for Rue.

¨Now are male tributes.¨ Felecia said walking over to the reaping ball with the male names.

¨Thresh Quinoa.¨ She called out giddily.

Willow watched as the tall eighteen-year-old lumbered onto the stage. Thresh lived with his grandmother and lived to protect his young sister. Thresh was like an older brother to them who protected Rue. As Thresh mounted the stage instead of going on the opposite side from Rue he put his arm around her shoulder protectively. Willow's breath hitched in her throat staring at urging him to remove his arm from rue's shoulder.

Thresh putting his arm over Rue's shoulder could be seen as rebellion as saying I'm not playing your game, I'm not playing to win, I'm playing to save Rue. Willow did not want that she saw what happened to Johanna when she refused to play snow's game after she won her family died in an ¨accident¨ and she didn't want that for Thresh.

The two shook hands as they got off the stage. Rue and thresh entered the town hall building to wait and say goodbye. Willow watched as her family slipped into the room Rue was waiting in as she followed the rest of the victors onto the train.