May the odds be ever in your favour (Book 1)

Reaping Day.

I look at Katniss, she's on the temporary stage. She's just volunteered to take Prim's place in the Hunger Games. And now the whole of district 12 wait with bated breath, wondering who the male tribute for us will be.

"And for the boys," Effie Trinket says. "Peeta Mellark!"

I look at Peeta, he looks horrified. There's no way he'd survive the games. I take his hand and shake my head. A peacekeeper goes to bring him forward. I pull him from the peacekeeper's grasp.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I bellow.

There's a silence in the square. And I calmly make my way up to the stage.
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Ryan 'Rye' Mellark, is 16 and twin brother of Peeta Mellark. Best friend of Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne. He also has the biggest school-boy crush on Katniss. He frequently hunts with Katniss and Gale, although he never seems to bring any game home as he tends to visit the old Covey Cabin more. But, like Katniss, he's gifted with the bow and arrow. As well as versed in medicine. He has no interest in the family trade of Baking. Instead he works as an apprentice to Mrs. Everdeen.

On the 74th Annual Reaping Day, he like the entire district 12, watched in horror as 12 year old Primrose Everdeen's name was reaped. And watched in admiration of Katniss as she volunteered to take her sister's place. Then Peeta's name is reaped. Peeta is not a fighter, he is a performer. So Ryan does the only thing he can think of. He volunteers too.

Now Katniss and Ryan must navigate the Games together.