↢Ħuἠger Ḡameṧ↣ **No longer taking Tributes** discussion

Ezra was walking around the poorer areas of his district trying to help out where he could. He was angry that so many people in the capitol lived off of riches and then people in the districts were starving. It was so unfair.

Ezra stopped by a young family with two young children and knelt down to help the mother out as one of them seemed sick.

Grant had woken up early, so nothing new, and pulled on his boots to keep his feet dry from the old, cold, damp floorboards. His socks had holes in them, and he had just gotten them two weeks ago. Oh well, next year he will get a new pair. Grabbing his gloves, backpack and a bite to eat, he headed out the door silently so he wouldn't wake his family. Once the door closed behind him, he traveled along the path that led out from his house, to where he worked.

Grant had heard his sister, Amy, wake up before he did. That was a twist in his day, the only person who woke before he did was his brother. Key word there: was. When Grant heard Amy walking around early morning, he almost could believe that Josh was still there. Though he did not see his sister when he left, he knew she had crawled back into bed. Amy normally worked through the night at the paper factory. It earned enough pay, but the real money came from his job. He didn't like to gloat about it, and it really wasn't that much more. Only enough. Grant stuck his gloved hands in his pockets as he walked, almost able to see his breath in the crisp morning air.

Ezra left the mother and child and carried on walking around. Why did things like this have to happen? It wasn't fair on the people. He was not looking forward to having to mentor the games this year.

Moving his gaze down to his boots, he kept walking steadily. Grant knew this path like the veins in his hands that protruded out slightly from constant use. His pack bounced slightly with every step he took and even more so when he veered off the path to work. He would meet up with his other men before heading out this morning. Taking the path that was once covered with tall grasses, Grant disappeared into the woods.

Ezra walked to his place on the stage. He wondered what unlucky person would be chosen this year. It just wasn't fair. Why did innocent people have to suffer?

Spyro walked threw the town hall, and waiting inside.

The reaping, it wasn't Spyro's favorite time of the year, but it was wasn't his time to actually have fun. He thought about Sam, who was in eleven. She must be having a heck of a time with Skylar, Eleven's mentor.

Grant had not slept at all the night before the reaping, so the night passed slowly. With help from his sister, he was able to get his younger siblings dressed up. Well, the ones that had their names in that bloody bowl. There were so many of them, names of his family in that bowl, it was only a matter of time before they were picked. He knew if that happened, his sister would volunteer for the girls and he would volunteer for his brothers.

But hopefully it didn't come down to that, though it was always best to have some sort of a plan. Walking with his siblings, he assisted them with their check in and proceeded to his own. The prick of his finger was not felt in his strong, calloused hands, so before Grant knew it, he was standing among the other boys his age.

Ezra looked out at the children standing around. He wondered which of them was unlucky enough to get picked for this years games. Whoever it was he would have to mentor them through it and hope they won.

"Pst, Ezra." Spyro said, his whisper loud enough for Ezra to hear.

He looked over at Sypro at the sound of his name. "Yes?" he whispered quietly. He needed to talk to some people when they got to the capitol.

Spyro waved his hand towards himself, meaning for him to come closer.

Ezra raised his eyebrow a little confused. He looked around to see who was paying attention to them before leaning closer.

"What do you think of the hunger games?" He asked. "Do you enjoy them, or do you hate them like anyone else would?"

Ezra shook his head. This was a stupid place to voice these questions as anyone could over hear. "I think they bring everyone together and remind everyone of the Capitol's power," he said not adding on that he thought that they were barbaric and awful. He kept his expression straight.

He shrugged but didn't respond about the situation.

"Anyways, how is life here in the districts?" He asked.

"My life is good I suppose but the poor are struggling but I'm sure it is nothing we can't help them with," he said. He had to be very careful about voicing his opinions as you never knew who was listening or whether the person you were talking to was on your side or not.

"Ya, i wish we could help the districts.." He said.

Ezra nodded in agreement. He wondered when the reaping would start as the sooner the whole games were over the better for him as he didn't have to pretend to approve of them. He wondered if the tributes for this year would win the games.

Grant watched the area around him carefully, fists tight at his side. Some of the boys chatted with him, but it didn't take long for them to recognized that he was the mute. Well, at least that's what everyone suspected him to be, except his family. Sooner or later, he would need to speak, but for now, he was content with silence. With all the talking around him, his voice wouldn't be heard anyway.

Ezra looked around the district, trying to see if anyone was missing so they could get on with the reaping. He wanted the games to be over as soon as possible as he hated pretending in front of the capitol.

As if on cue, Spyro stood up and walked to the microphone, his light blue eyes darting the crowd of teens... and children..

"Welcome to the 74th Annual Hunger Games.." He said in a mild, but enthusiastic tone. "The video, i believe, should be skipped. It's outdated to me. I believe we should get along with it and get choosin' the tributes."

He looked over the girl tributes with a small smile.

"As we always-" He says. "-Ladys First.."

Then, with a small pace, he advances to the glass jar containing the Girl's slips.

Grant moved his gaze to the escort for the year as he reached his hand into the jar. There were several names in there he had worry of, though, he believed that they wouldn't be picked this year. He had to have confidence that they wouldn't. If he didn't believe it, it couldn't be true, right? One person could only take so much worry. If one of his younger sisters were picked, he didn't have much doubt that his older sister would volunteer. Now, he couldn't say that, Grant had plenty of doubt. His sister was going to be married soon, there was no way she would save her family. She had always been selfish. Maybe he should worry. No.

As Spyro skimmed his hands over multiple slips, adding suspense, he finally picked one out of the bottom. Taking a few steps back and back in front of the mic.

"Nicky Porter" He said with a strong voice, but it only cracking slightly with sadness. But the tone was very hard to notice.

Spyro looked at the petrified child, then whispering something into her ear.

"Hey, you reacted better than previous years." He joked, trying to make the girl feel better. But before she could thank him, he focused back onto the crowd. "Next, the gentlemen."

Spyro then started to walk to the glass bowl to his right, his pace smaller than before.

Grant watched as the girl went up onstage. Was it selfish of him to wish it was his older sister? He hates her that much and believed she deserved to be tribute, not this girl. He didn't even tense or flinch when it was time for the boys. Just hurry up with it all already, it took long enough. Quite honestly, he believed that the ceremony would take ten minutes if they really wanted it it too.

Quickly picking a slip of paper from the bowl, he walked back to the mic. As he unfolded the paper, his words revealed the name of the boy tribute.

"Grant Levi Dalton" Spyro said.

Well. That was one pleasant surprise. Grant didn't waste any time making his way towards the stage because he didn't want people to nudge him forward. Hell, he would be surprised if they even knew who to shove to the stage. Instead, he parted people out of his way and walked up to the stage with a straight face. Behind him, he heard murmuring and hushed voices. Odds were that his peers were beyond relieved it had not been them as tribute. He couldn't believe it himself, what would his family do without him? That was his first thought. Not his safety, not his appearance, but his family. They would starve and be forced under the capitols hand. His sister wouldn't raise a finger to help them. He came to the stage and took his place next to the escort and looked at his district in front of him. Grant could not force his eyes to search for his siblings. It would be too much.

"Behold, this year's tributes! Give them around of applause."

Spyro took a few steps back and ushered for the two to shake hands.

"Well? Shake hands, it's tradition." He said.

Grant turned to face the girl, his fellow tribute, and extended his hand. Tradition. Ha, yeah, his ass. Who knew, maybe the next time he touched this girl, it would be in the arena. His hands around her throat or searching her dead body for supplies. The idea honestly made him sick, but if it came down to it.... He didn't want to think about that far, he was still human and believed his was untainted by the capitols hands. Grant didn't want to think about 'what ifs" or even 'ifs' in general.

After the two of them shaked hands, he silently usered them to enter the training hall.

"This way, i know that you guys don't like any spot light. Nether the less the Hunger Games." He whispers to the two.

Grant had stuck his hands in his pockets and followed the escort. He was about to say something to the him along the lines of this: You don't know the first thing about me. But he kept his mouth shut. A word wasn't spoken for several years, and he wasn't going to start now. Grants words would be saved for his family when he got to say goodbye. And that's what it would be; goodbye.

Ezra walked into the building behind the tributes. He had no feelings one way or another about them. He just hoped they would listen to his advice. He did know what he was doing after all.

Spyro would usher the tributes into two different rooms. The rooms were the last place they would stay in District Seven... for all he knew.

Ezra walked around the compound till they were ready to leave.

Grant went into his own room for his family goodbye, and as bad as it was, it was not one of the worst two minutes of his life. He has had worse, seeing his family for what he knew would be the last time, wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. His older sister patted him on the shoulder before walking right out. Bitch. But he had been expecting that. The goodbye was mutual, his entire family. They would get by without him, he had to believe that. It wasn't to say that he was giving up, quite the contrary.

((No problem))

If Grant had to admit, the goodbye was a tad bit awkward. No one really knew what to say, what were the right words. Frankly, he would have rather had them say nothing than some kind of stupid, cheesy, teary goodbye. He didn't want to part with them like that. Of course, though, there were tears; that was something that couldn't be prevented. None of which were from him. Why? He was determined to come back, or make something out of all this. Before he knew it, the remaining family members were escorted out of the room and after they were long gone, he was ushered out of his private room to where he would board the train. An actual train, something he never had seen with his own eyes. Too bad it had to be carrying him to his death.