[hider=Old IC Posts]
[u]Jannah[/u]

Even the woods that marked everything that was familiar to Willow seemed to be screaming for help. Screaming to be freed from one of the horrors of Panem. The Reaping. Today was the day and as usual it was something that Willow had come to dread, still having a few more years of eligibility for the sadistic lottery. The thought that the District's children had managed to age out completely unscathed left her with a sense of envy, but it wasn't for her own sake but for the sake of the more vulnerable children of District 7. They were being forced to pay for a rebellion that they had not even been alive to be part of. Did the Capitol really have such a large desire for bloodlust that they had to sacrifice 24 children every year just to satisfy it? That was something Willow particularly didn't want to think about today as she lined up in her sector of the square, awaiting to see who would take their place on the sacrificial alter this year.

You're both lucky you're still young. You cannot be reaped. Just try to enjoy it before the Capitol steals away your livelyhood too. Willow took one short glance at her siblings as she sat down for breakfast. Today they were fortunate. The fresh fruits of innocence had not yet managed to be picked from them. Being only ten and eleven had its advantages. "If you're reaped we'll stand by you and cheer you on until you return home!" the youngest of the siblings spoke, sensing her older sister's distress. She hated to see her so down, but what choice did she have? The Capitol was splitting up families all the time and this was bound to be no exception.

"No. Don't speak like that. Besides, this isn't that kind of game, Aspen." Willow was shocked that her very own sister would dare make such a statement, but she was young. What did she know about the reality of the games beyond what they were taught in school?

Aspen just shrugged and continued eating her own breakfast, not wanting to upset her sister further. "I'm sorry..." She uttered, struggling to get words out as she stuffed her face full of the simple porridge. Like most families in the District, Willow's did struggle but they had been lucky in some ways. Their daughter had artistic ability. Despite how much she had wanted to just carve wood for a living she knew that all dreams of making it a full time thing died with her older brother. Instead she partook in the same menial work as the rest of her neighbourhood. It was them who chopped down the trees and were probably responsible for the creation of every single piece of furniture in Panem. This was something Willow had a difficult time taking pride in, realizing that much of it was no doubt reserved for the Capitol and their cronies who roamed the districts. However, even the annual sadism managed to implant a false sense of pride in Willow, realizing that the victory of any of her district's tributes could make a huge difference for everybody.

Breakfast was barely over when Willow had finally received the cue to proceed to the District Square. It was a procedure she had dreaded every year since her twelfth birthday, but what choice did she have? Nobody had a choice. All the district's children within age were expected to attend. In Willow's mind it just added to the sadism of the whole thing. Couldn't they just privately just show up at the selected tributes' doorsteps? No, of course not. The Capitol had to make a public show for everybody. They lived for entertainment and that was all this was to them. It was sickening.

"May the odds be ever in my favour, right?" Willow commented as she proceeded out the door, rolling her eyes. It was the same every year. Sign in at her sector, watch a name get drawn by a outrageously dressed Capitol citizen while being drilled with propaganda, and then mourn as they get dragged away from their families. It was even more disheartening knowing that few of them returned, but Willow knew that District 7 was still lucky in comparison to some of the other Districts. District 12 had never had a victor, at least not any she could directly recall. Their children being reaped was certainly a death sentence. At least Willow knew her fellow lumberjack kids could wield an axe, a skill that had managed to be lifesaving for more than one of her district's tributes.

"Welcome! Welcome to the 31st annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour!" The Capitol citizen began to speak as he walked up onto the stage that had been set up in front of the District Square. Aelius. And he was dressed as outrageous as ever, sporting green and blue hair that stood straight up. However, it was this year's outfit that particularly caught Willow's attention. A tree. He was dressed as a tree! Was this some kind of sick sense of humour? It was almost repulsive to look at so instead Willow shifted her attention elsewhere, towards her peers. All of them appeared just as nervous as she was, knowing that within moments everything they had ever know could come crashing down and all the Capitol did was prolong this by playing the same video as they did every year.

What does killing children have to do with safeguarding our future? Willow thought as the propaganda video finished up. She then glanced over at the section of twelve year olds and realized just how vulnerable they were. It seemed especially outrageous to include them in this, but all such thoughts were quickly overshadowed as Aelius again began speaking. "As usual, ladies first." He stuck his hand into the transparent orb and pulled out a slip of paper. As soon as he read the name Willow's jaw dropped. The name was the very one she had feared hearing here today. "Our female tribute for the 31st Annual Hunger Games is...Willow Freeborn."

[u]LoneSilverWolf[/u]

Sequoia stood in the crowd, watching the other children as they waited in line, waited to hear just what names would be called--which children would be taken from their homes, forced to fight into a bitter battle to the death. And the thing was, Sequoia, though not a people person, had no desire to kill anyone either. He was the lone wolf, and though he'd interact with others, he never let anyone close. But that didn't mean he wanted people to die.

Having grown up in the orphanage, he was lucky in that he hadn't taken Tessarie once. Never. He knew the odds would be in his favor, as they always were. So many people, and so few slips of paper with his name on them. But then, he thought of the other families who would lose a child this year--two families in his district alone, 24 altogether. Sequoia shook his head, scowling at the peacekeepers that stood on the platform of the justice building, awaiting the name to be called. They were real bastards, he thought...and suddenly he felt selfish for thinking of his own chances, not wanting to be picked, when the reality was, he'd be one of the better choices. He had no family. He had no friends. He had nobody to miss him if he died. The thoughts crossed his mind as Aelius finally showed himself, dressed for the reaping and ready.

Sequoia had to blink. He gazed at the man, rubbed his eyes, blinked again. Oh no effing way, he thought to himself, rolling his eyes in disgust. A tree? Did he really dress like a damned tree? Shaking his head, Sequoia briefly fantasized about taking an axe to the man, cutting him down like the tree he was pretending to be right now.

"Welcome! Welcome to the 31st annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour!" He heard Aelius speak to the crowd with glee. Sequoia sighed as the "anthem" began to play, spewing propaganda about the capitol and how to safeguard the future, they had to pay for the past. "Bullshit," he muttered when the anthem ended--then caught himself, and with wide eyes gazed around. Nobody seemed to have heard him--thankfully. Last thing he needed was to end up an Avox.

He watched as the man stepped up to the glass bowl, speaking as he slipped his hand inside. "As usual, ladies first." He pulled the name from the bowl, read the paper out loud, and...and Sequoia let out a very audible gasp. Willow Freeborn. He watched as she made her way up the steps, watched as she turned to face the crowd, and as he gazed into those eyes of hers, he was back in better days, his childhood when he and her were the best of friends--inseparable in fact. He blinked, struggling to hold back tears, struggling to keep his anger in check. He glared coldly at the man who drew her name--and watched as he approached the bowl once more.

"And now, one last name to be called! Our male! Let us see who will be joining Willow here today!" he seemed overly excited as he reached in, pulling out a slip of paper. He opened it agonizingly slow, and read the name; "Sequoia LINSON!" His mind went numb. The crowd parted like the red sea as he strode forward, barely aware of what he was doing. Stumbling up the stairs, he gazed right into Willow's eyes, blinking. With his back to the camera, he mouthed the words "I'm sorry" to her, before facing the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our tributes for District SEVEN! Now, if you will excuse us, we have preparing to do!" Aelius spoke loudly, giving the crowd a wide and very genuine, sickening smile. He felt himself being lead away to the private room where if he'd had any family or friends, he'd get one last chance to see them. Instead, he'd sit on his couch, waiting for the peacekeepers to return to fetch him. His thoughts turned to Willow, to himself. He took in a deep breath, sighing loudly. "I guess the odds really weren't in my favor today," he said aloud, shaking his head softly. 

[u]Jannah[/u]

It became clear very quickly that the odds were clearly not in Willow's favour. There she was. Standing on the stage in front of her district, about to go to slaughter. All she could do was stare down into the crowds blankly. Even the emotion she wanted to unleash would not come, but perhaps it was for the better. She didn't want to appear weak. She knew that from this moment on every action she took would mean the difference between life and death. Even her family seemed to know this as they stared off on from the back rows, trying to hold back every tear they could.

But then she had been paired with a familiar face. A very familiar face. Sequoia Linson. That had been probably the second name she subconsciously hoped she would never hear here, yet there it was. It had a sick sense of irony to it, two old friends being brought back together by each other's slaughter. Poor thing. Now I may have to drive that axe into your skull. Willow thought hard about the situation as she was dragged away by a pair of peacekeepers. Aelius was much too excited as away, but Willow knew what was about to come. It was perhaps bound to be the most painful part for her. She had a family and they needed her. It had been through her hard work alone that she had avoided taking tessarae for her family. "No. I don't want my name in there. I'll just return early for extra work." Willow began to think of all the times she had insisted on returning from school early. Hanging out with the other children after school had rarely been on her mind. Perhaps it was fear of being reaped or perhaps it was dedication to her family, but either way Willow never stepped away from her duties. Not once. There had been too much to lose and today very much proved that.

"Why did we have to be reunited like this?" Willow uttered under her breath as she got a quick glance over at her male counterpart before being shut into a very stuffy room where she was expected to say her final goodbyes. It was a moment she dreaded, but she knew she had few options. Could she ever live with herself if she was sprung into the arena without even seeing her family first? She had been one of their lifelines for far too long and now she feared for her siblings; who would care for them and prevent them from taking tessarae if she wasn't around? It had been specifically from her own reluctance that her parents had decided against it in their hardest times. She knew her parents couldn't bear to lose another child after this.

"Make it quick. We're on a tight schedule." One of the peacekeepers commanded as he shoved Willow's family into the room. Immediately she could sense their distraught. Surely they knew just how little of a chance she stood against the career packs? Each year the games changed, but there was one highlight the Capitol especially looked out for: the career tributes. They stole the show nearly every year and usually won too. It was as if the games were skewed against anybody else right from the beginning. This was a fact that formed a lump in Willow's throat as she attempted to speak. Instead she just ran up to her family and simultaneously embraced them tightly.

"Remember, I'll cheer for you." Aspen was the first to speak, startling Willow as she released her family from her grasp. She suddenly remembered her sister's words at breakfast just that morning and how she had told her not to worry. That she quickly came to regret. I'm sorry. I was wrong. This is a game and I'm just a pawn. She tried to let out a small smile towards her younger sister who was almost a miniature version of herself, but it would not come. Perhaps it had been the tears that began flowing down Aspen's face that stole away any possibility of Willow smiling at anything. "I can wield an axe, you know that. Maybe I have a chance after all." She responded, finally finding words. She suddenly promised to herself to try her best to win. She had to. There was just too much at stake. At least Sequoia was fortunate in a way, having little to say goodbye to. It had been the death of his parents that initiated their growing distant, but for once it almost seemed like a good thing.

Lawrence now pleading for some attention from his sister only made the parting that much more painful. Like his sister just moments before he also appeared to be lost for words and when they finally came out they finally had Willow shedding the tears she had been so far holding back. "I love you. Remember that when you're in that arena trying to get back here. You'll return better than ever!"

"Thanks. I'll try if those careers don't get me first." Willow replied, proceeding to hug her brother. Through all this, it was her parents that had remained surprisingly silent. Perhaps they were just watching and taking everything in or maybe everything they had wanted to say to their daughter had already been expressed? The latter seemed more likely as they too began shedding tears. "I never wanted the reaping to end like this. I'm sorry for failing you." She added, then embracing her parents just as the peacekeepers burst through the door.

"It's not your fault." Willow's mother pleaded just as she was dragged out of the room. Her distraught again became clear, being forced to stare into her daughter's eyes one last time before being shut off forever. A mother's undying love seemed to be the overwhelming force there.

"Never take tessarae!" Willow shouted back just as she returned her mother's last glance before the door was slammed in her face. Now it was just here and couple very intimidating peacekeepers. She quickly wondered about them. Did they actually enjoy dragging children off to their deaths or were they simply following orders? It was a reality that Willow really hoped to never discover the answer to.

"Come. To the train." One of the peacekeepers barked a simple command as she proceeded to now drag Willow out the door. It was just beyond the building's exit that she would, for the first time since being reaped, that she'd face the crowds. The crowds who were suddenly forced to look up to her and admire her. This of course, had Willow realizing that she'd have to give them something to admire, but what? Most of them were people she hardly knew and she certainly had little charm. Sure, a sense of humour was there but would her district really want to see one of their tributes laughing at her own death? The Capitol would love it, however, which made it seem even more repulsive. Instead she just opted for the simple route, smiling and waving as she was escorted to the car that would then take her to the trains.

[u]LoneSilverWolf[/u]

[i]Sequoia looked over the cheap granite that marked his parent’s graves, tears streaming down his cheeks, and fists clenched tightly. They were barely even marked, the graves; just another slab of rock in district 7; two of many. And now, he was going to lose the one person he had left, the one person that he cared about who now wasn’t dead. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, then turned to look at Willow, the person he’d grown up with. They’d always been right by each other's sides, through the best times and the worst. And now he had to say goodbye. He had to leave her behind to live in the Orphanage, while she went off to work the forests, chopping trees. He gazed into her eyes for a long moment, before the look broke away--he glanced to the floor, shoulders slumped. 

[b]”I guess….I guess this is it Willow. They won’t let me stay here much longer. I...I’m gonna miss you, ya know. Wish I didn’t have to go…[/b] his voice trailed off, and he flicked away another tear that threatened to fall. He had to try to be strong...but it wasn’t working. 
 

It had been difficult for Willow to hold back her tears, but she had to. For Sequoia’s sake. These had been his parents. Just days earlier they had been loving him and holding him in his arms and now they were a mere memory. It had been difficult for her to grasp the concept, having never lost anybody close to her up to that point, but she knew it had cost her good friend so much. Like many of the district’s children he was bound to a life in the orphanage. “I’m sorry…” She pleaded, remembering many of the horror stories she had heard about the orphanage, but perhaps they were just rumours in order to scare children? It certainly wasn’t unknown in the districts and that year had marked the beginning of fear for Willow also. Age twelve. Like every other child in the district she knew what that meant. She was to be eligible to be reaped at any time, a reality she did not want to taint such a bittersweet moment with. 

“You know, we could always see each other. Surely they won’t lock you up there or anything?” Willow had asked, staring Sequoia straight in the eyes. She could sense his distress. It was as if they wouldn’t see each other again. Would they? Would the orphanage really do that? Those thoughts floated around in Willow’s head as she sat in the grass, staring towards the district’s vast forests. 

 Sequoia could tell that Willow was struggling, just like he was, to keep some semblance of control over her emotions. He locked onto her gaze as she drew his look from the floor to her eyes. Would they lock him up? Would he get a chance to see her again? He pondered this question for a moment, wondering what the answer might be. After a long moment, he shrugged, shaking his head slightly. [b]”I don’t know. I’ve heard...things, but...you know how that goes. We could, I suppose. Maybe…”[/b] his voice trailed off as he found himself about as unconvinced as he was sure she had been when she asked the question. Then his thoughts turned to her age, and what that meant. It would be her first entry into the reaping. Very possibly, this year he could be watching her in the arena, fighting to the death….
[b]”Sorry...you know, about what year it is. If it means anything, I don’t think you’ll get picked, you know. After all, you have one entry, and one alone. Maybe you’re luck will be with the odds. One slip of paper among hundreds, maybe thousands.”[/b] Again, he sounded pretty unconvinced himself. His gaze averted as he caught the movement of two peacekeepers headed towards them. Their last moments, almost over. Feeling the lump starting to form in his throat, he threw his arms around Willow, holding her in a close hug. [b]”Goodbye, Willow…I hope we see eachother again….gonna miss you, ya know….”[/b] As he hugged her, Sequoia could feel the tears that threatened once more to fall, and it took every ounce of strength he had to hold them back.

A lump had formed in Willow’s throat as soon as Sequoia mentioned the games. It was a burden that even the boy had come to realize too and despite his own misfortunes even that was one he hadn’t had to face yet. He had almost been lucky in a way, not being faced with that but would he be dragged to his death the following year? The very thought had become distressing. He had no family to even mourn his absence. Nobody to even cheer him on, except for maybe Willow alone but would she even be around to do so? “I’m not going into those games. Twelve year olds rarely get selected.” She had reassured Sequoia, taking him into her own arms just as he had wrapped his arms around her. They had displayed the ultimate gesture of friendship and neither of them wanted that stolen from them whether it was through the reaping, the orphanage, or anything else. Willow liked to think it wouldn’t be their final goodbye, but what if it was? The fears of such circumstances just would not budge from her mind. 

“May the odds be ever in my favour I suppose. The reaping is in exactly two months.” Willow had reminded Sequoia as he was finally dragged off by peacekeepers. within moments Willow had missed him in her arms, but it was time for him to enter hell. His judgement day had been just beginning while Willow had been awaiting hers. “No, no. This is judgement for me too. We are both to be faced with the burdens of growing up.” She had uttered to herself, as she walked towards her home. Way too many realizations of her duties had hit her and none of them were to include Sequoia. How could they? He had his own separate life to live now. 

As Sequoia was drug away towards the Orphanage by the peacekeepers, he caught Willow’s gaze one last time. He spoke not a word as he was led away to his new life, a life without friend or family...a life where he may one day see his best friend on the screens, fighting for survival. A life where next year he could end up in the same position. [i]All the words left unspoken between us, [/i] Sequoia thought with sadness, [i]I hope one day you can hear them...you were like a sister to me, the sister I never had…[/i][/i]

Sequoia opened his eyes, the flashback evaporating like what it truly was; a ghost of a memory. How long ago was that? 3 years? It seemed like it'd been forever ago since he last laid eyes on his old friend. No. His sister. And now, here he was, waiting to be thrown into the forge of battle--and she was to be one of his enemies. Eventually. He shook his head at the irony; really? He was to be thrown into the arena with the one person left alive that he cared about? [B]"Odds ever in my favor, my [I]ass![/I]"[/B]

Within moments he heard the door open, saw the peacekeeper staring at him with a sad expression on his face. [B]"Nobody...to say goodbye to, huh?"[/B] Sequoia shook his head. [B]"Nope...only one that would visit is in the arena with me,"[/B] he said dismally. He followed the peacekeeper in silence as he was led to a car, which drove him to the train station...which would lead him to his doom in the arena. [I]Stop thinking like that![/I] he chastised himself bitterly. [I]You could win you know. You know how to use an axe pretty well....[/I] But then he thought of Willow. SHE could use an axe too, and they had history. He could never turn his weapon on her. She'd been like an older sister his entire childhood. No...if he were to win, someone else would have to kill her....the thought of her dying ate away at him until he forced the thought from his head. So much was he distracted that he didn't even remember the cameras were there, instead staring straight ahead, lost in thought. 

Instead, he stepped onto the train, silent as he could be. Upon entering, he saw a table, piled high with food. It didn't even tempt him a little, not right now. He went right to the window, leaning both hands against the wall and gazing outside, into the bright blue sky. [B]"Should be raining,"[/B] he mumbled under his breath. He sighed, waiting for the train to move, wondering what lied ahead.

[u]Jannah[/u]

It almost seemed funny to Willow how fate seemed to work. Just years earlier she and Sequoia had been inseparable and now it was expected they'd fight to the death. That was a reality that Willow tried hard not to think about as she arrived at the car that was to take her to the train station. Cars. The first Capitol extravagance that most tributes ever experienced during their journey into the arena. This was a point that Aelius made sure to emphasize as he too got in. "Be joyful! you get to experience all new things! Have either of you ever ridden in a car or in the Capitol's high-tech rail system? Of course not! Embrace it!"

Willow remained silent for the duration of the journey to the train station. She hadn't been able to decide which factor was of more annoyance to her, Aelius' rambling about things so trivial or the reality that she'd soon be fighting against her own friend. She felt as if they had missed so much together and the three years they had been apart suddenly seemed like a decade. But would there even be time to "catch up"? Forming any form of connection now almost seemed like an impossibility.

"Imagine that. All those years ago I promised I wouldn't end up here, and then what happens? Fate is clearly not on our side." Willow commented as she boarded the train and stood beside Sequoia. He was clearly deep in a thought, a phase she did not want to disturb so instead she took a seat at the table and stared on at the heaps of food that already lined its surface. There were at least a dozen dishes she couldn't even identify, let alone know the taste of. However, hunger did not come to her so she continued staring on at the various options.

"I see you found the food! Eat up, eat up, eat up!" Aelius shouted excitedly as he entered the cart, startling Willow. "Food gives you energy and you'll need energy when we arrive in the Capitol, the grandest of places!" He then proceeded to fill his own plate with mounds of food.

"I'm not hungry, but thanks for the offer." Willow responded and shrugged, not being able to help but feel repulsed by Aelius' eating habits. Within seconds there was already residue running down his face from excess food being stuffed in his mouth, something that was almost unimaginable in District 7. Willow knew that back home many ate just enough to survive. Conditions were not as dire as in some of the other districts, but there was still shortages and poverty, something Aelius seemed so disconnected from. Even the mentor, who had just walked in, understood the exact conditions in the District. Birch. He was a burly man who had managed to win the games several years earlier through use of his brute strength. To those in the District he served as a sign of hope and to others he served as a lesson that cutting down trees for a living had its advantages.

"So these are the new kids? I can't wait to see what they've got. The girl looks like she might be strong." Birch commented as he gazed upon both Willow and Sequoia. As mentor, his job was obviously to get one of them out alive and judging by the serious no-nonsense expression on his face, Willow really hoped he could do just that. 

[u]LoneSilverWolf[/u]

"Be joyful! you get to experience all new things! Have either of you ever ridden in a car or in the Capitol's high-tech rail system? Of course not! Embrace it!" Sequoia snorted audibly, rolling his eyes as Aelius made the comment. Yeah, all new things. Get to experience so much, only to be killed within the week. Yay. This he thought, but did not say. Instead, he gave the man such an icy stare that he was rather impressed he didn't die of hypothermia on the spot. He found himself wondering if the man had any idea whatsoever just how much he hated him right now. Did he realize how badly he'd like to meet this capitol lapdog in the arena? When he could take it no longer, he finally spoke;

"You know, I wonder if you'd be so excited if it were you riding such a wonderful train--to your death!" Sequoia spoke darkly, voice dripping with sarcasm. Even though he was ordered to eat up, Sequoia really didn't *want* to. He stared at the man, wondering if he could get away with pretending he didn't even exist. Besides, he had much more important things on his mind. Willow...all these years later (it seemed like longer than it really was), after they said their final goodbyes...and now, here they were. Sequoia was just about to say something, when he heard their mentor walk in, and the first words out of his mouth "So these are the new kids? I can't wait to see what they've got. The girl looks like she might be strong."

"Yeah," Sequoia remarked bitterly, "and we're just soooo excited to show you what we can do too, to throw ourselves into the arena and go on a murdering spree...." his voice trailed off as he caught Willow's gaze. She seemed to mean business, and it made him slightly uneasy. Would she still even look at him as a friend? I wanted to see you again, but not like this, he thought, trying to hold back a wave of emotions running through him. Instead, he took a step forward, lightly placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Been a while, hasn't it?" he said in a low voice, unable to mask the deep sorrow behind it. He just hoped that when she responded, she wouldn't see an adversary, but an old friend. One who missed her terribly. 

[u]Jannah[/u]

Willow began to feel uneasy as every word came out of her old friend's mouth. She knew what it would mean if either of them got on the Capitol's bad side. Death. And every word Sequoia spoke made Willow feel one step closer. "Perhaps it's better for the both of us if you just keep those thoughts to yourself." Willow uttered under her breath so her words were barely audible, even to Sequoia. It was sincere advice that she could only hope her friend would heed.

Silence filled the room for a few short seconds before Willow finally picked up a pastry off the table. Her appetite still had not come, but she realized Aelius' words had some truth to them. He was right. Eating was bound to help them all right now. with that, she forced down the pastry before taking a second. "These are not bad." She admitted before turning her attention towards Sequoia once again. As she stared straight into his eyes it was as if she didn't even know him anymore. It had been far too long since their last meeting in the graveyard, the meeting in which Willow had promised her friend she would never end up in the games. The meeting in which she had promised she wouldn't end up here.

"Yes. Far too long. It's like I hardly know you anymore..." Willow finally spoke to her old friend after several moments of silence. Awaiting a response she just let out a sigh. What would he even have to say to her? Anything at all? They were essentially strangers now and just shortly would be expected to kill each other. There was no reviving the "old days". Those had been happier days. They had been children then, just freshly shedding their shells of innocence. Every day had been carefree then before responsibilities had begun taking over. The fear of the games, the fear of tessarae had stolen away that innocence from both of them.

"Aston. He's gone. My brother? Remember, the one who would often tease you? He was taken from us much too young..." A single tear slid down Willow's face as she spoke to Sequoia of her brother. It had been a terrible winter that year with the cold alone taking far too many people. The grim image of his cold lifeless face still burned into Willow's soul. "I returned home one day from school and he was there. I figured it was odd since there was always somebody home caring for him during his sickness, yet the house was empty except for what I would soon discover to be my brother's corpse." Willow tried to hold back further tears in order to avoid drawing attention to herself. Last thing she wanted was Aelius attempting to give advice about suffering he knew nothing about. But Aelius. Willow got quickly reminded of where she was and realized it was a much more dire situation. Aston, if you were here I knew you would have volunteered for me had you been a sister. You would have won and made it back to the family, I trust in you.

All Willow's thoughts about her brother were quickly interrupted as Birch began speaking once again. He seemed eager to begin his mentoring, much too eager. Had he too become absorbed by the Capitol? It hadn't been unknown for victors to submit themselves to those who had nurtured and created them, but it was much more common in the career districts and was almost inconceivable that the same would happen to any of her district's victors. Birch, please don't be one of them. If I have to become like you I'd rather die. Willow took a quick glance at the man. He had won the games at the ripe age of fifteen and even now he appeared as fierce as ever. It had been an image Willow saw often in her childhood, right from his games themselves and even then he had the appearance of a trained killer. 

[u]LoneSilverWolf[/u]

Sequoia blinked, a bit taken aback by his friends words. "It's like I hardly know you anymore..." It was a reminder of what the Capitol took from them. Their friendship. Who knows what may have been, had his parents not died, had the Capitol let him go on taking care of himself instead of forcing him into an orphanage. Had he been able to keep contact with Willow. He was about to speak, when she continued, telling him about Aston. His eyes widened, and he shook his head slowly; Aston had been a good kid. He remembered just how close the two of them had been--Willow and Aston. As he saw the tear trickle down her face, he felt his heart wrench. And now, here she was. As if losing her brother wasn't enough, now....now they were here. In the arena. Together, no less. And something in her eyes...he had to wonder, now, if she was already thinking of how she was going to kill him.

"It's like I hardly know you anymore..." The words echoed in his mind, and he couldn't get rid of them. Did that mean that she saw him as practically a stranger? Did that mean that Willow was going to be able to kill him, just as if he'd been any other tribute? As he gazed at her, a grief filled his heart that he couldn't speak. It was like his old friend wasn't there--or like she was buried. Sorry to hear about Aston," Sequoia muttered softly. "I liked him, you know. He deserved better...." His voice trailed off and it took several moments for him to regain his thoughts, to collect them, to put them together.

When he finally did, he chanced a glance at Birch who seemed completely unfazed at his comments. It then struck him, just how dangerous his comments had been. He'd put Willow in danger, not just himself. If Willow were to make it out of these games alive...or himself...he'd have to keep a check on his sarcasm from now on. Would be hard for him to do, given how he'd been since his days at the orphanage. Sighing, he looked Birch up and down, then frowned.

"Alright. You're our mentor, you are supposed to keep us alive, right? So...what do we do? You're the expert here, so feel free to start working your magic, and making one of us a victor, yeah?

[u]Jannah[/u]

Willow suddenly realized just how much her words may have hurt Sequoia. It suddenly felt as if she had alienated him further, but that hadn't been her intention, right? But regardless she could see how the words could have struck a heartstring. "I miss the old days where we could just talk without a care in the world, you know. I wish we could just go back to that." Willow commented as she stared him in the eyes. She began to wonder if the old Sequoia would ever return. If he was smart then he wouldn't. Willow quickly remembered where they were now. On a train to the Capitol to go be thrown to slaughter.

"Of course he deserved better. We all deserve better, but what do we get? This!" Willow's attention shifted to her brother. He was only a mere memory now, but somehow she suddenly saw him in Sequoia. It was probably only a hallucination, but regardless it too reminded Willow of her own mortality she was about to face. "I worry about the rest of my siblings. I worry that without me there they'll grow hungry and take food from the Capitol. You and I both know what that'll mean for them." Willow again attempted to hold back tears, wishing that either Aelius or Birch would say something and divert attention.

Willow's wishes came true, but not in the way she had been expecting. Instead Sequoia spoke and he almost seemed frustrated at the mentor despite the man's own eagerness. "He's right. We need your help. Sponsors. How do we go about with that? Surely there's advice you can give us there?" She added in full agreement with her old friend.

"Just attract the Capitol's attention. Appearance is especially important in the early stages, something that can be discussed further with your stylists once we arrive in the Capitol." As Birch spoke about appearance Willow let out a frown. Appearance? That was truly top Capitol decadence right there. People in the districts had little to eat and the Capitol cared about that? Plus Willow knew she wasn't beautiful. Who would want to look at her? She let out a sigh before giving Birch a bit of her mind.

"Appearance? Well I don't have much going for me there. Those stylists better know what they're doing." Willow suddenly became hopeful but then she remembered she was District 7. Lumber. Trees. The stylists were likely going to dress her up as a damn tree! It had looked silly enough on Aelius so a similar style for a tribute was bound to be absolutely outrageous. "Somehow I don't think being dressed as a tree will do me much good either." She managed to let out a small laugh.

"Oh no. I heard they hired a better team this year. Apparently the Capitol got tired of seeing the tree look on all the District 7 tributes." Aelius interrupted, overhearing Willow's concerns. All she could do was gasp. Was it really true? Was she really going to have a chance not to be completely embarrassed out there? The entry parade was one of the most crucial events of the entire games and Willow knew this; the Capitol was seeing all the tributes together for the first time so they had to leave an impression. Tree costumes were so over-done they were bound to be forgettable so Willow could only hope for the best for both she and her partner. 
[/hider]

[b][i]"I worry about the rest of my siblings. I worry that without me there they'll grow hungry and take food from the Capitol. You and I both know what that'll mean for them."[/i][/b] Sequoia closed his eyes at those words. He didn't have a family...but he remembered what it was like. What it felt like to worry for them, to feel that pain in the bottom of your heart, the constant nagging in the back of your mind. He knew all too well what that worry felt like, how it never went away. And now, she had even more cause to be concerned. Here she was, about to find herself in the Hunger Games. Slowly opening his bright green eyes, Sequoia hung his head, shaking it slowly. He didn't know what he could say to his old friend, couldn't find words that didn't sound trite or stupid...lies that people tell themselves when there are no words of truth to ease pain. So he stood there, letting the moments of silence pass between them until she turned, addressing their mentor. [b][i]"He's right. We need your help. Sponsors. How do we go about with that? Surely there's advice you can give us there?"[/i][/b]

Interested in hearing this answer himself, Sequoia turned his gaze to Birch, awaiting his response. He wanted to hear it, he wanted to know just how they could manage that. Sure, he'd grown up watching the Hunger Games all his life. It was required, of course. But...watching it and actually living it were two very different things. He hadn't the slightest idea what to do, how he might help either himself or Willow to return home. So he fixated his gaze upon the man who'd won it all--the same man who mentored every other district 7 tribute that came before them. Now it was their turn. [i]One of us [b]will[/b] come home![/i] Sequoia thought, gritting his teeth in determination, eyes narrowing into an arctic glare. [b][i]"Just attract the Capitol's attention. Appearance is especially important in the early stages, something that can be discussed further with your stylists once we arrive in the Capitol."[/b][/i] 

Sequoia frowned at their mentor's words, wondering just how appearance would do a damn thing for them. They were going to be trees, after all. Nothing special, nothing outstanding, unless you counted ridiculous and stupid outstanding. That was never the way one wanted to stand out in a crowd, and Sequoia somehow doubted that the Hunger Games were an exception to that. He was about to speak up, but Willow beat him to it. [i][b]"Appearance? Well I don't have much going for me there. Those stylists better know what they're doing. Somehow I don't think being dressed as a tree will do me much good either."[/b][/i] Sequoia broke eye contact with Birch to gaze at willow, a slight grin crossing his face. He nodded slowly, shaking his head quickly. [b]"I'm telling you right now, I'd rather be naked then be dressed as a friggin tree!"[/b] he remarked, snorting. [b][i]"Oh no. I heard they hired a better team this year. Apparently the Capitol got tired of seeing the tree look on all the District 7 tributes." [/i][/b] 

Sequoia whirled around in shock, staring with wide eyes at Aelius in disbelief. [b]"Seriously?!"[/b] he asked, startled. [b]"You mean...we won't be stuck looking like the laughing stock of the districts then??"[/b] Sequoia turned back towards Willow, a wide smile crossing his face and his eyes brightening up a bit. [b]"Did you hear that Willow, we won't have to be trees this year!!!"[/b] He clapped his old friend on the back, momentarily excited--until he remembered why they were talking about appearances in the first place. The smile fading from his face as fast as vapor might dissipate in a swift breeze, he lowered his gaze to the floor. He let out a low sigh, crossing his arms over his chest, silent once again.