Vale ‘ s Reaping [ Tuesday’s ]

Instructions

“ But how can a bland unremarkable typical Tuesday be Day of the Dead? “ [Empires, Elbow] — It was a dismally typical Tuesday in District Eleven to Vale. For seven unfortunate children however, the day would nothing of the sort. It would be a devastating and untypical Tuesday for all seventy-five children exactly. And perhaps for more than a thousand grieving felines in the aftermath. One tribute would survive to live in luxury, whether it was a curse or a blessing. Either way, that Tuesday would always be remembered to them. How they chose to remember it? Well, that was their choice. And Vale? Well, they couldn’t really care less. Reaping day simply meant a rare day of rest while the Capitol trumpeted on about the War and whatnot. Valentinus Dunescape had survived this twisted occasion for five years of his life, and he would be sure to survive his last year with the help of his lucky reed. Fortunately, their only family and sister had just turned ten this month, and Vale still didn’t need to worry about her chances in the Reaping on top of everything else. So, when the opaque TV’s flickered on, Vale could only hear the announcer’s words smeared into a useless little buzz in the back of their mind. The tall, tabico tom closed their sage-tinted eyes, and strained their ears to listen to the ever familiar rustle of reeds over the twittering crowd. There it was, again. Swish. Swoosh. Swish. Swoosh. Vale smiled. Perhaps, it was the only smile on the grim day. The reeds seemed to sing a sweet lullaby, and the morning breeze cradled him in it’s arms. And then a name was called. His name. “Valentinus Dunescape of District 11!” What? The mentioned cat reached a paw up to feel their lucky reed, and it was still snugly tucked. What? Their reed had always worked. The faithful reed had always brought them luck. What? In a billion chances, it was he, Valentinus Dunescape to be picked. It was he to perish for a rich man’s entertainment, it was either that or live miserably in a trillion chances. They couldn’t think. The luxurious Capitol certainly wouldn’t be too miserable but what would they do about their little sister? It was a fat chance the Peacekeepers would let him find and advise his sister in the large crowd. The strictly white-uniformed felines were already marching his way. The only thing he could think was… He was screwed.