Hayley Summers's P.O.V.

My fingers rake through the mane of a beautiful tan Stallion. He softly nickers at me.

"It's ok, Copper, I'll be back soon," I say soothingly into his ear.

I give him a soft pat on the neck before a walk off to the Reapings.

I smile as I pass the pastures of horses and cattle. They have really been my only friends in the district. Sure, I talk to people, and go to school and all, but I don't seem to get along very well with them. I feel at home with the animals.

Soon after I arrived at my designated section, the mayor began his speech.

I looked at the girls around me. I doubt any of them were even paying attention to the mayor. I wasn't either so I don't blame them. Everywhere I looked there was a face with fear written all over it.

Suddenly, our escort bursts onto the stage.

"Why hello! I'm sure you all know very well that I'm Glory Glimmerling, your wonderful escort!" she squeaks, "It's so exciting that we get to have two Reapings this year, isn't it?"

No response.

"Ok well, in my opinion, you all should receive medals for holding in your excitement," she says, then she moves over to the bowl and plucks out a name.

"I'll get started with announcing...Lydia York as our first tribute!"

A short girl with dark brown hair walks calmly up to the stage.

"I'm thirteen."

"Lovely, and our second girl is... Hayley Summers! Come on up here, Hayley," Glory shouts enthusiastically into the mic.

My heart beats hard in my rib cage as I force myself to walk up to the stairs.

"I'm fourteen..." I manage to say into the microphone.

"Very nice, now shake hands, you two," Glory tells us.

As we do so, she wishes the district a "Happy Hunger Games" and everything. Then we are whisked into the Justice Building.