Sans groggily rose from a dreamless sleep. Not remembering the last time he hadn't had nightmares he instantly reached out for his younger brother, hoping that sleep could once again overcome him… only to find the other side of the bed empty.
Begrudgingly sitting up, Sans looked to see Papyrus at the window appearing lost in thought. "Heya, Pap, you're up early," Papyrus jumped, turning around with a look in his eye that resembled a cornered wild animal, "Aw, jeez, Papyrus. I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's ok, brother," Papyrus said visually calming down, "I know you didn't mean too."
"Any reason why your up so early, babybones?" Papyrus puffed out his cheeks and stomped his foot at the nickname, causing Sans to grin.
"I'm not a babybones! I'm twelve! A-and that means…" Sans's smile dropped as his younger brother started to tear up.
Oh… the tournament started today, "Come here, Paps," Papyrus nodded tears flowing from his eyes as he sat down next to his brother. "It's going to be alright, our Reaping isn't until the third day of the tournament, and your name is only going to be in there once this being your first year and all."
"I know," Papyrus sniffed, "but your going to be in there eleven times."
Every year from age twelve you where entered into the reaping once per year of being eligible for the Reaping; however, you could enter your name in again for a ration of food for that year. The catch was every time you entered your name it would add to the total number next year as well. Sans had been entering his name twice times each year since their brother died in the tournament four years ago.
"Don't worry," Sans whispered, "everything will be ok."
He wished he believed his own words.