AN: This chapter is a little shorter than usual, as I only had one reaping left to do.

Willow nervously twisted the fabric of her fairy-blue dress in her hands. Her name was in the Reaping ball nine times this year. To some of the other District 12 families, it didn't seem like very much. But with three sisters at home, one of which was also up for the reaping, and a father who could hardly care for himself, it was a lot to Willow. That was nine times she could be taken away from her family. Nine times her little sisters could die without her. Nine times she could be killed herself.

From the section for fifteen-year-old girls, Willow couldn't see Anastasia with the other girls experiencing the first Reaping they could be chosen in. She decided this might be better. Seeing her sister might only make her worry more about the prospect of her being reaped.

Before Willow could tear a hole in her dress from worriedly kneading it, the District escort appeared on stage. Her dress was a shimmery silver, just like the one that the escorts of all the other Districts had worn. The woman had gorgeous sapphire hair and luminous eyes of the same color. She strutted over to the microphone, causing a murmur of amusement to ripple through the tense crowd.

"Good morning, District 12!" she greeted cheerily. The gathered crowd stayed resolutely silent. The woman's smile faltered for only a moment before she plastered it back on and said, "My name is Kyanite Enestem, as you may remember." This was greeted with more silence. "Well, alrighty then," Kyanite said awkwardly, blinking. "Ladies first."

She covered the few steps to the girls' Reaping ball, her silver heels clicking. She reached into the ball and made a show of fishing about for a name.

Don't be me, please, don't be me, Willow chanted silently. It can't be me. And don't let it be Anastasia, either. Oh, please, don't let it be Anastasia.

Kyanite had selected a slip. She unfolded it and read the name over before looking up at the crowd. Willow held her breath, her heart racing as she repeated her pleas over and over again in her head. Not Anastasia. Not Anastasia. Not Anastasia. I don't want it to be me, but not Anastasia either. Please. Please.

"The female tribute from District 12 for the 238th Hunger Games will be Willow Emelda."

For a moment, it seemed that Willow's heart had stopped. Faces all around turned to look at her, and one girl gently pushed her in the back. Willow stumbled forward in a complete state of shock. This isn't happening. It isn't me. It can't be me. I have to take care of Anastasia! And Stephanie! And Mahogony! And Dad! It can't be me. This is a joke. It isn't me.

But she could see peacekeepers approaching her to take her to the stage. A thick bile rising in her throat, Willow hurried over towards Kyanite, barely avoiding being forced there by the stern peacekeepers. From the crowd, she could swear she heard a muffled sob that sounded heartbreakingly like Mahogony.

"Any volunteers?"

Don't do it Anastasia, Willow thought as she glanced over at her sister for the first time since they had headed to their separate sections. But Anastasia wasn't even looking at her. Willow didn't know why she was surprised, but she still felt a stab of hurt. Anastasia wasn't the nicest girl, sure, but Willow loved her. She cared for her. She raised her. But her little sister had no reaction to her being reaped. Did she want me reaped? Willow worried for a moment, but she quickly pushed the thought away.

"Congratulations, Willow!" Kyanite said. "Now, on to the boys."

Taking care of her three little sisters and her father had left Willow little time for socializing. As a result of that, she didn't have any friends outside her family. And as she didn't have any brothers, she wasn't worried about the male tribute being chosen. He was going to be some unknown, powerful boy who would slaughter Willow the first chance he got.

She gulped, feeling her face get a little paler as the remaining blood drained from it.

"Your male tribute would be Cedar Thornfall!"

Wait, what? Willow thought wildly. As it turned out, she did know Cedar. And the poor boy was twelve. He was Anastasia's age! How could he go to the Games? He was from the Seam, just like her. He put up a good show, but he'd never survive. He was twelve, for crying out loud.

However, as the short and stocky brown-haired boy walked towards Willow and Kyanite, he appeared to not share Willow's misgivings in the slightest. He held his head high, stalking proudly up to the stage. A whoop sounded from the eighteen-year-old boy section, and a number of people turned to glare.

"Any volunteers?"

Cedar didn't seem bothered in the slightest as no one volunteered to take his place. You're twelve, damn it! Have a reaction! Willow screamed in her head. She kept her face nonchalant though she wanted to throttle Cedar and ask him what his problem was. You're going to die! Don't you realize this?

"Then this Reaping is over," Kyanite announced. "We now have all twenty-four tributes for the 238th Hunger Games! Don't forget to tune into the live broadcasting of the Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Willow and Cedar both stayed silent as Kyanite ushered them into the building they were in front of. As soon as she set foot into the door, Willow sprinted over to her gathered family. Mahogony was sobbing silently into her father's jeans. Willow wrapped the eight-year-old in a tight hug. She bawled harder when Willow put her down to hug Stephanie, Anastasia, and her father. "Take care of yourselves," Willow pleaded.

Stephanie nodded, business-like. "We'll be rooting for you, sis," the ten-year-old promised. Their father nodded absently.

"Come home, okay?" Mahogony asked through her tears.

Heart melting, Willow nodded. "I will, Mahi," she said, blinking hard to stop herself from beginning to cry. "For you, I will. For you all"

The tribute was briefly aware of Cedar's older brothers laughing rudely, telling their brother he'd never survive. She had half a mind to go over there and tell them to be ashamed of themselves, but a fresh wave of sobs from Mahogony occupied her time until the peacekeepers came to take their families away.

"Come on, come on, you two," Kyanite said lightly, leading Willow and Cedar out of the building. "We'll be boarding the train in a minute or two. The other tributes are all already there. First you'll come to our car, meet your mentors, and have a bite to eat if you wish. Then you can talk to the other tributes in the communal car or stick around with the mentors and I. Time is everything, okay?"

My family is everything, Willow thought bluntly. And I'm coming home to them.