---- Fennec sat next her brother in the District 11 common area, eyes dark as she scanned her surroundings. She hated this place. It was the first ever reaping, for Round 1 of the Hunger Games. Weird to say out loud, to be honest, but it wasn’t like this kind of ‘thing’ was unexpected. The Capitol was the epitome of ruthless, so much so that they wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter children in an arena of atrocities. They’d even do so /delightedly/. Hector looked over at Fennec anxiously, his flowing dark hair resting messily over his eye as he chewed his lip. Newly transitioned, he had been much happier lately than before coming out. Fennec couldn’t be more proud of him. And yet, this moment undermined that. Her brother had recently turned 12, the age that you were finally put into the bowl of destruction. The age every parent feared. Fennec reassured herself that it was only one slip, one where his name was on the paper. She herself had four in there, God. She should be more worried for herself. “Sis. I have a bad feeling about this,” Hector leaned into her, wringing his paws as his breathing picked up. “Don’t we all? It’s not like this is normal.” //But it will be.// She thought bitterly, thinking of one ringing announcement that faithful day. The promise of annual grief and murder. “Fennec, I don’t think I’m making it out of this place,” He breathed, eyes wide. “I-I think I’m going to be picked, I-“ His words were cut off as a lithe cat stepped up to the podium. Fennec flashed Hector a grimly reassuring smile, turning her steeled attention to the stage. “Welcome, District 11, to the first annual reaping!” The announcer was the only one clapping, her cheshire grin spreading impossibly wider as she continued. “This must be pretty exciting to all of you, haha! First, the male representing District 11 shall be chosen!” The drawing passed in a blur of words and screams, the name ‘Hurricane’ resounding in Fennec’s thoughts as she shifted her paws. Her mind flooded with relief. Hector hadn’t been chosen, thank God. Hector smiled weakly at her, before the announcer started speaking again. “Now, District 11’s female tribute!” She chirped, pushing her paw into the glass bowl of names. Time slowed as she pulled out a thin, tiny piece of paper, something holding the string of words that could change someone’s life for the worst. “Holly Glace!” Fennec’s ears rung with her brother’s dead name as Hector stiffened. His mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. Fennec almost didn’t recognize the name, but a few seconds into the announcement it clicked. There really was no end to the Capitol’s cruelty. Martha was screaming. Lolo was wide-eyed, unaware of what this meant. Fell was staring, horrified, at her son. Hector was just plain blank, until he started to move forwards, a lump in his throat as he glanced back at her. His face was stone, and Fennec could sense that he was telling her something. ‘Take care of them for me.’ Fennec’s head spun with confusion, stumbling slightly in front of him. He couldn’t do this. Hector /couldn’t/ leave, especially as the female tribute. He was the heart of this family. He was /irreplaceable/. So Fennec made a choice. “I volunteer!” She called out suddenly, striding forward with gritted teeth as she headed for the stage. “I volunteer as tribute!” Disbelief rippled through the crowd, and a cry was heard from a bulky black-and-white tom in the back. Tears flew out of Hector’s eyes, his long limbs scrambling to catch her tail as he sobbed. “Fennec, no, /no/, stop it, I’m-“ Fennec hardened at that moment. “No, Hector.” Fennec shook him off, whipping around with a serious expression. Her eyes spoke volumes, and he paused. “Fennec, please.” His face was streaming now, nose and eyes running and his cheeks blotched red. “I-I can do this, I know I can, okay? Y-you taught me how to fight, and-“ “You’re out of your damn mind if you think I’m letting you get up there.” She hissed, crowd parting as she gripped his shoulders. “You’re 12 years old, Hec. You’re a child. I’m not letting you die.” “Is that a yes, then?” The announcer perked up, and Fennec glared at her in the definition of ‘read-the-room.’ “Yes.” She replied, gaze boring into Hector before she shoved him in the direction of their mother. All Fell could do was blink at her, mouth agape as she tried to process. She had never been good at that; not when Dad died, not now. But Fennec wouldn’t leave without a goodbye. “This is for you.” She jabbed her claw at Hector, forcing her own tears down as her voice filled with emotion. Fennec’s lip didn’t shake. She wouldn’t betray /anything/. That was the one thing Hector would always remember. He kicked and screamed as Martha and Fell dragged him backwards, his cries echoing out across the now-silent courtyard. Fennec padded to the stage, leaping up and on to it. She cast a solemn glance to Hurricane, which he returned with a nod. ---- (CONT)
---- Fennec’s eyes bore into Hurricane’s, before she looked away. //We’re in this together now.// Fennec thought, through the haze of shock shrouding her brain. “Fennec! Please!” Hector’s sobs cracked further as he tried to break away from his other sister’s unrelenting grip. Martha’s own tears stained the stone beneath them as she locked her paws around his waist, quietly crying as she and her mother held him back. Fennec just shook her head at Hector, paws shaking as the realization hit her. Soon enough, a funeral would be held here. And it would be for her. //No.// She thought, biting her tongue. She would make it back. For them. Fennec locked eyes with the screeching mess that was Hector, grief fading away and leaving her with a fulfilling determination. Her eyes softened as she mouthed the words. ‘I love you, Hec.’ His eyes widened, mouth open slightly as he let out another ear-piercing screech. “FENNEC!” Martha pinned him down, her own face breaking as Hector scratched her arm. “LET ME GO! I- I CAN’T LET HER GO, MAR, NOT HER TOO-“ Hector curled into a ball underneath, shaking profoundly as he sobbed. Martha wrapped him into a fierce hug, tears streaming down both of their faces until the whole family joined in. Well. Not the whole family. Fennec looked away. She was done with the Capitol’s constant cruelty. She had always known they were awful, but this was another /level/. She would not let them get away with violating her brother. She would not let them get away with being transphobic. She would not let them get away with /killing/ her /brother/. Not in a million damn years. She drew herself up to face the announcer, whom was grinning quite cheerfully despite the broken looks on the cats of District 11. “So, you’re volunteering for your sister? What’s your name, deary?” Fennec’s claws unsheathed into the metal. “My name is Fennec Glace. And I’m volunteering for my /brother/.” “Ah...” The announcer frowned slightly, before nodding her head. “Aright, then!” She turned to the audience gleefully, even when they were a stone-cold unmovable force of sorrow. Obviously, the announcer had no emotional intelligence whatsoever. “Fennec Glace has volunteered for Hol-“ Fennec cut her off. “/Hector/. Her eyes were a wild fire, and the announcer was a dry forest. She gulped. “-Hector Glace. Please give a warm welcome to District 11’s female tribute!” Hector didn’t rise, but he did look at Fennec. He gave her a sad, sad look, one that said ‘I love you too.’ No one clapped for the announcement. Until one cat did. That cat was Lolo. God, did Fennec love that child. Once the feeble she-cat started to clap, everyone else did, too. Until it was a chorus of paws, rumbling up and over the sadness. One that said, ‘Good luck.’ Fennec gave a curt nod to her family. She looked them each in the eye and held back her emotions. There would be plenty of time for those when she got back. As Fennec was ushered to the tribute train, she caught a glimpse of Malia through the glass. He looked distraught. Cheeks tear-streaked, mouth open as he tried to spot her. To say goodbye. Fennec gave him a sad smile before she steeled her face, Took one last look at her family, And closed the door. ---- WOOOOOOWEE I JUST WROTE ALL OF THAT IN ONE DAY AHAHAHA- I HOPE YOU LIKE IT- THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN FENNEC VOLUNTEERED FOR HECTOR AKAJSJSKSJ
