"Destiny, why?" April wailed, practically flinging herself on top of the wolf-raven mutant. "Why would you do that? Why would you volunteer? Why–?"

Gently, Destiny placed a hand over the redhead's mouth, a sad smile playing on her lips.

"Because you're my friend," she murmured. "You know how we wolves are–we protect our pack, no matter what."

Tears streamed down April's face as she hugged her mutant friend, her body trembling. Destiny hugged her back, sniffling, her ears and tail drooping. In the next room over, Casey's face was buried in his hands as he waited for the Peacekeepers to take him away. April had already said goodbye to him, as had his father and little sister.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway nearby, and the teenage boy looked up to see two Peacekeepers herding a sobbing April and her father out the door. To his surprise, the redheaded girl turned her head and mouthed one final word to him, her blue eyes bloodshot and glistening with moisture.

"Stay safe."

***

Chris knelt on the cold stone floor of his room, scooping his two younger siblings into a tight embrace. His sister Serena buried her face in his chest, crying heavily, while his brother Matthew hung onto his arm like it was the only thing keeping him from floating away. Their ears and tails were all drooping.

"Hey," Chris whispered softly, his voice broken but firm at the same time. "Don't cry. It'll be okay."

"No, it won't!" wailed Matthew, tears pouring from his eyes. "Now you're gonna die! Now we're gonna lose our big brother!"

Serena began crying harder, snuggling closer to her older brother. Chris rubbed her back gently, holding his siblings closer.

"It's okay," he repeated. "Even if I do die in those Games, you won't truly lose me. I'll always be right in here."

He poked Matthew's chest, right where his heart was.

"Never forget that," said the dingo mutant. "I love you guys."

In the next room over, Cyn stared blankly at the wall ahead of her, propping up her chin on her hand. She had no family to wish her goodbye–they were all dead. What sucked was that everyone in the District suspected that she was the one responsible. But that wasn't the truth. They'd died for completely different reasons.

"Either way, I'm an orphan," she talked to herself like she was used to it, which she very well was. "Even if I do win these Games, I'll still have no one when I come back home."

"I'm all alone."

***

Sofie's parents pulled her into the firmest hug she'd ever received in her life as they entered the room.

"Sofie," her mother breathed, pulling her close. "Oh, my poor Sofie..."

The panda mutant snuggled closer to her parents, desperate to feel their warmth surrounding her one final time. Her father pressed kiss after kiss to her furry forehead, and sadness weighed her heart down as she realized that might be the last kiss she ever received in her life.

"I love you," she murmured, closing her blue eyes.

Meanwhile, Elsie struggled to breathe as her father hugged her close. Her older brothers, Cayson and Kyle, surrounded them, pressing in as well. Cayson's eyes were still glazed with shock, the memory of the Reaping replaying over and over again in his mind.

"I can't believe you volunteered for me," he whispered, stroking his younger sister's soft fur. "Elsie, what's gotten into you? Why would you–?"

"Because," the fox mutant sniffled, tears welling in her eyes. "I didn't want to see you die."

"That's brave of you," her father told her. "I'm very proud of you."

He looked her square in the eyes, his expression sad but serious all at once.

"Be careful, Elsie," he said quietly.

The fox mutant nodded.

"I will."

***

"Galaxy!"

Lucy cried out as she pounced on her older sister, wrapping her arms around her waist. The lizard mutant hugged the little turtle girl back, stroking her smooth head gently despite the moisture growing in her eyes. Behind Lucy, Lyle and Lily filed in, joining the group hug.

"I'm so sorry," Lilly breathed. "If only Lyle and I were still young enough to participate in those Games–"

"We would've volunteered for you in a heartbeat," Lyle finished, his voice cracking.

"Why can't I volunteer?" Lucy squeaked.

"Because you're too young," Galaxy told her softly, wrapping her long tail around her little sister. "I hope you never have to get sucked into these awful Games."

Lily bowed her head, burying her face in Lyle's chest and sobbing hard. Lyle wrapped an arm around her shoulders, patting her back comfortingly.

"What's gonna happen to you?" Lucy asked, looking up at her sister with big eyes.

"I don't know, little sister," Galaxy replied solemnly. "I just don't know."

Meanwhile, Marcus sat by himself, his ears flattened and his dark tail wrapped around himself. His mother had already come to say her goodbyes to him, and now he was truly alone. He didn't like to show what he was feeling, even when there was no one else around–but deep down, he hated being alone. It was almost the worst feeling in the world.

The true worst feeling...was something else. That was the feeling he got whenever he realized–these Games could very well be the end of him.

***

A/N: Oh my gosh, finally, the introduction parts are over. I apologize for keeping you all waiting so long. Hopefully the next few chapters should be more interesting.