Through all the carnage, all the violence, Gabrielle had steadfastly refused to let herself look away. She'd been holding out a tendril of hope as fine as that wire of Beetee's that somehow, despite the Gamemakers' rules and the odds, Katniss would make it through. That these Games wouldn't end the way they were intended to end.

But when the hovercraft came to take Katniss away like it had every time a tribute had fallen and the cannons had fired, she had to turn away and let her eyes fall closed.

Just for a moment -- just long enough to blink the tears away where they wouldn't fall on her parchment, her lips moving silently in a rare prayer that the gods would look kindly on her friend.

Just a moment, though. Her work wasn't close to done yet.