Seperation

'You know what you're doing, I'll be rooting for your success out there.' Annalise remarked as she smoothed the outfit Butch was wearing. Despite her overbearing qualities, Butch at least felt comfortable knowing Annalise understood the weight of these games- he knew that she would truly be a lifeline from outside of this arena if either of the district 10 duo needed it.

'Tell Tiffany that I'll find her, that she should hide if she needs to.' Butch requested Annalise to repeat in her consultation with her, she nodded as she left the room.

After a fraction of time had passed, Butch inhaled sharply before entering the tube which would raise him into the arena. Now was the time to abandon his witty comments, bury his emotion and tap into the only thing that will serve him best in these games- his instinct.

-

Sunlight blinded the male as he looked out into the tropical foliage that surrounded him. He was placed between Finnick and Johanna who each looked gravely at the other. Without any words needed the trio knew who they needed to protect and thus this provided them with their next steps.

The countdown begun as Butch still searched for his sister who he finally realised was on the Eastern side of the cornucopia- with that doubt cleared the cannon echoed as Butch dove into the water ahead of him.

He swam with all his might as he directed himself onto the spoke closest to Johanna as they both knew the two could easily finish off anyone in their path. The killer duo darted to the arena as they spotted Finnick had already obtained a trident as he was securing the safety of Katniss and Peeta.

Butch quickly grabbed onto a spear and dagger as he tossed an axe to Johanna who was now making her way to her district partner with a smaller axe in hand. Within seconds, Butch narrowly avoided a knife to his chest- causing him to snap into action as he launched a spear into the chest of the district 9 male, as it imbedded itself within his heart.

The first down by his hand, remorse wasn't something that he had time to allow.

He swiftly moved over to the corpse to remove his weapon before hearing a struggle occurring not far from his location- he turned his head to see Tiffany in a wrestling match with the district 11 female.

Butch launched his body forward, throwing his dagger into the back of the aggressor to which stunned her movement before Tiffany removed the knife from her attackers back and plunged it into the females neck- dropping her body into the water. Butch held onto his sisters arm as he raised her up before she bellowed out a warning at the sight of a bewildered morphling sprinting in their direction with a sword- most likely in a fit of derange as he was deep into the effects of morphling withdrawal. Butch quickly implanted his spear into the leg of the tribute causing him to stumble onto his knees before Butch offered a quick death as he snapped the injured mans neck.

He looked onto the cornucopia, as he spotted Johanna and her district partner escape from the central island across one of the stone spokes. He then spotted Finnick from afar before the two traded nods of assurance, hoping for the safety of the other before Finnick ran across a far spoke with Mags, Katniss and Peeta in pursuit.

Butch had done his job for now, so he assisted his recovering sister and they headed into the thick foliage while the careers swarmed the island in hopes of arming themselves for the upcoming events- thankfully due to the alliances swift work none of the careers could work out the location of any of its members.

Butch hoisted Tiffany further into the jungle towards the edge of the perimeter before the two rested. Tiffany looked distraught at the actions she performed earlier on to which she expressed her upset to Butch who despite knowing the feeling reassured her that in this situation, it was either her or them, to which he humoured that he much preferred her presence, earning a feeble smile from the woman while her neck was still bruised from the strangling attempt performed upon her.

Butch knew he would need to search for basic necessities soon for the pair to survive off- he had hoped that Finnick and Johanna were safe within the arena and they were also wishing him the same from their locations. He hated being separated from them but he knew that this was best to avoid the pressure of the careers onto Katniss and Peeta. Butch encouraged the duo to move further along the jungle, in hopes to reach safer ground and find a position to stalk the careers.

He guessed his old habits would still be use of this to him from his previous games. Now that the bloodbath was over, he could finally utter the words...

'Let the 75th Hunger Games begin.'