Hard Truths

'He's waking up.'

Consciousness was slowly drifting back into the body of the district 10 male. He had a very fragmented idea as to when he must of passed out but he was at least reassured of his safety as the faces of Finnick and Johanna surrounded him.

Butch wanted to readjust his position but a surge of pain overcame him causing him to tremble further to the floor with Finnick stopping him from completely falling onto his side.

'Slow down, you need to stay still.'

The confusion was easy to read over the injured man's face until he looked down to find a homemade bandage across his stab wound- comprising of leaves similar to the ones Rue used in her games.

'Katniss made it. It's rustic but it'll do the trick for now. The only problem is an infection.' Johanna's concern was simple to hear as she wasn't particularly good at trying to hide it in this moment.

Butch just nodded his slowly- he still felt exhausted and this caused him to feel too numb to even formulate words, but he was appreciation was made clear to the others in the group with Katniss and Peeta currently collecting water for the alliance to share.

Through the establishing of his surrounding he could hear the familiar melody of sounds escaping from above him- a sponsor gift. The trio stared as it drifted towards the three, landing not too far from the makeshift base they had made. Finnick stood up to retrieve it.

'It looks like it's for Butch.'

As Butch retrieved the gift, curiosity overcame him but mainly desperation that whatever inside was of value to them right now. As he cracked open the casing, an ointment could be seen with a note attached.

I'm sorry you had to loose her. Keep fighting. A

Annalise. It never dawned on Butch how devastating it must of been for her to watch the murder of his sister- what if his daughter had watched her own aunt he slaughtered?

Tears brimmed into his eyes as he continued to stare down at the note- his numbly raised his head in an attempt to be visible to the camera but finally saying the words, 'Thank you.' to whoever was listening.

The star crossed lovers returned from their collection as they broke through the darkness. Butch must have been unconscious for some time as it appeared to be late into the night- it didn't matter however as he would need to apply this ointment fast to his wound.

'Finnick. I need you to apply this on it- it will stop the infection.'

As he listened to the request he appeared hesitant but without much choice he obliged. He peeled back the leaves and extracted the dropper from the bottle before warning Johanna to keep Butch's mouth covered in order to prevent others from locating them.

The sting on the wound was agonising, as if fire was plunged directly into the centre of it and he ensured to vocalise this discomfort through muffled screams. Once the stinging eased he rested his head against the tree before addressing the group.

'I can take first watch if you want. We all look exhausted.'

'Not a chance. I'll take first watch while that eases. If you feel more up for it later then you can swap to take second watch with Katniss.' While Butch was in a coma the remaining group discussed the plan for the evening to which Butch couldn't add his opinion therefore he knew that resistance would be futile.

'Just wake me up then.' Finnick and Johanna nodded as they pulled something from their belts.

'We thought you may be needing these.' Finnick handed over a pair of sickles, deadly and nostalgic for the victor.

'Thank you.' Those were the only words that Butch could think to say after everything they did for him. He fell asleep not long after.

-

Butch was tapped awake by Finnick as the shift change came. He used his strength to pull himself up and sit on a nearby fallen log alongside Katniss who just seemed to spectate the interaction. The pair sat in silence until the rest fell back asleep.

'Thank you for saving me. I know you have no reason to.' Butch was certainly shocked to hear of Katniss' involvement in his recovery, his appreciation was overwhelming.

Katniss smiled. 'I did it because Rue would have. Besides, those two weren't giving up on you without a fight.' She signalled to the sleeping Finnick and Johanna.

The two had once again saved his life. An addition to the endless debt he would owe them- hopefully the deadline wouldn't be anytime soon.

'Can I ask you a question?' Katniss split the silence as she seemed to become comfortable in the situation.

'Sure.'

'How are you so close with them?'

'It's a long story but I can give you the summary. We needed each other. It may not seem like it but in our own special ways we depend on another for understanding- security. We're a dying species Katniss, us victors, we have to help each other in as many ways as we can.' The real enemy wasn't amongst them, it was those above them.

'I know it may seem strange given this whole quarter quell but there is comfort in everyone sharing the same burden of death. Makes you feel less like a monster, and more like a survivor. I know the Captiol paint me out to be otherwise but I can assure you...

I'm not a monster Katniss, I'm just a father.'

Katniss couldn't begin to understand the torment that must be experiencing, with the victor beside him having to loose his own sister- the one thing she volunteered to prevent.

'What you did was noble Katniss, volunteering for your sister. If I had the opportunity I would have done it a million times over. Your bravery will never be forgotten.'

As the sentimental moment was continuing to progress, fanfare stormed through the dark skies above them.

The sleeping group all awoke as reality sunk in. 

Gloss and Cashmere's pictures emerged above, followed by Wiress, then Mags, the morphing, Blight and Tiffany followed soon after.

The silence was deafening. Each tribute all felt a heavy weight dawn upon them- these games were stripping them of the very people that loved them.

A social cleansing.