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Katniss is alone. Her eyes frantically search the treetops, but she can't spot Rue, Estella, or Aries anywhere in sight. With trembling hands, she yanks the stingers from her knee and neck. Her mind goes blank as pain dulls her awareness, and then she begins to descend the tree.
"Catch her!!" Aries reacts instantly to Estella's command. The three emerge from their hiding place—Estella clutching Rue tightly while Aries catches Katniss's limp body effortlessly in his arms.
Once the scene was clear of Careers, only then did Estella let go of Rue, giving the younger girl a chance to run over to check on Katniss. Estella quickly takes in the situation; since the Careers left in panic, some valuable things can be kept: the bow and ten arrows from Glimmer, her grip tightening with emotion; it's hard to forget how desperately the girl had clung to them before death claimed her. Estella took it, but not without muttering a sorry to Glimmer's corpse.
Rue and Estella gather around as they examine Katniss's condition with wide, concerned eyes.
The silence hung heavy in the air, thick with unspoken tension, until Aries finally shattered it. "Now what?" he demanded, his voice sharp and edged with impatience. His intense gaze remained solely focused on Estella, as if seeking answers only she could provide.
Rue offered no immediate response, her silence a stark contrast to Aries's outburst. Instead, she assumed the responsibility of leadership, stepping forward to guide them toward her own humble campsite, a sanctuary of sorts amidst the surrounding danger.
Aries followed with obvious reluctance, his movements stiff and grudging. A deep scowl marred his features as he contemplated the uncomfortable necessity of carrying Katniss. He seemed to resent every moment of physical contact. Aries had even extended the hand that was holding onto Katniss as if the mere touch would poison him, his fingers rigid and unwilling.
He avoided glancing in front of him if he could help it, maintaining his gaze fixed elsewhere, anywhere but on Katniss. However, when the terrain demanded his attention, when he had to look down to see his next step, a visible scowl would deepen, accompanied by a low grunt of disgust, as if everything Katniss represented filled him with revulsion.
Estella trailed behind the small group, her hand tentatively clutching onto the side of Aries's shirt, her knuckles white with anxiety. Her mind raced, trying to formulate a plan, to figure out their next strategic move. She understood the perilous nature of their situation. They couldn't afford to remain together as a large group for very long—the increased visibility made them an easier target, amplifying the danger exponentially.
Once Rue and Katniss were safely settled at the campsite, providing them with a temporary respite, she and Aries would be compelled to move on, to disappear back into the wilderness, seeking safety in separation and stealth.
Suddenly, they freeze. Peeta bursts through the branches, a wild look in his eyes and a spear gripped tightly in his hand. His body is covered in angry welts. Aries glares at him, immediately on high alert, while Rue's reaction is the opposite—hope flickers in her face. Estella, acting swiftly, raises her bow and aims at Peeta without hesitation.
