Eventually, Haymitch found some tracks that started by the bushes behind Katniss' house. It looked like there had been two people, men judging by the prints. It did not take long for him to catch up. He hauled himself up into a nearby tree and watched as they collected firewood to make camp. He judged them to be soldiers by their clothes, some sort of special force. He could tell they were professionals by the way they carried themselves. One kept watch behind the other despite the likelihood of anybody being around being infinitesimal. He suddenly realised that they could be watching out for him. If they had taken Katniss, surely they knew he was around too.
Silently he followed them back towards an old cottage that had been derelict for years. Two of the walls had fallen in, but the two remaining provided shelter from the wind. He crept slowly towards the building and saw Katniss unconscious, but breathing, inside. Relief mixed with anger overwhelmed him. He could see no obvious injuries and deduced that she had been drugged. He made some quick calculations and concluded there was no way he would be able to take out these two men by daylight. He needed the advantage that darkness would provide. By then, Katniss might be awake too. If they needed to make a quick escape, it would be easier if he did not have to carry her. He retreated to a spot nearby where he could not be seen and watched, waiting for the sun to go down.