my little hawk why do you cry? | kaius, day 3

It takes Kaius by surprise that losing an ally would be the most traumatic event of the Games yet. His arm dangles from his kneecaps while he sits. People have said that brown noise clears thoughts, but the engine overheard can't do anything to cure the reality that all he could say was I'm sorry. No promise to win for her, no promise to honor her. Only I'm sorry, because in many ways, protecting Quinn is exactly what Derecho and Kaius had offered. They failed, and she's on her way home as the shell of who she once was because of it.

He rubs his eyes, wiping the last few tears away with the end of his coat sleeves. The tight wrapping of his arm throbs every time his muscles so much as twitch. Focusing in this moment is a dark task. Derecho is off somewhere, they're not together right now, but Kaius promised he would be back soon. He wanders, instead, trying to get his mind off of what had happened to Quinn. He keeps an eye out for anything of value or use in the forest, though.

Eventually, Kaius approaches a small home, no taller than him. He peers through one of the windows, but there's nobody inside. Drinking the last few sips of water from his canteen, he opens the door and crouches down to go in. It reminds him of a miniature version of home. He walks to the bed, with the same plaid black and grey sheets that he once had. Is it some sort of illusion?

Propped up by the pillows atop the bed lies a teddy bear with tears in his eyes. As if on cue, all he can think of is Quinn again. Kaius picks it up, tears returning to his eyes. "When we win, I'll bring you to Six and give it to Quinn, wherever she's resting." He puts it in the back with the rest of his belongings.

(kaius does some healing.)
(kaius does some searching.)
(kaius responds to an RE.)

search roll:

z11vHYngW01-6