Besca’s smile shriveled instantly, along with her budding relief. Quinn’s screams filled the room like a keg poured into a shot glass, spilling out and flooding the halls. She dashed over to the bed, afraid for a moment that the girl was ripping out her hair or beating at her skull. Instead she clutched her head like she was trying to hide, like she was in pain. 

A nurse came running in, frantically checked the monitors and machines with a bewildered look.  

“[color=gray]What’s happening?[/color]”

“I—I don’t know! Heartrate’s elevated but everything else is fine! She’s fine!” 

“[color=gray]She’s not fine she’s [i]screaming[/i], she’s—[/color]” And as Quinn’s screams withered into choking sobs and mewling apologies, Besca felt a pit in her gut. “[color=gray]Give us the room, please.[/color]”

“…I’ll tell Doctor Follen she’s awake,” the nurse said, and shut the door on her way out. 

Besca stood there for a while, letting Quinn shake and mumble. She felt it again, that same inadequacy that had kept her from comforting Dahlia. She had no idea what Quinn had seen, what she’d been through in the attack. They’d found her out in the fields, with Daz, bloody but mostly unharmed save for some cuts on her feet. 

Judging from the wounds on Daz’s body, they must have met the beasts on their way out. 

This girl had waded through monsters, and the dead, and was by all accounts the only person from Hovvi still breathing. And she couldn’t offer her anything? Not a single, conciliatory word? 

[i]Get it the fuck together, Besca.[/i]

“[color=gray]Quinn…[/color]” she whispered. She put a hand on the girl’s shoulder, if for nothing else than to try and calm the shaking. “[color=gray]Quinn, hey. Hey, you’re safe. You’re safe you’re on, uh, you’re on the Aerie. You made it. You’re okay. Nothing’s here, it’s just me. You’re not hurt, it’s just soreness, you’ve been lying down for a few days. Just….just try and relax. Try to breathe.[/color]”