Every word Roaki said made Quinn's heart bleed for her, more and more. Soon it was going to fill up and she wouldn't be able to take it anymore. It was horrible. So, so horrible. Win and lose...did it really matter so much?

She guessed it did.

But she was spared the steadily escalating pain as Besca and Dahlia came back. As Besca unlocked the cell and helped Roaki into the wheelchair, Quinn stepped over and gave Dahlia a quick hug and an [i][color=ffe63d]I'm sorry for yelling at you.[/color][/i] Then she turned back and walked in, gently nudging Besca aside and grabbing the wheelchair handles. 

She'd realized something midway through her hug; she'd spent the better part of the day being assiduously congratulated on winning the duel, and on "putting that Helburkan mutt in her place," a phrase that made her angry every time she heard it. The people on the Aerie would probably not look fondly on Roaki being there.

And so, "[color=ffe63d]I'll take her. If I'm with her then people might not get as angry with her.[/color]" 

Then she looked up at Besca, and her face betrayed for a moment how nervous she felt. As much of a brave face as she tried to put on—and she was trying [i]very[/i] hard—the thought of walking through the people up there with all the hostile glares and yells she [i]knew[/i] they would get made her feel a little sick, and she quailed at the though. She hesitated. She didn't want to hurt Besca. She didn't want to hurt her sister either. But she wanted to be alone up there even less. So still looking at Besca, she asked quietly, "[color=ffe63d]Can you come with me? I don't want the two of us to be alone.[/color]"

Taking the wheelchair and turning again, she jerked slightly. The plate of cake—little picture of a smiling Roaki still shining bright on top—sat in the hall corner by the cell, forgotten. She looked at it and a feeling of sorrow welled up in her. Looking over Roaki's head, she met Dahlia's eyes hopefully. "[color=ffe63d]Dahlia, could you—would you mind taking the cake and putting it back in the fridge?[/color]"

[i][color=ffe63d]I'll give it to her tomorrow,[/color][/i] she thought. Then, straining a bit against the unfamiliar weight, she headed back toward the entrance. Doctor Follen would take Roaki if Quinn asked him, right? It bothered and confused her that he'd been so quick to put her down in the cells when she clearly wasn't okay. He'd always been so [i]nice,[/i] why would he do that? It didn't quite add up to her.

Then, shaking the thought away, she continued on.