Redhawk Caldera quiet on set

Alyx left but he didn't react, too busy trying and failing to get control of himself. The boy eventually hiccuped himself into silence. He had heard Rue's words and turned them over in his mind. He understood that his mother was in good hands—it had only taken fifteen minutes with Aunt Raven to realize she was a masterful healer—but what Caracal didn't get was why he hadn't been able to stay by Towhee's side.

"Why?" he questioned softly, big, wet eyes lifting to his auntie's face. "I'm not brave," he whispered, swiping at his snotty, teary face. "And I can't help my mom if I'm here," he added, struggling not to lose his composure a third time. He already felt like a complete crybaby, disgusted by the smear of fluids he'd left on the Sovereign's shoulder.

He fell into sullen silence as Ruenna led him away to rest, though if she tried taking him to the Hobbit Hole, Caracal would not go willingly. It was where he'd spent so much time looking after Towhee. He couldn't bear being there without her. No, from now on, he would bed down elsewhere.