She nodded, and after another squeeze finally relented in her hold on him. Some part of her had always known the danger they had all been in, but rarely did anyone fall; and it had been a brutal one to see. Not a knock to the head or something simple, but the way the fire had wrapped him up. Left him marked with the reminder of his near-death. She wasn't sure if she felt anguish or guilt more readily. "I don't want you to be sorry." She finally managed as she pulled back, rubbing her own face hard, embarrassed at her half-outburst. "I don't.. I don't know what I want."

She didn't blame him, that became obvious, there was no judgment or anger. In truth she had also been putting others first, and simply had been fortunate enough to have fire in her blood. Otherwise, it would have been just as bad for her as it had been for him. She was just... scared. It was hard holding the weight of everyone's health in her hands and she felt like a failure.

She had felt like it with those shadows parading as children, but more so now. She had been too slow, hadn't urged them along, hadn't done everything she needed to-- and what if that happened again? What if...