[He'll take a hug. It's nothing so presumptive as a pap or a shoosh, but friendly, and a comfort besides. He could use one after everything. Better, it's another physical reminder of everything. Strange though everything is here, it's real and happening, and he has no choice but to deal with it.]

[It doesn't make the loss of his friends hurt less, but he never got a choice in coming to Panem, either.]

[Her certainty has his lips pressing flat. It's not a smile, but neither is it a frown, and the faraway look of his eyes is more contemplative than rejecting. He doesn't disbelieve her - he has no reason to think it gone - but he'll wonder still in time to come how it might have gone on without him, whether what he fought for and did might help any now that he's gone.]

[He pushes the thought back down as she goes on.]

That fur noodle was saying something about that before I lost consciousness, but I don't think I heard everything. But magic? I thought he wanted me because I've got training and survival experience. How does it work?