Kina stood in the hallway.  It was pretty late, past the bedtime of most, when Faust appeared.  She smiled at him and trotted over. "It being of Faust!" she exclaimed loudly. "Having of reported yet?  Cannot of wait to tell all you being of he—" She cut off, as though noticing something.

"Faust... wearing of..."

That was all she needed to say before his expression shifted darker, and he stared a moment, then forced a grin. "New pants, that's all.  I found them in a bin.  Hi, Kina."

She squinted at him, and watched as he grew more nervous.  Her gut feeling was right, this wasn't a return of an ally.  The way he avoided others was clear to her, and it left a cold feeling in her as she looked at the pair of dog tags on his neck. "Necklace of being what?" she asked as she bounced toward him and grabbed it, then looked up at his ear and gaped openly. "Having of... Button in ear?"

He pushed her away, so hard she hit the wall with a grunt, then made a show of sucking air.

"Faust...?" She turned her most betrayed-looking gaze onto him, and watched and smelled as shame colored his every aspect.

"Shit-!  I... I'm sorry, I just—!" He stared down at her, looking like a kicked pup, and then turned toward the bunks.

"Twiggy... being right..." she wheezed. "Faust... being not good...!"

He froze mid-step, then looked back at her with wide eyes.  Terrified eyes.  He shook his head and hurried forward, leaving her behind. "Sorry!" he called again, voice catching.

She caught her breath and began to follow, dagger drawn as she kept her distance.  She gave him his warning—his only warning.

Faust slipped into the bunks where Twiggy lived, and Kina followed stealthily after, watching while Faust lightly shook Twiggy awake.

"Twiggy," he whispered, "The Council asked for you."

Twiggy inhaled sharply, then nodded and started to rise, only to pause and pull his blankets higher.

"F-f-f-f-f-fuh-fuh-Faust...?" he whispered, shaking his head. "Y-you... You did c-c-c-c-come..." His voice shook, but he still whispered. "P-please..." he had to stop for breath, "Go.  Don't...  D-don't d-do th... this.  You-you don't... don't un—under... understand wh-wh-what's at—at s-s-st-stake...!"

The poor thing's voice was thick with fear, his stammer worse than ever, and Kina inhaled sharply through her nose.  Twiggy knew.  Her hunch was right—this was a massive, important moment, and she had to make sure that Faust didn't do as he pleased—not with that familiar and wicked sigil on his dog tags—

She sucked air suddenly through her nose as phantom pains ran through her whole body, from burning in her arms and chest to soreness in her hips, back, and legs, and painful heat along her skin.

Kina woke to warmth and her own bed, and a somber, pained face above her.  She stared up at Faust, and he stared back at her in the darkness, then sighed. "You win," he finally breathed, "Nosy little thing."

She stared at him, eyes wide, like she had no idea what he meant.

"I saw your dagger in your hand when I found you outside the door, don't play stupid.  I put it in your trunk for you."

Kina stared at him several moments longer before he sighed.

"Don't act innocent," he grumbled before he turned. "I'm... in for it after this..."

He reeked of fear, and Kina's guts twisted.  Of course, he wouldn't turn against the Hunters, not Faust, not unless it was for a reason, and she smelled it now—that reason was fear.

She stared up at him, and after a moment, she pushed herself up and wrapped one arm around him.

"I won't tell anyone you were here," she assured.

He froze, eyes widening, then looked slowly toward her as he pulled away, staring not at the empty-headed girl, but at a woman of secrecy and lies.  He fled before he could ask anything—before she could reassure—and Kina silently thanked him for that, even as she pushed herself from her bed and sought Twiggy, hopeful that Faust hadn't lied to her.

She found Twiggy before long, lost and bumping into walls, and let out a heavy sigh, which stopped his movements as he became still.

"Being of fine, Twiggy.  Kina takings you back to bunk."

A small sob escaped him. "Th-th-thank you," he sniffled. "Th-thank... thank you for—"

"Shh," she hushed. "I leadings of Twiggy now.  Being of bed time for skinny man."