[And he does; he lets it out, those tears, and cries quietly into their feathers. He hadn't been waiting on their permission - they were going to come regardless - but it helps, it always helps. It eases the worry that he does this too much, too often. Rue is here, holding him. It'll be okay.]

I have to, don't I? For her sake, too. She's not- she's not my mom. My mom died. She won't know me. Even if she accepts me, it can't be that easy...

[Just like the others. And it'll be weird for him too, surely. He's so much older than he was when he lost her. He's not a little boy to be swept up and kissed and carried, to soothe and give salvaged broken toys to as a treat for being good alone while she went on missions. He's taller than she is now, a trained warrior, a soldier. Not unlike her, growing up in the Foot Clan.]