Daud opens his mouth to speak, but he can't answer for a moment, choking on air. He can't breathe. Why can't he--

A flutter of feathers has him looking up, and the relief the sight brings wrenches through him so hard it's almost physically painful.

Mercy perches precariously on a fire-marked fence, obviously weary but whole. Her gaze is on Daud, but it flits to Billie after a moment, crooning softly. A bird can't look apologetic, but there's an air of something like regret.