Peeta watches in muted fascination as the gathered animals help Daine with Edgar's body. He feels that providing his own assistance would be intrusive and unwanted, so he stays where he is while the People maneuver and Daine slowly changes her form. Once Edgar is settled on Daine's back, head held by a raccoon in a position that feels like it should look silly but instead makes Peeta's chest ache, Peeta kneels by Almondine.

Gently, he lifts her from the ground, cradling her against his body. She's still warm, but heartrendingly still in his arms. He holds her close.

He turns to Daine, who - seeing that he is ready - sets off, Peeta following a few steps behind. He hears the flutter of wings behind them as the birds take to the air again and knows, without looking, that the People are following them. Supporting Daine, honoring Almondine and Edgar.

Peeta keeps half his focus on Daine, half on the area around them. He keeps putting one foot in front of the other, heartsick and angry and weary to his bones. It's a familiar combination, but it takes him a few minutes to recognize why. He feels like he did in the arena, in that time between fights for his life, when the desperate rush was over and the horror of what had been seen and done finally had room to stretch inside him.