“I’ve been without her before.”

If Wysteria hadn’t stepped in to assist him he might never have managed to fish her out of the Fade in the first place.

He sighs at the thought as he looks to her.

The shape she’s coiled herself into in Ellis’ lap is an unlikely one, feet kicked up and out, her head twisted under and around to get at them. Not quite an ouroboros, but certainly closer than any cat with a mammalian spine should be.

“I could,” he cannot quite help but needle back, claws pricked and retracted before he hoists himself back up into eye contact. Earnest. “I’d like to.”