"I am being mauled," Vax called back to point out - mostly with drool and strong-but-affectionate headbutts. "And you know I love Trinket, sister dear, but Kash probably has a point. He is a bit big for indoors, and people won't know he's safe yet." A huge armored bear was far from harmless, but safe enough unless someone posed a threat to Vex.

He scratched the big brown bear's ruff with both hands, burying his face into that thick fur he'd used as a pillow so often, not long ago. The bear was so much a part of his sister that even his low rumbling and animal smell was a reassurance that yes, she had come back to him. "Uncle missed you too," he promised the beast.