What promised to be a very long-winded spiel about where Tilly had been, and why she hadn't at least stopped over to visit was forgotten the second her littermate spoke. Nellie's attempt at seeming irritated, completed by the mere slits of her eyes as they narrowed, fell away, replaced by a warm grin, and the broad wave of her tail. She had accomplished what she set out to do, and while the whereabouts of Jayseden,  Bojay, and Sterling were still unknown, Matilda was here.

"Yeah, alright." The apple was softer than she expected, its stereotypical crunch more of a soft bite than anything, and the flavor was different too. Not in a bad way, just different. After the first had been devoured, she moved to another, and another. "I reckon yer don't plan on goin' ter the Scowle, do yer?" Nellie wasn't even sure if she planned on going back yet.