My lips quirk up when I think about how much of that I've been doing since meeting him. Tam would give me her I-know-you-like-him eyebrow waggle as soon as he turned away.
It makes a giggle try to bubble up.
But then my thoughts turn more serious. "Do you think we will get back to Silver soon?"
"Yes, I'll do whatever I can to help your friend."
"Even after getting shot?"
"Seems to underscore the importance even more, my Ree."
I blink at the sudden possessive he uses, but push the thought aside. "You'd risk yourself for a bunch of aliens you've never met?" I ask, somewhat bewildered.
"Well, of course," he says, not elaborating further.
I feel my chest filling up with some sort of unidentified emotion.
Not long ago I was despairing over how to find my way in the woods, wracked with guilt to be leaving Silver.
The rush of appreciation I feel overtakes my good sense and before I can think better of it I take the two steps between us and throw my arms around him.
"Thank you so much, Thivoll. I had no hope of helping her without you."
I ignore my brain trying to overthink and just enjoy the sensation of his fur against my cheek and the heat from his body. One of his arms wraps around me and his rumbling purr soothes my remaining anxiety.
He pats my butt again, this time making me jump a bit in his arms.
I open my mouth to say more but he gets us moving for the day. "You gather more of that and I'll get some of the other plants."
I grab several handfuls of the leaves, careful not to fully strip the poor plant. He returns with a much larger bounty.
So much that I can't eat it all and I'm not sure how to carry it.
I hope he plans to help and hasn't just gathered a Thivoll-sized meal I can't fit in my stomach or store away.
"Are you eating some, too? Your teeth suggest you're a carnivore, not an omnivore like I am."
"We can eat almost anything, but do feel best with a mostly protein diet, you are correct."
"I can't eat all of this, Thivoll."
"Take what you can eat now," he instructs me. "I'll eat the rest."
I grab a very healthy portion. I stuff some in my mouth so I can fit more in my hands.
Thivoll's whiskers droop. "Should I hold some for you?"
I regret the giant mouthful now and shake my head. He keeps staring at me, waiting for me to finish chewing so I can more fully answer.
"This is plenty."
He blinks rapidly. "How many times a day?"
"Three, maybe four if it's only plants."
He huffs. "You will be very simple to provide for, it seems, though we will need to find more than just leaves."
He tilts his head back and simply dumps the rest of the food in his gaping mouth, his jaw hinging back much farther than my eyes are comfortable seeing.
