( A tail. He frowns, felled by the bluntness of his question — by his own impossible resignation before the debris of his answer.

He looks away. Shudders, once, and after, he will blame the chill. For all that winter does not visit him with a clutch as tight as the rest of their companions. )

It was mere blinks. I did not — ( Search, look down, think to. ) See.

( If he had to choose his priorities, he would not have numbered this as one. )

Apologies.