"Not to be all 'I told you so,'" Vlad continued archly, "But I do recall saying something about nights like this ending in tears..."

"I didn't cry," Teige said, and scratched the fur of his neck, looking sideways at Hawk. "Did you cry?"

"I din't cry," Hawk replied with a shrug.

"You know what I mean," Vlad muttered. "Ready to go home?"

"Not me, I'm goin' to Mari's," Hawk said, clapping Teige on the shoulder as he turned. He opened his wings wide as he stepped away to give himself room to take off. "Night y'all."

Vlad started after him. "You're flying?! What if you crash?"

"Aw, there ain't no trees or power lines," Hawk called back over his shoulder. "What'm I gonna hit?"

He didn't wait for an answer, instead leaping into the sky and away; he was already silhouetted against one of the moons by the time Vlad shouted after him, "A building! The ground!"

Teige sniggered, but stopped when Vlad swung around to look at him. As Luu and Dina finished their conversation, and Dina and the other figure with the suoki strolled away together into the night, Vlad grabbed Teige's arm.

"...Well...let's get you home, at least," Vlad said firmly. Teige let himself be marched away, though wrapped his tail loosely around one of Vlad's legs as he did.