"Have Rae tell Cricket, or mirror us, if you need us," suggests Iobel. She heads back for the Hex portal.
As soon as they are through and the portal is back in its hiding place, he abruptly scoops Iobel up into a slightly clingy hug.
"Hi," he murmurs into her hair. "Turns out, there was an - I was - Phix looks like you. And she was pinned under a dragon. For about half a second my head was entirely screaming."
"Fine. I just - needed to hug you and know you were okay and have you be very far away from the dangerous dragon."
"Are you sure I'm okay? You don't need to have a closer look and check?"
That makes him snort with laughter. "I - what constitutes a 'closer look'? Are you secretly bleeding and neglecting to tell me?"
"Ha! Wouldn't it be for your peace of mind, too, if you only 'don't think so' instead of knowing for sure?"
"I'm not going to pretend you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to the proposed inspection, now."
"Well, good." Pause. "... We might be interrupted by a dragon, though."
"Fair enough." Nuzzle. "Then - I'd like to make sure you're entirely okay."
"Go right ahead," she says.
Meanwhile, Adana looks at Idania and asks, "Is it possible that I could get a vial of the holy sand? So we don't have a repeat of - being unable to be found."
"Perhaps," chimes in Rae. "But I barely know you."
"I don't even have a Rae vial, just Perinixu ones," says Spring, returning from stashing the dragon's medallion.
"Maybe you and either or both of the daeva should play some board games. How did Katydid's cat win you over so thoroughly?"