The somewhat more reasonable pace is certainly a blessing for Calliope, because those sure are a lot of surprising things he just said. Chiefly that he is a different species than what he appears to be, and that he has human and alien friends too. She doesn't quite get the chance to work out if he just implied that they are friends now before he regrettably changes the topic again.

"It is because of my horrendous brother, he is pursuing me," she sighs. "He is completely obsessed with the need to destroy me, and has been blowing dream bubbles to smithereens and wiping out the residing souls in his efforts to find me. The 'rift' you are investigating is almost certainly one of the cracks in reality his eternal rampage is causing. I have created a hideout for myself, but he is highly sensitive to my presence." Having to think about this, despair overtakes her for good and her voice becomes very small and sad.

And to make matters worse, who would want to stay in her company after hearing any of that? She almost wishes she hadn't said anything, but she wouldn't have had it in her to lie either. And she couldn't bear it if something happened to her new friend because of her own selfishness. "So... I would not blame you if you preferred to part ways. Though... I really would rather you didn't," she adds hurriedly against her better judgement, tightening her claws around his hand almost imperceptibly.