"I see." It's an entirely nonsensical arrangement, of course, but given the irrefutably inconsistent logic of dreams, there's very little to be done about it. He gives Arista a brief, appraising look. "An extension of ourselves, in some convoluted fashion."

"Yes," says Arista, her tail lashing once in exasperation. "Precisely. I didn't think you'd need it spelled out, genius."

Rush finds himself unable to summon any expression other than what all parties could likely categorize as 'mildly affronted.'

"Because it's an absurd concept." Rush has little patience for animals in general, let alone animals capable of speech and advanced sapience and with some indefinable, intrinsic bond keeping them tethered to their human counterparts.

He fixes his attention back on Asadi and the crow that is, apparently, also Asadi, to some ill-understood extent. "And you've experienced this before."