His father spoke back to him! If not for his distress, he might have marveled at the miracle of it. Perhaps there was hope for the gentle giant after all. Then came movement, and the little bean froze. What was happening? Where was his sister going? Panic would have overtaken him again, his fuzzy gaze darting, if not for the soothing nuzzles that quickly followed from his father. Quieted, he pressed his face against the warmth of his broad furred cheek.

Brr… D… d… a… he murmured, his tiny heart finally beginning to settle. Then he was guided into an arm, into his sister’s embrace. With a happy yip, Faolán crawled over to her, nestling close in the crook of his father’s arm. This, he decided, he could get used to.