I watch that fox-dog-wolf thing Nicky called Oscar race away.

"Are you okay? Are you bleeding?" I ask softly.

"I'm fine. It broke the skin, but hardly." She smiles.

"Glad to know you're okay, but...you said this world was connected to the dream world, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"So Ashes is still Angel's slave?"

"Yes, I just don't think she realizes yet. And I hope she doesn't until we can cure it."

"And if we can't?"

"Then..." She pauses, looks into space, then collapses into my lap.