[For a while, he just combs his fingers through the creature's fur. He's not somebody who stops and thinks very often. Nothing ever made him do that much before he came here. He gets the feeling, somehow, that the beast is patient.]

I don't know what you are or what you can do. You're not like any of the other magic monsters here. You're something bigger.

The thing that brought us here. Was that you?

[Carter doesn't really expect an answer. This isn't somebody you can hurt until you get what you want to hear.]

Cause if it was...

[He breathes in deep, steadying himself.]

I guess I owe you one.