Always bringing home strays

Valentine felt Illie shift her weight and he turned his head to look at her just in time to see her slide gracelessly off his back. The groan that followed had him concerned for a second, but the chuckle and quip that came soon after eased his concern somewhat. She was still doing well enough to joke and that had to mean something. He grinned at her and twisted around to place a lick between her ears. "She'll be here any minute."

"Found yourself a long lost daughter eh? What did you do, screw a blue jay this time, Valentine?" Leave it to Cascade to make an entrance. Valentine's head snapped around so fast his neck complained. For a second he fixed wide, disbelieving eyes on her before his expression shifted and his eyes narrowed in what he hoped conveyed that now was not the time for man whore jokes. "Cascade," he hissed in a hushed voice as if the girl wasn't laying right next to him and well within earshot. Shush.

Careful not to disturb Illie, Valentine shifted around so he could see Cascade better. To her head said, "This is Illie. She washed up on the beach in Corpseghoul and isn't feeling very well. She's also having a hard time remembering things." He then turned to Illie. "Illie, this is Cascade. She's the friend I was telling you about. Can you tell her what's hurting?"