your voice cracks like a piano

Yeah, that was about what he expected. It was Avella's words though, floating over from a small distance, that actually caused Clouse abashment. His ears snapped down against his skull and his resolution wavered, but only briefly. The child stuck to his guns.

"I wasn't looking for her," he defended himself against them both, "I tried to run but sand sucks and then she was all--," he hesitated, realizing Ellery might not want them, Scully in particular, to know about her rare moment of emotional weakness.

"Look, she's not gonna make us go back. She said we could stay and... and they'll even come with us. Elle, Uncle Ram, dad," he looked between them both with earnest eyes, trying to help them see that this was good news as quickly as he could.

"It'd be easier to get through Winter all together, right?"

This last appeal went specifically to Avella, a nod to their conversation about how hard things might get for the three of them when the season changed. It was getting close, even Clouse could feel it; something in the weather was about to turn.