<Yes,> sighs Bella. <They are. Anyway. Right now one of us is observing the entrance to a cult hideout to see if there's anything worth overhearing. When we know enough to formulate a plan, we can go in, do some damage, go out.>

Coo coo. Trouble is halfway through his stolen cookie.

"So - what would I do? I'm not a ninja or anything."

<I don't know yet. I don't know what I'm going to need. But you already know a lot, and I don't want you getting curious and starting to ask random possible cult members ->

"I would not!"

<Don't interrupt me. You might know that, Iago here might believe you, I need to balance risks as best I can and I don't know you. Right now you know too much and the only benefit is that Iago gets snuggles. You could be an asset, instead of walking disaster potential.>

Trouble coos and snuggles up to Rhea's nearest arm.

Rhea hugs him. "I'm not gonna hurt you guys."

<I'm not thrilled about betting my life on it. But since I don't have a choice about that, I'm trying to see if I can salvage anything useful out of the situation.>

"If you want me to, like, tell you if I notice the Sharing doing... stuff... I can do that."

Snuggle snuggle.

"You're probably not going to turn me into a pooka though so I can't be all that useful."

<I might, if I decide I can trust you, but not instantly just because Iago told you some secrets, no.>

"Are you like the leader pooka?"

<Something like that.>

<Yeah, something like,> says Trouble.

"Complicated pooka social structure?"

<Exceedingly.>

Snuggle snuggle cookie.

<I'm not going to push you into a decision you might reverse yourself on later. You don't have to decide now.>

"Well... that's good, I guess. Can Iago still be my pooka buddy?"

<Yeah,> he says, cooing and snuggling up.

<Yep.> Because "trying to stop him would be an exercise in futility" is needlessly combative.

"...Okay. Oh wow, this is such a young adult paranormal romance novel or something."

Trouble giggles.