Esca can apparently understand at least some of what's going on, and woofs softly again.

Aaren smiles warmly again. "Can you stand?"

Yeah, that is a question, isn't it. She gives Esca another pet and then tries it.

She's very wobbly.

Esca stands carefully with her close enough, and in fact tall enough, that she could use him to steady herself. (And how had a dog this big made himself seem so small?)

Drex shifts to his knees, watching carefully in case she's going to fall.

With Esca's help, she manages it. She grins, to herself, when she does. "Good-good-good," she mutters, petting him.

Esca pants happily, tail wagging.

Drex rises to his feet carefully, shifting himself backwards to give Denice more space.

"My car's at the end of the alley," Drex says. (Ange had been sorting that while he did this, given Aaren didn't have his.)

...okay. (She's heard of cars...)

Aaren takes the keys off Drex and goes ahead of them to unlock the car and open the back door.

Drex steps to the side, but will keep at Denice's pace as they follow after Aaren.

She's not fast by any means, it's taking a good bit of effort for her just to stay upright, but she makes it to the end of the alley without incident.

The door to the backseat is open immediately ahead of her. Esca gently nudges her towards it.

She freezes at the threshold. (There are straps. Why are there straps. Oh no.)

Drex is nowhere near her, is stepping further away, towards the driver's side door. He pauses, looking back at her, follows her gaze.

"Seat belt," he explains. "In case there's a collision."

Not actually reassuring.

She sways, and lowers herself to the ground again rather than risk falling.

He watches for a moment, and then lowers himself to sitting. "There's another way we could travel," he tells her. "But I thought this would be less scary. I guess I was wrong?"

...maybe?

"Magic's real," Drex says bluntly. "And I know someone who could move us from here to home."

She blinks, less surprised at the revelation than she should be, and nods.

"Would that be better?" he asks, just to make sure. "We'd just step through a portal and be there?"

She nods again. "Yeah."

"Okay," he agrees, looks up-

"I've text Ange, she says two minutes, I'll take your car back to mine and one of you can pick it up later."

Drex nods. "M'fraid you're gonna have to get up again. Would you like my arm to help steady you?"