Ashley fell out of the dreadful trance she’d involuntarily entered. Relieved to have something to divert her attention to, she welcomed her familiar in a loving embrace. Per his request, he was enlarged back to his actual size and cocooned her in the warmth she desperately desired at the time. He rested his head on top of hers and squeezed her in a way that was meant to be comforting. She appreciated his efforts, yet she couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t enough. She needed something else, someone else (two, really), but she kept her thoughts to herself and quietly basked in her familiar’s caring attention.