[It... surprises him to hear her say that. A little. He's not actually Pachinko's dad -- god, his brother just asked for a basket of kittens, Pachinko doesn't even have a dad for all he knows -- but he guesses it makes sense that she'd think that. He doesn't correct her; something in him senses her fear, feathered across the soft, ghostlike whisper she makes. Cats have good ears. The problem is, other things probably do, too.]
[For a paralyzing moment, Ichimatsu is overcome again with the instinct to just get her out of here. He braces himself against it. If he panics now, he'll just... just make everything worse for her. Instead, he keeps angling his ears this way and that, listening for the sound of fur brushing against leaves, claws scoring over stone and roots. He doesn't hear it. Which means now's as good a time as ever to move.]
[Using his free hand, he tugs the glowing pendant off and holds it out in front of him like a tiny lantern. Squeezing Ren's hand, Ichimatsu starts moving forward.]
no subject
[For a paralyzing moment, Ichimatsu is overcome again with the instinct to just get her out of here. He braces himself against it. If he panics now, he'll just... just make everything worse for her. Instead, he keeps angling his ears this way and that, listening for the sound of fur brushing against leaves, claws scoring over stone and roots. He doesn't hear it. Which means now's as good a time as ever to move.]
[Using his free hand, he tugs the glowing pendant off and holds it out in front of him like a tiny lantern. Squeezing Ren's hand, Ichimatsu starts moving forward.]
[Towards home.]