[Keith continued to watch the bird in barely concealed fascination. So much of his time since boarding the castle of lions had been spent running for his life. It was uncomfortably pleasant, and a little terrifying, to find that that bit of wonder for exploring new planets from garrison hadn't died out in the desert like he'd thought.]

I'll take your word on the fluff balls. Magic not really. As for monsters. . .

[He grit his teeth at the thought of purple skin and glowing eyes, not to mention the shudder as claws the size of buildings slammed into his ship's side.]

I'm more than familiar with monsters. Kind of wish this saving the universe thing wasn't so . . universal of a problem?

[There was something weird about what he'd just said, he knew it. It kind of reminded him of Lance and that weird chant he'd tried to make them do for some reason.]