It must indeed be warm where the kiarrcats live, to only have snow in the middle of winter. Orcelito’s smile eases. “I live on a mountain where it snows from autumn through spring. It’s colder than here.”

He’s noticed talking about home tends to relax people… and kiarrcats. Arj’s quieter tone and stretching are a welcome sight; he looked too tense before.

“I’ve always wanted to see a desert. There aren’t many in my country.” And Orcelito would rather hear about other’s homes than talk about his own. “I’ve heard they’re quite extraordinary. What’s yours like?”