Jack be nimble; Jack be quick. 'Jack' stepped backwards with sudden celerity, as if utterly repulsed by the notion of being touched. Grabbed. Reached for. Interacted with. Her ruse depended on many things and being beyond contact was one of them.

"Thun-der-axe. Threw a shoe. Coming home." No, not home. "Coming back. Make it better!" She gesticulated forcefully at the mount in question. Her only friend. She hated to see him hobbled in any way.