[Seeing Billie play with the dog was enough for Perell to offer a soft smile and shakily sit down on his makeshift seat again. Wrapped up in blankets as he was, he knew he would need a little more coverage before they ventured into the city...]

I was swept out to sea, Billie, [He explained, casting a glance out at the frigid ocean that lapped up against the shores.] Not this one. The Sea of Graves.

And... I drifted for a while. Until--

[Cutting himself off with a look of displeasure, he shook his head. There were a great many ways he could describe what happened in those waters, but they all might be too florid, or too academic, for Billie to fathom. Instead:]

Until that water monster that we had to free you from took over my body and started work in a tower we washed up on. I think.. it may be Aquaria's...

[The thought of that creature stealing his face then defacing the tower of one of his best friends set his jaw tight. It made him angry to think of.]

It doesn't matter. He took my body from me-- but you, Tuck, and Vyng saved me. Again. I don't know how to thank you three for always having my back like that, even when it looks impossible.

[Especially when it looked impossible.]