Were you talking to that dog just now?

  “I was,” Ever said. He was huddled up in the corner of the treehouse. With his feet, he pushed himself as far in as he could, wincing at the pain. Wind sloshed in, filling up the wooden structure and spilling out the window.

  Why did you turn back into human mode?

  Ever was silent for a moment, his eyes closed. In the darkness he smiled, then inexplicably he laughed. Immediately, he felt the stabbing in his ribs again. Still, he laughed. Not uproariously but as much as the pain would allow him.

  Are you laughing right now?

  “Shall I answer your questions in order or in reverse, Mentor?” Ever asked. The question was snatched out of his mouth by the frantic gale and disposed of, as if it were a lit fuse.

  Are you talking back at me?

  Yet another question! Ever laughed a bit harder in defiance of the pain; he would need a pen and paper soon. He didn’t know why he was laughing. All he knew was that in a strange way, he was feeling better.

  “How do I communicate with you if I cannot talk back at you?” He murmured.

  No… Death tsked. There’s a difference between ‘talking back at’ and ‘talking to’

  “Why?”

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  I don’t know! Ever could faintly hear angry robe ruffling. He’d probably thrown his arms in the air, pacing away from his desk. Anyway, you should go back to reaper mode. It will dull the pain.

  “But will it heal it?”

  His mentor was silent. Ever slowly slid out one leg, keeping the other bent. As much as the pain hurt, he liked it. It focused his mind; every single brain cell had to turn its attention to this injury and couldn’t think about other things, like when certain people might be disappearing overseas.

  You’re probably laughing because you’re still in a bit of shock. It’s a human response to trauma.

  Trauma. It sounded like a bad word. Ever would have asked what it meant, but he found himself suddenly quite tired.

  “Why can I understand animals, Mentor?” Ever asked quietly.

  I don’t know, Death said flatly. He wasn’t able to hide the annoyance in his tone. Ever knew that it wasn’t directed at him. It’s a bit weird I guess but who knows, it might become useful for your reapings.

  Ever’s eyes were closed. “Mentor…”

  Yes?

  He thought of the dog in the alley. Look after yourself, he had told her. He had seen plenty of dogs in the ice cream shop, but they were all on leashes and belonged to people. Did this one have a collar? He scrunched up his eyes in an effort to remember.

  You should get some rest and see a doctor tomorrow.

  “A doctor?” Ever slurred. “I can’t I have to go to work…”

  Death chuckled. This vacation’s been perfect for your apprenticeship, you sound just like a depressed human.

  “Mentor,” Ever murmured. He lay on his good side, curling up into the fetal position. “Do animals go to the Underworld?”

  Whether Death answered or not, he didn’t know.