The Heartwood don’t look down, don’t be afraid to fall

Riley thought of Laurel when Orochi turned, irascible and full of much of the same energy. He was used to such treatment, but it did not stop the riffle of his fur in surprise. He stepped back, his expression that of a scalded cat.

Several seconds passed, accompanied by the whirring clicks and clanks of Riley's brain as he processed it all. The boy's rage. The missing leg. The over-reaction. Even in his current state Riley thought the odds of losing against a tripod was slim.

"Why?" He asked, his voice so thick he sounded as stupid as he looked. "What's got your tail?" Except, it wasn't his tail -- it was his whole fuckin' leg.