Ryker just sighed.

"It's true. You've been dealt a rather unfair lot in life." he said.

"But everyone leaves everyone else at some time." he told him. "Nothing lasts forever. Not even me. Not really." he continued.

"At some point in the very near future, my soul is going to actually mesh with the demon's, and we'll need to start the retaking of his kingdom, his realm. And that will take an unfathomable amount of time." he went on.

"However, I think the trick is to stop looking at the bigger picture sometimes. Ignore the forest, and look at the trees." he then told Eke. "However brief it might be, make sure your presence made the lives of everyone you touched better." he said.

"I remember, a long time ago, when I was younger, I was told something. I didn't understand it then, thought it was pointless, worthless talk. But I think I get it now." he suddenly said further.

"It was 'Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.'..."

Ryker just looked at him and sighed quietly.

"It's not dumb." he said.

"Mortality is just a heavy and scary subject, and it's understandable to get caught up in it. Sometimes people get too focused on it." he told Eke further.

"Especially when they have circumstances like yours." he went on.

"Just remember that you have people that love the fact you're in their lives." he then said. "Live every day to the fullest." he continued.

"It's kinda like a sausage. Not about how long it is, but how much you pack into it." he added with a laugh.

"But I'm no philosopher."

The laughing fit got Savra's attention, and Ryker just groaned.

"I know, I know." he said.

"I'm bad at metaphors." he mumbled, smirking a little.

Savra noticed how happy Eke was, and smiled.

Ryker could only sigh in response, and smile slightly.

"Well, at least my poor analogies bring SOME good." he said.

"That's all that matters." he reasoned.

"Glad you're feeling better." he added, as Savra licked Eke's cheek.

Savra was intelligent and could speak, but they were still an animal. And a very canine-like one at that.

When Eke used his claws to scritch all over them, they rolled onto their back, and when Eke started on the tummy area, he noticed that Savra's leg was just a-kickin' out rapidly.

Ryker saw this too, and chuckled.

"Heh. Look at that." he said.

"Guess we know what they like."

Savra cuddled up against Eke, and Ryker swore he saw them smile.

"Heh." he chuckled.

"Well, we'll find a place to get clothing." he said.

"And then we'll head home." he told them further.

"I'll find us some nice places to bed down for the couple night we'll need to rest, too."

Savra made soft happy noises as Eke cuddled up to them and started petting them.

Ryker just smiled a little as Eke said what he did.

"Good." he said.

"That's all that matters." he told him.

"Means this entire trip, even if cut shorter than expected, was 100% a success."

All Savra did was smile at Eke and continue to back in the scritches they were receiving, as Ryker kept driving, and gave Eke a small thumb-up in response.

"We're lucky to have you." he told him.

"You are amazing to have in our lives." he said.

Savra nodded as they continued to make little happy noises.

"And we love you too, Eke." Ryker responded.

He then noticed that Eke was starting to drift back to sleep, and nodded to himself.

'No rush.' he thought.

He would find a mall parking lot and stop there, and wait for Eke to wake up. Once he did, they would go in and find the clothing store for Savra, and the food court for all of them.

He figured he would let Eke be comfortable and happy. His brother deserved it.

"Mall parking lot." Ryker responded, putting the book he'd been reading down, a copy of Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'. He placed a bookmark in it, and looked at Eke with a smile.

"Got here about 40 minutes ago." he told him.

"Figured I'd let you two sleep for a bit longer." he reasoned.

"But there's a food court and a clothing store in this mall." he then said. "We can grab Savra some clothing, and a bite to eat for all of us while we're in there." he explained.

"Then we'll be on the road again until we find a place to set up for the night."