[Hector sits up, shrugs his shoulders, and scrubs his hands across his face.]

I'll be fine. I keep strange hours.

[He stands, and the animals dance around his feet on his way to the back door. They rush out. The wild ones will see to their own needs. The dogs go out to run around the well and sniff at various landmarks.]

They don't need as much as they did in their first lives, but they can eat. Cesar will beg shamelessly for scraps when he comes back in. Harden your heart.

[Because he's noticed you melting when you look at him, Alucard.]