He swatted a hand in her direction. "Maybe you've been in existence longer than Earth, but until your back pops in four places when you stand up, you're not old. Old is different!"

He grinned at her like a fox. She was fun to banter with. It made his ears hot. He laughs too and sucks in a lungful of spring air.

"We should start packing up if we want to make it to town."