“Oh, dear. Are you really so averse to the delightful treat known as the surprise? Either you’re coming with me, or you aren’t. You should be in it for the company, not for the destination – that’s just good manners. Did the humans fail to teach you good manners? Tch, what am I saying – of course they did. They failed you in every other respect. Of course they’d fail you in manners.”

She keeps muttering to herself, looking annoyed. She’s not really paying attention to you. Probably none of this is actually about you, no matter how much she might try to convince you otherwise.

[Well, just go with her.] 9.

[You intend to forge my own path. Tell her goodbye. For now, at least.] 10.