[If Casey's goal was to stop Rue from crying, he's frankly doing an awful job at it.

The owlbear sniffles and cries quietly, leaning forward to bump their forehead affectionately into his, but there is no mistaking their tears as anything but the trembling emotion of their utter happiness. Even after the fear left behind in Peter's hurried scramble away, they feel light at Casey's words. To be held in such esteem, to be thought of as important like that, it takes Rue's breath away.]

I don't know what to say. It means so much to me that I've made any difference in your life, but the way you speak, it feels significant in a way I didn't anticipate.

[For Rue, they have always felt blessed to be included in these boys' lives, an honor they never could fully pay any of them back for. All of them gave Rue a reason to keep going on, even in their immense heartbreak, a reason to open their heart and trust again, even when that felt so utterly impossible in the wake of Hob's betrayal. Rue has spent so long feeling grateful for the chance to be involved in their lives, that they maybe forget how important a piece they've been for all of the boys too.

To hear Casey say it is startling.]

I never felt important to anyone until I met all of you boys.