“Thank you,” Salem said, touched at how they’d included him so easily. “I do so appreciate it.”
“Here, have some toast,” Kellan said, sliding a plate onto the table. “Salem, do you have any preferences?”
“Ah, not particularly,” he said, trying to be polite. “I’m grateful for anything.”
Aurin pulled Salem over to the small dining table, sat him in a chair, then promptly sat on his lap. “He likes most things,” Aurin said.
“Like cheese and sardines,” Dylan said with a cheeky smirk. “You ate that a lot.”
Salem laughed. “I did. I do like both of those, and I appreciated it every time.”
Dylan sat on a chair, folding one leg up under himself. “Weren’t you tempted to be human and, like, raid the fridge or something?” He asked. “Have some leftover pizza or make yourself some toast?” He quickly spread some Vegemite on a slice of toast and took a bite.
Aurin spread some peanut butter on a piece and offered Salem a bite first. “He loves peanut butter,” he declared.
Salem smiled as he chewed and swallowed. “I do.” Then he felt the need to explain. “I lived mostly on fish and molluscs for many years, so when humans first came here, I had cooked fish.”
“Ugh,” Hendrix said. “Humans.”
They all chuckled.
“Yes,” Salem agreed. “But with them came campfires to sleep next to. I liked that very much.” Then he added, “And not all humans were terrible. Sawyer was very kind to me. It was how I knew he was a good human.”
“How they treat animals when no one is looking,” Kellan said.
“Exactly.” Salem let out a sigh. “It says a lot about them.”
Aurin chuckled. “Unlike Ciaran.”
Salem glowered, and Dylan clapped his hands with a laugh. “Oh my god, what did he do?”
Aurin, still sitting on Salem’s lap, ran his hand through Salem’s hair, and explained, “He gave him tinned cat food, and when he refused to eat it, he put him outside.”
“In the rain,” Salem added.
They all laughed.
And laughed and laughed. Salem had to admit, it was funny. Now. It wasn’t funny then.
Aurin sighed and put his half-eaten toast back on the plate.
“Are you not hungry anymore?” Salem asked. “You need to eat, my love.”
He scrunched up his cute little nose. “My stomach is still blergh.”
Dylan sighed and melted against Hendrix. “Aww, he called him ‘my love.’ That’s the sweetest thing ever.”
“He is the sweetest thing ever,” Aurin said, leaning back and resting his head against Salem’s neck. “And I’m so glad we don’t have to hide anymore.”
Salem rubbed his back. “It is a relief,” he agreed. “I’m so grateful that everyone has accepted me. I’m sorry for the subterfuge. It was never about trust or dishonesty.”
“It’s okay,” Hendrix said. “We get it. Just glad you’re okay, that Cern could fix you.”
Kellan put a cup of black tea in front of Aurin. “Drink this,” he said gently. “It will help settle your stomach.”
Aurin picked it up and sniffed it before taking a sip and putting it back on the table. “Yeah, that’s not great either.”
“I can’t believe you’re still wrecked,” Dylan said. “Though from what Tobin showed us of Salem’s memory, I’m not surprised. You were drunk dancing, my friend.”
