"Hi, horse," Chase says, gently brushing the backs of his knuckles across the soft hide of Wren's nose as they pass. If he can possibly avoid referring to an animal by its actual name, then by God, he will.

"So you don't have any classes or training sessions or community projects or... stuff going on today?" He goes straight to the nearest of the empty kitchen chairs, mostly so he can lean forward with his elbows on his knees and greet Lucky again, getting an ear in each hand and ducking his head to mumble about what a good boy he is some more.