Somewhere on YouTube there is a video of a large dog coming nose to nose with a duckling that bears more than a passing resemblance to this exchange. The owlbear cub gets a delicate lick from the tip of a wolf-tongue, a friendly touch.

The woman's ease with his proximity to her companion has an effect on Fenrir. Acting like friends, not prey, softens some of his crueller instincts.

"I do not laugh often. I was the best friend of Death, until she lost the desire for friendship."