[It is very hard to stop his smile from growing to see that tail thumping. It's adorable, and it's very tempting to say so. But Cliff is still Cliff and he doubts that will be taken well.

On the flipside, Cliff is likewise careful in his tone as he asks that question. He starts into motion alongside the wolf.]

They're alive. They're okay. We go down together or not at all. [Which... it occurs to him belatedly that that's not what Cliff is concerned about.]

Before that... we gave each other space. We cooled-- well, we found each other in the same place with intention to smash things, and then we cooled off. We talked. [He glances away.] They love me and I don't love myself. We have it in common. But we always work things out and we always take care of each other. Even without imminent doom to speed things up. We're okay.

[He glances back at last, no longer feeling the need to hide now that he plans to go a new topic, one that isn't something Cliff isn't unhappy with him over.]

I'm still disappointed they went after you. Besides the bigger problems, I also hoped you might be friends. At least friendly acquaintances. But I'll sooner wrangle love ballads from them than an apology they aren't ready to give. And I imagine you aren't happy either.