'She would incinerate it,' Althea pointed out. She wasn't going to add that dragging dead animals to her elemental's feet was something she was necessarily capable of doing, because it should have been obvious. 'You're talking too much,' she concluded in a tone that somehow included an audible eyeroll. Her interest in the furry mammal was waning. There was an elemental and a human-snake to monitor. And the dog was rude.
"I am far more concerned about her trying to give him a hug," Madeleine muttered through gritted teeth. Except you're going to leave him alone. 'He was rude to me.' Oh, grow up. She reminded herself that the water she was pouring was for Knight; it was not invading her home. Besides which, the fact she was also boiling water ought to have cancelled out the effect of it's presence. No, she wasn't even going to try to pretend she was being logical. "I have issue enough with telepaths." She put the water out for Knight, managing to simultaneously thrust her hand into a kitchen drawer to bring out replacement candles. She had time enough to light them; she had put too much water in the kettle. 'You need to calm down.' "Snakes who voice my every thought as well as their own," she ranted, each candle sparking alight as she stabbed it into its holder, "are just as bad." Or worse.
'And the fireplaces need more wood.'
It was almost tempting to find more wood just so she could start the fire burning and then possibly try to climb into it. But that was a little extreme. Familiars were supposed to be helpful. She just needed to adjust. 'Could you adjustadaptacclimatise faster?' Madeleine stuck her hand in one of the flames. "You're going to run out of relevant vocabulary." With one of her mother's mantras playing through her head, she turned back to Zaviar and tried to breath steadily. "Sorry, did you want tea or water?" This would be far easier if she were alone in her head, although she was getting the impression Althea had pointedly turned her attention elsewhere.
'How do you know she is comfortable?' The snake was quite determined she would have her answer because Madeleine was not going to give it.