"Mine?" Ariel felt like a fool repeating everything she said. "How could I have one of these when I'm not ..." He trailed off. He'd intended to say not one of you, but that would have been rude, and he didn't want to be rude to Petit when he was on terra firma, never mind in this strange place.
Still, he held out his hand, examining the small thing. It was about the length of his entire hand, as thin as about two fingers, and definitely in the shape of some kind of caterpillar. It made the same chirping noise, tilting its head upward, then winding itself around his hand. He had to laugh.