"Or Mothwing! I've still not made her acquaintance, but I should hate to trouble her." The water's started boiling; after another few moments to confirm that the boil has begun in earnest, Laertes scrapes the meat in with the flat of his knife and then sets about washing the knife and cutting board.

Szarka, completely abandoned by her new parents, rolls back onto her feet and toddles off to examine the nearby entryway, which smells of Boot and Dirt and Outside and other interesting things.