"A dreadful shame." He's quiet a moment, watching as a little Henry paw comes up into his field of vision to bat his cage. Then remembers he's supposed to say something in these situations. "...I'm sorry for your loss." It's a little wooden in its delivery, but he's trying. Friendship is new and strange!

"Is this why you have designated your beast friend as a new brother?" A fresh level of awkwardness, this. Why is human interaction so difficult and nuanced?