"I will tend to your fur in a moment. Here," he unroll his bedding and fluffs it a bit, patting a space for her to lie down. "Let me get the water gathered, and I'll be back shortly."

By the time he has returned the fire is going, and getting water on to boil and finding something to cook - there are dehydrated things that will come easily back into a more edible form with hot water added - and he fetches a comb from his bag, settles in to stretch out his legs, patting his lap now.

"This will at least be easier than trying to preen all those feathers."