[It is some sign of growth, Devin muses distantly, that any discomfort with the embrace is due more to unfamiliarity than his training now. He sets this aside to examine later, as Aly needs to be the center of his focus.

He circles his arms across her back and shoulders, a bit less tightly than her grip but still solid, protective. This close, it's relieving to smell that the blood isn't what he recognizes as human. Why Aly would have animal blood at her mouth-- well, she had shown up in the forest that one time decidedly four-legged. That's got to be related somehow.

What does he even say? For a little while Devin is silent, searching for words that don't sound hollow in his own head.]

I've got you, [is what he murmurs softly, almost into her hair. He has questions, but they'll keep.]