Sam lifted his paws up to observe them again, for the umpteenth time.
"S-so this is my life now," he said as more of a statement than a question.
He sniffed the air without much of a thought about it. He wasn't sure, nor could he explain, why the guide's scent made him feel at ease. It was as though the scent came from a happier time in his life long past. What happy time, he couldn't recall. He didn't remember the last time he was so at ease. All the sleepless nights and cold concrete had done drained away any hope he thought he'd had left, but now-.... Could he really start all over again? Would things be better here... in this new place... with this new body... and this new life?
He pocketed his paws and tightly clutched the yarn doll he knew as 'Wilson.' Anything he could have wanted to go back for, he already had right there with him: his best friend. He somehow already knew what Wilson would say, if Sam had asked him what he thought. Wilson had been optimistic. The doll knew that anything that happened from where they were, only a few days ago, could only get better. Sam agreed.
Nowhere to go but up, he thought.
Sam twitched and got to his feet and slowly approached the guide. He moved close enough so that only she could her him. His gaze was cast downward, never looking her in the eye. "I-I can't afford anything in town," he admitted quietly. "W-what's it like, this p-place?"