"I am part of the problem," Arhu huffed impatiently, giving his still-wet tail a lash, this time, rather than just a flick. "I'm just as out of place as everyone else who's gone through this gate without knowing it. And I can't go back until I know more about what's going on."

He turned quickly to lick his shoulders one more time, then hopped down off the fountain's ledge. "If you aren't going to help me, then I'll just start looking myself."