A verdant space of gold and green stretches out in every direction. Valko is already there when you arrive, lying back in the tall grass with his hands behind his head, tail fanned out beside him. He turns at the sound of you, and his whole face opens up, ears perking high.

“Hey, you,” he says brightly. “Knew you’d find your way back.” He pats the space behind him, his tail swishing to the other side of him to give you room, even though there’s an endless expanse of grass all around. Out here, there are no laboratories, no wanderers. Just this endless dream, suspended in deepspace, one that is almost enough to feel real.

“Don’t think too hard about it,” Valko murmurs when you lie down. He turns on his side to face you, a faraway ache behind his easygoing smile as his hand finds yours in the grass. He’s sure you’re warmer in the real world, softer too, but for now this is enough. “I’m sure we’ll meet soon.”

The dream is starting to fray at the edges already, silvery and wispy. “Hey, listen, I’m lookin’ for you out there, I swear.” He grins wolfishly. “You'll know me when you see me.”