Easily.

[ asriel is glad to know he doesn't need to compensate for anything, and his tone warms as he gestures with a tilt of his head in the leopard's direction. ]

Nothing gets past Stelmaria.

[ that warmth is for her alone, and he isn't shy about his fondness for his daemon; given the nature of their arrival in this place, he's especially grateful not to be here alone. asriel is used to things going his way and if they don't, he has ways of being persuasive. his contingency plans had contingency plans, but being thrown out of one world and into the earth of another never entered into his wildest imaginings. it shouldn't be possible. not knowing what they're in for shakes him more than he cares to admit.

but that's something for the two of them to discuss later. for now, there is work to do. ]

No daemons in your world then, I suppose? It's surprisingly common.

[ he thinks for a moment, scanning their surroundings. he knows others will likely emerge given the ongoing disturbances in the soil, but he's already decided that's none of his business. ]

In any case, there are answers out there. Shall we find some?