Carver smiled a tiny bit and leaned into her friend's back. He was pretty sweet, for all he was misreading the situation. But at least his exuberance prevented the skellington from pushing the envelope. She didn't acknowledge Jack again as they headed for the Big Pumpkinhead.

"I'm glad I can stay, too. It's much more fun with you than running around doing errands for people." Carver patted him on the shoulder before detaching herself from him to slink up the twisted vines at the base of the monolithic gourd toward its mouth.