Josef opened the door. Shaxx filled the hallway beyond.

"You look tired," said the Crucible handler. "But I have just the thing to get you buzzing."

"No time for the Crucible," Josef dissembled. "Another day."

"I'll hold you to that. But that's not what I meant."

Josef said nothing.

"I was speaking with Saladin," Shaxx continued. "We were remembering all the people we left behind over the years. Your name came up."

"Oh yeah?"

Shaxx held out a cardboard box, perforated with large holes. "The Valus asked me to deliver this."

Josef opened the box. At the bottom, in a nest of cloud accretions, were two sleeping war beast pups.

"They're not replacements," Shaxx explained, "but we hope they bring some light back into your life."

"They're perfect," Josef said, his voice tender. "Thank you."

"See them settled. Then I expect you back in the Crucible to teach MY pups a thing or two."