[For once, he actually genuinely laughs.]

No way. More like I was alive for years and on the run for years and ended up in a dragon cave for half a day. I think the dragon was more surprised by the two of us than we were of it. Wasn't the last dragon I went up against either.

[...but...] ...but you're not wrong about that. [He misses Thalia like crazy, but he sure did screw that up. Oh well.]