M-Bot deflates slightly, before drifting back to V's side.

V, meanwhile, simply picks up the conversational lead again: "An awareness and reactiveness to stimuli, mainly - a city, or a forest, or a body of water, simply knows when someone new has entered, and if that person is hostile it can act to defend itself."

They shrug. "I am not a specialist on their mannerisms, however. I only know so much about them from personal experience."

They lift a paw, balancing on just three for a moment, then settle back down.

"... Are you willing to spot for me? I should practice shifting back."

It was smarter to have more eyes looking out for them, pain or no pain.