"You're not a coward either," X says, ignoring Zephyr's follow-up question completely, "and you're not panicking just because you've grown some scales. Tell me what's scaring you."

He doesn't raise his voice, never goes beyond gentle persistence. But he doesn't move, either. If anything, he's subtly planted his feet, prepared to try and resist a desperate dash for the door. He has no evidence, but X is pretty sure Zephyr isn't in his right mind, even disregarding the panic. And if Zephyr isn't doing this to himself, then the Dreaming is, and X would never forgive himself for backing down.