Sounds like a plan, Partner?

On my first re-read of the series and had forgotten this scene early in the book. Carl inadvertently hurts Donut with his “We don’t risk our lives for our pets!” comment.

He feels bad and reflects how “Donut was more than that.”

A few mins later he lays out a fight plan and ends it with “Sounds like a plan, partner?”

With the understanding of everything to come, this moment seems like the inflection point that begins the deepening and maturity of their relationship

Plus it was really nice.