[ He considers her question. He props one hand under his chin, reaching over to take one of the pretzels and eating it while he thinks about it. He hadn't really thought about including her before. After all, as far as he knew before - she was a girl who was murdered. But now, from what he knows of her, she's a lot more than that.

She's not a damsel or anyone in need of saving, in his opinion. She had done the saving then, and she helped to save them all now.

He's sure without some of her guidance, he and others certainly would have died.

This helps to form his response. ]

In stories like mine, there's also several characters needed to help solve a puzzle. To put the pieces together in order to, well, win. I feel like you would be the time who would help them click those final pieces together. Who would make sense of the pieces that they have. You'd be a problem solver.

While you're not a main character, it's important to have you. No problems would be solved without you there.

[ His words say a lot about what he thinks she did, without saying it directly, which is how he prefers. He doesn't want to admit to how much he - and everyone - owe her. ]