Honestly, they're aware, even exchanged the word to make it official. They just haven't had the greatest reaction from people when calling a spirit a "friend", plus it feels more personal than calling Crowley or Scarlett a friend. "Contact" is safer all right. "Maybe. I hope so. There are other possibilities." Worse ones, like they're being forced to fight somewhere, too. Or changed somehow, over the course of the events. Or killed. Spirits can be killed. The Soldier has been doing it for two days.

The Soldier shakes their head. "If they come back after, I'll ask them. For now, I'm not going out into the woods to look harder. I'm not stupid. And I have work to do here."