The voice that came was not her mothers, and it made her head snap so quickly the rest of her body seemed to follow, paws scrambling against the earth before she caught herself. Her amber eyes found the stranger and widened, though he had lowered himself nearer to the ground it did very little to convince her that he couldn't swallow her whole if he wanted. Her little ears flattened and she only stared at first. He hadn't even come close enough to touch her, and somehow that made him harder for her to understand. Ranyin knew what to do with things that frightened her, knew better what to do with things that couldn't care less.
She was so young, and yet didn't know what to do with something that approached her with softness. Ranyin shifted her paws beneath herself, trying to stand a little taller.
.... I know where it is
she lied.
Her gaze slipped past him toward the trees as though home might suddenly reveal itself if she looked convincing enough and her jaw set.
She wasn't lost. If she were lost someone would be looking for her.
The thought made something sour curl through her stomach, she looked at the man again with a bitterness that had little to do with him. He was watching her now, at least. Really watching her. That should have felt good but it only made her suspicious.
Why?
she asked then her nose twitching taking a single cautious step backwards.
You gonna tell my mama?
there was accusation in her question, as though he might be conspiring against her. Ranyin stared at him expectantly for another moment before her expression pinched.
She don't care...
the declaration came quickly, rehearsed as something she had already decided must be true. Her gaze dropped toward her paws and a far less convincing mutter
So I don't care neither
