Hushed Willows As the smile fell from your face, I fell with it

She didn't give a verbal answer, though her facial expression told him the whole story. Tambourine giggled under his breath as he watched her little features twist in distaste, tongue scraping against her milk teeth as she spat the shredded wet heap onto the ground. That didn't seem to be good enough, for she began to wipe her face in the dirt. The boy's eyes widened and he bit his lip against a louder laugh at her amusing antics.

"Told'ja you weren't supposed to eat it," he said without malice, pale eyes dancing. "Hi," he automatically answered when she greeted him yet again, tail thumping even as her own, smaller appendage swiped the air. "Do you want to get a drink of water? Here. C'mere," Tambourine said, pressing himself upward onto all fours and pausing to make sure she was paying attention.

Tambourine then began walking, threading his way through the underbrush and keeping his pace slow so that she could keep up with him. He didn't lead her far astray, just headed toward the nearest stream and paused by a shallow bend. He motioned at the water and said, "Take a drink! It should help with the bad taste in your mouth."