Emberflame Ridge schneemusik

Mali would never be accused of trusting adults, even if he almost was one.  He bared his teeth, growling defensively as he still tried to push deeper into the branches, trying to worm his way around by feel so he could try to stare down Mahler. You're chasing me.  For no reason.  Probably want to kill me and leave me in a ditch so they'll like you for getting rid of their problem.  Because he hadn't been believed.  Again.  It was always those stupid women that for some bizarre reason got benefit of the doubt, no matter who it was.  The truth didn't even seem to matter, just whether or not some dainty women said it was reality.  His father had even seemed to have given up on them.  Mali and his sister were almost entirely neglected at this point, about all they were given was a bleak right to maybe exist -- as long as they didn't trample on preferred toes.