Meadowlark Prairie Why are you keeping this curiosity door closed?

Her query went unanswered; instead, she herself was questioned, which displeased her. Still, it was well within the bluntly curious nature of a child to ask such a thing, and so Maegi took a short, steadying inhale, staring down at the boy. A very bad wolf tore my face open, when I was around your age, she explained.

And as she said it, she caught a note in his scent that was quite familiar to her. Her gaze became intrigued, wary—though not angry, per se.

Where are your parents? Maegi asked, brows drawing together. Why are you out here all on your own?

Had something happened? Nyx had never seemed the type to let children of hers run amok—the Apaata had always been a fairly maternal creature, in Maegi's view. Or maybe this was some sick decoy; perhaps the boy had been sent to distract them from a coming ambush. She waited for the pup's response, anxiety mounting within her.