Lion Head Mesa I keep catching little words but the meaning's thin

She let out a quiet snort at his response, not quite a rebuttal but certainly disbelief. A reason. I don't think there is one. Anansi's tail came suddenly to her mind; she wanted it gone, gone, and blinked back tears. Some vengeful god or another. And there's no prey—we're all starving. Real cheerful, Maegs.

The Nona cocked her head, breathing in his scent. I don't know you, she said rhetorically, tail raising just a fraction. My borders are just back there. Who are you? Where do you come from? The questions weren't delivered in too harsh of a tone, but she was curious. Strangers made her nervous. Everything, these days, made her nervous.

And Maegi didn't think she was at all crazy for that.