Hoshor Plains junebug, what have you done? [m]

Riley hadn't done any of what the doctor ordered. No lying low or taking it easy. He was obsessed with doing his best to impress Esme, and Esme's affections were very hard won.

He had limped from their meeting spot out into the plains, following after a scent of what seemed to be injured, easy game.

His stomach snarled and commanded he pursue, so he did -- salivating as he came upon the hunched, bleeding form of --

A child.

Riley stopped, ears pulling back in confusion. He licked his lips in uncertainty, looking around the small clearing for either a parent, or the creature that had done this. He was too wary to let his guard down. Rather than approach the whimpering girl, Riley nosed slowly around her. He found no recent scent in the grass, but there was a pervasive, wrong scent along her spine that had his fur lifting on end in discomfort.

He ceased his inspection of the area, settling one crocodilian eye on the child. It was not within his .. ah .. alignment, to eat her -- but how he wished she had been a rabbit instead of whatever horrible, sorry thing she was now.

Riley had never been one for comforting, but what could he do now? He couldn't very well leave her to whatever hideous thing it was that had... well, done that. A shudder paced down his spine, a chill settling in his ribcage as he looked from girl to moving shadows, waiting -- hoping -- her family would somehow appear and he could pass her off with no guilt on his conscience.