Stone Circle "Swing for the fences, son." he must have told you once.

Accustomed as he was to violence (either around him or perpetrated upon him), he knew his place, and sank in to himself while the adults dealt with one-another. He did not realize as the sylvan man spoke it was to him until he dared a glance up to his eyes, which were focused upon the boy. Framed by the wiry limbs of Merrick.

Seeing... unfamiliar things can help you see what is right and what is wrong, the man went on to say, striking at the heart of the child; he withdrew further, pivoting his ears as if he were trying to block the hymns of something unholy, unaware that the man was trying to be of help.

Unsure of what to do - and certain he was in deeper trouble than Merrick's chilling smile may have let on - he did not want to interrupt; but he looked shyly to his guardian, watching light catch on the whiskers around his sneer, and then stared down at his feet.