Lake Rodney little boy blue and the man in the moon

Whether it was his presence, his shouting, or both, the stranger startled and tried to scramble away from him. He gaped for a second, his ears slicking backward as she fumbled and gasped. Chagrined, Caracal made a placating motion with one of his forelegs, backing up a step.

She stilled and spoke, her words prompting a baffled, Huh? from the young boy. She said something else, though her voice was so quiet and there was a strangeness to her words, Caracal only just barely grasped what she’d said.

You’re all right? he repeated, just to double check, then squinted. You don’t look all right, he pointed out, thinking again of Towhee. -“Nothing’s the matter, I’m just tired.”- Caracal snorted, both at the recollection, and at this stranger’s conspicuous untruth.

But he hadn’t meant to frighten her and he didn’t want to be a jerk. Softening, he said, I want to help. Saying those four words made something click inside him. Caracal peered down at her bowed head and felt a powerful rush of determination. I want to help you, he repeated firmly, lowering his own head to sniff tentatively closer.