Horizon Ridge In between it's all messed up

The man spoke again; his gentle voice seemed empty of threat, though that did little to ease the boy's shaky breaths. Nevertheless, Mio did not run this time. 

Gunnar. A name. He knew he should reply. But what to say, and how to say it? Alas, the thought spiralled and twisted and fell, and was lost in a sea of others like a snowflake in a snowdrift before the ghost could catch it. "-help you with something?" Cherry eyes snapped back and he blinked once, twice at the stranger - no - Gunnar. 

"Um... I'm okay." His throat felt like sandpaper, the air rough as knives. The boy coughed dryly. Not the truth, but Mio did not want to burden such a kind man.

"Sorry... for earlier. I was just, um - you surprised me," he managed to add on, wincing slightly.