Lion Head Mesa break me off a piece of that… fancy feast

A series of exotic words poured from the woman’s mouth. Frolic’s eyes grew wide.

I don’t know what most of those words mean, she confessed, still sotto voce.

Inji wanted to find something to help with her bloody nose. Frolic bobbed her head and skipped alongside the coyote. She had never met a stranger and blindly trusted anyone older than her (which was pretty much everyone).

I’m from, she began, speaking loudly again but quickly catching herself. I’m from Brecheliant. It’s that way. Frolic paused to point, then admitted, I kinda ran away from home. Not forever! Just for a little bit, while my family’s sleepin’.

She gazed ahead, unable to see much in the dark. It belatedly dawned on her that she’d trespassed. Frolic gulped and glanced at Inji, though she didn’t seem particularly upset. She would take that as a cue that she wasn’t in trouble… with this lady, at least.

Frolic totally intended to scamper back home before sunrise, to avoid being caught. She hadn’t realized that was her plan until this very moment, which necessitated announcing it.

I’m gonna go home before the sun comes up! she cheerfully declared. Then, Do you know when the sun comes up?