Grouse Thicket 'cause i'm a dragonslayer, girl

As soon as she recovered from the initial shock, Masque backpedaled. The stranger did the very same thing, putting a small but comforting distance between them. She planted her feet where she now stood, long tail held rigidly at a parallel angle with the rest of her body and shoulders slightly hunched. She kept her eyes on him, ears pricking to catch his words of frantic apology.

I’m fine, she reported, relaxing ever so slightly and standing up straighter for it. Just caught me off guard a bit, Masquerade admitted, pausing for a beat before rejoining, Are you alright?