Starglow Basin Terrible things

he was fearful, and that made sense. she watched with pitying eyes as he backed away, sucking in one cheek in despairing thought. god, she thought, was this kid actually pulling her heart apart as they spoke? 

what was to be done?

you don't look fine, fiamma replied, words bouncing along her romantic accent. i won't hurt you, bambino. but tell me. . .where did you come from? why are you here?

she resisted the urge to glance sidelong at the dugout's entrance, afraid of soto's arrival. she knew the man would be averse to them speaking one-on-one for whatever reason; it was clear the boy was a prisoner of some kind of conflict that had injured sangre so gravely.

but with who? and why?

are you hungry? she asked, head tilting slightly to her left. food was a powerful motivator. perhaps if she brought him some, she could make a friend of him.