Cedar Sweep Black swan

Ker snorted, rolling his eyes as she prattled on. Oh, how gracious of you, he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. Poor little things, tainted by frost... Seems you aren't the only thing tainted in these woods.

The jab was unnecessary, but it put a grin on his face. He was beginning to enjoy this back-and-forth. Conversations were rarely fulfilling, yet she was an oddity, a welcome change from the usual monotony.

The shift in her demeanor didn’t go unnoticed, only widening his grin. Keeping his pace slow and deliberate, he trailed behind the silver dame, intent on needling her further. Prickly little thing, aren't you, dear? That's so unbecoming. Shame on you.

Amusement flickered in his eyes as he watched her flit after her fragile flowers. He wasn’t usually one to toy with fire, but curiosity gnawed at him. He wanted to see more of her oddities, to witness her strangeness firsthand. A dangerous endeavor? Perhaps. But it was a risk he was willing to take.