Larksong Grotto by starlight

a long stretch of quiet, tension pulled taut as she mulls over what to do with this fool. she should kill him now, just to be safe. perhaps sun eater has sent him to retrieve the children, to worm his way into their good graces and strike as they sleep.

but...she looks at him, and he is soft. gentle and pliant beneath her. something in her cold heart stirs, and she finds herself unwilling. he is hardly a threat, anyway. he speaks again, babbling nonsense about songs and bards and traveling. she puts a paw over his mouth, unimpressed.

"you talk too much. get up." she releases her hold and moves aside, still watching him with wary eyes and raised hackles.

once he has found his footing she circles him, a cold curiosity guiding her. she has not met a boy her own age in many months. are they all like this?

"you will tell me your name."