She studied him as he spoke, unaware of the fact that he could feel her eyes on him. He was certainly a strange-looking creature. Adrastea had spent her life surrounded by her kin -- they’d all looked the same, with their thick legs and dull dust-colored fur. Her honey-golden coat had been the most unusual characteristic of her family tree, and that was nothing compared to this creature’s flame-hues and lush mane.

Though distracted by his appearance, she hadn’t missed his words. She gave her shoulders a little shrug, utterly forgetting the blindness which had so enraptured her moments before.

”I guess it is a little weird,” she admitted. ”Normal people tend to stay in familiar territory, and I’m.. pretty far from home.”

Surely he could tell how nervous she was. Wandering alone for so many days had frayed her normally-unshakable nerves. Adrastea felt sure that her skittish behavior would make him think she was up to something strange, and that only made her more nervous.

She felt as if her mind was jumping all over the place, and yet her voice left her lips sounding assured and even a little suggestive.

”Adrastea,” she answered with a smile. ”Seems we were both given the curse of multi-syllabic names.”

Where had that come from? Oh heavens, she needed a good long nap and a warm meal.