The subtle snap of a twig from somewhere behind the small femme was enough to surge her into complete and utter panic-mode. Her mind’s first reaction was to look around and to locate the source of the sound – and although she’d laid her coral hues directly on the concealed positioning of the opponent, she was momentarily blinded by her wrecked nerves. Her slender chest cavity began to rapidly rise and fall in a quickened, fright-filled desperation to gasp for air – and for a moment, darkness threatened the corners of her vision, ready to consume her consciousness at any given time.

The only thing that is able to take hold of the terrified vixen is a similar gasp for air – and this time it echoes from the body of the perpetrator. A tiny gasp . . . which equals to the tiny lad that springs from his hiding corner.

"Don’t hurt me…"

His voice is small and gentle, his lyrics followed by an odd chuckle. Arcadia finds herself slowly shifting so that she is facing the youngling head-on – but for a matter of a few more seconds, her throat remains tightened and she is unable to speak. Her banner is tucked below her slim framing, her own audettes replicating his in a lowered position. Coral hues reach the tiny male, reaching to capture his innocent, soulful gaze – and at last, she is grounded. Her lyrics are hushed and frail when she speaks, though her words are sweet, filled with a natural warmness. “I’m not… I… I would never hurt you. Please don’t think that…”

She fought the urge to flinch whenever the small being maneuvered to lower himself to safety – and after he rose once again to his short stature, she recognized in him a trembling that very much mirrored her own. Because of these evident visuals of fear and alarm, the cream and ivory cloaked vixen was able to cool some of her unease. At a slow, cautious pace, she neared the young lad, her tail remaining tucked in a manner to emphasis the fact that she meant him no harm.

“And… My name is Evandros… Who… are you?”

His question reflected her own, and she could not fight a soft, delighted smile that crept until her kissers. After a few steps towards him, it was the pup that continued to close the distance that separated their bodies – and despite her fear demanding for her to step away and guard herself, she forced herself to allow him in, and she lowered her cranium so that she was nearer to his small height. Her voice this time held an ounce more of confidence in it when she spoke – for she began to pick the pieces together . . . and she realized that this little lad could not possibly mean to do any evil. “What a lovely name, Evandros… My name is Arcadia.”

Before she could continue, the lad attempted to the best of his ability to make small-talk with her. And just like before, she could not shake the foreign emotions that surged through her veins. Her honeyed voice erupted in a soft, lightened giggle - a sensation so exotic to her that it all but startled the lass. “What I believe you’re referring to . . . is the sun.” Offering him a reassuring smile, Arcadia added, “But nonetheless – yes, it certainly is beautiful.” At his plead for her to not leave or get angry over the error in his words, her kissers curved downward in the slightest, “Don’t worry yourself if you sometimes get a little mixed up on things… You are still young, little one. You have plenty of time to figure it all out.” At the sight of his much smaller, extended paw, Arcadia hesitated. Though this pause was only for a mere second - for within the following one, her muzzle had brushed along the paw and encouragingly nudged past his tiny shoulder with the faintest of touches.

When she pulled away is when her coral spheres went in search of his – and she could not deny the apparent interest that consumed his young eyes as he gazed upon her. The slim femme shifted her weight uneasily on each of her appendages as she awaited his next words. When he finally spoke once more, he mentioned his family – and a sigh of relief threatened to spill past her kissers. Then the reality of his words occurred to her, and Arcadia recalled the first thought that sprung into her cranium at the very first sight of the youngling. Why was he out all on his own?

Her question was answered in his phrase. His family was home, in their den, sleeping… because it was daylight? She couldn’t help the curiosity that began to seep into her thoughts, and without much further concern, her sweet lyrics split. “They’re sleeping because it’s daylight?” The cream and snow vixen inquired, allowing her head to cock gently to the side. “Why, then, aren’t you asleep with them?”

Just when she allowed herself to shake the alarm from her bones, Evandros erupted in a phrase that sent Arcadia’s skeleton rigid.

“My mommy always helps me get clean when my coat looks like that… Maybe she could help you out too if your mommy isn’t near?”

What followed after was a muddle of emotions that dared to, at any given time, consume the small femme. Initially, it was shame… embarrassment. Yes, – she was overly glad that she was alive… that she was able to escape with only the memories and recollection left to haunt her scarred mind. But she’d almost forgotten about the other devils that haunted her; the physical and visual ones – much like the exhaustion that swallowed her naturally-attractive features, and the grime from travel that drowned out and dulled the luxurious shine of her robes. Beneath that, even, was scars that scattered her flesh, visible when certain motions separated the security blanket of her fur. She had forgotten how appalling she appeared.

But the kindness of the young one was not to be misinterpreted – although Arcadia could feel her spirit shattering, what was left of it, she could not deny the innocence that filled his concerns. Evandros hadn’t cared that she was left ungroomed and looked unsatisfactory… his words only expressed that he was volunteering his own mother to help. Tears threatened the rims of her spheres, a result of the generous act. In a world that seemed as dark as hers, there was still a speck of light... and that light radiated in this innocent pup. Regardless of this sensation and the stinging in her hues, the femme pressed a warm smile across her kissers. “Thank you, Evandros, that is very kind… ” after some reluctance, “My family, they… they aren’t from here, so it’s just me… but I think I may be able to get clean on my own.”

She allowed her rump to lower and meet the earth, her coral hues peering down at the little lad. “However, you... Won't your family be worried about you off on your own?”