to neverless wonder

More often than not, Nati found her attitude met with negative responses. Anger, sadness, pity - she'd seen it all. It was nice, from time to time, to have a little banter with someone with the same sensibilities. The male's reply intrigued her, and she finally raised her head from her paws as her smirk expanded. It was fair, not to trust her. She wouldn't trust him either. They were strangers. "While I am a very honest lady, I can't argue with that decision."

He made to leave and she began lowering her head back to her paws, but he stopped abruptly. Gathering that he wasn't headed anywhere just yet, Nati pulled herself out from below the root, lowered her chest in a deep stretch, then sat back on her haunches, tail wrapping lightly around her paws. Her head tipped slightly to the right as she pondered how to respond. She'd told plenty of strangers her name, there was little power to it, but here she hesitated solely for the potential amusement. "I suppose you already know where I'm sleeping, so keeping my name a secret wouldn't keep you from sending the 'beasties' my way, would it?" She gave him a straight-face, attempting to look serious when anything but.

"It's Nati. Now, good sir, I'll need your name to share in tales of my heroics on a later date. Listeners will want to know who I rescued from the mysterious island creatures."