Do you got room for one more troubled soul?

The rain continued to pelt down on her skull, soaking though her guard hairs and down to the skin. Percy at least had the decency to look slightly chastised when the stranger called her cruel, and her petulant sigh was enough to blow the trickling water away from her lips. She could feel Theo clinging to her leg, poised to leap to her shoulder and defence if required. The noise that left his lips at being called stringy might have even passed for a growl.

She never really remembered hunting, although she must have at some point, because she never really remembered feeling overly hungry either. “I reckon the smart prey’ll be hunkered down somewhere out of this rain.” Her tone had softened some. “I’m Phoenix, but I’d prefer it if you called me Percy... and this one,” she lifted her paw, but kept the red squirrel shielded with her body, “tells me his name is Theodore, and apparently he’s been following me for months...” She pretended not to see his eyes rolling.

“No point tellin’ her your name,” the squirrel piped up, “As soon as she falls asleep she’ll forget it all anyway.” He crossed his paws across his chest momentarily, daring the young girl to challenge him. She must have been having a bad day, because for once, she held her tongue.