As she pulled away, telling her ruthless company that it was time she departed for home, she certainly didn't expect him to intercept her. It was clear they had very different mindsets, and she was sure that he held the same distaste for her that she had for him. But as he pressured her space with more force than he had before, Talyssa staggered back, glancing up to see a look on his face that she truly didn't understand outside the fact that it left her feeling uncomfortable. Her pupils shifted ever so slightly to peer at the space around him. She was still confident that she was faster than him, even in an injured state- he was injured too. But if she could just get around him ...
She saw her father coming nearly the same time the boy did. And while she was only vaguely aware of the answering snarl, she was met with a mixture of relief, shock, and a small amount of fear. Never in her life had she seen him that angry, and even though she knew she wasn't on the receiving end of his fury, it was very unsettling to witness. Even more so as the Aegis struck the stranger in the shoulder- the transfer of momentum casting the pair back settle feet. Talyssa made another attempt at propelling herself backward, but it seemed she had a difficult time getting her legs to work.
The presence of her mother didn't register right away, but when it did, she was desperate to cling to her. The exchange between the boy and father was momentarily forgotten, all she wanted was the familiar embrace. But as she was asked the status of her condition, she offered a more clear view of the now salve-covered coyote bite on her forearm as it was manipulated to achieve the same result. "Yeah, I'm alright" She answered softly. It was then she noticed that the stranger was offering some sort of explanation, in which she tuned back in.
No way was she about to defend him to her parents. Had they not shown up when they did, she wasn't sure what would have happened. But at the same time, her candor wouldn't allow her to keep quiet on the matter. Afraid to address her father at that particular moment, she glanced back up to her mother with an uneasy look filling her expression. "He isn't lying ..." she whispered, thinking about what could have been had she been alone.
Professor
Fleet-footed
