as the animal kings breathe their terror upon you

One of Qanik's thick ears flicked to the side, the only outward sign she would allow herself to express her irritation at his words. To be spoken to as a child by someone half her age, when she'd been attempting to be helpful... she gave a completely internal sigh and moved past it. "I try not to offer," she told him, keeping her voice smooth. "I find those who actively seek it out are more likely to stay than those who need convincing." She blinked in disquiet when he threw a wink her way, but it had been a long time since she'd been a naive young girl and she read nothing more into it than a teasing gesture - though not something she was entirely used to anymore. "So what brings you to the depths of the earth, Mr. Arcangelo?" she continued on politely.