"It's some interesting games I know. Enjoying them you'd surely be." Her smile, revealing even teeth that contrasted ruddy cheeks, was as persistent as her intent on playing.
Staring at the girl, Cassidy wrestled with a pang of wistful envy over the Olympian life he had witnessed thus far on this world. Maybe they were all irresponsible and childlike. But was that bad?
Mason pointed in alarm toward the meadow in front of the next estate. An ominous-looking, furry thing, supported on six or eight spindly legs, was racing across their field of vision.
"Hurt you he won't," the girl assured them, noticing their apprehension. "Nothing to be afraid of there is."
"What is it?" Cassidy was still trying to determine whether it was an overgrown spider or a dry-land octopus.
"Look!" Mason exclaimed. "It's on a leash!"
And Cassidy noticed the thong that extended from the creature to the human who was running along behind it.
"To Wolruf he belongs," the girl explained. "One of them I can get for you too—if you want."
Her slender hand reached out through the fence and tugged at Cassidy's sleeve. "To chase me wouldn't you like?" she asked, pouting.