And yet… Ling Yu wasn't naïve. Things that looked harmless often carried the sharpest fangs.
She raised a finger and pressed it gently against the fluff's head. "Quiet," she murmured.
It tilted its head and let out another tiny coo, as if complaining, before burrowing deeper into her cloak.
Her lips quirked almost imperceptibly. "You're lucky I didn't leave you in that basement," she said softly. "But if you draw attention to me, I'll toss you back to the monsters myself."
The fluff answered with silence this time, though its tiny body trembled against her chest, whether in fear or simple nervous energy, she couldn't tell.
Her stomach still carried the warmth of the meal she had managed earlier in the abandoned store, but she knew she would need proper shelter before the night descended. Roaming alone was efficient, but even efficiency had limits. At night, when visibility plummeted and monsters prowled more boldly, even the strongest could be overwhelmed.
