[color=fff200][i][h2]Corrie Strickman[/h2][/i][/color]

[color=fff200][i][h3]Winter Carnival, Sports Booths[/h3][/i][/color]

Corrie stood frozen in shock for much of Zaina's speech. The owl's first movement came when the hyena tossed her the ball, at which point Corrie flinched away and let the ball fall in the slush at her feet. After that, the owl blinked and seemed to snap out of it. Could... could this herculean hyena really be on her side?

Well, either way, everyone was staring at her now. Corrie picked up the ball and closed her eyes, attempting to take a deep breath. She honed her mind to focus on the zonkey... wait, no, her broth-- her ARM, yes, focus on the throwing technique. Corrie hastily let the ball fly. It plunked off a can, which wobbled for half a second and then stayed upright.

The zonkey allowed the smallest smug toothy grin while Corrie straightened up her posture and her face, determined not to show any emotion. The owl approached the zedonk and the hyena.

[color=fff200]"Well, I suppose that is th-that,"[/color] Corrie addressed the zedonk in a quiet voice, staring down the mammal's neck rather than dare to meet her eyes. [color=fff200]"We may now exit each other's lives as swiftly as w-we entered... none the lesser for one fewer amicable contact, at least on my part."[/color]

Finished with her sick burn, Corrie shifted her gaze to the hyena's neck. She experienced dueling feelings of gratitude for being rescued and bitter shame for needing to be rescued.

[color=fff200]"This may be a sizeable ask for someone who has already lent significant aid,"[/color] Corrie began, [color=fff200]"But I may require your particular skillset for a moment longer. Would it terribly inconvenience you to escort me a short distance away? We may discuss some form of remuneration, if you so desire."[/color]

Corrie felt satisfied by her intellectual translation of [i]"I am still freaking scared, please help me big strong lady, I'll pay you."[/i]

[@Argetlam350]