"How'd I know you're fair?!" Marigold cursed herself, then went to clamber higher into the trees. "Stay, stay back! If you're vermin, the next arrow won't miss!" Her heart thudded in her throat. What if they weren't vermin? Oh gosh, had she about killed some goodbeast? But if they were vermin...Though, did vermin even team up with raptors?

...The raptor! She stopped at the next branch and looked up into the sky as she realized she was a good deal nearer to that threat. She skittered back down and behind the tree from it, then readied her bow again. Trapped, she was trapped! Potential vermin below, a raptor above...Whichever tried to take her, she wouldn't go without a fight.