บท 328: Little trinkets

Ford's heart raced, and he remained still, trying not to panic.

These creatures hadn't hurt them before. He had no reason to think they had suddenly taken umbrage to the humans' presence in the forest.

"Hello," He said, softly enough not to wake anyone.

There was no reaction for several seconds as Ford stared upward. One pair of eyes slowly descended from the trees, climbing down to the ground to observe the man from a short distance away.

Ford clenched his teeth but held still, holding a gaze he hoped was steady and confident yet nonthreatening.

It was a balance he wasn't sure he could strike.

The creature shuffled closer into the circle of firelight. Legs and arms, a long tail that flicked back and forth with something akin to agitation. A face with intelligent brown eyes that watched Ford closely.

He noticed the pupils of the creature were lighter than the irises, almost milky.