The cut she’d made was still seeping blood, and just reaching out pulled on the skin, making it hurt worse. She winced and fought back tears. The creature extended one of its smoky limbs, retracting its claws until only one was out, curved and sharp. “Doh hurt me,” Bitter whispered, suddenly afraid that it was going to rip her arm open some more, take all her blood for itself. She was too scared to move—there was nowhere to run to. The creature paused, its yellow eyes flickering at her. “I would never hurt you, child.” It touched its claw to her forearm, and the tip of it sank into her skin
...more
