Curious mouse she is. Surprising it already hasn't gotten her killed.
"Hungry?" comes the guttural question.
She shakes her head, eyes on the ground. Fear? Shame?
"Little one must eat more. I have more food for her." This comes as though stating a very simple fact, such as declaring, "The sun sets."
Simple. Easy.
"I am not hungry, but I thank you." She says this impossibly softly; the dog barely registers her reply.
"Only 'ave one good ear, girl, an' you're never loud but when you're tossl'd up."
Sneer.
"I said, 'no, but I thank you,'" she repeated, louder this time. "Pardon my quietness, I did not know."
She flicks her eyes up to the burnt half of his face. The look she has. Pity. Remorse. As if she were the one to burn a pup.
Anger.
"Stop it, child. No more pity."
"I am sorry," she mumbles, further downcast.
"Should you be?" Dog scoffs.
No answer. Quiet.
"Little bird-"
"Why call me that?" she interrupts.
Exhale. To tell her...
"Never mind what I call you; would you rather rabbit, cat, fish, duck?"
"I do not appreciate being mocked."
Now she is loud. She is annoyed.
Dog smirks.
"Only chirps when she's angry."
It came as close to a giggling sound, as close as a giggle could sound from such a throat.
"Only nice when she's asleep," she countered, eyes sparkling between bitterness and mischief.
Whirl!
"Dog will gag your beak for this!"
With a hiss, a dirty white scrap of cloth 'round her mouth. Her eyes drop too low to view, but no protesting squawks are made.
"I am very put out with you, child. Put out!"
Stringently, the claw wags in her face. Her reddened face. She has color now and the dog internally celebrates.
Turning away, rising up, he mutters rapidly, "WalkingmyselfstayorIkillyou" and he paces out, hot with tension.
Fucking brat! What a cheating priss!