[Lyra Greenleaf]

"Hello" Elena said nervously, extending her finger towards the sqirrel. "My Father told me I shouldn't play with animals like you, but Fiona says it's allowed. And anyway, they want me to play with her and she's the Wild Girl"
Elena giggled, and passed a nut from her left hand to the right, the one she was holding towards Porridge.

"He doesn't like most people. Only me"
The voice behind her made Elena jump. Guiltily she turned her head to face Fiona without moving her hand. Did she hear me say she's wild? That's so rude!
With a jump Elena felt pressure on her hand, and turned back to see Porridge leaning from the balcony towards her fingers. Fiona gasped, grabbing Elena's other arm to pull her away. Elena felt the familiar prickling sensation behind her eyes.

With a sob she pulled away and ran downstairs.
"Elena! What's wrong?"
"Papa. It was the wild- wild-"
Elena felt bad saying it was Fiona who made her cry. She probably didn't mean to, and Elena was making friends with her friend. That was probably not nice. LIke if someone took Della away.
"It was wild- men, Papa. Big ugly ones with hair all over running through the village"
Papa's face went pale.
"Oh no. We have to tell everyone, try to get away.. How could this happen again?"
Distractedly he pulled Elena into a hug. "We will be fine, El. Don't worry. I'll get us out of here."
Elena felt very scared. Why is doing this? He isn't worried about the wild girl, or the father who eats people! But he doesn't know about them...
"P-Papa, it was just my pretend- there's no real wild men"

"Elena, you mustn't do that"
Papa still looked pale and scared. Elena began to cry again.
"Elena you must learn that I don't know the difference between your pretends and what is real. You should have learned from last time. I'm going to have to send you to your room"
Quietly Elena crept to her room. She felt very silly, small and sorry but she wasn't crying.