Lyra's eyes widened, her pupils dilating in shock. She stood frozen, her body rigid, as if turned to stone.
Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper. "Whaa-what did you s-say?" she stuttered, her words faltering.
Malakai's ears folded back, his tail twitching in surprise.
He had never seen Lyra like this before. From the moment he met her, she seemed like a composed lady, confident and in control.
But now, she stood there like a traumatized child, her eyes wide with fear.
Her black fur stood on end, as if electrified, and her hands shook like leaves in a storm.
Her breath came in short gasps, and her voice cracked with terror. Malakai's surprise turned to concern, his ears perked up in alarm.
He took a step forward, his paw padding softly on the stone floor. "Lyra, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle.