Lola froze mid-snatch, fingers mere inches away from the tantalizing golden pastry on the baker's stand. Ruby-red eyes darted towards the peculiar figure standing nearby. She blinked once, twice, taking in the stranger's foreign presence. A traveler? No... not quite. The word 'traveler' didn't quite fit. They seemed like something a little more than that. Regardless, they weren't the baker, which meant safety... right?
Her mind whirred like a panicked hummingbird before deciding flight was better than fight. Quick as a blink, she yanked her hand back and shoved the stolen treat into her mouth, chewing furiously to dispose of the delicious evidence.
Crunch. Crumble. Swallow.
Satisfaction washed over her face for a fleeting moment before realization set in. Oh no.
She glanced up at the very angry baker through thick lashes, lips smeared with crumbs and cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk. Mouth working furiously to finish off the last bite of her crime, she tried to swallow the crust of the tart without choking. The poor thing didn't even have time to wipe her face before the old woman grabbed a nearby sack of flour and hurled it at her.
The (thankfully small) bag hit her in the chest with a thump, sending a plume of white powder into her face and hair. Whining indignantly, she stumbled backwards, hands flying up to brush away the flour. Her wide eyes flickered between the enraged vendor and the stranger, whose gaze felt like a physical weight upon her.
With an exasperated huff, she turned tail and bolted, thin-soled shoes slapping against cobblestones as she fled from the bustling marketplace. Behind her, merchants shouted curses while children laughed gleefully at her expense. Stupid humans. All of them. Why couldn't they understand she needed food too?
As she sprinted past various stands and shops, she caught glimpses of vibrant silks, sizzling meats, piles of vegetables, and other goods she had no interest in whatsoever. There were so many things here she wanted but could never afford—not on her own anyway. It wasn't fair! Everything should just belong to her! That's how it worked in those stories anyway...
Finally spotting safety amidst the chaos, she dove behind a large barrel in between two houses and peeked out cautiously.
