He didn't move. Kept his distance. Raised his hands. In the end these actions were what held her in place. She was still tense, still braced . . . but the space between them, unviolated, allowed her to remain where she was.

Still she hesitated. For several moments, it might seem as though she wasn't going to answer at all -- or even that she hadn't understood.

"They told me I couldn't leave." Her voice was quiet, neutral. "I wanted to try it for myself."

His face . . . she couldn't think of other humans having that kind of face. Kedan? She wasn't sure.