Hugh stares at the man for a few long moments. It's evident the stranger doesn't know who or what he is, and isn't one of the people after him -- unless this is a ruse to trick him into coming along, but he doubts it. Those men don't use calming talk to get what they want.
He must live around here or something. The boy casts a quick look around the woods, body still tense and cautious, but it's that little smile that has his eyes widening again, because it's the first time he's seen a small kindness in quite a while.
He could say no, he's not lost Mister, he just got turned around and had to spend a bad night for the woods, thank you for your concern but he'll be on his way now. And keep running. He's not used to getting help from adults; it's not usually the first option he'd turn to.
But he's tired, and hungry, and cold -- and most of all, afraid to be caught again. So there's something painfully childish to the way he has to swallow before he answers, and how his voice comes out softer and shakier than he means for it to. "I'm l-lost. I don't know where I am." He blinks up at the stranger, giving a nod as his fingers nervously pick at the ends of his dirty sweater. "I'll keep it secret, promise."
A pause, another fearful glance, this time to the woods behind the man. "Does that mean you aren't gonna tell anyone I'm here?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-04-19 05:15 pm (UTC)He must live around here or something. The boy casts a quick look around the woods, body still tense and cautious, but it's that little smile that has his eyes widening again, because it's the first time he's seen a small kindness in quite a while.
He could say no, he's not lost Mister, he just got turned around and had to spend a bad night for the woods, thank you for your concern but he'll be on his way now. And keep running. He's not used to getting help from adults; it's not usually the first option he'd turn to.
But he's tired, and hungry, and cold -- and most of all, afraid to be caught again. So there's something painfully childish to the way he has to swallow before he answers, and how his voice comes out softer and shakier than he means for it to. "I'm l-lost. I don't know where I am." He blinks up at the stranger, giving a nod as his fingers nervously pick at the ends of his dirty sweater. "I'll keep it secret, promise."
A pause, another fearful glance, this time to the woods behind the man. "Does that mean you aren't gonna tell anyone I'm here?"