New Bark was already awake when Ravina stepped outside, she noted that the town looked different in morning light.
Yesterday it had been somewhere she'd arrived, today it felt more like somewhere she might actually be staying.
Shopkeepers rolled awnings over their windows. A cyclist passed with a basket full of parcels strapped behind his seat. A pair of children hurried toward the shoreline carrying fishing rods twice their height.
Ravina took the road toward Professor Elm's laboratory, whistling as she walked. She was almost there when she noticed the boy.
He stood outside the fence, red hair, dark clothes, arms folded, He wasn't watching the road, He was watching the laboratory, More specifically...one of its windows.
Ravina slowed, he didn't look like a local, at least, not one she'd seen yesterday.
His eyes snapped toward her, they were sharp, guarded.
That made Ravina stop as she glanced toward the laboratory and then back at him.
His expression hardened.
She shrugged.
Ravina blinked.
He looked away, indicating that the conversation was finished.
Ravina considered trying again but decided she didn't care enough, then started walking toward the gate.
The boy said nothing.
As she reached the front door. she could feel his eyes follow her, but only for a moment. then he returned his attention to the window.
