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Alec murmured the title of the book, unfamiliar with it. He wasn't surprised that he had no idea what she was referring to, seeing as he couldn't remember the title of the last book he'd ever read in his life. The way the conversation was going, the teen was convinced that Colche was indeed much less mature-minded than most of the people he'd met, which made him relax a bit. Besides, if he made a big deal about her clothing malfunction now, he'd probably be disgusted at himself.

"Never read i'." He decided to answer shortly, not wanting to yell it out to the world that he wasn't exactly a literary genius.

Alec smiled, enjoying Colche's cheerfulness. Althought she mentioned someone he'd never met, he figured he wouldn't ask figuring it'd only be a matter of time until he randomly ran into whoever it was anyways.

"Ahhh, a cheeteh? Thas pretteh cool. A' figeh'd ye some'thn like a cat. Vereh spotteh." He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck when she asked the question. "A' think a shawk. On account o' me teeth. No' sure though." He pointed out his sharp teeth but made a point not to look intimidating in any way. She may be farther along, but that never really meant anything in this place.

Alec smirked when Colche exposed her sharp canines, finding it amusing how the potential weapons looked less of a threat on the innocent features of the young girl as opposed to someone like Jamal. "S'good, a' d'n wanna be scareh. Ye don' got maneh frien's when ye scareh, aye?"

He chuckled and sat back to watch the waves for a moment, thinking over the question. "Eh, no' realleh. A' s'pose a' shoul' learn t'get betteh, aye?" The teen scratched the back of his grey neck in irritation. "Ahhh th'kitteh paddle? A' be' thas a lo' betteh than th'dog version. Ye shou' come swim at th'lake." It didn't occur to him that anyone else made the lake a frequent spot to visit since it seemed very deserted every time he made his way over there for a swim. It also seemed like a fairly harmless location, save for the jittery natives.

Alec looked confused as the cheetah girl rose to scamper away before remembering her mention her 'learney man'. "Less'ns? Ohhh... y'gonna go learn. 'ave fun!" He waved at her spotted form as it retreated from sight, giving a small smile before turning back to stare at the waves alone.

Surprisingly, Thom thoughts--or lack thereof--were along much the same lines as Emelyn's. Ever since meeting the boy, he had felt a pang of guilt for bringing about the realization that Cody wouldn't be leaving. Mind, Cody had taken it fairly well, all things considering, but that wasn't the point. It would have been kinder to just leave the boy thinking he would be seeing his parents the day he was better, whenever that might be.

He was feeling particularly antisocial as a result, but sulking indoors had never quite suited Thom. In an effort to avoid running into anyone, he had retreated to the beach with only his soccer ball for company, as per usual. Walking just at the edge of the waves, lazily dribbling his ball from foot to foot to prevent it from being swept further out, he completely failed to notice Emelyn resting farther up the beach.

The dog, however, did not escape his notice. Indeed, the moment it caught his eye, something within him. The ball lay forgotten at his feet as he watched the pup, a slightly predatory gleam rising in his eyes. And, though all rationality said there was no possible way the pup was edible, the cobra said it was perfectly sized for dinner and, should it approach, would quickly become one.

The cobra was thrilled, though somewhat wary. Here was its meal running straight for it, but the pup seemed positively overjoyed to be approaching its end. It had seen him, that much was clear, so was the charge an attack?

Thom's lip curled in a faint hiss, baring fangs that had not yet come to exist. The cobra attempted to coil, failed as it realized its limitations, and instead set the man at a crouch to greet the pup. The moment an overly friendly Reuben reached him, Thom's hand struck out and snatched the pup up by the scruff of the neck, lifting him with little effort as he straightened up.

He grinned, pleased with the capture, and made for a deadly bite--but rationality kicked in once more, and he blinked down at the pup before dropping Reuben back to the sand, utterly confused. "Sorry, lad."

Thom's eyes followed the dog away, the hungry glaze returning slowly, but at the sound of a woman's voice he abruptly snapped back to his sense. Rubbing his head as if it were sore, he glanced towards Emelyn, looking momentarily baffled before her words clicked. He grimaced, automatically resuming dribbling the ball as he started over.

"Had I an explanation, miss, I would gladly give it. But I 'aven't th' faintest idea what 'appened m'self." Sighing, Thom shook his head and let his hand fall. "Wasn't m'self for a moment there. I am sorry, really. Couldn't've fit the pup down m' throat if I'd wanted to."

Now where had that come from? Thom frowned, surprised by his own comment, and shot a glare to the scales leering from the back of his hand. "Ah.. I suppose I must be hungry."