He studied her intently for several long moments, taking in the tears and the cryptic words with a small frown. This girl, though older, didn't seem threatening in the least. She might even be useful if she'd been brought here out of nowhere like he had. It was time to take a chance.

He stood from his hiding place (within ten feet of her and off toward the right), pulling himself to his full height of almost five feet and purposely scraping his sandals against the gravel beneath his feet.