[In the next, it takes one jolting step back, neck pulling into a defensive hunch, and emits a two-layered sound; a sharp hiss over a rattling snarl. Muscles tense in its shoulders, its haunches, ready to leap or lunge or explode into any other frantic show of violence.
But it doesn't get that far, because behind it, Gladion has moved from wide-eyed shock to wide-eyed calling out:]
Wait, don't, he's a friend!
[and at the sound of Gladion's voice, the creature immediately freezes in place, bird-whistling its anxious confusion. It backs away from Akira while swiveling, like a car backing into a turn, so that it can look at Gladion without Akira leaving its field of vision.
And when it does see Gladion, it freezes again, completely, all the feathers on the back of its neck standing up straight.]
3/4
But it doesn't get that far, because behind it, Gladion has moved from wide-eyed shock to wide-eyed calling out:]
Wait, don't, he's a friend!
[and at the sound of Gladion's voice, the creature immediately freezes in place, bird-whistling its anxious confusion. It backs away from Akira while swiveling, like a car backing into a turn, so that it can look at Gladion without Akira leaving its field of vision.
And when it does see Gladion, it freezes again, completely, all the feathers on the back of its neck standing up straight.]