It is no simple thing to approach a person with four ears undetected but the silent child managed it. A strangled yelp tore out of Ritsuka's throat and only reflex saved his refrigerated bounty from tumbling to the deck. The startled youth spun about with tail standing at puffed attention and bony chest heaving. Was the ship speaking to its captives now? He experienced brief disorientation upon seeing no one in the immediate vicinity. Most of those 190 centimeters had been recently acquired and Ritsuka was not yet accustomed to being tall. It presently occurred to him to look down.
Antha's petite visage was wholly non-threatening. Yet there was something direly amiss with her sweet configuration. It took a few beats for Ritsuka to process what the discordance was. Upon recognizing the implication a tide of horror washed over his senses. Nausea churned in his empty belly and ugly images mocked his conciousness. Slender hands reached out with uncommon gentleness and rested on either side of Antha's skull where something vital was missing. "Where are your ears?"