Hawk straightened up then, holding up his hands bracingly. "I'm not gonna hurt you," he said reassuringly, and moved forward. Teige gawped.

"She can see�you," he said in a voice of dawning comprehension. The ghost of the girl--to Hawk's eyes as real and solid-looking as Teige was--shrank back as Hawk approached.

"You're a�monster, aren't you?" she asked in a hushed tone. Hawk crouched, lowering his wings around himself, trying to put himself at her eye level. "Are you gonna eat me?"

"No way," Hawk said, "I'm uh...I'm a nice monster."

"You don't�look�like a nice monster," the girl said suspiciously, but she didn't move. Teige had sidled up behind Hawk, not interrupted, just seeming rather surprised. Hawk gave the girl a hurt little grin.

"Heh. I bet I look real scary, huh?"

The girl seemed to suddenly decided that he wasn't that scary after all. "Can you help me?" she asked, pleadingly, "I'm lost."

Hawk's grin faded. He glanced away. "I don't think I can, kid."