The rats are closing in again around them both, closing ranks. Ran pulls closer to the stranger, her back to him, eyeing them warily. She doesn't know him, but it doesn't matter. He's one of their group, no matter what, and the rats are after him just as much as they're after her.

"Just . . . stay close, okay?" Her own back brushes against his arm and shoulder, her attention on the rats. Though the words are steady, he's likely practiced enough, knows her well enough, to hear the narrow thread of fear darting through it. This is nothing Ran is ready to handle either; she's doing the best she can in a situation that's overwhelming.

The rat circle tightens slowly, eyes gleaming in the dark.