"Could be a while," Sparkle admitted. "She thinks I'm being clingy these past few days, since the social worker visited me at work. She just doesn't trust most adults, I think, though I think she's better at accepting them when I vouch for them..."

He shrugged as he finished cutting the last of the meat, and then turned to face Hannibal again.

"Honestly, I almost think she'd be more wary because you're an adult from the mainland. I trust you, but the mainland is where all the homes for little kids like her are."