To Lisle's surprise, the ear twitched at the touch.  But there was no time to dwell on that now.  She started to speak, coughed slightly, and reached for the cup.  Even before that action was reacted to, she cleared her throat, and tried again, whispering hoarsely.<br/><br/>"I - I heard - the guards talking."  She hoped that one sentence would carry as much weight as she wanted - no, needed it to carry.<br/><br/>Even if her voice hadn't expressed her anxiety, the new tail was making it known more clearly.  The very tip flipped back and forth, beating a slow but urgent rhythm on the stretched canvas of the cot.