By now Toby's tried enough twigs and extended her elbow, cut into the trunk, and used the blades closer to her wrist to slice away some bark. She's not unaware of the consternation of the humans around her, but at this point she's decided that if they're not saying anything, she's going to go ahead and eat something.

It's not a tree she's familiar with. The bark is on the thin, dry side, but it's more robust than birch. Not much in the way of sap beading. It's a decidious tree, a hardwood, which means it's denser and has more calories than something with needles.

Finally someone speaks up. Toby raises her head and turns, moving deliberately so it's harder to mistake any gesture as threatening. Her voice is deep and guttural. Without asking it's very difficult to decide that she's female.

"No, I wasn't aware. It doesn't seem so ruined yet." The tree will probably survive, with some scarring.