The truth

Rose took a breath. She was no good at lying, so she might as well not bother. "The truth is, I'm actually a member of the Resistance, here on a mission to save these poor enslaved creatures!" The kids looked at each other. They didn't look impressed.

"The Fathiers?" the girl asked. "You're really a part of the Resistance, and you're here for those smelly things, lady?"

"They aren't things! Rose exclaimed passionately. She decided not to mention that she hadn't even known their names. "They are innocent creatures, and I won't stand for them being held here like objects!"

The girl held up her hands. "OK, OK. I just figured that a big shot spy would be up to something a little more cool than this."

"Helping others is the coolest thing there is," Rose replied, putting her hands on her hips. The kids looked at each other again, and Rose felt proud. They must be blown away by her selflessness! "Now, I have to set those, um, Falkires free right away!" She quickly spun around and began hurrying over to them. If she'd been a little slower, she'd have noticed the evil smirks on the three kid's faces as they came to a silent agreement.

"It's Fathiers," the dark skinned boy called after her. "You knew that right?" Rose froze, and then turned back to them.

"O-of course I did," she stammered quickly. "I know these animals like the back of my hand!"

"Right," the other boy said as the three of them walked up to her. "Then you weren't planning on just running up to them, right?"

"You'd startle them, dressed like that," the girl said, nodding. "Everyone knows Fathiers are terrified of the color yellow, you'd spook them." Rose glanced down at her yellow jumpsuit in dismay.

"I knew that too," she said lied, starting to sweat. "Don't worry, I was just going to...umm..."

"Going to take it off before you got there?" the girl finished for her, grinning widely.

"Y-yes," Rose said, "that's exactly right. I just need something else to put on." She looked at the kids hopefully. "Is there a locker or something nearby?"

"Nope!" they all said together cheerfully. Rose deflated.

"You're not gonna just leave just to find some new clothes are ya?" The first boy asked. "The Fathiers are just so sad, I don't think they can take being locked up here any longer."

Rose was still sweating. She felt cornered, and those kids crowding around her didn't help. Could she really take her jumpsuit off in the open? She had always been so shy and embarrassed by her body, despite everyone always telling her she looked fine. But she didn't want to cause the animals to get scared. It would be impossible to move them if they kept running away from her, and they might hurt themselves. But she'd be in her underwear in front of children! Oh, what should she do?