--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mary tucked into a ball, shielding…" description: "\"“Mary tucked into a ball, shielding herself from the tail's barbs. She covered her ears and closed her eyes, cutting off the juicy sounds and the horri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/j-r-ward-148_animals_mary-tucked-into-a-ball-shielding-hersel_1104097.jpg" --- # Mary tucked into a ball, shielding herself from the tail's… ![“Mary tucked into a ball, shielding herself from the tail's barbs. She covered her ears and closed her eyes, cutting off the juicy sounds and the horrible sight of the killing. Moments later she felt her body being nudged. The beast was pushing at her with its nose. She rolled over and looked up…” quote by J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/j-r-ward-148_animals_mary-tucked-into-a-ball-shielding-hersel_1104097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/j-r-ward-148_animals_mary-tucked-into-a-ball-shielding-hersel_1104097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/j-r-ward-148_animals_mary-tucked-into-a-ball-shielding-hersel_1104097.jpg) > ““Mary tucked into a ball, shielding herself from the tail's barbs. She covered her ears and closed her eyes, cutting off the juicy sounds and the horrible sight of the killing. Moments later she felt her body being nudged. The beast was pushing at her with its nose. She rolled over and looked up into its white eyes. "I'm fine. But we're going to have to work on your table manners." The beast purred and stretched out on the ground next to her, resting its head between its forelegs. There was a brilliant flash of light and then Rhage appeared in the same position.”” [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character hides from danger, then confronts a mysterious creature that becomes a reluctant ally, leading to a sudden, magical rescue. **In simple terms:** She hides, meets a beast, and is saved by a flash of light. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected allies and stay resilient. Themes courage trust magic transformation survival Mood tense hopeful mysterious Type narrative dramatic fantasy When to use this quote - escaping danger - first contact with unknown creature - magical rescue - learning to trust - overcoming fear Key Concepts mythical beasts sacred intervention personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if a strange creature offered help? - How do you balance fear and curiosity? A Different Perspective The rescue may be temporary; reliance on magic can create dependency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Black dagger brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-dagger-brotherhood/) [Table manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/table-manners/) ## Related quotes > [“But isn't it... ugly?" "No. Not to me." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "It's fearsome and terrifying and powerful and awe-inspiring. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/but-isn-t-it-ugly-no-not-to-me-she-pressed-a-kiss-to-his-chest-it-s/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“She smiled a little. "You are a manipulator" "I like to think of myself more as an outcome engineer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-3/she-smiled-a-little-you-are-a-manipulator-i-like-to-think-of-myself/) [J.R.Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-3/) > [“And it was funny. The silence of him had a bizarre effect on her. Normally, she was the quiet one in situations, preferring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-it-was-funny-the-silence-of-him-had-a-bizarre-effect-on-her/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“If you kiss me like that,” she purred, “I’ll take on any danger. I’d rather stay with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-carlisle/if-you-kiss-me-like-that-she-purred-i-ll-take-on-any-danger-i-d/) [Lisa Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-carlisle/) > [Content in a way he’d rarely been before Mercy, he simply stroked her until she purred. It delighted him as it always did. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/content-in-a-way-he-d-rarely-been-before-mercy-he-simply-stroked-her/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [Her only gift was knowing people almost by instinct, she thought, walking on. If you put her in a room with someone, up went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/her-only-gift-was-knowing-people-almost-by-instinct-she-thought/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [She’s my mate; that makes her mine. Forgetting that will see your neck no longer serving its purpose.” “I love it when you talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/she-s-my-mate-that-makes-her-mine-forgetting-that-will-see-your-neck/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“His master plan to get them all out the door early met its first check of the day when he opened his closet door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/his-master-plan-to-get-them-all-out-the-door-early-met-its-first/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Kat,” James quite literally purred. He wasn’t going to make it easy for me was he? “That’s quite an interesting name to give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-dyllin/kat-james-quite-literally-purred-he-wasn-t-going-to-make-it-easy-for/) [D.T. Dyllin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-dyllin/) > [“I still want to taste you,” she purred, then averted her eyes, suddenly feeling shy. What if she sucked at it? Sucked at it……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-t-lucas/i-still-want-to-taste-you-she-purred-then-averted-her-eyes-suddenly/) [I.T. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-t-lucas/) > [“Keni's eyes widened. "You purred at a guy? Really? Why?" "Because he scratched me behind the ears, and I liked it." "Huh?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-rourke/keni-s-eyes-widened-you-purred-at-a-guy-really-why-because-he/) [Stacey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-rourke/) > [Last of all came the cat, who looked round, as usual, for the warmest place, and finally squeezed herself in between Boxer and Clover;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/last-of-all-came-the-cat-who-looked-round-as-usual-for-the-warmest/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“A blanket could be used like a cat, if it were furry and purred. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-like-a-cat-if-it-were-furry-and-purred/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [A madness of tender caressing seized her. She purred as a tiger might have done, while she undulated like a snake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-glyn/a-madness-of-tender-caressing-seized-her-she-purred-as-a-tiger-might/) [Elinor Glyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-glyn/) > [“You are so unbelievably, totally loveable,’ she purred. ‘And I know I’m the only woman who’s ever said that to you.’ ‘Absolutely, baby. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-gibbs/you-are-so-unbelievably-totally-loveable-she-purred-and-i-know-i-m/) [C.C. Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-gibbs/) ## More by J.R. Ward > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Knock her dead, my man." "Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/knock-her-dead-my-man-oh-no-xcor-shook-his-head-that-shan-t-be/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Fucking hell. "Did you guys plan that out?" "Yeah, and if you don't fight us"--Hollywood bit down on his grape Tootsie-Pop--"we'll do it again--only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/fucking-hell-did-you-guys-plan-that-out-yeah-and-if-you-don-t-fight/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Why ever are you here?“ she whispered, putting her hands to his face. “Because I love you.” In so many ways, that explained nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/why-ever-are-you-here-she-whispered-putting-her-hands-to-his-face/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Time to the face the music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/time-to-the-face-the-music/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In his fantasy, he kissed his best friend again, pulled back, and… “I love you,” he said into the spray of the shower. “I……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-his-fantasy-he-kissed-his-best-friend-again-pulled-back-and-i-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [And love … love was worth dying for. Worth living for, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-love-love-was-worth-dying-for-worth-living-for-too/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/because-i-was-and-i-remain-utterly-and-completely-and-totally-in-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) [Explore all 1,120 J.R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More Animals quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mary tucked into a ball, shielding herself from the tail's barbs. She covered her ears and closed her eyes, cutting off the juicy sounds and the horrible sight of the killing. Moments later she felt her body being nudged. The beast was pushing at her with its nose. She rolled over and looked up into its white eyes. \"I'm fine. But we're going to have to work on your table manners.\" The beast purred and stretched out on the ground next to her, resting its head between its forelegs. There was a brilliant flash of light and then Rhage appeared in the same position.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R. 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