To Rankin, the does face didn't look true to how she really felt. He could remember back in a day when many does he knew would try to keep their dignity when there was no such thing, and when some of his once-then friends had witnessed and been involved in unspeakable brutality. The faces they gave were unforgettable. Here, he could see a rabbit who appeared to be fatigued and near desperate to trust total strangers. With memories at bay, Rankin lowered his ears and looked down at the ground. But that was in the past.
As Cinankhen responded to arvens, Rankin thought. We've been in the open this entire time, and have not been bothered by elil.
After cinankhen was done and decided to ask the new rabbit a question, Rankin looked at arvens and reasoned "On second thought arvens, I think we should rest here with cinankhen for the night. Every predator around is going to think we're suicidal, and we could be being watched right now as we speak. This new rabbit looks very exhausted and I'm not sure if she could go on. If we end up getting attacked on our way, she's as good as dead. Also, it doesn't look like cinankhen is compelled to leave right now." Rankin looked back at cinankhen and the new rabbit, but listened for arvens.