abruptly
suddenly; almost rudely
apprehensive
anxious; fearful
archly
playfully
bristly
stiff and prickly
derogatory
belittling and insulting
disengage
free
dragfooted
lame; dragging a lame foot
gingerly
in a careful, cautious way
graybacks
lice; parasites. Lice are small, wingless insects that live off the blood of other animals.
lashed
swung around quickly
mollified
soothed; pacified
ominously
in a threatening way
pugnacious
eager and ready to fight