"It wasn't me." Hunter softly protests.
She keeps walking away, but turns to fix her eyes on the monster.
"Oh, it's a cockatrice. They're kinda like you guys, in that they turn people to stone, and are kinda reptilian, but a little sillier. And smaller, well, usually, and not as many legs. But look at those nice feathers."
Maybe it'll recognize the hatchling as non-petrifyable and leave. Maybe it'll charge and she'll have to spin around to kick it away. It's important to be ready for anything.