open, betta ceremony [★] blackbird

[Keona.]

✯ — female. striker of the typhoon. blind. rusty spotted cat.  ref. bio.

Truly it was a miracle Keona never slipped in the sand, though she often skidded.  The kitten had a habit of running, and skidding, practically everywhere she went, so long as it was familiar enough.  She heard Jacob's approach before she heard him speak, as the sand shifted beneath his paws.  Her own paws bounced, kneading into the same sand.  She felt a strange mix of exhaustion and exhilaration; she could drop or she could run a mile.

Not that her father would be thrilled at either.  He'd flip.  Perhaps it was better someone else had spotted her first.  She craned her neck upwards, ears perked in attention.  Jacob was growing to be a more and more familiar presence.  Keona didn't mind having him around though.  He did seem a bit... Like a worrywart sometimes.  Given he was into all that healing stuff though, her brain decided it was unsurprising, even normal or fitting.

Still, she took an almost startled step back before blinking.  She got cut?  The child's brow creased briefly.  What- Oh.  It must've been when she tripped on the Necro Mamba's figurine.  Unfortunately, the irony of that was completely lost on her young, irony-oblivious mind.  Instead, anxiety invaded her thoughts and stomach.  It was just a little cut, a scrape, but she was in no mood for the inevitable fussing that she'd endear if her father saw it.  Not much to do about it though, beside making sure it didn't get infected.  "M'kay," the fae murmured.  If not now anyway, it'd happen later; her father would never let it go untaken care of.  "Thanks Mister Jacob."

With a flick of her ear, she smiled a little meekly.  "'m a Blackjack Rat now." It felt nice to say it out loud.  She'd be showing off her choice to her family sooner or later too.  She kept all the nervousness about whether or not they'd like that choice inside.  It was up to her after all, and even if they all joined different divisions, they were still a family and crewmates.  "Did tha ceremony." Oblivious, Keona figured Jacob probably knew about it all.  He was an official crewmate now, but he'd been around before, as an ally and being a personal friend of the captain.  "... I tripped on one of the figurines," she added with a grin.

"Doesn't hurt though," she offered, a little hastily even.  Some part of the child recognized if anyone wouldn't judge her for falling it'd be Jacob.  Nonetheless, she felt the need.  All kits tripped every once and a while; they weren't fully coordinated after all, but messing up seemed like a death sentence where Keona was concerned.  It'd be so easy for someone to blame her lack of sight rather than childish error, to point out she was weaker because of it.  The tiny feline could name at least one who'd probably think that off the top of her head but truthfully she knows she's overthinking and maybe being a little paranoid.  Not many had really been mean to her at all here, much less in regards to her eyes. It was Keona herself being dramatic and making things hard on herself.

Sometimes, the worry and the fussing made sense.  No matter the circumstances... She never appreciated it, not really... Though she knew she could easily use it to her advantage, just as every child learned how to get their way.  In the end, there was nothing to be done; she had to live with it.  And try not to overthink everything.

code by spacexual