blackbird --- keona

[SÉAMUS]

☠

// time skip to after the change in leadership ;p

Given the new leader's announcement that slaves should be trained up, Séamus felt less adverse to being seen outside with the child.  It certainly gave him an excuse.  Even better now that Valkyr was gone.  As such, the endfield decided to his niece out into the desert, just a little outside the fortress.  With the sun beginning the descent, the temperature would begin to drop soon enough. A better time to train while still experiencing some of the desert's heat.

Keona had been upset with him once for attempting to teach her to fight.  Let's play a game.  Little choice now, in truth.  If they wanted to continue playing their part before the escape.  "Try to hit me," the faerie commanded, gentle-tone but a hard gleam in his eyes.  Once he knew Keona could fight at least a little and could handle a few nights in the desert, escape on their own grew more and more feasible.  Her trust in him, consequently, also would grow, he hoped, making her more likely to listen to him when the inevitable argument came upon their return to her father.

The vulpine took a few steps back from the smaller feline.  His talons slid on the sand but with more ease than before.  The desert was harsh, so only the toughest and smartest survived.  Séamus intended Keona to be among those ranks by the end of their time here.  I'm not going to go easy.  Indeed, the endfield would attempt to create an illusion that he was two feet to the right, trying to manipulate Keona's sense of smell and hearing. Ideally, their bond would make this easier, yet harder, should the child properly act in defense.

Meanwhile, he crouched low to the ground, prepared to move.

"word of mouth there's a snake in the garden" —-- Séamus Ó Faolán