Make friends? But if their parents were anything to go by, they’d do nothing but insult her for living as a nomad.

She watched her mother leave. Kaara coiled her tail around her leg nervously.

From her interactions with Tulos, Kaara already knew that nobles really didn’t like to say what they meant. They loved to make you feel what they meant in whatever roundabout way they could.

A group of girls came up to her, one of whom she recognized as Kadmus’s child. A white haired xia with branching horns and extravagantly braided hair. What was her name? She had zoned out for it.

Kaara put on her best smile.

One of the other girls sneered at her, “Oh, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such an unashamed lady in my life. If only I could be so…confident. You’re in the presence of Sancta Xirxus, you know.”

Even if Kaara knew they wanted to insult her, it wasn’t like she cared much to feel the way she wanted her to feel from it. If nobles saw her as nothing more than a dumb savage, then was it any of her business to correct them?

A mischievous energy sparked inside of her. It would be a lot more fun to pretend she didn’t understand.

“Right? And what was your name anyways? Laura? I’ve never seen someone wear rat skin so well before,” Sancta said, “Oh, but you pull it off, though!” she added with a laugh.

Kaara didn’t skip a beat, “Oh! Thank you! I’m glad you like it, your dress is really pretty too!” she said with a genuine smile.

Sancta clicked her tongue, annoyed that her provocation seemed to have flown over Kaara’s head, “Those furs go well with your hair too. Did you keep rats in it to trap them and make your coat? You are a huntress after all, right? Or was it a hunter?”

Before Kaara could respond, Amaro spoke up, “Oh come now, Sancta, I think her hair is rather lovely.”

Kaara jumped a bit. How did he get so close?

“Do you mind if I touch it?” He asked.

Kaara was thrown for a loop. Touch it? Why? Was that a noble thing to do?

“...Um.”

He combed a finger through her hair, leaning in to whisper, “Don’t mind my sister, I think she’s jealous of you.”

Kaara wanted to leave a snow decoy behind. Maybe they wouldn’t notice the difference.

“Oh my! Amaro was it? Haven’t you learned any manners?” Deka asked, grabbing his wrist, “You hardly waited for permission.”

“I’m only trying to put her at ease. What good are manners going to be when we’re all living the Altix like savages anyways? I think it’d be a welcomed change of pace, myself.”

“If you’d like to roll around in the dirt like a pig, I’ll be happy to show you to the nearest mudhole.” He pat Kaara’s head.

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Amaro raised a brow, “You hardly even asked.”

What was going on? Was Kaara a petting zoo to them now?

“Did you have a problem with it?” Deka said, grabbing Kaara’s horn.

Would kicking his balls get her in trouble? It probably would.

“Hey! Tibur girl, are you familiar with the warrior Arik?” a large and imposing red xio said from her other side, seemingly ignorant to the petting war going on.

“Oh, yeah, Arik’s my friend actually-”

“Then you can get me a rematch with him?!” He said, leaning in closely.

“Well first off, Arik’s not-”

“I knew it! The cowardly Tibur plans to walk off with a victory and gloat for the rest of his life about it!”

Deka yanked Kaara by her horn away from the large red skinned xio.

“So you’re the embarrassment I’ve heard so much about!”

Raktus stood a head taller than him with a mean grimace and a locked jaw, “What did you say?”

Deka had a wicked smirk on his face, “You’re the loser Xirxus who was humiliated in a duel by a lowly Tibur. Am I wrong?”

Was a kidney punch against noble etiquette? Kaara was thinking hard about it.

“For one, unhand her.” Amaro said, smacking Deka’s hand off her horn as he stepped between the two of them, “And for another, watch your tongue when speaking to my family!”

“Oh yeah!” Kaara said, trying to break their streak of verbal blows before they turned to physical ones, “Me and Deka are family too! I didn’t know I was related to the Emperor until now.”

Deka gave her a smile, “So that’s what the outburst was about. Though our blood ties are rather distant from what I understand.” He looked at Amaro with a smug grin, “I suppose I could always bring her back into my family line. I think it’s the only way her children might have Xirxus blood in them one day.”

Kaara was beginning to theorize if she could kick him hard enough that he wouldn’t be able to tell the adults where she’d kicked him. She could knock out two stones with one foot if she aimed it correctly.

Wait, no, she had to make friends.

The air started to smell like ozone. There was a vein popping out on Amaro’s forehead.

Kaara had to think of something quick to distract them, “Oh, that means you’re related to Tulos too right?”

Deka turned, “Who?”

Amaro’s vein vanished, “Tulos? Do you know of them? Where are they? Are they safe?”

Kaara nodded, “We’re really good friends! He’s made us a bunch of cool things with his magic.” She came between Amaro and Deka. If unsolicited touching wasn’t against the rules, then she’d do that instead. Kaara pulled the two of them under her arms, soliciting the angry buzzing of a few noble girls who had come to watch, “You’re both gonna be in the camp with me right? Everyone’s family in the Tibur clan no matter how much blood you share!”

“So Tulos has been living with you as a Tibur this entire time?” Raktus asked.

Kaara nodded, “Yeah, didn’t you know? I’m sure Tiksu said he’d let you guys know.”

Amaro clicked his tongue, “Our father probably didn’t care to tell us.” He made no motions to move from where he was.

Deka pulled away, brushing himself off, “I suppose there is a bit of blood which runs between me and you. Though I do have to wonder…” He showed his fangs with a sly smirk, “I am only one half Xirxus, and the other is of the prodigious Alveridan bloodline as well. I heard your father wasn’t much a fan of uniting other noble houses into his own. And your brother- Tulos was it?- He sounds as if he fits in a bit too well with the Tiburs.”

Amaro stood tall again. Kaara had never seen two people who wanted to fight so badly before. Even Arik and Rorik weren’t this competitive. Her mother had given her an impossible challenge.

“If you’re trying to imply we share blood with Tibur then you’re-” Before Amaro could speak another word, several drinks were poured over Kaara’s head.