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The cooked rabbit, now a tantalizing golden brown, was presented with a certain pride. Kieran carved it with one of his sharp blades, the succulent meat revealing itself beneath the crispy exterior. He handed a portion to Tessa, the heat and steam still rising from the savory meal.
They ate their share. The minty fox occasionally stole glances at Tessa, gauging her reaction to the breakfast he’d prepared.
Tessa savored a bite of the rabbit, and she lit up with appreciation. "Kieran, this is amazing. Seriously, you're like a gourmet chef in the wild or something."
Kieran chuckled, a hint of pride in his golden eyes. "I’m glad you like it. Survival skills include knowing how to make a good meal out of whatever you've got."
She nodded, taking another bite. "Well, you've definitely got the knack for it. I appreciate it, especially after how I acted last night. I shouldn't have… been so rude."
Kieran glanced at her, his expression softened. "No worries. We've both got a lot on our plates, metaphorically and literally. Apology accepted."
Tessa smiled, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "Thanks. I know you're just trying to help."
They continued to eat in companionable silence. The morning sun had fully risen, and its affable glow mingled with the comforting heat of the fire. It felt like a brand new day because it truly was; a fresh start amidst the challenges they faced.
Kieran, holding a skewer with a piece of rabbit, turned to the girl. "Tessa, I’ve decided; we can't linger in Dawnbreak any longer," he began, his voice low but resolute. "We need to slip away and head east into the Emberlands. That's where my contact, Liam O'Brien, is located. He can help us with our endeavor."
Tessa, curious and a little bit concerned, listened intently. She took a bite of food, savoring the flavors, before responding. "But… it’ll take us weeks to get there."
Kieran shook his head, smiling giddily, proud of himself for the idea he’d concocted. “Nope. I have a plan.” The flames crackled over his voice. “It’s best if no one sees you, so we can’t make a scene by getting horses, nor can we take a carriage there, but what we can do is hitch a ride on the Veridis Express.”
Tessa raised her brows, impressed with the genius of his idea, as well as excited for the coming adventure. “Oh? That’s not bad, actually,” she commented, grinning as she looked to the side. As Tessa processed the audacious plan, a spark of excitement lit up in her eyes, and she looked back at the bounty hunter. "So, you're going to get us on a moving train? Without anyone noticing?"
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"Exactly! It's our ticket out of here. We sneak on board in an empty train car and let it whisk us away to the Emberlands. It's faster and safer than trudging through the wilderness on foot," Kieran winked, his confidence unwavering. "I've done crazier things, trust me. With the hustle and bustle of people boarding and disembarking, we'll blend right in. It's the perfect way to slip away unnoticed."
Tessa chuckled, impressed by Kieran's audacity. "Alright, Kieran, I'm in."
Perseus snorted a cloud of fiery sparks as if offering his somewhat reluctant praise.
“Will we do this today?” she asked.
Kieran dipped his head, scratching behind his ears. "Yes. The longer we stay, the greater the risk. We can’t do this on our own; the corruption is much bigger than we are. We need to move discreetly, to avoid drawing attention.”
Tessa’s gaze depressed downward, a little sad. “What about Malachai?”
The minty fox huffed, displeased to even hear the name, and reached for a steel-tipped arrow from his quiver. He held it out before his female companion. “If he shows his ugly face, I’ll put one of these between his eyes,” he promised.
From what he could tell, his words seemed to make her feel more comforted about going forward.
After they had finished their welcome meal and were satisfied, full of energy to face what lay ahead of them, they packed up everything they had and set off to catch the steam train. Tessa secured her hooded cloak, concealing her identity as Perseus curled around her neck, hidden inside.
Kieran, his movements fluid and purposeful, checked the supplies, making sure everything was stowed away securely. He slung his bow over his shoulder and adjusted the straps of his leather outfit. The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the city in warm golds and reds, sending light bouncing everywhere.
Dawnbreak truly was a magnificent place. If Kieran did not know any better, he’d assume it was safe, too.
The pair, armed with determination and a shared goal, moved with stealth toward the tracks. As they navigated the crowds, Kieran glanced at Tessa, catching the glint of excitement in her shadowed jade eyes.
"We need to make like swift foxes now. The train won't wait for us," Kieran murmured, his voice low in the afternoon heat. A cool summer breeze fanned through their pelts.
As they made their way through the train station, the distant sound of a steam engine whistle reached their ears. The Veridis Express was preparing to depart, dark plumes of thick, chewy smoke billowing upward into the light cornflower blue sky. Kieran quickened his pace, leading the way with certitude.
Tessa followed suit, making very sure to stay close to his side; she did not want to lag, or even worse, get left behind and cause a rift in their plan.
Upon reaching the entrance to the platform they saw the train, its sleek charcoal gray form shrouded in hot, swelling steam, ready to embark on its few-day-long trek to the foreign nation in the east. The polished, cherry-wood plank platform was alive with activity as passengers bustled about, packed in together, their attention focused on boarding and finding their seats.
Kieran surveyed the scene, his mind calculating the best approach. It was not the passenger cars that he wanted, but the storage cars; he knew the Veridis Express line of transport stored food and other useful supplies in the back of their trains, and these cars usually had plenty of room to stowaway, far from any peaking eyes for the majority of the duration of the journey.