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His red eyes burned with hatred for the attacker, and Kieran could tell that he wanted to get his claws on him far more than he’d allowed himself to. Perseus’ huge black horns pointed backward, and sat majestically.
The swaying of the tracks did nothing to disturb Perseus from his poise; he remained vigilant, eyes locked on Riven’s position.
As Tessa nestled closer, she said nothing, and a question echoed in Kieran's mind — how long had she been living under the shadows of relentless pursuit? The minty fox, usually adept at deciphering the complexities of the world, found himself unable to fully grasp the depths of her past. Yet, he could sense the resilience within her, the unyielding spirit that had carried her through unknown perils.
‘Poor girl,’ he sympathized.
Kieran could only imagine what she’d been through before meeting him. She’d managed to stay safe with her dragon actively defending her for this long, but it was becoming apparent that these attacks were getting stronger for her.
A guttural growl tore through the air, dragging Kieran's attention away from the subtle interplay of shadows within the train car. The growly voice, emanating from Riven, pierced through the silence like a discordant note in a symphony of quiet contemplation.
"I need Tessa. To make this world better," Riven declared, his words laced with an unsettling conviction that echoed against the metal walls.
The minty fox's golden eyes narrowed as he turned to face the source of the ominous statement. His gaze bore into Riven, a mixture of disdain and frustration etched across his features. "You asshole," Kieran retorted sharply, the tension in his voice cutting through the confined space. "Whoever you’re associated with needs to stop hunting her. You people just come in, blades out, hoping to kill your way to whatever… goals you have."
Riven's response was a disdainful scrunch of his nose, a feral snarl unveiling the sharp edges of his teeth. The red bandanna around his neck seemed to tighten with the menace in the air. "Our goal is freedom and kindness for all," he declared.
Kieran's skepticism lingered in the air like a charged static, his gaze unyielding. The dissonance between Riven's professed ideals and the violence he embodied hung palpably in the confined space of the train car, leaving an unsettling tension that begged for resolution.
A wry smirk played upon Kieran's minty muzzle as he responded to Riven's lofty ideals. "It sounds preachy to me," he remarked, the words riding the subtle currents of skepticism, "and everything but true. I’ve seen your associates. Does Malachai Whitewood ring a bell?"
A contemplative pause hung between them, the weight of unspoken truths resonating within the confined space of the train car. Riven, momentarily lost in recollection, took a moment to sift through the recesses of his memories. His response, when it came, was laced with an unsettling shift in tone, as his voice involuntarily dipped into a maniacal giggle.
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"It does, silly kit," he retorted, the words dripping with a disturbing playfulness. "Silly kit! Silly indeed! Small puppy. Big clothes."
The absurdity of his reply hung in the air, a disconcerting contrast to the serious undertones of their conversation.
Kieran flattened an ear, and raised a brow; all he could think of was what a nut job this man was. "Right," he remarked dryly, a disbelieving undercurrent coloring his tone.
In a decisive shift, the mint-furred fox turned toward Tessa, his touch gentle yet reassuring on her shoulder. "You're safe now," he assured her, his voice a steadfast anchor in the tumult of uncertainty that surrounded them.
The jade starlight within Tessa's eyes shimmered with a mixture of mild surprise and gratitude. A delicate smile graced her features as she acknowledged Kieran's protection. "Yea... thank you. And Kidemonas."
Kieran tilted his head. “Kidemonas?”
Tessa's grin widened, her expression animated as she shifted her gaze towards Perseus. "Mmm. When Perseus turns into his ultimate form, he abides by a second name; that’s Kidemonas."
Kieran absorbed this new piece of information with a subtle nod, the intrigue in his golden eyes mirroring his curiosity. Things were coming to light, revealing the depths of the connection between Tessa and her enigmatic dragon companion. "Ah, I see," the minty fox responded, a thoughtful lilt in his voice. The revelation added a layer of mystique to their already complex journey. Turning his attention to the imposing dragon, Kieran called out in a tone that carried both respect and gratitude, "You did a good job, Kidemonas. I appreciate you helping me."
Perseus, or rather Kidemonas, acknowledged the praise with a dignified nod, one that held behind it a sense of acknowledgment, one that carried with it an understanding of honor between males.
The cavernous echoes of Kidemonas' majestic form reverberated as his mouth opened, to Kieran’s surprise, the atmosphere tinged with an otherworldly energy. "You have passed the trial of loyalty, Dravenholm. I wished to see how far you’d go to protect my Astrika Propheta, that is Tessa, and you did not disappoint."
Kieran, overcome by the unexpected revelation, found himself in a speechless moment. Tessa offered a comforting rub on Kieran's arm. "It’s okay," she reassured, a gentle smile gracing her features. "I forgot to tell you that he also speaks in this form. My bad for not mentioning that."
Kieran's perceptive gaze lingered on Kidemonas, a newfound respect burgeoning within him. "So he’s very intelligent then," Kieran remarked, a trace of admiration coloring his words. "Not just a combat pet."
His erratic laughter cut through the space like shards of glass, a stark contrast to the measured intelligence gleaming in Kidemonas' eyes. The flame-colored drake rose with a deliberate grace, his massive form inches from the insolent fox's face. A plume of hot steam surged forward in the form of a snort, a searing reminder of the dragon's formidable power, burning Riven lightly.
"Keep your silence, now," Kidemonas commanded, his stern tone leaving no room for dissent. The brown fox, cowed by the draconic authority, promptly closed his mouth, submitting.
Tessa's eyes held a mixture of fondness and gratitude as she shared the intricate connection she held with her celestial companion. "To answer your question, yes. Kidemonas, or Perseus, is my friend from... back home. He was assigned to me from birth by my family, and he has always protected me. He also was my study partner when my parents would have me take lessons about our race, and our country."
Kieran absorbed the intricate tapestry of revelations. His gaze shifted toward Riven, a crazed observer with a plan hidden behind his veil of lunacy. The brown fox, though seemingly unhinged, displayed a keen awareness of the dynamics at play. Bound and restrained, his deep amber eyes told of a mind that harbored schemes and stratagems, carefully concealed within the recesses of his madness.
He may be crazy but he also knew exactly what he was doing, it would appear.
"I'd suggest not talking about yourself, or Kidemonas, in front of our 'friend' over there," Kieran advised Tessa with a tone of caution, a knowing glance cast toward the enigmatic fox. Tessa, catching the subtlety in his words, complied, retreating into a quiet contemplation. She nestled among the hay, seeking solace from the recent turmoil. She’d have the opportunity to talk more about her past when Riven wasn’t present.