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Riven's eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and something darker. "The power is older than time itself. It can shape reality, rewrite destinies. Tessa is the vessel, the living key to a force that can remake the world."
Kieran did not respond, because he was at a loss for words. He failed to understand how any of this was possible. How could Tessa really hold all this world-shifting power?
“That’s a load of crap and you must realize that!” Tessa exploded, with an edge of calmness to her voice. She stood up and approached, Kidemonas tensing with a sense of duty to protect. “It’s just a fairy tale. These things don’t exist.”
Kieran raised a brow, turning toward her. “That’s what I’d think, but everyone seems to think you’re a goddess or something.”
Riven laughed. “You know more than you let on, Astrika Propheta.”
Tessa grimaced and faced away. “Lies… It’s just something my parents believe in. I can’t actually do anything.”
Riven narrowed his amber eyes, glancing at Kidemonas and then back to her. “You can. You’ve been running for years, to escape your own destiny, but we all know that’s impossible.”
The starry fox began to shake, and her sides heaved with quickened breath, as if remembering a flood of unwelcome memories. “It is none of your concern! I’m not going with you or anyone, besides Kieran, you wild ruffian! Forget it. I belong to no one.”
Riven rolled his eyes. “You’re more stubborn than I had imagined, but it is no wonder you’ve evaded capture by the powers that be for so long, Miss Tessa.”
Kieran witnessed a rage grow aflame in her jade eyes, and her fur bristled out like a bush, the starry sparkle of her fur seeming to glisten more intensely. She curled her lips. “Drop the formalities, I know you’re not here to give me any respect. You were about to kill my friend, slimebag.”
Tessa lashed her tail “You would have killed my dragon too, if you could have!”
“I do whatever I must,” Riven argued snidely. “I have never seen you perform the powers you’re rumored to possess, but mark my words, I will. I know a lot about your past, you can’t talk your way out of this one. I’ve been hunting you for a long time.”
“You’ll see nothing,” Tessa snarled.
“That’s enough, both of you,” the minty fox broke in, taking leadership in the moment. “Tessa, don’t feel pressured by him, he’s just a tied up rat. As for you, Brownie,” he turned to the brown fox, giving him a dumb nickname just as he’d been given. “I’m not interested in much from you beyond your answers to my questions. After that, I’m tossing you off this train.”
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Riven looked taken aback and quite offended. “I’m sorry, what? What? Sorry!” he stumbled on his words. “I help you with what I can, and you’re just going to ditch me? You, sir, are a dickhead. Dickhead! A real donkey.”
“You’d be too much of a risk to keep around,” Kieran explained, pointing his ears upwards. “I don’t need you knowing where we’re going. Besides, you’re… insane.”
“Ugh,” Riven barked, absolutely miffed. He shifted in his uncomfortable bindings. “Judgmental!”
“I don’t want you with us anyway!” Tessa raised her voice with pure attitude, amplifying her voice by speaking into her white paws at the brown fox outlaw.
“Come on, now,” the outlaw subtly begged, and seemed to genuinely want to be included in their journey, “look, I’m defeated here. I’ve been chasing this girl for years. I really just want to see what she’s capable of for myself. I’ve told you that I look down on Whitewood, so I must be more trustworthy than he is, right?”
“It’s a possibility, but also a big risk,” Kieran remarked. He had to admit that he was carefully considering letting Riven stay, he had some kind of instinct within him that it might be a good idea, but he was remaining guarded for now. It felt just as crazy as Riven was messed up in the head, but also potentially right.
‘Hard decisions… hard decisions… he could be useful, having allies is important right now,’ Kieran mused shortly.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Riven went on, flattening one ear and tilting his head slightly, furrowing a single brow. “You think something is wrong with my head, but there isn’t, at least not entirely. I may have a few screws loose, but my only issue is I laugh at weird times and say strange combinations of words; if I become stressed or excited, it comes out. That is something I cannot help. Don’t misjudge me.”
“That is part of why I think you’re crazy, but the other bit is because you went to not only kill but to bite me,” Kieran stood up, towering over the brown fox, in a subconsciously dominating way. He shoved his hands into his pockets.
Riven shrugged. “Isn’t that just male bonding?” he laughed, genuinely this time.
Kieran paused. Did he really think…? He audibly face-palmed. ‘This guy…’ he inwardly sighed. Turning to Kidemonas, he asked, “What do you think?”
The large flame beast remained still, hot eyes locked onto Riven assertively; he appeared to think very deeply about the situation, something Kieran had not expected. He thought it more likely that Tessa’s protector would immediately call for the expulsion of all danger, with how obsessively protective he was of her. A few moments passed before an answer was given by the dragon, who’d carefully considered all available options. “As much as I would revel in drenching my claws in his blood, it is also imperative to our quest, and most importantly to my Astrika Propheta’s safety, that her enemies be destroyed from the face of this earth,” he said solemnly, and as seriously as could be. “Gaining support from every possible source would be ideal. A network must be formed if we are to fulfill our goals. In which case, I approve of this furred nitwit; if he gives me a reason to distrust him, I won’t ask permission to execute him then and there, and feast on his pearly white bones.”
Riven, having been confident and brave up until that point, let slip a vibe of fear, even if for a split second before recovering and feigning like he was not afraid of the formidable beast.
“What? Are you serious?” Tessa flattened her ears, outraged. “Kidemonas!”
Kidemonas moved toward the starry fox and pulled her close to him for a snuggle. “Do not worry. You have my word, as always, that I will keep you safe.”
Tessa hid her face in his white chest fluff. “He scares me…”
“Be not scared,” the fire drake soothed the girl. “I will be with you at all times. He shall not hurt you; if he even thinks about it, I will erase his existence.”