refuse to w

starling some curious Nulrets who peeked in

urling his tail

The contract between us has been si

ore looking at Mialtros. She appe

However," she waved the dagger, "it is...not a pleasant ritual. I thought you may wish

fur b

ond your pow

dagger, testing it

t neatly, bu

trust Mewl. She has the right t

and Mialtros. Xiathia merely lifted the cat an

cannot afford to lose her

red Mewl

enough," Xiathia moved closer, "Mialtros. You have the abili

looked to

have to be

cape. She twirle

n, but the path of Guardianship is fraught with moral choices no child should ever

ed Ghirti wi

e Mialtros's cheek, clickin

her face into

ld I have to do

d the dagger

rystal inside his skull. You will then

death is the only release f

ed against the f

itual is that!? I...oh G

around in her arms. X

fter the bond is severed. Should the knife edge hold true, yo

kered to the dagger.

that the o

apping at her hands. The cat ran and

no longer? You think those things give a d**n whether or not you're my Gu

r days to d

ened, tongue swiping it

them and attend to your duti

ed a paw a

they will let us search once more for a suitable candidate once she's gone

eir f

her fingers thro

r should it come to it. P

aughter

in Xiathia! If you fight, you'll die, a

ed! All for what? O

the rock, Xiathia's arm str

and its people Mewl! What kind of

nd force them to play savi

laws rak

ying this is what I want to have happene

. Her blade formed and she drew it slowly

this life! Trained our whole lives for the responsibilities and hardships

eing the serpent

ould free her ri

"Enough! Y'all gotta stop fightin' each other

Xiathia f

nnels. Xiathia watch

ace in her hands, hissi

omeone else suffer what I had to go t

no

nce of power has shifted, they will do anything to keep it that way. In their eyes, y

tted a

time confirming your Guardianship. Without a clear candidate in mind for y

we

ead to the stone, reli

the only thing that'l

ched her cloa

sever the contract. I just...wanted

a while. Each person l

scr

gled to pull t

aws and closed his eyes. Te

. Mialtros walked to G

? I want to start my Guardia

hia looked at

r between its fangs, swa

towards her. Mialtr

I just don't want to see anyone else

specially not because y'all deci

pur

would do the

ia sn

rs were premature

before Mewl could

you to agree to it before

aved h

n. Na

held out

n't lie to me anymore. That you'll in

don't want to be in

his paw in

t regret this I promise! I shall make

e world has

lose, laughing as the s

altros might change her mind and actu

the

urred

, what shall we do first, oh

and pointed t

el