Shiftless

4 - Byron

I'm still pretending outrage even as I tug on the link between Talano and I. When I feel it opening to me I take no time to hesitate, 'Kaya has a question to ask you. I've relaxed her so she can ask but you should get over here.' He doesn't need to say anything as I can feel him rolling his eyes at me. Nonetheless he makes his way over in a moment.

Kaya's eyes widen and her shy smile makes an appearance once more, pulling her tongue back in so quick I half wonder if she didn't actually swallow it. Talano takes it all in stride and holds his hand and arm out so he can give her a firm greeting. She actually takes courage from the action as she blushes happily and holds his arm just below the arm. When he squeezes her back in greeting the two talk a half step closer, allowing each other to get a small sniff for familiarity's sake.

I full so fucking happy seeing her beaming face. I can only imagine how she feels to be recognized as a potential healer by a recognized one, especially Talano who is third in rank in all the deltas of Vatin. I know I practically vibrated out of my skin when Ersyu had recognized me as his first beta.

She is still a little shy, as represented by the slight drawl in the beginning of her speech but she manages to push forward with the momentum to not carry that in every word, "My family is planning on having a special meal tonight in celebration of my being accepted, would you like to come as well?"

Talano doesn't even take a second to think it over, "I would be delighted, Kaya." He lets her arm go then and tilts his head slightly, letting me know that he is probably responding to another mind link. "If you'll excuse me it appears that Ezeryn has managed to hurt himself again."

The name isn't overly familiar to me but Kaya laughs into her hand, letting me know that they are a lycan probably around her age. They are also likely prone to injuring themselves if the interaction is anything to go by, especially Talano's wearied sigh. He loves healing and being there for people when they are sick, miserable, or hurt and has told me he would never tire of it. It looks like this Ezeryn might be managing to find his limit.

We leave the ward with him but he quickly breaks off to jog to wherever he is needed. Kaya and I meander our way through the wall. As her eyes are scrunched and she's staring at the floor again, I leave her be. I can only hope she is sharing her good news with Nyala and not checking in with Ezeryn. I'll be in some serious shit if Nyala doesn't know how it went for her younger sister soon. Kaya's beaming smile as she looks up at me tells me all that I know.

She looks like she is practically ready to float into the sky, she is so happy, "Nyala said she is going to stop by the confectioner to pick up some candyfloss. And some sweetbread too."

I grin, "I expected no less." Being gentle I nudge her arm a little, "Thank you from saving me from more flying fists. I was worried for my poor pretty face if we didn't tell her soon."

As expected Kaya giggles, "Nyala would never break your face. She mutters how that's your final defense for anybody who wants to seriously hurt you."

I laugh, not entirely surprised by the extreme of 'breaking my face.' Only Nyala would mutter under her breath about doing or not doing such a thing because of a prank of mine. "I feel so blessed by her boundless benevolence."

Kaya smirks a little, letting me know that she is about to tap me with some surprise, "She might not stay so benevolent if you don't get back to training the epsilons."

I place both hands over my heart, "The wounds! I'm very serious with those would be fighters. So serious that I paid a handsome amount of gold to tillers to till the training grounds we will be using."

Kaya winces knowing that I am about the make them fight in soft, uneven ground. She has been through this training before. In a final attempt of loyalty to her previous comrades she quietly speaks up, "Why are you so fond of that?"

I grin, "Because so few actually remember to use the dirt. They all just go for the jugular like unimaginative crones. I'm hoping it only takes them a few more times of faces full of dirt to remember that their environment can be helpful too." I hold my hands up and shrug, "If they still don't remember I don't know what else I can do for them."

Kaya frowns, "But you nor Nyala used the dirt when she Challenged you."

I hum in the affirmative, "Nyala is quicker than me. She used that and her smaller stature to stay lower to the ground so that I couldn't, and she kept her movements varied enough that I was doing my best just to block her." I pause, stopping at a crossroads in the hallway, "That might not always be the case for every fight and sometimes being aware of just how unstable the ground you stand on can help the individual be the one the leave the fight alive."

Kaya shakes her head, "I'm not going to be a fighter, Byron. I don't need to know this."

I have no smiles for her now, just a small frown as I hold her shoulder gently, "Kaya, you need to have some experience in defending yourself. Especially in our culture. We might be far from Tanithe but that doesn't mean there won't be shitty males, or females, who are more interested in controlling you than forming a healthy matebond."

Kaya opens her mouth, about to argue if the glint in her eyes is anything to go by, but something crosses her mind and she closes her mouth without saying anything. Instead, she nods slowly. "You have a point. I'll ask Nyala to continue helping me practice." Her lips lift in a barely there smile, "Thank you, Byron." She gives me a tight hug, "I'm going to go for a run. Bye!"

I watch her leave for a moment more. There is definitely a little bit of a skip to her steps. I'm happy that I didn't bring down her mood, I just want her to have enough resilience to her that when push comes to shove she'll fight for herself kicking and screaming. That is all I want for my family.

Looking down the hallway I'm about to go down, I can't help my chesire grin. I'm about to watch many, many people eat dirt. Just another normal day of work for me. I whistle jauntily, knowing that the most Ersyu will do is groan because he can't complain about how my not quite normal methods has caused our fighters to improve. Even if they only improve to spite me, they're still getting better and we'll need that effort now more than ever if the information we are getting is anything to go by.