It would be a diverting entertainment seeing her handle herself among those who should be her peers. Almost as diverting as another bout between them. Something that had been on Graydon's agenda since the moment Amila brought the first recording of Kira battling drones.
Devon and Rheya both straightened, coming to partial attention at the hint of threat in Graydon's tone.
Kira batted his words away. "As much as I live to amuse you, I have better things to do with my time today."
Graydon's head tilted. "Oh? Do share."
Devon shifted, his impatience at Graydon's interference obvious.
Graydon's gaze speared his, the façade of lazy entertainment dropping as the full force of his personality overwhelmed the younger Tuann. "Careful,zala. I won't be as merciful as she was."
Kira's intelligent gaze moved between them. "What doeszalamean?"
"Infant," Joule said into the quiet.
Graydon ignored them, the predator inside staring down the two initiates who'd already embarrassed themselves enough for one day.
"Knowing when it is time to retreat and regroup is as important for a warrior as knowing when to stand and fight," Wren said into the strained silence.
Devon relented. "Rheya, Aeron, let's go. We'll never reach the top standing here." He paused, his gaze lingering on the humans. "You too, if you think you have something helpful to add."
He didn't wait for their response, aiming a curt nod at Graydon and Wren before striding toward the monolith.
Rheya's expression was outraged as she stomped after him.
Kira blew out a puff air. "Look at that. Hecanlearn if he tries."
Raider shoved her shoulder with his as he followed in Devon's wake. "I forgot how brutal your teaching methods are."
Kira made a dismissive sound at the humans' backs, watching as Devon organized the initiates into teams before the group started up the rockface, their teamwork shoddy but existent.
Kira started as if suddenly realizing she was now surrounded by oshota and theseon’yer.
"On that note, I'll return to my own task," she said, backing away.
Finn peeled away from the tree line, following as she broke into a slow jog that held the distinct air of one beating a hasty retreat.
Graydon didn't think so. Any boredom or pent up aggression was now gone, washed away in the wake of a new prey, one that held every bit of his attention.
His chuckle was deep as he loped after Kira, his powerful stride eating up the ground between them.
*
It occurred to Kira after she'd been running for several minutes that Jin had been conspicuously absent during the confrontation with the initiates. No sarcastic quips. No distracting sideline conversations.
Kira stopped abruptly as she considered the ramifications of his atypical behavior. For the past few weeks, he'd been a constant, irritating companion. She'd taken it as a sign he was obeying the rules.
She should have known better.
"Jin. You there?" she said in a low voice as she made her way through the forest.
Silence echoed.
"Answer me, Tin Man," Kira cajoled. When a response never came, she continued, "What? No rejoinder about Tuann flirting habits?"
If anything got his attention, that would.
Kira waited.
