Kira's shoulders shook as she tried to suppress her amusement. It would be less funny if Jin wasn't serious.
"You're not going to talk sense into him," Kira advised. "Mainly because he has no sense."
Auralyn hummed, looking askance at Kira. Whatever her thoughts, she kept them to herself.
Maksym pointed to one of the ponds visible outside the windows. "Why not use one of those?"
“Do you know how unsanitary those things are? Who knows what kind of bacteria are in there? Not to mention the fish. The Haldeel grow deadly varieties in their ponds. How will you make it up to me if one tries to take a chunk out of me?”
"That's what you're afraid of? Being eaten?" Maksym didn’t hide his skepticism.
"Of course not. Those low creatures couldn't even scratch my casing, but that doesn't mean they won't try."
In Jin logic, everything made sense. It was everyone else who had trouble following.
Kira listened, not interfering, more interested in seeing how these oshota of Wren's handled her friend. You could learn a lot by how someone interacted with those they perceived as lower in status.
Most people had some sense of self-preservation. They wouldn't knowingly antagonize a person who was equal or stronger than them—but introduce an entity they thought they could get away with bullying and you saw their true character.
Knowing their reaction would shape how Kira and Jin approached their time with the Tuann.
Jin was pushing the envelope a bit, but sometimes that was when you got the best reactions. Better to know now what they thought of Kira and Jin rather than get stabbed in the back later.
Of course, as always with Jin, there was some level of truth behind his actions.
He really did want a shower to wash off the muck, and he really did think the pond unsanitary for his needs.
Right now, the knowledge that his beautiful casing was smeared with unknown organic material was probably driving him crazy.
In all the time Kira had known him, he had never been one to allow anything to mar his perfection.
Auralyn didn't argue with him as she raised her arm, pressing her fingers near the crook of her elbow. A map slowly formed over her arm.
She pointed to a section that included several rooms. "This is where we are residing." She moved her finger and pointed to a room in the middle. "This is Kira's room. You may go there if you'd like a shower."
Auralyn held the map for a second longer before it faded. "Do you need me to show you again?"
"Nope. I got it." Jin shot toward the ceiling.
"One thing," Auralyn called before he disappeared to the next floor. "I'd advise staying out of the territory of other Houses. If they find you, they won't be as kind."
Jin paused, shifting until his "eye" was focused on Kira in question.
Kira had known Auralyn was dangerous, but her words showed she was also smart.
Her seemingly harmless advice disguised a warning. What’s more, she demonstrated how well she understood Kira and Jin, cutting off Jin’s investigations of the rest of the dwelling.
Now, if he were caught, he wouldn’t have the excuse that he didn’t know. It was Auralyn’s way of saying obey the rules or there would be consequences.
Kira shook her head once at Jin, telling him without words to give up on exploring. Better not to tip their hand.
If Elena was here, she was under Graydon’s care. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her niece.
"Understood." Jin disappeared around the corner in the next instant.
Auralyn directed a bored look at Kira. "Shall we continue now that there are no other distractions?"
By all means, Kira thought.
