The feeling of smooth metal in her hand distracted Eva from her thoughts.
Surprised, Eva turned the object over. It had the shape of a sphere with interlocking loops. Eva pressed, not entirely surprised when the sphere collapsed into a ring before fading from sight.
Eva lifted her gaze to find Polaris staring at her with wise eyes. He lowered his mouth to lip at her empty hand.
Like I said, some things you have to do for yourself.
Polaris shoved his nose into Eva's chest in a hard bump and turned to present his side to her.Get on.
"I take it the lesson is over."
Polaris sent her a look that asked what did she think.
"Very well then."
Not like Eva had a lot left in her to give anyway. Exhaustion was beginning to creep into her thoughts, threatening to drag her under.
She suspected when she finally found her bed tonight, she'd be out as soon as she was horizontal.
Eva climbed onto Polaris's back and slumped forward, her mind already turning to what awaited her in the camp below.
The minutes passed in a blur, seeming to fly by during Polaris's quick descent. Before Eva knew it, he had landed, waiting only long enough for her to dismount before he was gone again.
Eva watched him go, knowing she couldn't put this off for much longer. The rest needed to be told the change in circumstances.
Eva turned, almost unsurprised when she found the fire fox sitting a few feet from her.
"Did you know this was going to happen?"
The question wasn't a fair one, and she knew it. Even if he'd known, what could he have done?
As her friend and companion, it wasn't his responsibility to protect her from her own decisions. He also wasn't Trateri. He didn't owe them anything.
After observing her for what felt like an eternity, the fire fox paced forward, picking up speed. Five feet from her, he leapt. Eva caught him with a grunt.
Brown eyes met hers. In the fire fox's gaze, she read reassurance. Faith. Even without a voice he seemed to be telling her this wasn't the end. To hold steady and persevere.
Her mouth quirked as she gave him a squeeze. "Thanks. I needed to hear that."
The fire fox let out a yip, thrashing to lick her face and wipe away the last traces of her tears.
Eva giggled. The invisible weight she'd been carrying on her shoulders eased as she carried him toward camp.
She'd made it to the edge when a faint rustling drew her attention upwards.
Eva shook her head at Jane as the Anateri stirred from the shadows. Jane frowned but remained where she was, leaving Eva to handle the situation as she wished.
Eva redirected her gaze to the roof of the nearby tent, not entirely surprised to find a visitor perching on one of the structural poles that held it upright.
The Tenrin's posture was casual and unconcerned, as if she wasn't effortlessly balancing on something that could collapse under her weight at any minute.
"Hello." Absently, Eva stroked the fire fox's fur as she observed the female Tenrin.
Up close, her youth was even more obvious. Her frame small and her body still developing.
Eva doubted she was even Jason's age.
She was pretty. Her features sharp and her mannerisms even more bird-like than Ajari's. Most importantly she seemed curious—if cautious.
