Cherreads

Chapter 118 - Stubborn Baby

Caius couldn't contain his glee, his tails waving in agitation and excitement… a rift in space… the little bird could literally take a step and be anywhere he desired… His Little Snack was able to let human or beasts pass through as well. Caius used his hand to cover his growing smile… even in the legends of old… a previous phoenix had only been able to take their soulmate when moving between the rifts.

Leonard just stared… if Ashton could open a relay in the capital… the empire could be under attack without warning… the only person or beast who had even come close had been Alphonse… but even he could only travel along the mage relay nodes.

Jaxon was just watching as if none of this had anything to do with him or Monroe. If an attack came, they wouldn't stand a chance anyway. At least until Ashton left, none of the powers would do anything. For now… Jaxon just wanted time to lick his wounds, and sooth Monroe as much as possible.

Ashton held Charmaine's stare, "Luckily even my guardians are capable of small rifts, that way they never get lost." Ashton then stretched his shoulders, "Hmm, is no one going out hunting today?"

Zane had almost lost his soul… teleportation… their mages had been trying for decades… even the mage relays didn't really teleport items… the items would be converted to mana, then travel along the nodes, then reconstruct upon arrival. Research had shifted when Alphonse had been able to ride the mana node channels… but that… that had not been a node. There was no… travel, more like a gate to another place… if…

Rommel kicked a pebble so it hit the back of Zane's ankle. There would be plenty of time to think of the possibilities after they left the area. Young Song's hint had not been discreet.

Zane jolted out of his thoughts, "Yes of course, we were planning to set out within the hour." Zane announced as the rest were coming out of their own speculations. Everyone started getting ready to go hunt…

Caius watched as the little bird came closer, that had not just been a display of power… but of maturity. To have such control over one's racial abilities was also how one was determined to be an adult. A fox might be three hundred years old but if they couldn't soul guide, then they would still be considered a child. But… Caius searched the little bird's soul form… those were still baby feathers… dry, stiff, short baby feathers… was there a more contradictory bird in all of existence?

Ashton tilted his head at the big fox who was clearly examining his soul with disapproval, still… it wouldn't benefit either of them if the big fox continued to treat him as a delicate jade. "Fox, was the show not worth your time?"

Caius leapt forward lifting the small bird under his arms. tossing him up high, "Aiya, the most impressive Little Snack in all the world. If you are second, no one dares to be first. If they do I will eat them." Caius added tossing his Little Snack, then caught the little bird. Caius repeated the process nuzzling the baby bird between tossing him up.

Ashton almost rolled his eyes as he was hugged to the large chest and spun around. "Well, if I have no competition, then I would always be first, yes?" This fox was still treating him like a child… still it was too early to tell if his message reached all his intended recipients.

Caius raised the much smaller body up nuzzling his cheeks as he perched the little bird on his forearm. "Such a smart little bird, Aiya! Has there ever been such a pretty birdie?" Caius praised walking toward the in-progress nest, he had intended to sit on the edge… but on closer inspection it didn't look sturdy enough.

Even sitting on the fox's arm, Ashton had to look up. "Since the children are getting ready to go out, you might as well eat." Ashton reminded glancing over the near naked men. One of them… was rather interesting, still not interesting enough to be bartered for.

Caius noticed the little bird's mildly curious glance, he glanced to his breakfast… "Did you want some?" If the little bird wanted a snack or two there was no harm. This would also be a good way to test just how liberal the Little Snack was with his sense of justice. Most of Caius's breakfast looked up, almost hopeful.

Ashton leaned to the side to really look over the men, hmmm, "I'm not sure what I would do with it, some were cleansed… or have high resistance… but only mildly interesting." Ashton denied, not even Thomas had carried him like this… still the view was nice from way up here.

Caius raised a brow, "Take it as a toy to entertain you, when you grow bored you can let it go, or I'll eat it." Caius assured walking over to his breakfast. Caius carefully set the small bird on his feet while the Inago Regina trailed behind. Caius glanced at her out of the corner of his eye but didn't otherwise acknowledge her.

Ashton walked in front of the men, all were on their knees but forced to stay upright as a smaller fox pulled on their collars. The man was third from the right, he looked about forty, older for an army infantry man. A few scars on his chest, while he was fit, he looked more like a farmer than a soldier, short brown hair, covered in bruises and scrapes. Still the man was solidly built… his soul was surprisingly calm… not proud, not resigned, but… at peace.

Caius examined the human male, burly, brown haired, quiet. Still, unlike many of this army, the male had a surprising resiliency. The male only raised his head to look at the two of them, then lowered his eyes again.

Ashton circled the male twice, "What do you want Fox?" Nothing was free, not even scraps of a meal. Still, if it wasn't too expensive a toy might be of use.

Caius leaned over so his chin rested on the little bird's head, "Nhe, it's not worth anything, not even half a mouthful of food. Just remember you promised to brush me out later." Caius teased using his chin to mess up the little bird's hair.

Ashton continued to eye the man, not even a ripple of shame or pride, "I don't usually just keep toys around… still he's interesting." Ashton tilted his head back, "Okay."

Neolani wasn't sure what was going on… but Ashton's rapid acceptance of eating, torturing, tormenting, and now enslaving humans was rather… alarming. They had all been Smyrnaean's, so Neolani didn't mind… but if they'd been from anywhere else… baby steps quickly grew into full out sprints. Even small concessions like this were likely to lead to greater atrocities.

Caius narrowed his eyes on the regina, daring her to speak out of turn. If the baby was curious about something, they as adults, should be indulging his interests. The poor baby didn't have a single toy, didn't have an adequate nest, hadn't been given appropriate food, was starving, near frozen. If the regina started criticizing the poor baby there would be more than words.

Neolani didn't flinch, but her stomach twisted when Ashton turned to look at her over his shoulder, "I can set up the restrictions, so he doesn't leave without permission, and assign a guard just in case. It would be a pity if he… ended up lost or eaten by mistake."

Ashton knew Neolani wasn't thrilled with the idea, but it's not like he was going to become a man eater… not in the way she was thinking anyway. "Okay Fox, the rest aren't particularly interesting." Besides, there were other reasons to keep the man around… a murderer, a spy, and a foreigner? So many reasons to find him interesting. Interesting as well as useful.

Caius shrugged, then released the chains on the selected male, who was then led away by the regina. Caius shifted to his large fox form grinning down as the chains started to fall away. As his breakfast tried to flee Caius would just snatch them up swallowing them whole. Caius debated changing back to his human form… but his tails weren't as warm, then again thumbs were useful… Aiya so many decisions.

Ashton had been watching, the spies were sticking out like sore thumbs… all so calm. Ashton was sure the spies were being monitored, still to have them so deep in dragon territory knowing they would not be protected from the dragon's blessing… they must have been desperate to sacrifice such quality paladins and mages. Either way, they weren't Ashton's concern, better to let the powers that be see.

Caius quickly finished his meal, then scooped the small bird up in a tail. Caius hadn't seen any difference in the little bird… but would such a pretty proud baby admit they were tired? Aiya, better to wait for the sky to fall. Though… if the little bird didn't speak up, that could cause issues with their communication in the long run. For now, Caius would indulge and continue his new hobby of bird watching. There was no rush, there were many years for the little bird to grow.

Ashton had been thinking about how to adjust his plans. Ashton didn't fight the giant red tail, the warmth was welcome, even if he was being constantly watched. Ashton had deliberately not been in a range for the imperials to get his attention, and Leonard had been trying. They had clearly given up as Ashton was carried away. The imperials sent the children out but the adults went inside.

Ashton wasn't really interested in the hunts, still it would be good to let the children play. Then there would be time for the imperials to get their acts together now that they weren't in the palace. If Lucian was going to embrace the light, the sacrifices couldn't be clinging to him at all hours of the day. Then again, Lucian had spent years at war and never tried… maybe the current crisis would encourage him to step up.

Caius watched as the little bird continued to think, but slowly, ever so slowly he would blink a little longer, he was relaxing more. Aiya, babies and their insistence that they weren't tired after playing! Caius started to slowly sway his tail as he wrapped two more tails to secure his Little Snack.

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