[Raynelle POV]
“Co on, Ava, did you really have to do that?”
Ava had just elbowed in the stomach when I tried to stop Kit from going back into that temple that hurt her.
“I know you’re alright,” Ava retorted with a smirk spread across her face, “You’re plenty strong after all.”
“I think you’ve underestimated just how strong you’ve gotten.”
Ava responded with a chuckle, but it was only brief as her smirk faded, leaving an uncharacteristically serious expression.
“Mom… I think we need to talk about how you’ve been acting lately,” She looked directly in the eye.
“What do you an how I’ve been acting? I’ve… just been myself.”
“…”
Ava didn’t say anything and just continued to stare back at .
“Look, I’m not letting her go in there alone,” I broke eye contact and decided to just walk towards the temple, “I… can’t do that to her.”
“You can’t do what to her?”
For so reason, just hearing those words frustrated to no end, causing to imdiately stop and turn around to face her again.
“You should have seen her the last ti she ca out of there! The poor thing was non-responsive, with all those tears streaming down her face,” I took a step towards Ava, “She didn’t even push away like normal… I-I… don’t want that to happen again.”
…
What am I doing?
I shouldn’t be complaining about this to a child.
While I was busy regretting my outburst, Ava silently ca up and hugged , catching off guard.
“Mom, I know you an well, but you need to try and think about it from Kit’s perspective.”
“That’s what I’ve been doing… isn’t it?” I gently pushed Ava away, “She… She’s been hurt by too many people and… I need to stop that from happening again… I… I can do that.”
“No, not like that-”
“Then, like what?!” I shouted, cutting her off, “What do you want to do?! Just let her get hurt again?!”
“Of course not. I know you just want to help her, just like you did when you first found ,” She ca a little closer, “But do you think she knows that?”
“I… That little girl…”
While I didn’t like it, there wasn’t much I could say in response, as I already understood what she was talking about.
I know how scared she is of …
How couldn’t I know?…
…
But even then…
“I… still can’t let her go in there,” I turned away from Ava and began walking to the temple again, “Even if she doesn’t like it… I’m not letting that kid hurt herself.”
I can deal with this later.
For now… I just need to keep her safe.
“Why do you think she’s going to hurt herself?” Ava was followed close behind .
“I already told you-”
“Do you really think she would intentionally let herself get hurt?” She interrupted , “You know she wouldn’t do that.”
…
I…
…
“What makes you so confident?” My legs stopped moving, “How do you know so much about her when she won’t tell anything?”
“I think she tells us plenty,” Ava walked in front of .
Plenty?
She hasn’t even said a word to .
“What do you an?!”
Raynelle, stop this…
You’re just shouting at a child.
…
“Just… tell what you think I’m supposed to do?”
“Co on. You know as well as I do that she’s terrible at hiding what she’s thinking,” Ava put her hands just above her head, just like Kit’s ears, “Just watch her ears and tail, and it’s almost like you can read her mind.”
“I know that, but this and that are two different things.”
“No, they’re not. All you need to know is that she’s not so complicated puzzle you need to try and solve,” Ava continued walking towards the temple, so I started moving as well to keep up with her.
“Then tell … What do I need to do for her?”
“Not much, just… wait for her.”
“Just wait?” I asked, confused.
That can’t be right…
If it was… sothing would have changed already…
“Yes, you should just wait for her to co to you instead of trying to force your way in.”
…
Is that really it?
But…
Why would she ever co to ?
…
But you…
The door of the temple was only a few steps away at this point.
“How did you do it?” The question slipped out of my mouth.
“I guess… I just gave her what she wanted when she wanted it,” She said, now smirking again.
But… I don’t know what she wants.
“Wh-”
I was cut off by the sound of the heavy stone doors opening. Standing in the doorway was a man with a familiar face.
“I thought you wouldn’t be far behind,” The black-haired rabbit beastkin gestured into the temple, “Co on in; it will probably be a while before she cos back.”
I just stood there, frozen, while trying to decide what I should do. But before I could co to a decision, Ava began to make her way into the temple.
“Ava?!” I shouted as I ran up and grabbed her by the shoulder.
“What? He invited us in?”
“But he’s-”
“I also… want to talk to you about last ti,” The rabbit beastkin turned to face , “I… didn’t make the best first impression.”
Didn’t make the best first impression?
You wouldn’t let go help her.
You were the one who held back.
“Who even are you?” I asked, pulling Ava behind , “I never got a na from you.”
“I thought I told you last ti… although… maybe I forgot… I wasn’t in the best head-space that day,” He sat down on one of the pews, “I’m Benvolio, the Emissary of Darkness… although… I’m normally just called Beni.”
…
“Mom, why are you acting like this?” Ava squird out from my grip and made her way over to the pew, “He doesn’t seem that bad.”
“But-”
“I understand… It’s nothing new around here…” He interrupted , “I’m used to people avoiding … and this temple… for no real reason…”
“No reason?!” My anger was building, “You wrapped in those chains. You stopped from helping that little girl when she had collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down her face!”
The room fell silent for a few short monts.
“I… sorry about that… but it wasn’t to stop you from helping her… you wouldn’t have found her there anyway…” He looked up at , “I just… didn’t want you to damage the place… I-… No… I could… probably have just… explained myself better.”
“Why are you being so hard on him?” Ava piped up, “If anything, you should be sitting over her with .”
“Why would I do that?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” She threw her hands into the air, “Maybe because he seems to know why Kit wanted to co here?”
…
That’s…
Without saying anything more, I reluctantly went and sat down next to Ava and Benvolio.
“So, what’s going on here?” I asked, “Why does that little girl want to co here after what happened last ti?”
“I… don’t think I should tell you… you should probably hear it from her…” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “She’s safe though… the person she’s talking to is very nice…”
“Then… at least tell who she is talking to.”
“Hmm… You probably already have an idea… though…” He started to sit up again, but before he straightened his back, he leaned forward again, “No… never mind…”
Just like that, we had a back-and-forth for a few hours, with asking questions and only getting vague reassurances from Benvolio. At least until I heard footsteps coming from the far side of the temple.
Instinctively, I knew exactly who it was and jumped out of my seat, ready to comfort a crying Kit, but to my surprise, that’s not what ca out of the darkness.
It was the little girl I was expecting, but there were no tears, although her tail was hanging a little low.
“Kit! Are you alright?” I ran up to her, kneeling down when I got close, “Did anything happen to you?”
“…”
Ava then ca up behind , poking her head out just over my shoulder, “So, did it go well?”
“…”
Kit nodded.
“I guess that ans all your effort was worth it then.”
Benvolio then ca over himself, although he made sure to keep so distance from us.
“I hope you had a good ti with her…”
Once again, Kit nodded.
“Then I’ll be waiting for your next visit… Although you should probably leave the temple soon… The sun has already started to set.”
“That’s sothing we can agree on,” I said, turning back towards Kit, “Let’s head back to the inn. I’m sure Ava can quickly put sothing tasty together for dinner.”
“…”
She didn’t respond at all, so I just picked her up and made my way to the exit.
“Co on Ava, let’s get going.”
“Sure, sure,” Ava ca up next to as I stepped out of the temple.
I’ll need to talk to Ava so more when we get back.
I… need to learn how to help Kit… properly this ti.
…
I found myself unintentionally looking over at Ava.
I can’t believe I’m getting advice from you now.
Just… when did you grow up so much?
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