The Fifth Season

CHAPTER TWELVE: ADMISSION TEST

SNOH

"You're honestly bribing me with insects? Have you no shame!" Saam challenged me with wide eyes, although he wasn't necessarily gazing at me, his words told me he was purely frustrated. I watched as his eyes were intensely focused on the worm I was holding between my thumb and index finger as it squiggled around mercilessly in an attempt to be freed.

"I thought we'd already broken past this barrier, Saam. I can play the hard game too." I chuckled evilly. "Now if you want the worm, you must allow me to pet you... simple. Tick for tack." I perched my arm under my chin mischievously as I watched him gaze between the creature and myself, judging which option would suit him better.

"How about I take the worm from your hand and give you a simple compliment? I believe that is a fair trade." He proposed to me instead.

I sighed deeply, "Denied!" I said as I sat up from the windowsill, I made a motion to bring the worm back into the jar filled with soil. After the trip to the Palace of Euthoria, I had completely forgotten that I brought home a jar of insects as snacks for Saam when I was helping Lulu out in the shop; now that everything had calmed down essentially, I was hoping to get Saam to allow me to pet him like he had Koia that time before.

I just wanted to feel his feathers but he was being so stubborn!

"I knew you had something up your sleeve when you called me out of the tree!" Saam called out.

I continued walking towards my bag to set the jar back down, ignoring his words until he called back out to me once more, "Wait! Fine! I reconsider!" He huffed.

I slowly turned around with a menacing grin covering my face, "Oh, do you now?" I questioned him. Saam shimmed over the windowsill back and forth as if he were debating what he would say next, but essentially, he sighed and closed his eyes. "You may pet me in exchange for the worm...but make it quick!" He ordered me.

"I can get to pet you for at least several seconds, don't get stingy with me!" I warned him.

  Saam hooted in displeasure.

"I'll allow one minute of petting for two worms... that is my final offer!" He stated.

  I nearly jumped for joy at the sound of his proposition. "Deal!" I quickly scurried over, bringing the jar with me on the way so I could pull the other worm out when need be. I kneeled beside the windowsill as Saam looked down at me with annoyance, "I hope you're happy with yourself." He stated.

I beamed, "I quite am actually! I finally get to pet, my guardian!" I cheered.

"I am NOT a dog!" He muttered to himself.

"Oh hush!" I reached over to graze the top of Saam's head and watched as he flinched in anticipation of my touch. "I'm not going to hurt you," I said to him as I placed my palm against his feathers. My smile grew drastically; just as I anticipated, he was extremely soft and warm. I could spend ages just petting him!

"Well excuse me for assuming that you are quite rough with your hands! Have you seen yourself grab items off of your desk?" He questioned me. I ignored him. "Worm, please!" He ordered.

I shook my head and with my other hand still holding the insect, I placed it near enough so he could grab it. I watched in a quick motion, Saam's lurch forward to grab the worm; I nearly missed as the creature slithered down into his mouth and into his body without a fuss.