We love you (so please don't go)

Chapter 8: Things are(n't) looking up

TW: Mentions of v!0l3nc3, tr@vm@, attempted [sewerslide] by drug 0v3rd0$3 and self-h@te.

"May we go with them?" Essie and Melody asked in unison, turning to Sarv.

"Yes, you can go with them." Sarv replied. Essie and Melody thanked Sarv and bid their family goodbye before running after Rasazy and Krusveto.

"Rasazy! Dedushka/Praded!" Rasazy and Krusveto turned to Essie and Melody.

"Hi!!" Rasazy greeted. Essie and Melody waved back as they caught their breath, as they weren't used to running much.

"Can we come with you?" Essie asked. "Normally, we'd let you go alone, but if you're going to take the shortcut to the grocery in the woods, there's the possibility that you might encounter the Gorgon sisters and dedushka's with you, so he's going to need some extra protection."

"Sure." Rasazy said.

"I'm not going to use you three as shields, but if you want to go with us, then you may." Krus said.

"Okay." Melody said. With that, the four walked through the aforementioned woods.

"Do you walk this way often?" Krus asked.

"All the time." Rasazy answered.

"That's very unsafe."

"How?"

"No one can see in this area. If you got in trouble, no one would know you needed help."

"What kind of trouble could she possibly get into here?" Melody asked. "The only wild animals that live here are rabbits and squirrels, and the Gorgon sisters have quite the temper, but they won't hurt her."

"A person or two or more people could follow you here and sneak up on you."

"You mean pure-blood humans?" Essie asked.

"Yes."

"I'm stronger than them." Rasazy said. "So are Essie and Melody."

"The three of you are stronger than a group of people?" Krus asked.

"Yes." Essie, Melody, and Rasazy replied.

"I've seen terrible things happen to people, especially young ladies, during my time as an officer." Krus countered. "If you let your guard down for even a second, you won't realize that something horrible will happen to you until it's happened."

"We won't let anything happen to ourselves." Rasazy reassured. "We're careful."

Krus was still skeptical.

"How would we be able to prove it to you?" Essie wondered aloud.

"I know!" Rasazy put her fists up. "Try to fight me."

"What?" Essie and Melody, both appalled, asked.

"No." Krus answered with no hesitation. "I'm not going to do that."

"It's okay, you won't be able to hit me." Rasazy said. "And even if you do, I'm super strong. I'll barely feel it."

"I am NOT going to fight my own granddaughter." Krus said.

'There's a tree stump not far from here.' Essie heard Athena say. 'I'm sure you know where I'm going with this.'

Essie's eyes lit up at that statement. "I have an idea."

She ran over to the tree stump that Athena told her about with her sister, her daughter, and her grandfather following suit and pointed at it.

"Rather than a...physical fight, how about Rasazy and dedushka do an arm wrestle instead?" Essie suggested.