A Rose's Thorns

Chapter 13, More Than Three

Rosaleen PoV
I sat feeling the tendrils of my hair be braided as Towa hummed softly, his fingers brushing against my scalp.

"~~~~~!" He hummed happily, I smiled softly as I watched the fluffy clouds float leisurely across the sky, out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement. A blur of gold and pink, my head snapped in the direction.

A guy about my age was running down the hill, watching him go. I noticed his long braid, amused and curious as Towa followed my gaze from my sudden movement.

"Hmmmm~~?" Towa hummed confused and I hummed in return, moving my head back to normal so Towa could keep braiding my hair.

"Do you guys have more than three ghouls in Jabberwock?" I asked and Towa hummed gently, confirming my question and I nodded gently in understanding.

I was quiet for a little while more, my train of thought chugging along when I heard a sudden noise to my right and Towa was poking my left cheek.

"Huh-?" I hummed as I jerked my head to the side, meeting a wide pair of sky blue eyes and I stood up quickly.

"So sorry, I was zoned out. Did you say something?" I asked, looking up slightly to meet the guy's eyes. They were a light blue, not a frosty blue but more like a summer's clear sky blue. My eyes were drawn to a small bundle of fur clinging to him, I moved my head to the side curious.

"You're not from Jabberwock- That's Frostheim blue what are you doing here? I thought Frostheim's hated dirt." He said eyes studying me as I scrunched my brows together in shock.

"Uh. I volunteer around the safari, since I did it back in Ireland." I explained and his eyes widened slightly as the gears clicked into place.

"OH! You're Rosaleen Dervila!" He chirped and my brows shot up slightly in shock, not knowing who this ghoul was, my eyes trained back onto the bundle of fur still clinging to him.

"You have a hitch hiker there." I pointed out and he shook his head quickly, Towa humming amused as he managed to get the little furball to full view.

"This is my Peekaboo, Sunflower." My eyes widened slightly as my demeanor changed and I cooed at the little peekaboo.

"Hey little one, you're such a cutie!" I cooed at it happily, my nearly midnight eyes brimming with adoration for the little critter.

"I wish we had peekaboos back in Ireland, our equivalent was the water sprites. They had nasty personalities though." I hummed softly in thought remembering the pixies that would yank my hair and set me on fire, shivering slightly at the memory I studied the ghoul again.

"What's your name? What Year are you?" I asked head at the side, studying curious as he hummed gently, glancing at Towa who was rummaging through a patch of violet flowers.

"Ryder King, 3rd Year Jabberwock." He said smiling and put his hand out. I looked confused before a light bulb went off and I realized he was trying to shake my hand.

"Nice to meet you Ryder." I said, smiling sweetly as Sunflower let out a soft, happy squeak. I grinned at the little Peekaboo as I studied Ryder now trying to understand how he functioned.

"Where in Ireland are you from? I am from London, it always rained there, it's so different from here." He rambled softly and I chuckled slightly, my eyes watching him amused as he then looked at me for my answer.

"Dublin, my parents founded the Irish Branch." I quipped and he nodded faintly. I could tell it was as if he was taking mental notes, to remember.

"You went on a mission with Alan right?" Ryder asked head to the side, his sky blue eyes flicking to Towa again, his brow scrunched together as he studied the lavender haired man.