Upon Three Paws

Chapter 20

(Image above not mine)
Aftermath

"What happened?"

Out of my peripheral vision I see Peppa flick back her ears at the guards voice. It's obvious for me to see that she's sensitive to her surroundings after launching her attack.

"A sicora was in this park," I let out a breath. The shock that I could've died even with my current weapons on me has me somewhat disoriented. "I didn't even see it till Peppa growled." He glances down at the winged fox resting in my arms.

When the guard nods, he takes a few seconds to think to himself. That doesn't last long though, a few seconds at most, as he turns and marches back towards the other guards inspecting the dead creatures shrivelled carcass. I can barely manage to hear what they're talking about, but I get the gist of it. Apparently their commander is heading down here, bringing with him a fire lizard and their handler to clear out the area of sicora if there's more. They speak about an elder, but the conversation is continued out of my hearing range.

Unsure of what to do with myself now that they know what's happened, I absorb my surroundings, the remainder of the guards have escorted observers away from us. A child is clinging to her mother, her head buried in her chest. The fact that the sicora came out while in the presence of a child makes me fear for their safety.

"Please follow me." I turn to someone who looks to be a nurse and furrow my brow in question. "Once we've ensured that you don't have severe injuries a shuttle will escort you back to your house."

"Of course." With that, I follow after her towards a grounded hellicarrier used specifically for medical purposes. 

When we reach it, I'm put in a chair for inspection. Peppa curls up by my back, out of sight of the nurses, causing a couple to chuckle. They leave her alone though and continue to check my pulse, shine lights into my eyes, and test my blood incase it held sicora saliva. I learnt that ten drops or less of it carries enough venom to send a kymari unconscious, and since I'm still awake and aware of my surroundings I'm relieved that none managed to come in contact with me.

"You are free to leave. The shuttle is waiting for you."

After offering her a quick thank you, I gently pick up Peppa and at the nurses coos ducks into my arm. I can't help but puff out my chest a bit and smile in pride. The fact that she trusts me enough to protect her even if it's from something non threatening brightens up my mood.

The ride back home doesn't take long, soon I'm walking the rest of the way down the street. Turning a corner, my house comes into view and I relax at the sight of it, only to tense when my eyes catch an elder waiting ahead of me. His skin is greying and his hair has light grey streaks mixing with its natural black, worn from age. The sight has me feeling inferior and intimidated, but I make sure my mask reflects that of a calm persona. With all that's been going on I have a slight twinge of anxiety that it'll break and reveal my insecure emotions to his sharp gaze.

"Hello Fesco," he greets as I walk up to him, Peppa watching our interaction from my arms. Now that I have a closer view of the elder I recognize him as one from the council, Elder Daimo.

"Elder Daimo." I bow my head.

"I see that you have with you your winged fox."

I peak up at Elder Daimo to see he's already looking me in the eyes. Despite my growing urge to look away, I maintain the eye contact.

"Yes, we were just arriving back from a walk in the park."

"The one with the sicora?"

My resolve cracks a little and I tence my jaw before giving a curt nod to confirm. This is starting to feel like an interrogation, and I have a feeling it's because of Peppa.