Repentance

The Mantis Trial

You would have been much angrier if the owl wasn't running away from a mosscreep. It strolled with abandon, not aware or perhaps not caring of what lies in its path which currently was a cowering owl. These creatures are much braver than most give them credit for; or maybe they were too simple-minded to feel fear.

Drools dashed towards you the second he set eyes on you. He ducked behind you and hid his face in your back. 'Well, they are definitely braver than him.' You pushed down the irritation you felt from having to comb through the foliage for an escapee only to find him like this. You were sympathetic to his constant cowering at first but it was starting to become irritating. You almost had a heart attack thinking of Hornet's reaction! And it was definitely a breach of trust. That was a problem too, you supposed.

The mosscreep brushed against your legs before biting you. It was a weak, pathetic bite but you were already groggy from that dream and having to look for Drools. You kicked it into a direction you didn't care for before turning to Drools.

He hugged you and sniffled shouting thanks and praises. You weren't having any of it.

You struggled to peel him off you, holding him by the shoulders. "What were you doing?"

Drools's pupils shrunk into pinpricks. He was shocked at your icy tone. "Well- Drools was- He was..."

"I hope you realize I brought you with me because I wanted clear answers. You will have the freedom to roam wherever you please once and only once we find..."

"Nezha."

"Yes. Her."

Drools nodded, pleased with himself. You didn't want to get distracted by his tiny crooked smile or the twinkle of his eye or the soft feel of his feathers- You already failed.

Drools was attempting to pry himself out of your hold, but you tightened your grip around his shoulders, feeling a solid mass underneath the feathers. He wailed in pain and you were surprised at how little it affected you. Perhaps you weren't as different from your past self as you liked to think you were...

"Why did you leave without telling me?"

Why did I sleep knowing I had a captive. Fool. Idiot.

You glared at the unhelpful thoughts not realizing you were staring straight into Drools's eyes.

He was shaking again, trying to sink into himself and seem small. You noticed that his eyes were big, but you didn't know they could get this huge. "I wanted water..." he whimpered. For a second you thought you were holding a child. He might as well be one, you thought.

Sighing you let go of him. "Still, you should have just told me so." You crossed your arms, seeming more like a mother scolding her hatchling than a guardsman.

Drools looked down, shuffling his leathery clawed feet. Wait. Was this a lock? Since when was it there?

"What is this?" You squinted, bending down and pointing at his feet. The owl panicked and tried to hide them, but to no avail. You already noticed.

This time you tried to be more gentle. "Drools, the only thing that will make your situation worse is dishonesty."

"It is nothing important! Drools promises!"

"I'm not certain your word is worth much."

That could have hurt if he weren't already used to it. It was still concerning. Of course it was too much to expect you to trust him so easily, but at least his waif-like mannerisms weren't lost on you. It was rare to find beings so kind.