middaeg | [ CATCH-ALL ] we're nocturnal creatures

[There comes even more rustling and a hushed Shut up clearly coming from the leader of the pack. Still, neither Iskandar nor Waver get any response. People telling them they are stupid is most likely nothing new. Iskandar doesn't believe it would have worked even if they asked nicely though.

When Saber looks up she can see four pairs of very dirty feet dangling from the branches high above her head. Yet it is what she says that finally gets a reaction.]

You really think so?

[It's the girl leader again. She drops to a branch just below the group then swings from it with the dexterity of a trained acrobat to one even lower but still above Saber's head. From that spot, she stares at her unblinking for a moment. She's thin and dirty, just like one would expect from a child that spent a few nights in the wilderness, but surprisingly unharmed.]

You look funny. Are you a chimera too? Do people tell you often that you are cursed?

What?

[ Waver grumbles when she steps in, but lets her take over with a muffled sigh. He knew he was going to lose his patience. These kids are being so damn stupid...

At least they seem to be responding well to Saber. He steps back. No need to interfere. ]

[ Saber's expression softens a little and she bends down a little to speak to the child in front of her. ]

I am, actually. And sometimes people don't think highly of me because of it - but I know who I am and what I can do and I don't allow them to hold me back. You can take hold of your own destiny and shape it as you wish. What others think need not be the beginning or end of who you are.

[Iskandar devotes only a fraction of his attention to the ongoing conversation. It looks their initial assumption was correct. The kids - or at least their leader - truly seem to be more receptive to Saber than to either him or Waver. So he lets Saber do the talking and instead surveys the trees and the bushes around them looking for potential threats.
They might have left the slain boar to disintegrate into dust behind them but it does not mean anything equally deadly won't be lured by the sweet, sweet smell of blood and magic. All this is taking way too long.

Meanwhile, the girl stares at Saber unblinking.]

How do you know such things? Our parents always told us to listen to the elders. But you say we don't have to?

[She tilts her head to the side and her eyes narrow in unmistakenly reptilian fashion. She's just a child but it's not difficult to imagine it could scare some. It does look creepy.]

How do you know if you don't listen to other people?

[This is not exactly what Saber has said... but it looks some progress has been made at least.]

Ah - I don't mean that you ought not to listen to your elders or parents.

[ She's doing her best here. She's not used to children and was a terrible father herself, so this is new territory. She's trying to treat them like young squires in many respects. Hopefully it works. ]

Having guidance from those with more experience is worthwhile; I mean more that you need not accept that what others say to disparage you is true. Taking well-meant advice is worthwhile - allowing others to completely steer your destiny is... a bit different, I think.

[Iskandar turned away to survey the surrounding forest but for to his contentment the area remains calm. It looks that the boar was a singular incident. For now. The Wilde is never safe for too long. Saber might not be able to see him but he does smile hearing her explanation. Not allowing others to completely decide your fate for you, eh? Not bad, King of Knights, not bad.

At the very moment when the girl seems most hesitant, not yet fully accepting what Saber has told her, another voice, much younger, a lot more scared, almost on a verge of tears, joins in.]

Can we go home now? I want to go home, Rivka. I am hungry. And I lost my shoe.

[That is what breaks the last opposition and the girl's shoulders sink visibly. For the first time, she stops looking angry, rebellious and determined, just scared and very, very tired.]

[ Good. Saber breathes out in a slow sigh and holds her hand out to the girl. ]

Yes, let's get you home. We'll walk you back, to make sure you're safe - we ran into a shade on our way here and I don't want anything to happen to you now.

[ She's businesslike, of course, but there's a bit of softness there, despite all of that. ]

I'm sure your parents will be very glad to see you.

[Somehow businesslike seems to work. Iskandar breathes a sigh of relief when the girl takes Saber's hand and jumps down from the tree branch. Once she's on the ground the other kids climb down too. They all look dirty and miserable but surprisingly unharmed. True to his complaint, the youngest boy is missing a shoe. Iskandar crouches before him.]

Come here, I'll carry you. You can't walk all the way barefoot.

[The boy shoots a frightened glance at the leader of their little pack but when she nods he finally listens and climbs on Iskandar's back, squealing with surprise when he's lifted as Iskandar gets up. All of the younger kids stare at Saber in total awe.]

You really killed that demon boar? How did you do that?

It was a cooperative effort. We used magic and steel to accomplish the task.

[ She makes it sound so straightforward, even with this gaggle of children peering up at her. ]

Knowing yourself and your allies is perhaps the most important part of how we were able to emerge victorious, however.

[It is not the answer the children were expecting, probably not even one they understand a lot from, as they all fall silent and follow Saber without asking any more questions.

The road back is surprisingly uneventful. They encounter no shades, no wild animals at all save for a few birds on the high branches and occasional snap of broken twig somewhere deep in the woods. The forest is quiet and serene. One could even get an impression that with the death of the demon boar all the threats have been vanquished for good. A very dangerous assumption.

Parents of the children, at least of the younger ones, are predictably grateful and happy. They were oblivious, as parents so often are, to the harsh treatment other children were inflicting on their kids. Iskandar is sure there will be a few difficult discussions to be had in this small community.
The leader, Rivka, turns out to be an orphan, cousin to the younger three. The sole survivor of fire than destroyed her family home. Her parents and siblings perished in the flames. That, as they fond out, was the true origin of her being marked as cursed. The part chimera did not help her reputation either.]

It did turn out pretty well in the end, don't you think?

[He's not directing his question specifically to Waver nor Saber. Not even expecting an answer from either of them to be honest. Just as a reflection on how no matter the world and its oddities people are essentially the same everywhere. Children would be rebellious and sometimes cruel to each other, and parents will worry but remain unaware of all the small injustices their kids suffer on the daily basis.]

[ Saber is mostly silent on the way back; her arm is still injured and she cradles it as they walk. Despite that, she remains alert, placing herself in a position where she can protect the children if anything else decides to menace their group on the way back. Fortunately, it's a rather uneventful journey. Once the children are safely back with their parents (or guardians), she finally allows herself to relax a little. There's an easing to the line of her shoulders and a soft exhale as she tries to finally let the taut energy free. ]

It did. As well as can be expected, I believe. They're safe and that's the important thing.

[ CATCH-ALL ] we're nocturnal creatures

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wrap here?

works for me! good thread.