Sailors across the sea beheld an odd phenomenon that day in January. For but one moment, a criss-crossing line of light ran across the horizon. Some completely missed what their compatriots spied for having blinked.
Lumina... may have gotten a little lost. She found the ocean just fine, but spying the continent of Menagerie required some darting back and forth. Another landmass appeared on the horizon after a few changes in direction. Her momentary annoyance faded away in favour of content, however; flying was her favourite activity by virtue of approaching her natural state of being. Pure, radiant light raced across the world.
Menagerie was not covered in a light blanket of snow like Anima. If anything, most of the continent appeared to be a desert; perhaps she could see this as an approximation of Vacuo's climate?
Either way, Lumina raced along the coast until she found signs of greenery; the occasional black specks were ignored on her journey. She scanned the coast for signs of civilisation, though it did not take long to spot Kuo Kuana.
Lumina descended onto the golden beach near the docks as a courtesy. Her skirt fluttered in the breeze, the scent of salt heavy in her nostrils. She was never to the sea before; it felt odd, but not unpleasant. Warmer, too. Her strained aura could finally relax, no longer having to ward off the cold.
Eyes were on her the moment she wandered into town. Lumina ignored them as usual, long since familiar with the sensation.
What took her attention was the abundance of faunus. There were a total of two others in Shiroyuri. Mistral showed her maybe a dozen in one place. Here the docks alone were already packed with them. A variety of traits from differently shaped feet to manifold types of horns were on display. She even spied several others with wings, though none insectoid. All leather or feathers.
She barely made it past the docks before someone spoke to her. A middle-aged man in work overalls, hair slick with sweat. "Heya, little lady!" he began jovially. "What's your name?"
The fact someone actually thought to ask that question surprised her enough to answer: "I am Lumina."
She said no more and the silence soon grew awkward for one of them. Confronted with a mildly curious moth, the man chuckled to play over it. "Ooookay, I see. And where are you from, Lumina? I don't think I've seen you around these parts before."
"I just arrived."
"How so? There were no ships the last two weeks."
This time Lumina tilted her head ever so slightly. Her wings flicked out again for emphasis. "I flew," she answered.
Her matter-of-fact tone gave him pause. Others listening in to their conversation began to reveal their eavesdropping, too; Lumina spied their expressions change. Though they were unfamiliar to her; having only ever met scorn or disinterest, the signs of concern and pity in humans or faunus were unknown to Lumina.
Some quiet discussion happened nearby, then a woman with scaled shoulders ran off for somewhere. Lumina suspected guards being called, but saw no reason to worry. She could not help but feel a little uneasy, though; if that man in Mistral was wrong about Menagerie being better, then she was back at square one.
A small crowd formed around her now; curiousity she could understand, at least. Nobody tried to touch her, nobody raised their voice. Nobody seemed angry, either. Questions were asked that she never had to answer before when everyone knew her. Where were her parents? Long dead. Where was she from? Mistral. How old was she? Fourteen.
"What?" a shocked voice interrupted the well-meaning interrogation there. More than one person was gaping at Lumina, whose head tilted again. She almost had to crane her neck to look up at them from this close. Just about everyone stood a head taller than her, if not more.
Before she knew it, a man built like a bear lifted her up. Lumina flickered out of his grasp, reappearing nearby with a faint scowl. He paused with an embarassed grin. "Whoops, er, sorry about that. Got carried away a bit." He rubbed the back of his head and motioned for a nearby set of tables. "But seriously, come along. Let's get some food into you."
Lumina only just ate half an hour ago, but a number of hands gently nudged her in the same direction. She sighed and let the crowd move her along. Some mutterings about her being tiny reached Lumina's ears, but she paid them no mind. The locals sat her down and crowded around protectively while the giant left. He returned minutes later with a plate of fruit, some of which Lumina never saw before. A waitress peeked around him, only to cover her mouth in shock at the sight of Lumina.
She looked down at herself, realising for the first time how much she stood out. Just about everyone here was tanned by the bright sunlight. Meanwhile, her skin remained naturally pale. Her clothes were worn down with use and age; theirs were patched up in places as well, but nowhere near as frazzled.
"Come now," a woman urged her gently, "eat. It's okay."
"I am not hungry."
Somehow, her refusal did not lift their moods. If anything it did the opposite. Another person gave her shoulder a soft pat. "You should do it anyway, it's good for you. Please? For us?"
While someone else smacked their side, Lumina considered; she was seeking a new place to stay. Spurning the locals did not seem a good way to make them amenable to her. And as much as she hated it, she needed people to accept her. If the flesh was unwilling, then she would simply overcome it.
So Lumina began to eat slowly. Juicy and sweet berries were chewed, plums tasted. A plethora of fruit remained, each one some sort of sweet. Some were a little sour, but Lumina hardly cared. She focussed on fighting down more of it. Her stomach lurched, but she willed it under control.
The second time it happened, she convulsed notably; helping hands steadied Lumina, who shook them off. As she made to grab another berry however, a clawed hand grabbed her wrist. "It's fine," an elderly man reassured her. "You can leave the rest if you're full."
He seemed to know something she did not, but Lumina was just glad to be excused. This crowd of concerned people remained confusing, though. She surreptively glanced around, but nobody made any motions toward her. Some were whispering with each other.
Then the group split apart, making way for a middle-aged woman; she wore a black robe with a second, white layer. The scaly woman who left earlier led this one. She was overtaken when the newcomer's amber eyes found Lumina. A pair of feline ears folded back to her skull, hiding between the equally black hair.
This woman approached slowly before drawing out a chair. "Hello there, sweetie," she greeted softly. Lumina watched her with curiousity, wondering where this was going now. With no answer forthcoming, the other woman tried a smile. "I'm Kali, and you are?"
"Lumina?" she answered, her response less certain than intended. This entire situation confused her a great deal. Were outsiders this interesting to the people here? Was it that she stood out like a sore thumb?
"Is there a problem?"
Kali shook her head. "Not at all," she denied. "We are happy to have you. I'm just curious how you made it here and why you came to us."
In the expectant silence that followed, Lumina wondered how to respond. She could just regurgitate her previous responses; alas, she reminded herself with annoyance, positive relations. If Kali noticed her frown, she did not say. The still present crowd around them shifted awkwardly, though. Lumina decided to be honest here and put her cards on the table.
"I heard that Menagerie is a better place to live for faunus than Mistral," she talked over the renewed whispers. "So I came to see for myself." Her wings spread again, glittering in the morning sun. "As to how: I flew."
Kali's lips had curled upward at first, but the final notion wiped her smile away. "All the way from Mistral?" she inquired. Her gaze critically trailed down Lumina's frame. "I hope you realise how dangerous that was?"
"Probably didn't have money for the ship," someone added from the side. Lumina paid them no mind, trying to understand what the issue was. When she did, she had to roll her eyes.
"It was no great journey for me. A matter of a second to cross the ocean." Then again, she had to reorient herself a few times. "Maybe two seconds."
The expression Kali displayed now was familiar: doubt. Lumina was not in the habit of justifying herself, though. She would not start now.
Regardless, the other woman did not dwell on the subject. "So if I understood you correctly, you want to live here?" She was correct, so Lumina nodded and Kali's smile returned. "That is perfectly fine. Welcome to Menagerie, Lumina." A smattering of greetings followed from the crowd. "You are a little younger than most of our immigrants, but it will be fine."
Lumina herself just sat dumbfounded. None of this was how she imagined her visit to an unfamiliar realm to go. But at the same time, why look a gift horse in the mouth? Considering how others went along with Kali, she seemed to have the authority for such decisions.
After a moment of struggle, Lumina inclined her head. "Thank you kindly."
Even as she said it, she felt like a beggar. The mere notion made her skin crawl, but Lumina forced herself through word and deed regardless. Being polite did not equal weakness, although it sometimes felt similar.
Kali's response was a simple nod, graceful in accepting gratitude. Perhaps practiced as well. "With that out of the way, do you want to stay with my husband and I until your living situation is sorted out? We have the space to accomodate you just fine," she added upon seeing Lumina's incredulity. "It would be our pleasure to host you."
She had been about to refuse, but Kali made a salient point: Lumina had no home anymore. Whether she actually picked up on it or simply reasoned it made sense in a new place, the moth could not tell. She was still grateful for the offer, if a tiny bit leery. Were there strings attached to it? The generally encouraging mood told her no. It may all be a front to lure in the unknowing, but Lumina felt confident in her ability to break free.
Hence why she ultimately nodded. "Again, thank you. I carry no money to pay you with, though."
"Don't you worry about that," Kali answered at once, as if she expected that particular notion already. "I wouldn't charge you for this." Her feline ears slowly perked up again. Kali's head swivelled and she rose a moment later. "Let's not waste any more time then. Come, come! I will show you around."
Once Lumina stood as well, the crowd began to disperse. Several wished her good luck or repeated their welcomes. One teen girl gave her a jovial clap on the shoulder. Then Kali demanded Lumina's full attention again by offering a hand. Looking between the proffered limb and its owner, Lumina slowly reached out to take it.
Instead of shaking however, Kali gently tugged her forward. They began to walk like this, hand in hand.
Kali's hand was calloused and warm. Her grip remained firm. Likewise, Lumina's grasp matched hers. Her own callouses were just as noticeable, if not more. But where Lumina could feel flesh, Kali felt bone almost under her fingertips. The moth was alienated by unfamiliar sensations; the cat cried on the inside.
After a short while of quiet walking, Kali's full attention returned to Lumina. She began to explain the districts of Kuo Kuana; the docks leading into a tightly packed marketplace, from which three distinct living quarters sprawled out. Wood and stone palisades guarded the city on all sides but the ocean, a familiar sight. They did not venture near the edge of town, though.
"I was meaning to ask," she began when Kali left a pause. "Why is Kuo Kuana packed so tight? Menagerie has a great deal of space, no?"
The other woman agreed readily. "It has, but there are only so many of us. Expansion requires people. Add to it that the wildlife is a lot more dangerous than elsewhere and we are at an impasse. The occasional powerful Grimm does not help. We keep as low a profile as possible for now until there is enough manpower to make a proper push. There are several villages along the coastline, too. It takes time to build them, you know?"
"I see."
It made sense. The way Kali told it, Menagerie only existed for a few decades. The people here were happy to stay among themselves and live their lives. A few decades were nothing to one whose lifespan measured in eons, yet the last ten years felt incredibly slow; even she had to admit that. Did Lumina's perception of time change?
"And there is Ghira," Kali interrupted her musings. Still hand in hand, the other woman led her toward a group of three; two workers of some sort chatting amicably with a veritable giant. A warm chuckle rumbled from his throat over some sort of joke made; as they saw them approach, the other two men waved and took their leave. Kali kept approaching the one that remained, who turned to meet them.
The man who tried to manhandle her earlier was big. A comparison to a bear still felt apt. Yet compared to this specimen, even he would be short and skinny. This Ghira loomed over Kali and outright towered over Lumina. His purple coat was open at the front, revealing a broad chest to the world. Black hair framed his entire face, from the short crop crowning his head to his full beard.
Lumina felt truly small for the first time in her human life, though the expression was dispelled in a heartbeat. Ghira's serene expression broke into a bright smile and he leaned down to kiss Kali. "Why, hello!" he greeted jovially before going on a knee. Lumina was still not quite at eye level with him. "I already heard a bit about you, young lady. Welcome to Kuo Kuana!"
Into the stunned silence, Kali giggled. "This is Ghira Belladonna, the chieftain. Also my husband. Ghira, meet Lumina."
"Hello?" Lumina tried, still flummoxed by the turn of events. And perhaps a tiny bit worried that Ghira may snap her in half on accident. Even used to aura protecting her at all times, the difference in size and bulk was too large not to be concerned. The man himself did not care about her skittish demeanour, he simply offered a hand to shake. Lumina's vanished between his fingers.
"A pleasure to meet you, young lady. Again, welcome. I see Kali is showing you around?"
"That I am," the other woman responded impishly. "You do your rounds while I finish up with Lumina now. We can have a proper conversation later."
"Of course, dear." Rising once more, Ghira smiled down at Lumina and ruffled her matted hair. "You be good now."
She allowed the treatment, if with a small frown; it did not seem like he turned his nose up at her, but the action still grated. Ghira waved and strolled away while Kali chuckled upon seeing her expression.
"Please don't blame him. Ghira always loved children, no matter their age." That said, her hand snaked back into Lumina's. "Are you ready to keep going? There is still a little more to see."
Once she nodded, Kali tugged her along again. Lumina was swiftly introduced to some of the particulars of Kuo Kuana; a handful of notable vendors, several public institutions such as the fire department and police station, and the barracks.
"We don't have any hunters on permanent payroll right now," Kali explained to her along the way. "I manage the town militia instead, which is good enough unless we have a major wave of Grimm incoming. Scout teams are out to find them far enough ahead of time to hire hunters. Otherwise, well, the palisades served us well over the years. There is no need to worry about any attacks."
Her attempted reassurance completely missed Lumina, who was not concerned to begin with. Kali's words did garner her attention, though.
"You did not strike me as a military commander."
Too soft, she did not say. Appearances could be deceiving, as she herself was living proof of. Kali squeezed her hand in response.
"I learned to assume the position. Ghira was always the type to step up. As his wife and confidante, I can't be seen slacking off. Knowing him, he'd do it himself on top of everything else. But really, I'm mostly doing logistics; training and combat are handled by others who are better at it." She paused, glanced around surrepticiously, and leaned in. "Don't let anyone know, but we have a lot of talent in our kill teams. Several of them qualified for the academies, one even for Beacon."
Lumina's brow rose in response. She heard of the Hunter Academies; only the best were accepted there, to be trained into Huntsmen and Huntresses. Particularly Beacon, located in Vale, only accepted the best of the best. Meaning... "In a few years time, Kuo Kuana will have hunters on the roster."
Kali's smile grew into a smirk. "Atta girl. Exactly. My and Ghira's generation is tired of the constant struggle, but there is fire in the new blood."
Lumina nodded. The general air of content suddenly offered a completely different impression; stagnation, perhaps? She could not quite tell.
She put the matter aside when Kali tugged her along. Their next stop was also their last: a sprawling mansion rather than a house, guarded by about two dozen men and women. Kali received faint nods as she passed while the looks Lumina got were inscrutable. Sizing up a potential threat, disregarding any danger due to Kali's presence. Lumina ignored them entirely. She much preferred to study the open space inside; the floor was made of lacquered wood.
The women left their shoes at the door, then Kali stopped her charge to look her over with a critical eye. "When was the last time you took a bath?"
"Three days, just about?"
"I thought so. We will take care of that first, then. I can see about finding you some proper clothes in the meantime."
Lumina glanced down at her worn blouse and skirt. They may be patchwork by now, but they were also familiar. Her hands involuntarily clutched the frayed hem of her skirt, only for Kali to open them gently. Holding both, the taller woman coaxed: "Don't worry. It will be okay. Come, this way."
Soon enough Lumina was left alone in a spacious bathroom. She disrobed almost mechanically and left her clothes in an empty hamper. Kali's treatment should feel patronising, but if anything it reminded her of Granny Bluebell. Melancholy kept her going along with the other woman's desires. Was it so bad to follow along if the other side had good intentions?
After some searching, she found herself a stool and sponge. There were no buckets, but she could live with that. So Lumina began the process of cleaning herself meticulously; as in everything she did, perfection was expected. She began with washing out her hair over the tub, careful not to splash any water onto her wings. Aura would protect them from harm, but wet wings still felt awful.
Once she was about halfway down her body, someone knocked on the door. "How are you doing?" Kali's muffled voice sounded. Lumina glanced that way and kept working.
"Come in, this is silly."
A moment of silence followed, then the handle turned. "Very well," Kali began, only to pause at the sight of her. "What are you doing? Using a sponge isn't really... ah. Your wings."
"Yes," Lumina agreed without so much as looking Kali's way. "My wings. As much as I appreciate a shower or a bathtub, I can not use either." Technically she could, but the sensation was just too alienating. She never needed to so much as rinse herself before becoming human.
After standing in the door for a moment longer, Kali sighed and walked inside. She placed a bundle of cloth down and grabbed a second sponge.
"Here, let me help you."
She still kept her distance until Lumina allowed it, though. The second sponge running along the base of her wings was pleasant; she always had trouble reaching there.
Kali struck up conversation again as they worked: "I found a few things that should fit you. They might be a little loose for now, but I can have something better made in a few days. Or make it myself, if I have the time," she mused almost idly. Then she paused, both speaking and wiping Lumina's back. "Actually, it needs to be custom anyway. Your wings won't fit under any cloth, will they?"
Lumina did not bother answering. Once she was done cleaning up, Kali quickly took a knife to the grey t-shirt she procured. Much like Lumina's old blouse, the back was removed except for a strip of collar to keep it stable. A temporary solution, but an effective one. The baggy shorts offered to her fit better, though they required a belt to stay on.
Clean and dressed, Lumina suddenly found herself bereft of anything to do. She never had time for much beside her chores and most of that was spent wandering. Walking kept Lumina busy and gave her time to think. Kali refused to let her do any work or leave the house, so she spent most of the afternoon simply... sitting around. The lack of motion agitated Lumina. She was not dead yet, but had to act as if she were.
"What of school?" Kali asked at some point. She was not particularly happy with the answer she got.
"They had one, but told me no. So I taught myself to read." Either way, Lumina preferred not to waste so much time learning what she already knew. Human mathmatics and sciences were woefully behind her knowledge as well. They taught nothing of the soul beyond aura. History, she could just as well learn from a book. "Come to think of it, I guess I like to read?"
Lumina felt uncertain even saying it; books were always a means to an end, but she could bear being stationary while engrossed in one. At least her addendum definitely appeased Kali; she produced several well-read novels for Lumina to pass time with. Those were okay.
Dinner was an odd affair, too; Ghira and Kali took their meals together. Not only that, but they invited all the guards off-duty to join them. Lumina sat between the Belladonnas as well. The men and women around her made merry while she studied her plate; it held a smaller portion than what everyone else got. The food itself was of the same quality, though; a well-cooked piece of meat, together with rice and a number of vegetables.
A large hand gently rubbed her back. Ghira smiled down at her. "It is alright if you can't eat it all. You need to get used to larger portions first. Please just eat as much as you can, yes?"
So not an affront of some sort. Lumina did not know enough of human biology to verify his words, but so far she saw no reason for such a silly lie. She slowly nodded and picked up her tableware. No chopsticks, but fork and knife.
Lumina ate slow and methodical. Sometimes a question came her way, answered either in few words or silence. The guards did not seem offended, though; had she paid more attention, she may have noticed the clear pity they regarded her with.
Once her belly was as full as she dared make it, Ghira sighed.
"Now then. I hate to do this so soon, but it is something we need to cover eventually. You're a big girl, aren't you, Lumina?" He tried for a jovial smile, but it wilted under her flat stare. "Well, rest assured you can stay either way. But we don't have the resources to provide for anyone indefinitely. Everyone needs to chip in in one way or another. It's how we managed to get where we are today."
He gave a pause to gauge her reaction, but Lumina simply nodded; she never expected otherwise. If anything, having to work to earn her keep just made this all feel more believable. Seeing no negative reaction, Ghira ventured on: "That said, what do you think you are good at?"
Lumina mulled it over for a moment. She was passable at most domestic tasks by necessity. But this was probably not what they looked for. "I know how to forage and can eviscerate just about any game common to Anima," she began. "Otherwise, I can kill the creatures of Grimm."
The table had quieted for the most part when they began talking. Now this silence took a far more baffled note. Everyone heard Lumina's words and no one believed them. Ghira's smile was frozen on his face while Kali frowned.
"You had to fight Grimm?" she ventured cautiously.
What none of them expected was for Lumina's taciturn expression to devolve into a snarl. It raced over her face and was gone in a heartbeat, but enough people saw. "I did not have to," she clarified with forced calm. "I wanted to." Just thinking of them reminded her of the forever damned Vessel that killed her. Her good mood evaporated like so much water over open flame. A faint golden sheen became visible around her, revealing active aura to the entire room.
Alas, something about her answer must have been wrong. She was not allowed to join the defenders in killing the creatures of Grimm. If anything, Kali insisted she stay as far away from the palisades as possible. No one paid any mind to the beasts' numbers slowly increasing.
Instead they tried to teach her domestic tasks first. Ghira put some time aside to teach her proper cooking. Lumina was already decent at that, but appreciated his guidance. Kali's attempt to interest her in sewing bore less fruit; she kept pricking herself with the needles, only aura preventing manifold injuries. "It galls me to be incompetent," Lumina admitted after an afternoon mostly wasted, "but this does not seem like something I will ever enjoy."
Kali hesitantly aborted their sessions, though she tried a few others. Some were pleasant, others failed as much as sewing did.
Everyone soon got used to Lumina's unusual schedule as the days passed; she always rose with the sun, being found outside soaking up its light. Any attempt to convince her of sleeping longer were shut down, so Kali got her will by enforcing bedtimes to match.
After a week of feeding her as much as she could take, the Belladonnas sat Lumina down on a bench outside of their house. She appreciated the bright light streaming down at them if nothing else. Ghira sat opposite to her, head propped up on one hand.
"So. How did you like your first week here? Is there anything that bothers you?"
Lumina's brow creased as she considered the question. "Kuo Kuana is different," she finally settled on. "Warmer. The people are different, too." Whether this was better, she could not quite tell yet. It felt a little overbearing to have someone hovering over her most of the time. That irritated Lumina, but her usual outlet was out of reach unless she wanted to affront her hosts. "I think I prefer Menagerie over Mistral, if nothing else."
Ghira nodded thoughtfully, though he kept his silence. Kali did as well, allowing Lumina to venture on: "But I do want to kill some Grimm."
A few words were all it took to wipe away their smiles. Kali sighed while her husband frowned. It was Ghira who answered in the end: "About that. How long was your aura active for?"
"Ever since I was born."
He blinked, but took the unconventional news in stride. "I see. And you know how to fight them?" Lumina nodded, prompting a furtive glance to Kali. "Then perhaps we should at least give her a chance to convince us?"
"I don't like it," Kali retorted without any heat. She met Lumina's resolute gaze momentarily, then looked away. "But yes. I will walk you there in an hour or two."
Suddenly, her day seemed much brighter. Lumina went through a set of small chores until Kali fetched her. She was a little more animated, almost giddy, which privately worried her host.
A surprise waited atop the palisades, though. Two other women, or perhaps older teenagers. A wiry, freckled brunette in black, tight-fitting jacket and shorts, as well as a redhead wearing primarily green. She too favoured shorts, though her blouse's hem fluttered in the breeze. The brunette bore no notable traits, but the other one's red hair was partly hidden by a pair of canine ears.
The wolf faunus perked up upon seeing Kali. "Ah, about time!" she cheered, bounding over to high-five the older woman. Then she turned to Lumina. "That her? Damn, you're tiny! And thin," she added after a moment, leaning down to study her. "Are you sure you're up for combat?"
Lumina's brows furrowed, but she refrained from answering. The brunette's skin changed to a light pink before she whacked the wolf's shoulder. Kali sighed in exasperation, but got no chance to speak. The redhead straightened up with a winning grin, pointing a thumb at her chest. "Ah well, we'll see about that soon enough. I'm Selina, this is Ilia. Nice to meet'cha!"
"Lumina. A pleasure." She left a clear pause after her name, though it went cheerfully ignored. "I assume you two are among the combat teams?"
"Right you are!" Selina brandished a thick metal spear for emphasis, then whirled around and threw it. The weapon barrelled groundward like an arrow, piercing a Beowulf's arm. The beast was nailed to the ground, growling pitifully. "And there ya go. Kali said we've gotta see how good you are, so let's start-" A band of light connected Lumina's pointed finger with the Beowulf's head, killing it instantly. "-slow. Huh."
Lumina paid her audience no mind anymore. Her attention lay solely on the pack following their fallen kin. Light flashed and they died. She did the same to the Lancer that followed; though airborne in resemblance of a giant hornet, it had no time to close the distance.
With no more creatures in sight, she turned back to the others. Kali's wide eyes and Ilia's flabbergasted expression pleased her greatly.
Meanwhile, Selina raised a hand as if to argue. Her mouth opened, only to shut again. She shrugged it off and showed a thumbs up. "Alright, cool. That works, too. How'd ya do it?"
"My Semblance allows me to emit and manipulate light."
"Nice!"
It was more than that, but Lumina decided not to correct Selina. Going by how Kali pinched the bridge of her nose, she was displeased. "I believe I understand a little better now," she grudgingly admitted. "Let it be known I am still not happy sending you to fight Grimm, but I have little grounds to deny you if that is what you want."
She left a pause, clearly wishing Lumina to relent and say no. The moth dashed her hopes with a simple nod.
"Don't worry too much," Selina chimed in with a laugh. She carefully wrapped an arm around Lumina's bony shoulder on one side and Ilia on the other. "Ilia and I'll keep an eye on her. She'll be fine."
The other girl dragged her feet somewhat, but nodded. Selina's touch was strangely warm, though Lumina bore with it mainly to not offend. She could see where this was going; constraints on her freedom were already anticipated in exchange for living in Kuo Kuana. She could bear with this much.
"As long as you do not slow me down, I can accept that."
Kali heaved a heavy sigh. Ilia frowned, but Selina only laughed and let go with a wink. "Don't you worry. I'll keep them away from you, Ilia stabs 'em in the back, and you shoot as many as you can before we get our hands on 'em. It'll be fun!"
"I don't know about that," Ilia muttered. She immediately wilted when Lumina's gaze swivelled to her. "You're not a teamplayer."
"I am not," Lumina agreed. Ilia blinked in surprise for some reason while she mulled it over. "I do not need you to guard me. But I understand why this arrangement is preferred." She did not, at least not really. Why waste an opportunity to interact with people, though? "So I will not make trouble for you."
For some reason Ilia's skin tinged pink again as she looked away. Her frown lessened, though. This time it was for Selina to roll her eyes. "With that out of the way," she cut into the silence, "happy to work with ya, Lumina." They shook hands, then the other girl turned back to Kali. "Oh, and I'll be back for dinner starting next week. Ol' Razor has mercy on me."
"A month of unpaid work may have been overzealous," Kali agreed with a faint frown. "But you did kill his dog."
"Oi, how often do I have to say it was an accident?" Selina pouted now, arms crossed. "Stupid thing came at me first! I just didn't wanna kill it!"
"But you apparently did," Lumina deadpanned from the side. Her future minder grumbled and climbed down the palisade to fetch her spear. Lumina glanced to the women she was left with. "I take it the work was demanded as recompense?"
"Not really," Kali answered with a sigh. "She offered it on her own to apologise. Selina is a good girl like that, don't let her rough behaviour tell you otherwise."
Lumina could not care less about that, but she nodded anyway.
From that point neither Kali nor Ghira had much grounds to forbid her from joining the kill teams. He put his foot down on only allocating two hours a day to patrols, however.
Lumina learned to know the plains and sparse forests alongside Selina and Ilia; they took some time to teach her about local flora and fauna, which she appreciated. Ilia held an in-depth knowledge of just about every plant and its edibility. It took her a few days to overcome her reserved nature, though she bantered quite a bit with Selina.
They had a lot of time for banter, too. No beast made it even close as long as Lumina was with them. Selina fully agreed that the tiny girl did not need any form of protection. Ilia felt somewhat envious over seeing such effortless, almost graceful efficiency.
Unaware of and uncaring for their feelings, Lumina went on. She was too busy with her own situation anyway; her hosts insisted on three full meals a day and Ghira snuck her sweets at least once every day, too. Their solicitous behaviour alienated her a great deal. Yet they never asked anything outrageous; for all intents and purposes, they simply were that kind.
Two weeks after her arrival, Lumina's bony frame slowly began to fill out. Lying in bed that night, covered by a warm blanket and with a book by her bedside, she felt content. This was not so bad.
