Two Eyes Cenote oh, anytime.

a gentler woman would have given riot some form of comfort. qiao was too old, too burnt out on the exhausting customs of this world, for any form of altruism. 

that depends. did you get bitten?

her gaze rested on the boy for a long time, measuring the truth of his answer with shrewdness. not yet. but i will leave soon. would he make a good familiar? what kind of soul would want to be bound to the very evil that sacrificed its own kin? stormchaser had only been allowed to stay because when she’d tried to sacrifice him, the overworld bit back — taking half her front paw and nearly taking her life with it. she’d been sick for a long time after that failed ritual. but rowdy’s demise was writ clear. 

riot’s future was not so certain. 

it occurred to qiao that he’d had no choice. from the day he was born until now, he’d been robbed of any agency. this would be his first decision that set the path of his future. you have several choices, boy. think on them tonight, and choose wisely. your future depends upon it. 

after that, she fell to work in silence and would speak no more.