I am but the wind. I am but the wind.
Jupiter Jones' heart was pounding so hard it physically hurt.
It pressed against her sternum, roared in her ears. Her hands were shaking. Her breath kept trying to hike up, kept trying to stutter and slip into a fast rhythm that would make her entire body shake. The bees around her responded to that, her agitation fluttering in tune with her heart, with the forced calm of her breath. Somewhere in her head, a memory of how bees communicated came to her. They danced to convey their state. And right at that moment, their dance told everyone around her of her anxiety. Aggressive and short, jutting movements. They were ready to defend her. I am but the wind. I am but the wind.
"Come on, no need to be afraid," a pretty, accented voice, an open hand extended out to her in the form of an easy invitation.
She looked innocent, this teenager with sweet blonde hair that framed a happy smiling face. She looked young and patient, simply trying to help a distressed little girl. But Jupiter knew all too well how easy it was to hide beneath a young face. She knew how easy it was to appear helpful. She coughed slightly, this teenage girl, just a fraction of a second where her face fluctuated in pain and discomfort. But then her face was smiling again.
"I'm Kiza. Me and my Da run the Apini Apiary, and those lovely ladies are my friends. They won't sting me, or you, just come here, I'll help you. Don't be afraid."
But Jupiter was very afraid.
Over the girl, Kiza's head, Jupiter looked at Grey's human disguise, their face tight and scared. Their hands are on their belt, on what she knew was a weapon they had stolen from their small raid on a smaller Keeper facility with one hand. The other hand was on the memory eraser standard to all Keepers. Any moment, mouthed Grey, very deliberately. Jupiter couldn't respond with the man's and Kiza's eyes so firmly on her, but she did give a slight shake of her head. Grey bared teeth, just slightly, and the large black eyes of their Venus disguise flickered into their real eyes.
"Come on, I won't bite."
Jupiter looked at Grey one last time, widening her eyes. Trying to beg them to not do anything violent just yet.
And when their friend gave a reluctant nod, slowly extended her hand to the blonde teenager.
