AN: so yes, this is a completely pointless and sappy chapter (I am not good with emotion) but I wrote it anyway so there. And also, sorry that my chapters are short
On the ride back through Corus Ademia rode with her head hung low. "Little one," Numair gently said with concern, "What's wrong?" Mia bit her lip and shook her head.
"Nothing," was her quiet answer. Numair sidled his horse up to hers. His large hand lifted Mia's chin and he gazed in her eyes as if searching for something. Her overbright eyes looked away quickly. Looking into her father's eyes for too long would cause her to break down and probably start crying.
Seeing that is was no use to coax the truth out of Mia now Numair eased away and let the girl think in silence. Upon arriving back at their temporary house near the Riders' stables, Mia quickly put away her tack and groomed Fritz. Numair was about to speak to her, but his daughter was already headed towards the Royal Forest. Sighing the tall man went inside, there was no need to worry about her safety when she was surrounded by beast-People.
As Mia neared the trees her footsteps grew faster and tears began to fall. Animals of all sorts came out to meet and comfort her. The first to reach Mia was Screech, her eagle friend. He landed gently on her shoulder and began preening her hair. She explained the task she was supposed to do. Small furry creatures crept their way into her lap as she talked. It is wrong to send a kit away from its parents and den, and fox mentioned. Mia enjoyed the company of the People until it began to get dark. I shouldn't worry my parents, she told them and bid them farewell.
When the tall teenager stepped into the house she heard her parents' worried voices coming from their bedroom. She shaped her ears to those of a bat's as she had seen her mother do often. When the change was finished she scowled. It was just like Numair to be waiting for a sense of her presence. He had opened the door before she had a chance to hear anything. His dark eyes scanned her face and he opened the door wider. "Now will you tell me why you're so upset?" 'I shan't,' Mia thought stubbornly. 'They'll think I'm a baby.' Still, she walked in slowly, eyes on the floor. Ademia was greeted by Daine with a soft hug. "What are you so worried about?" Numair persistently asked again.
Their girl took a deep breath. All at once she said, "I've never been sent on a task alone before, I don't think I can do what King Jon asks, I don't want him to be disappointed in me, and I don't want our family to be in so much danger alone." Mia's voice cracked at the end and she burst into tears. Daine held young Mia as she tried to wash away her worries.
"Listen to me," Daine said. "I have full confiedence that you can fulfill your goal."
"Spying on Tyran royalty can't be much harder than learning to use a sword," Numair added wryly.
"But Da," mia said with a shaky smile, "I'm no good with those confounded metal sticks."
"Ahh, well, bad comparison," he said guiltily.
"Honey, I've got a friend to send along with you. You'll meet him on the way." Knowing her Ma's kind of company Mia could only guess who or what it might be. "Now off to bed for you, but always remember one thing Ademia, we love you."
Daine's voice echoed in Mia's mind as she got read for bed. Even after she lay under the cool covers for an hour or so she could not sleep. Every time she convinced herself not to worry the apprehensive thoughts came flooding back. What if someone in Tyra found out? What if she as injured? The king would be disappointed. More importantly, What is Rikash was hurt in Scanra? What if immortals brought harm to Sarra? What if Numair was unable to hold off the tropical storms? What if resentful Carthakis remembered what Daine did to the palace about 27 years ago? That one was a small chance but still, what if? Stop it, she told herself, Playing the what if game will do you no good. She needed the tart opinions of Cloud, her mothers pony that Mia could only remember through stories told to her. The loving mountain pony had passed on to the Peaceful Realms, or wherever the People go, seven years ago. Finally she felt a yawn coming on. Mia snuggle against the muskrat that shared her soft mattress and slipped into uneasy dreams about soldiers chasing a Mia/monkey through a confusing castle hall. What sort of things did Tyra have in store for her?
AN2: again, sorry for the pathetically short and sappy chapter. And in the past chapter..yes, the whole thing about "she loved her parents" was pathetic cause obviously she would, I was just pointing out that she remembered cause you know how teens often forget…sorry.