Unwanted Silence

Panic still gripped the girl's heart as the boy remained calm. Why weren't they running? He seemed to look at her in disbelief. Did he not believe her? In all of her days, Ikigai had never had anyone think that she was a liar. The young lady's metallic eyes went wide for a moment and she had been about to give the boy a piece of her mind when the glowing beast pushed from the treeline.

Ikigai placed herself behind the larger wolf, her nervous gaze on the boar. It wasn't large, nor did it look terribly menacing. There was no anger on its face nor aggression in its stance. If anything it looked... interested? That interest made the pallid princess all the more confused. As she watched the porcine anomaly, small dots of blue began to form around it. Fireflies? The simmering specks of light flashed slowly on and off as they gathered around the boar. The beast itself made no move to come closer. It merely stood and watched them. It was actually rather beautiful. Iki felt her tension easing and she found herself taking a step towards the boar.

The words of the boy cut through her daze and Iki's silvered eyes sliced to the side, looking at him. Hey... kid? "I am Okiku Ikigai Ōritsu Abraxas, Princess of the Ashen Empire," Iki's voice was smooth but stern as she informed the boy of her name and title. He insulted her again, asking why she was out here if she couldn't fight off a boar. The fae's long pelt bristled in indignation and she stared incredulously at the heathen beside her. She should have taken her chances with the boar. He asked if she wanted fighting tips and Iki's brow furrowed. "I do not fight." Couldn't he see how delicate she was? How princessly? Didn't she look like a lady? Iki glanced down at her appearance and noted how disheveled she looked. Her kimono was torn and muddied. Her long tail and graceful legs were muddied as well. She looked as much a heathen as he was.

The gears in Iki's mind began to turn. The boar was still just standing there, staring at them with interest. The number of blue fireflies had grown and they danced around the creature. It meant them no harm, that much was evident. But then... what did it want? Pulling away from the earthen boy, Ikigai moved ahead a few steps. The princess bowed low to the beast and addressed it in her usual soft tones. "Forgive me, spirit, for fleeing. What would you have of me?"

"X"