Listen Close, Little Ones

Absinth leaned back slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing her impish features as she considered the boy’s bold declaration. “So confident.” She began, her voice carrying the promise of wisdom and strength as she leaned closer to him. “You are the exact opposite of the boy, yet the same mistake afflicts you as well. There is danger in being too naive, in underestimating the cunning of others. You may not want to be a pawn, but simply wanting something is not enough sometimes. It is a game, all of it is. The way you play it determines the outcome.”

She gestured toward the horizon, where the shadows of dusk were beginning to stretch across the land. “Learn this world for its cruelties and its harsh realities, little ones.” She explained. “It's not just about strength or defiance. It's about understanding the game being played and finding your place within it. Will it be to fight tooth and claw? Outwit your opponent? How? What opportunity? What can you learn in the meantime? How can you control your fate?” Absinth's gaze sharpened as she looked at him, a touch of appreciation in her eyes. “You have the fire within you, but temper it with wisdom and skill,” She advised. “You can have all the bravado you wish for, but if you cannot back it, then you will be nothing in the end. Have nothing.” She knew first hand.

As her gaze swept over the group, she noted the russet girl's resolve, her voice carrying a purr of agreement. “I understand,” She rumbled out with a tremble of her inky lips, voice resonant with the girl’s demeanor. “Sometimes, the only option is to fight, to protect what's important to you. To live the way you want to. To be who you want to be. What is it you desire the most? What, in your young lives, calls to you?”

wormwood