New Season, New Leaf (EBONY)

CALLISTO

Walk | Talk | Think

She received the smile that she had been anticipating from the man she sat beside, feeling rather pleased that she knew him well enough now to even expect what his reactions might be. But Max always seemed to have a smile for her, and patience that as never ending; it really was to be expected at this point considering he had been her teacher for such a long time, practically from the very moment she had joined Ebony. Her gaze lingered on him a brief moment, still struck by the luck she had in being paired with him when she knew her behavior was not always the best and her manner less so, but eventually shifted toward the dark colored woman who had gathered them all here, the one who sat at the head of their group and had something to say to them all.

Callisto's silvery blue gaze was fixed on Katja as she spoke, listening with what started off as mild attention and transformed almost instantaneously into confusion. What did she mean, Ebony was not hers? She had been ruling them for seasons now, taking over since the woman who had held the spot before took off and left, and as far as the grey and black yearling was concerned she had been doing a really good job about it. The usually stoic expression the girl wore broke into a frown, her lips pursing as she listened to the black-masked woman continue to explain what would be happening to the role of leadership in the pack. The eldest Xanilov girl...? Immediately her gaze shifted amongst the crowd, seeking out those she recognized as being the brats of the woman who had left them and feeling her expression morph yet again in disbelief. But they're kids!

She turned to glance at Maximous at her side, wondering how this whole change in the pack was being received by him, but really it hardly mattered in comparison to how it made her feel. She had yet to consider herself even qualified or old enough to take on the role of a healer, and yet there were children younger than her getting ready to lead a pack? What did they know? Just because they were the daughters of someone who had once ruled them, someone who Callisto could hardly even remember seeing around the pack even when she had supposedly lived here, they were suddenly the best qualified? It was insane!

Briefly a little heated conversation took place between the two girls in question, the Xanilov daughters who Ebony was now supposed to look up to, but Callisto hardly paid them any attention. Instead she watched Katja and the impassive manner in which she took it all in, wishing somehow that she would have stayed. She was someone not put off by Callisto's manners, someone the grey and black girl could respect and follow, even if she was mad that she had so easily given up the pack in this manner. Her gaze followed the woman as she stepped up to the remaining Xanilov girl - the other was already on her way out in a huff - and then still followed her as she left. Where was she going? Just a little she shifted where she sat, as if contemplating getting up and following, but she remained seated in the end. Some crazy meeting this turned out to be.

Her attention shifted back to Max and watched with a touch of shock as he stepped up and over to their new little queen, surprised at the words that he spoke to her - since when did he patronize kids? He never even used that tone with her - and even more surprised when he urged her into the position of leadership, encouraging her to make amends with her family as well. It was strange, watching him step out of turn when she was so used to him being so calm and kind, and she studied him openly with a curious sort of look as he came to sit back beside her. It was a short-lived look, however, as the young Xanilov began to address them all, and listening as the girl addressed them with a voice that sounded like a leader's even if Callisto was not convinced she truly was one the girl remained silent and passive, holding in her opinions and hoping that later she might find a moment when she could discuss everything that had happened here in private with her teacher. She did not trust herself to speak calmly or respectfully enough to do any talking yet with so many near to hear it.

Image by Maka.