"Where are you going?" Agnes's old, scratchy voice spoke up right behind Laika, who was bent over, stuffing her pack with more provisions even though she'd only just gotten back home. She didn't answer the old woman and she heard Agnes sigh behind her. "The Festival. I should have known. You know that's just asking for trouble. I tell you this every year," she scoffed, her feet scuttling across the floor as she moved around beside Laika.
The younger girl finally looked up, giving Agnes an exasperated look. "And every year, nothing happens," she shot back.
"If nothing happens, why go?" Agnes asked, a smug look on her face. Laika's eyes narrowed at the woman's skill of twisting the meaning of her words.
"Because the vendors' snacks are better than your cooking. I you can you even call that food?" She looked away from Agnes again and filled the last of her pack.
"Big words for someone who just stashed her bag full of my 'non-food' food." She scoffed.
Laika hefted her pack onto her shoulder and stood up. Agnes wasn't like most older women, short, hunched over and frail looking. She stood half a foot taller than Laika and carried herself with poise, almost like she'd been a noblewoman in her past before she'd learned what she was and had bonded with her spirit. Then again, there was no real way of knowing exactly what the old woman looked like since that was her spirit's specialty. Shape-shifting.
She shot Agnes a sarcastically sweet smile and tilted her head, "The food that I collected, and cleaned, and cooked, and preserved. This is my food. In case you've forgotten, it's what you've been living off of for years now because even you don't like your cooking. There's enough to last you another week or two. I'll probably be back by then," she finished off, waving her hand dismissively.
"You ungrateful-"
Laika turned and shot the old woman a hard look. "Careful. I'm not a child anymore," she said quietly, her voice low.
And this is why I don't understand why you ever come back, Jing sighed in the back of her mind but she ignored the wolf.
"You'll be fine. You always are." Laika said finally, turning and walking out of the woman's hut before she could respond. She pulled on the magic from the Bond, summoning Jing to her side. Wisps of the familiar, cold, ethereal smoke streamed around her feet and sprawled out away from her. It swirled up into the air, creating the undeniable form of a wolf that quickly solidified. Jing stood there, staring back at her with impassive eyes, their three tails swaying like they were still made from the smoke. She offered her Bonded wolf a genuine smile as she approached them, reaching out with her hand to thread her fingers in the silky fur. "Are you ready?" She asked, grinning.
I'm ready for the run. But not for the humiliation that comes with acting like your damn personal mule. Jing's voice resounded stronger in her mind than usual, but despite the wolf's words, it bowed down, making it easier for Laika to jump up on its back.
"Awe, but you make such a pretty mule," she said cheerily as she positioned herself comfortably, leaning forward and grasping Jing's fur tightly.
I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that, the wolf said dryly as they sped off into the dense foliage of the Western forest, in the direction of Macao Island.
Due to Jing's speed and infallible stamina they covered the distance faster than any horse could, but Laika was beginning to tire from using the magic for so long. She felt her hair sticking to the back of her neck, sweating from the exertion of both clinging to Jing's back with her legs and from the constant pull from the magic. But the academy was finally in view off in the distance. Just a little further and she'd be in the middle of the festival. It wasn't the crowd she was looking forward to, but the food. The vendors that lined the streets at these festivals always had the most exotic treats. She patted Jing lightly, the wolf immediately slowed to a stop and she swung her right leg over their back, sliding down their side. Her feet landed in the grass silently and she stretched.
"Thanks," she sighed happily, breathing in deeply. She could already smell the aromas wafting up from the stalls.
The run was pleasant. Jing answered, she could feel the joy in the wolf's voice as their form began to dissipate into fog. Laika nodded in agreement and walked the rest of the way to the festival. She had a plan, to grab something and then retreat back into the outskirts of the crowd. And just keep with that tactic. Being surrounded by people didn't exactly give her a sense of security. She pulled her cloak sleeves down, ensuring to cover her mark as she went about her business.
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