Keo Bonus Story: Hummingbirds (female Keo)

I find Keo at the south wall of Den Zarel’s compound. Her tall, muscled form stands so still I’d almost mistake her for another stone in the architecture if I wasn't looking closely. She's gazing out at the wilds, the landscape beyond the city quiet in the moonlight.

“Hard to believe it’s Lasan already,” I say as I approach. The lights and music of the celebrations still fill the wider city, but here the noise is dimmed enough that my quiet voice feels almost disruptive. “I guess that means we’re officially in her season, huh?”

“...Yes,” Keo responds after a few seconds’ pause.

“Are you alright?” I ask.

For a moment I get no reply. But after a few beats she nods, a soft "yes," falling from her lips.

“I see.” And I do. I hear the implication, the unspoken admission of I will be fine, but I'm not right now, and I know her well enough to understand she's trying not to worry me. I slip my hand into hers. She glances at me, a faint surprise passing over her face as she registers the touch. “Then I’ll be here until you are fine,” I declare, giving her a small smile.

She quickly looks away, taking a slow breath. Her fingers wrap around the back of my hand and grip it tightly. We stand in silence for a moment, until I remember why I’d come to find her in the first place.

“Oh, here,” I say, reaching into my pocket with my free hand. “This might make you feel a little better. Or distract you, at least,” I hold out two paper hummingbirds in yellow and red. “I won these at the ring toss stand. Watch.”

I breathe a bit of magic over them, and the enchantment within the paper activates. Glowing orange light, elemental in nature, traces across the surface of their wings. They hop a few times in my hand then take off, flying around us, their light tracing intricate patterns in the air.

“I thought since I had two...” I hesitate, feeling suddenly a little, suddenly feeling a little silly, unsure she’ll actually like something like this. “Since I had two, we could share,” I finish.

“Thank you,” Keo says, watching them. And any foolishness I may have felt disappears as her lips form a small, genuine smile. She reaches out her hand and holds it steady until one of the birds lands on her knuckles, tilting its paper head this way and that as though it’s looking at her.

“This one, then?” she asks me.

“It certainly seems like it’s chosen you,” I chuckle. “It’s yours.”

“I will treasure it.”

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Quick note: The "her" in this story Keo's thinking about is their mom. (I didn't want anyone thinking it was an ex - I would never do that to you guys, I promise 😂)