I managed to clean myself off and trot out, following the scent to where everyone else was. Just in time to hear the conversation.
“...elementals are the best choice.”
“They’re a bunch of high-necked buzzards, you mean.”
“They’ve got the resources–”
“Miles, you know we need to check them out at least.” That was the Keeper, Hansel. Interesting.
“It’s the best play for everyone here,” Rod said, the wood creaking as he leaned on something. “And you know it.”
“Not really,” I said, coming around the corner. I glanced at Rod but kept my eyes mostly on Miles. “You two can go to the elementals if that’s what your Keeper wants to do. Sounds like you’ve got business there. But really…I’d just like to go home.”
Miles stared at me for a moment. “Like…home home?”
I snorted and shook my head. “I’ll give you the location, you worry about driving us there.”
“Oh, so it’s somewhere I can drive. Good.”
Rod was giving me a look that I was very much ignoring, somewhere between raised eyebrows and completely miffed. I gave Miles a location very much away from where I actually wanted to be, but was the only real drop-off point near the spot, then looked at Layla and motioned with my head for her to join me. She gave them all a dubious look as I left before following.
I walked for a moment before shuffling a little more and flipping an ear to her, stopping in the middle of the hall. There were cameras everywhere and the slight buzz of speakers hidden in the walls, so anything I was going to tell her would be overheard by the pirate at the console.
Turning, I motioned with my head for her to come closer. Used my wings to sort of poke and prod her towards my back until she got the idea, finally climbing on my back. I shuffled my head and flicked my ears, mumbling something as I began to trot along the hallway, forcing all my claws out to create a clicking noise on the metal under my paws.
She leaned forwards, asking, “what? I can’t hear you.” To which I kept mumbling and low growling until the girl was practically leaning on my shoulders with her hands around my neck fur and shoving her face right near one of my ears.
“The place we’re going to,” I growled, keeping my voice low and hoping that she would be able to actually pick up the words I was saying, “it’s…going to be different than what you know.”
“Different how?” she asked, thankfully keeping her voice low since her mouth was directly next to my ear.
“Just different,” I answered. “Keep close to me and try not to talk too much until you get the hang of it.”
She hesitated. “Olyvia…where are we going…?”
“Somewhere safe for now,” I rumbled back. “Where we can get more answers about the keystones. Where we can rest. Maybe even get a little help in regards to magic.” I hesitated, coming to a stop in the hallway. Flicked my ears again. Glanced back at her. “You trust me?”
She fixed me with a slight stare. Unsure. But trying. Eventually she took a breath. “I think I have to, at this point. Right? Otherwise I’m just…wasting everybody’s time. Might as well go home.”
I stared at her a little longer. Listened. Her heart was beating normally. Breathing normally. Wasn’t stressed. Wasn’t lying. I nodded. Resumed trotting.
“Then you might as well know my real name,” I said. “Or at least a version of it.”
“It’s…you mean it’s not Olyvia!?”
I snorted but kept trotting, making sure to strike the metal as hard as possible to cover our voices. “It’s Ipokashi,” I said.
“Ipokashi…” she said slowly. “Wanderer?”
I snorted and smiled a little. “Yes. Now. Let’s get you ready for what you’re going to see.”
