Chapter 283: Are you trying to sneak in again?

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Are you trying to sneak in again?

Kael caught him by the back of his clothing.

"No."

Miko dangled briefly.

"PAPA!"

"Follow the trail."

"But the bell is RIGHT THERE!"

"And the path is here."

Miko stared.

Then sighed.

"Training is stupid."

Soren chuckled.

Kael glared.

"Your daughters haven’t even started."

Soren lowered Eira onto a soft mat beside the beginning of a miniature version of the course.

Three low markers.

A short padded path.

One wooden bell.

No climbing.

No jumping.

Sira immediately crawled toward the nearest marker.

Eira looked at the others.

Then touched the correct one.

Soren smiled.

"Very good."

Kael’s ears flattened.

"Miko!"

The youngest panther was trying to climb over the obstacle again.

"WHAT?!"

"Use the path!"

"BUT THE PATH IS LONG!"

Nilo sighed.

"That’s why it’s training!"

Kairo called from ahead.

"Miko, come on!"

Miko groaned.

Then followed.

Eira watched her brothers.

Her expression remained utterly unimpressed.

Sira clapped.

"Boys!"

Kael demonstrated how to move quietly across a patch of dry leaves.

His paws barely made a sound.

Soren watched.

Then shifted part of his enormous white snake tail into view and glided across the same leaves without disturbing them.

Kael looked at him.

"That doesn’t count."

Soren raised one eyebrow.

"Why?"

"You don’t have feet."

"And?"

Kael stared.

Soren smiled.

"An advantage."

The children stopped training.

They were all watching their fathers.

Miko looked toward Nilo.

"Are we supposed to do something?"

Nilo shrugged.

Kairo frowned.

"Papa said follow the trail."

"But they’re doing it."

Sira looked at Kael.

Then Soren.

"Papa silly."

Eira nodded.

"Both."

Nerin, who had come to help supervise the children, turned away and covered his mouth.

His shoulders shook.

Kael looked toward him.

"Nerin."

The deer immediately straightened.

"Yes?"

"Something funny?"

Nerin glanced at the two enormous beastmen competing beside a row of tiny wooden bells.

Then at the children staring at them.

"...A little."

Soren’s eyes narrowed.

Kael sighed.

And the children burst out laughing.

The first proper rescue lesson went much better.

Kael placed a stuffed hide beneath a low wooden frame and told the children to imagine someone had fallen during an attack.

"You don’t rush into danger," he explained. "You call for help, check the safe path, and guide the injured person toward an adult."

Kairo immediately raised his hand.

"What if it’s Mama?"

Kael paused.

His golden eyes softened.

"Then you call Papa."

Miko raised both hands.

"What if Papa is busy?"

"Call another adult."

"What if everybody is busy?"

"Use the alarm."

"What if the alarm breaks?"

Kael stared at him.

Miko stared back.

Then added, "What if the monster eats the alarm?"

Nerin lowered his head.

Soren closed his eyes.

Kael rubbed his forehead.

"Miko."

"Yes, Papa?"

"Please stop killing everybody in imaginary situations."

Miko considered this.

Then nodded.

"Fine."

The lesson resumed.

Lumi was the first to notice that the pretend injured person had been placed beside a red danger marker.

She stopped instead of approaching.

Kairo noticed and rang the wooden bell.

Nilo guided the other children toward the safe platform.

Even Miko followed instructions.

Mostly.

He did attempt to carry the entire stuffed hide himself.

It was bigger than he was.

He fell backward into a pile of cushions.

Sira laughed until she hiccupped.

Eira merely stared at him and shook her tiny head.

"Again?" Kael asked.

Miko stood.

Dust covered his black hair.

He raised one fist.

"AGAIN!"

For once, Kael looked genuinely proud.

Unfortunately, the peaceful training session ended when raised voices came from the western lookout.

Several guards were arguing near the boundary.

And across the glowing territorial line stood Veyra.

Still wearing her restraints.

Still under Veskari guard.

And still looking at Ironwood with that same infuriating expression.

Miko spotted her first.

His little ears shot upright.

"Oh!"

Kairo followed his gaze.

Immediately, his expression changed.

Nilo frowned.

"Don’t."

Miko looked offended.

"I didn’t say anything!"

"You were going to."

"I WAS GOING TO SAY HELLO!"

Kairo stared at him.

Miko lowered his voice.

"...Maybe."

Kael immediately gathered the children toward the inner side of the training ground.

"Stay behind the marked posts."

They obeyed.

Even Miko.

But the little panther kept staring at Veyra.

Across the boundary, she was speaking to one of Vaedric’s guards.

"I told you, I have no reason to be here. His Highness ordered me to inspect the damage!"

One of Ironwood’s warriors answered sharply.

"You can inspect it from where you’re standing."

Veyra’s wings stiffened.

"You beasts are becoming intolerable."

Miko gasped.

Then shouted:

"HEY!"

Kairo closed his eyes.

Nilo sighed.

Here we go.

Veyra turned.

Her face changed when she saw the triplets.

"You."

Miko pointed at her.

"Why are you here again?"

Veyra’s eyes narrowed.

"That is none of your concern, little beast."

Miko looked toward his brothers.

Then back at her.

"Suspicious."

Veyra blinked.

"What?"

"VERY suspicious!"

Kael’s mouth tightened.

"Miko."

But Miko continued.

"Are you trying to sneak in again?"

Veyra went red.

"How dare you!"

Miko folded his little arms.

"You tried before!"

"I did not..."

"And people died!"

That silenced her.

Kairo’s expression became serious.

Nilo stepped closer to Miko.

Both remembered the screaming.

The collapsing stones.

Their mother’s disappearance.

Miko’s little face hardened.

"You’re bad."

Veyra’s wings flared.

"You insolent..."

"Bad!" Eira announced from Soren’s arms.

Sira immediately copied her.

"Bad wing!"

Miko looked delighted.

"SEE?!"

Soren pressed his lips together.

Kael slowly covered his mouth.

Across the boundary, Azren appeared behind Veyra.

He had apparently heard the entire exchange.

His pale-violet eyes gleamed.

"Well, this is entertaining."

Miko immediately pointed at him too.

"YOU!"

Azren blinked.

"Me?"

"Tell her to go away!"

Azren’s smile widened.

"Little panther, you’re becoming very demanding."

"Because she’s suspicious!"

Veyra turned furiously.

"My prince!"

Azren looked at her with disgust.

Then he looked toward Miko.

He shrugged.

"The child has made an observation."

Veyra’s mouth fell open.

Before she could respond, another voice interrupted.

"Is this how Ironwood raises its offspring?"

The laughter faded.

Vaedric emerged from behind the Veskari guards.

His six dark wings spread slightly as he approached.

His pale eyes moved toward the children.