Talking to "Man"

[Hikaru]

January 1st, year 1

Continuation of the scene in Under the Sun

It was early in the morning, the camp of the Freedom Fighters stirring to life to begin the day's events. Many were going to the mess hall for their breakfast provided by the culinary skills of Silver. Some, however, weren't allowed to leave their tents and needed their food brought to them.

Like a certain ex-Blackblood, Emori Hikaru. Of course, the food needed to be brought to her by some one, and who better than young cadet Boso. The young deer needed chores to keep him out of trouble and this was just a good one as any. Being a young thing, he decided to strike up conversation, curious about Hikaru.

The woman spoke little, but she answered his questions honestly. They were soon visited by another faun, a relation of Boso's named Ferto. He was more timid than Boso, more wary of the human woman. But Hikaru simply sat quietly and observed the two of them talking to each other.

[Boso]

Boso no longer had his mother's hatred of He, but he was more or less indifferent to them as a whole. They had a kind He back in Böhmerwald - the gamekeeper, or the "brown He." In fact, if it wasn't for him, Boso would not be here today. When Boso was Ferto's age, he got caught in a snare and would have been killed had the brown He not found him before the poachers did. Boso still ran from He well after that, but he never forgot the brown He's kindness. Not all humans were bad, he realized.

Months later, when Perri and Friend Owl told his mother Rolla that all of Böhmerwald would be burnt to cinders unless the Freedom Fighters stopped them, Boso left that night to join their ranks. He did not care that a lot of the Freedom Fighters were humans. They were just like the brown He; they wanted to protect nature from those who took it for granted. He could trust them, and maybe someday he could trust Hikaru too.

Boso nodded. "We are merciful," he agreed. "I remember when the Rogues were still Freedom Fighters. Clopin wanted to hang our prisoners, but Simba let them go. You can't get any more merciful than that!"

[Hikaru]

Hikaru nodded her head, she had heard of the event. Along with other examples of the differences between the Rogues and Freedom Fighters. Mr. Manchas was the reason she came here. The mercy and kindness were why she stayed here...

"The Blackbloods never release prisoners," the ex-member trailed off, there wasn't a need to elaborate. There many rumors of the Blackbloods ruthlessness... not many were exagerated.

She turned back to Boso, and the other deer, Ferto? Hikaru raised her hand lightly, and then made a soft 'come in gesture.' But didnt pressure him beyond that. She wanted Ferto to know he was welcome, but she wouldn't force him if he did not want to enter.

[Ferto]

Ferto shivered involuntarily when the human gestured to him and took a step backwards. He'd yet to share such an experience as Boso had...as far as the fawn was concerned, all humans were bad. All He. "B-B-Boso," He squeaked, but was at a loss for words. It was a half-hearted call to the other fawn for help, as if he needed protection. The older would chide him for being so fearful, but Ferto was one of the few who didn't care that much. There was REASON to fear here, or so he understood.

Crimson gaze slid to the floor and ears pinned back against his head. Outside the tent, the fawn's tail was tucked firmly between his legs. It was anyone's guess as to why he didn't just bolt. Probably because he was caught between his fear of the human and his need for a friend of his own kind in this strange place.

[Hikaru]

Hikaru examined Ferto quietly. His anxiety obviously hadn't abated. She looked down at her now empty pail of food. She moved with slow and measured movements. No sudden jerks. Hikaru took the pail and placed it in front of Boso, then retreated carefully back to her cot in the opposite side of the tent. She sat down on top of the cot, crossing her legs.

She was giving both fauns an out. Boso had come to deliver her food. Now that it was eaten, his responsibility was complete. He was free to go. It seemed Ferto was waiting on him as well. So Hikaru merely arranged it so that the two were free from any obligation of her presence.

Hikaru found she didn't like frightening anyone. She wanted Ferto to be at ease.

[Boso]

"Huh." Boso was not one hundred percent sure he agreed with releasing prisoners. They'll most likely just turn right back around and keep on doing the thing that got them captured in the first place. The Rogues were stubborn, and the Blackblood Legion was just plain psychotic. Boso wouldn't necessarily advocate killing them and torture was evil, but he felt it was the Freedom Fighters' responsibility to keep each other safe. Every time they released a prisoner, their lives were put at risk. Boso would have preferred just keeping them in the jail until the war ended or something.

"Don't be a baby," Boso snapped at Ferto. "Go on. I'm right here." Not that Boso could do anything against a grown woman, but he figured saying that would make Ferto feel better. The sooner his cousin got used to the humans, the better, and if he conquered his fear, then he would make a good peacemaker someday.

[Hikaru]

"You can go..." Hikaru nodded to the pail in front of Boso. Ferto seemed frozen in fear, but perhaps Boso would escort him away. She wouldn't keep them.

It would be a shame to lose the company, however. There was little for her to do, and at least the two fauns interrupted the tedium.