Outside of the temple dorms, Karra continued to watch as Alena and the others went inside. She remained hidden behind the tree, and Rammorias lifted himself out over Karra's shoulder as he saw the coast was clear.
"There now, that was the girl who's been weighing in on your traumas, is it not?" Rammorias asked Karra connivingly, once again stealing her gaze.
"No... she..." Karra began hesitantly answering, as she broke her gaze to remember Cheiro's words from before, "...she's no one. Just a new girl in our class..."
Rammorias insistently reached his paw around Karra's face, and pulled her attention back to meet his eyes once again, frustrated by her distraction.
"Listen to me!" he thought into her mind aggressively, "You can't lie to me. I saw everything you've experienced since the coming of days. You know how you feel about that one. There's no use trying to hide it from me."
Karra felt her body struggle, her mind too struggling to deny his allegations, as she began to shake. Her eyes quivered, and she gritted her teeth.
"But I... Those feelings are wrong..." she dared defend, "She hasn't done anything wrong..."
Rammorias' eyes grew ever more intense, as the scene focused into his mind-splitting declaration.
"Those feelings, THEY are your temple. Without the things you feel, you will become nothing! Can't you understand?!"
Karra dropped to her knees, and cupped her paw over her mouth as she began to whimper and cry. She felt completely torn between her emotions, and that of the conflicting words from those who had recently been around her. She once again felt lost... confused—hopeless... As Karra almost uncontrollably dropped to her knees, Rammorias flopped out of the knapsack onto the ground below. This had him growing ever increasingly agitated, as he gritted his teeth with wide eyes in a growing frustration. He was ready to lash out, but as he got close up to Karra, he caught himself—knowing this was not the time, nor the place, and would obstruct his whole purpose for keeping an eye on this young girl.
"Look—you can't break down every time you feel something. You need to feel it if you want to survive! If you can't grow stronger with your emotions, then you aren't going to make it out there in the world. Do you really want to put that on MY shoulders?!" He grew quite close, closing was little bubble they had between them as his expression much Karra with such fury.
Karra's body trembled, convulsing as she let out hitching cries into the palm of her paw, the tears rolling off her face.
"You pay attention! I don't need you going all soft at a time like this; I need you—" Rammorias cut his angered words, as he closed his eyes to momentarily break contact and recollect himself. "I need you, because without you, I am nothing..." he declared with emphasis. He had regathered that this was a delicate matter, and needed to play his pieces right if he didn't want to lose the end goal ahead. "This world can be a scary place, and if you can't even beat a small little thing like that, then there is little I can do to help you."
Karra broke away from her crying momentarily, removing her paw as she was stricken by his words.
"'Beat her?' What are you implying...?" Karra helds her paws over her chest, as she felt a heavy weight over her heart, and her voice trembling. "Do you want me... to fight her?" she asked shakily.
Rammorias' eyes contorted, as he deciphered what to cards to play next. In a brief moment, his eyes steadied, and he resisted his usual grin, cracking ever slightly.
"If you can't beat her—if you can't even try... then I can't help you. Only you are capable of building the potential within yourself. You have people waiting... waiting to see you again, and I... I want to see you shine."
Karra's balanced breathing returned to her, but her eyes remained watery as she reflected upon the Bakeneko's words. In all honesty, she missed her family, and feared that she may never make it back once her initiation goes into play. Her eyes fell slowly, and her expression fell lost, all but defeated as she looked deeply within herself. Her body felt cold...
Cheiro was on her way back from the temple grounds, headed through the courtyard, when she had curiosity fall upon her. She decided to divert herself towards the dojo which she had checked out hours before. This time however, she felt certain that someone would be inside, and even though she was expecting Alena to return any moment—she decided to have another look inside. Surely enough, as she softly entered inside, she saw a small boy doing Tai Chi—his eyes closed. The boy's hair was lilac with marbling—it was the boy known as Kazran.
As Cheiro stepped further into the dojo, Kazran became aware of her presence. His eyes opened slightly, his face expressionless as he continued his motions, free of distractions. A soft smile trailed on Cheiro's face. She knew this young man would become someone special someday, and she could tell he would be ready.
"Good day young sir," she spoke kindly, whilst bowing forward—her hands laced together over her lap.
Kazran's eyes rose up and center—his back turned in the other direction as he completed his movement. Upon doing so, he dropped his posture and turned to face the old woman who had greeted him.
"Hello," he replied with the slightest of bows. "I believe you're the seamstress—would that be correct?" he asked.
Cheiro tilted her head slightly, smiling back with enclosed eyes and a soft, sealed chuckle.
"And you are...?" Kazran followed.
Cheiro introduced herself to the boy, and before long, the two were discussing the matters of the other students—Kazran's expression remaining unchanged.
"You seem to be the type of boy who'd be well acquainted with a couple of my clients. What are your thoughts of your fellow students?"
Kazran's head twisted at Cheiro's question, unsure of the direction for her interest.
"There are many... and none in particular really stand out from the rest," he answered. "It's not really my place to say..."
Cheiro nodded understandingly, picking at the boy for details of interest.
"And how about the situation with your teacher? I understand he had to take leave."
Kazran began fidgeting with his keikogi—tugging at the sleeves to straighten them out—before doing the same with the belt and hem.
"It seems he was needed to help gather resources or something. I saw him leaving with one of the supply groups, but that's all I know. There's no telling how long or short of time frame he'll be away for, but I can't imagine anything long. Sensei has always been dedicated, and I'm sure he has his reasons for that."
"And of Karra?" Cheiro suddenly asked directly.
Kazran froze, as he stopped fidgeting with his uniform and rose his gaze to Cheiro once more. There was hesitation in his voice.
"She's... finding it difficult I think... I don't believe she's taking her coming initiation well..." he expressed with honesty. "How do you know Karra?"
Cheiro's gentle smile remained, her eyes slightly squinting with approval of the boy's honesty.
"There are few people I don't know within the village, and you seem to be a rather interesting subject matter," she too replied with open honesty. "Tell me, have you had the chance to meet Alena yet?"
"Mm—!" Kazran's face perked up at the mention of the new girl's name. It was clear the woman had many connections, and hearing her name, left him surprised. Kazran soon nodded, "I do..." the answer sluggishly leaving his lips.
Cheiro's smile deepened, and she gave a rather subtle curtsy without stating another word.
"What... is this about?" Kazran asked hesitantly.
"I feel the young girl will need further guidance during her time here, and you seem to be a fitting child to help her grow," she answered.
"But... what's the interest...?" he then asked in return.
Cheiro rose a finger over her lips, her long, dense nail protruding over the tip of her nose. She offered no explanation, and soon turned to leave the dojo—leaving Kazran to wonder. He stood there, watching the old woman walk away in question. His gaze dropped down to the side, contemplating the potential implications of the conversation built around them.
Karra and Rammorias soon entered the dorm. She made way to her room to gather a few supplies she thought she might need. She was now frustrated, her heart torn on what to do. By this time, Cheiro had entered the dorms, and began wandering the halls while keeping up a keen ear as she searched for Alena's room where those before her couldn't.
Karra gathered some bandaging, and made way to leave the dormitory once again. Cheiro—on the other hand—heard a familiar voice, just the one she was looking for as she knocked on the girls' door. To her surprise, Yonka was the first face she saw as the door was opened, followed by everyone else inside.
"Lady Cheiro, back already?" Yonka asked in surprise. Ania shot forward in exciting, realizing Cheiro's presence.
"Well hello my dears, I thought you may all be here. May I enter?" Cheiro asked kindly.
Yonka reacted with further surprise, her face in a soft regard as she stepped to the side. Ania smiled brightly, only anticipating what good Cheiro's presence had meant—while Alena and the others glanced towards Cheiro with curiosity. Cheiro stepped in, and Yonka gently closed the door behind her. Karra was in the hall, and saw Cheiro just moments before she stepped inside. She paused, cautious about carrying Rammorias on her back. When Cheiro entered the room, Karra quietly let off a deep breath, and proceeded to make her way passed the room towards the exit. Cheiro was quite gentle as she came in, and before anyone could ask any questions, she pulled the tailor's tape once again out of her pocket—approaching Alena. Ania's eyes beamed. Karra, who was on her way out, didn't feel any easier after seeing Cheiro entering the room. She tried to reflect on their earlier conversation, but she couldn't align the pieces of her exhaustion. Still, she soon left the building, and headed to the training grounds behind the dojo to once again expel her frustrations and train up for her road ahead.
Alena held up her paws defensively, and the gesture before her wasn't one she expected at this time.
"Wait—! Miss Cheiro... What happened with Shea-Shea?" she asked her. This was presently Alena's only concern.
Cheiro stopped herself understandingly, and dropped her hand off to the side as she explained the situation to the girls around her. Ania of course, dropped her thrilled expression as she too realized the importance of the subject matter—and Elijah, was perched up in Alena's specially made satchel harness once again, his tail flicking about in curiousity.
Out in the training grounds, Karra punched her post, feeling the injuries in her paws opening up once again. Rammorias remained on her back, feeling the impact behind the post and Karra's punch. He did not flinch, but rather, he stayed on Karra's back reading what he could see of her face—unwavering. It did not seem he would need to further interject with Karra's thoughts at this time, as he knew she was already well exhausted. Rather, his eyes smiled with that lingering, devious nature—as things were moving along better than he had initially imagined.