Roly Poly Pumpkins

Look. it ain’t easy. Wessex never seems to do anything the easy way, unless it’s stealing food or whatever; those days are behind her now, but the hardened will to survive will never leave her body. Her last breath will be taken in defiance as she struggles to hang on to those last, shiny threads of life. Anyway, his attempt is a decent one, she chuckles good-naturedly as Rory grimaces at her, shrugging her shoulders as if to say, ‘the fuck do I know about this game I’ve just invented?’ “Two points?” she suggests in a wry manner. As for the girl, Wessex knows she’s being a jackass. She also knows neither of her companions are likely to say anything about it, just pretend it isn’t happening because, well, they have manners and class and she doesn’t. It’s amazing what she can get away with by pretending she was raised in a barn. Her mother would be appalled. Standing quietly to one side, the Ascendant watches while Melita eagerly takes up the challenge. Even in the face of poorly disguised passive-aggressiveness, the Outlander girl is determined and poised. Wessex has no idea what the red-headed little bird is capable of, but she is eager to find out, if only because she is amused by pluck and puffed-chest courage. So rather than dismiss her outright, Wessex trots silently over to the misshapen ball and tosses it back. There are four more stick sentinels standing. “Again,” she says, though not unkindly. The thing about surviving in Caido is that you have to be patient, persistent, and skilled. Giving up after one go when she was given two is a sign of deficiency to the Natural woman. If Melita were her child, this would be a teaching opportunity: think outside the box and find a way to win, especially when you don't know the rules. WESSEX She whispered back, I am the storm